Andre hovered over her, pinning her forcefully against the wall, and reaching her lips greatly against her will. She struggled to fend him off, but found herself powerless to do so. Then he did it! He thrust the sharp knife straight down into the middle of her belly, making a deep slit and causing blood to gush out. Lissa gasped helplessly and her body slumped. Andre roughly pulled the deadly weapon out of her flesh-more cruel than leaving it in-which was pouring out even more blood from her middle. She collapsed to the floor and clutched her slashed abdomen, writhing, and gasping in unbearable pain.
There was a loud bang, forcing the locked door backwards and Gaston hurried in. His eyes went immediately to the mortally wounded young woman on the floor. He saw the blood seeping from the wound in her figure. His blood boiled and his eyes flashed with fury. Clenching his fists, he charged at Andre like a mad bull and was on top of the guy before Andre had a chance to defend himself. Gaston punched him on the face and in the gut again, and again, and again till Andre became unconscious and fell to the ground. Gaston kicked him then turned his head.
Lissa, curled up in a ball, struggled to pull herself up against the wall. Her hand was holding her side which was bleeding badly, worse by the minute. Her face was terribly pale and she was struggling to breathe, her eyes constricted in pain. "Lissa..." Gaston breathed, hurrying and stooping down to her side. "Lissa, Lissa? It's all right. I'm here." He told her soothingly, gripping her arm. "It's okay, Lissie. I'm right here." Lissa was shaking and nodded. She whimpered pitifully as she writhed horribly. Gaston pried her hand away and took a better look at her ugly wound. The oozing slash in her stomach was deep, and had to be closed! "Ohh," Gaston bit his lip hard, struggling not to lose it. He ripped his own shirt, forming it into a makeshift bandage, and pressed it hard onto the gaping wound. Lissa moaned shakily. "It's all right." Gaston said reassuringly, "It's okay, darling. I'm not going to leave you." But blood was dribbling fast through his fingers.
Lissa slid down further, gasping loudly. "Whoa, whoa!" Gaston gasped, holding her firmly, being sure to keep pressure on the oozing wound. "Easy, Sweetheart. Easy, just take it easy. It's okay." Gaston whispered, stroking her face. "I have to get you out of here. Just try to stay calm. I'll get you home, I promise."
Lissa sadly shook her head, holding tightly to his hand for dear life. She was bleeding out faster than she could breathe. "No...not this time, big brother." She said with tears. "You can't help me...this time. It's no use, you know it isn't."
"Shh. No, don't talk like that!" Gaston told her anxiously. "I'm not going to let that happen, darling. We need to get you out of here. Here, I'll take you home, just lean on me."
"It's...too late." Lissa sadly corrected him. "You can't...fix this, Gaston."
Gaston winced tearfully, shaking his head. "Noo." He panted. Clasping her feeble hand, he brought it to his lips and kissed it. He knew she was right, he knew that his sister was mere moments if not seconds from death, and it shattered him being completely helpless to do anything to help her. If only he could at least ease some of the unbearable pain she was in! But he couldn't even do that! He just stayed close to her, and held her hand. "Oh, Lissie..." He wept.
"Gaston...lis...listen to me." Lissa said with great effort. Every breath she took hurt like heck, worse than the one before. She could barely speak. "I'm going to be with Jesus...and Mother. Promise me...promise me something?"
"Anything!" Gaston said anxiously, stroking her head.
"Keep doing…the right thing...and make Mother proud."
Gaston winced, his tears falling down on her arm. "I will. I will!" He nodded. "I swear it! I promise." Gaston painfully swallowed hard. Lissa wept and Gaston rubbed her shoulder. "Shh. It's all right."
"I'll give Mother...a kiss for you." Lissa said tearfully.
"Ohhh." Gaston wept. He ran his hand along her drawn cheek.
"Please...promise me one more thing!" Lissa begged, wincing in pain.
"What is it?"
"Gaston? Tell...tell Robert...please...tell Robert...I...I love him! Please tell him! I love him." Lissa looked up at him desperately.
"I promise." Gaston said in a whisper. He kissed her temple hard. "I love you, darling."
Lissa subtly nodded. "Thanks, big brother." She smiled warmly. "Thanks for coming for me." She gazed at the ceiling, then her eyes slowly closed. Gaston shuddered as he felt the breath slowly leave her now limp body.
"Lissa? Lissa!" Gaston gasped, not wanting to believe it. He anxiously placed his ear on her chest but heard no heartbeat. "Ohhh...noo!" Gaston sobbed, stroking her face. He hovered over her. "Lissie...Ohhh, Lissie! I...I'll make you proud. I promise!"
Gaston's eyes burst open, filled with tears and he let out a cry of surprise, jerking himself upright in bed then instantly falling back as his beaten body reminded him of where he was and why. Gaston panted, glancing to his left. Sarah was peacefully curled up next to him with her back to him. Gaston tried to stifle his whimpering so not to wake her, but it was difficult. It was another dream! It had been a dream. Gaston gazed up at the high ceiling of their guest room in the castle. He was safe, his sister was safe, here they were cared for and looked after. He had saved her from that horrible fate! But the dream...it had been so real, something he'd dreaded for so long-being unable to protect her from someone trying to punish him!-, and he shuddered, knowing in his heart that Lissa would've died exactly that way, if he hadn't stopped Andre when he had!
Gaston fought to calm himself but only continued to hyperventilate. Sarah finally stirred. She turned on her side and frowned with concern. "Gaston?" She whispered. "What's the matter, dear?" Sarah sat up.
"It's...nothing." Gaston sighed heavily, but he was sweating and shaking. Sarah leaned over him.
"Are you ill?" She asked, feeling his forehead. "Should I summon the doctor?"
"No, no." Gaston quickly shook his head. "I'm fine. Just go back to sleep." Sarah scooted closer to him, pulled the coverlet back over him, and ever so gently rubbed his chest.
"You're not fine." She said firmly. "Calm down."
"This isn't necessary." Gaston protested, but inwardly her soft voice and touch began to soothe him.
"Shut up." Sarah whispered, kissing his lips. He ran his fingers through her hair then broke away. "What's troubling you? Please tell me, Gaston. I want to help you."
"Just a bad dream." Gaston shrugged. "That's all."
"But it seemed too real, didn't it?" Sarah suggested, smoothing out the sweaty hair on his forehead. Gaston finally faced her and met her ocean blue eyes. He firmly gripped her hand and kissed it.
"Oh, Sarah..." He whimpered. "Are we all really safe? Is Lissa safe? I mean, she is here, isn't she?"
"Yes." Sarah nodded. "You were just dreaming. We're all here and safe." Gaston shivered again. "Are you in pain?" Sarah looked down at him, still worried. Gaston ran his hand through his hair.
"No." He gulped. "You know? Months ago, I had a dream that someone took my sister and tried to kill her. Someone who was angry with me. He wanted revenge. But by the time I got there, it was too late. I couldn't save her! Only at the time, it hadn't felt like a dream. It had been more like some kind of dreaded premonition! And I failed her."
"You failed her in your dream. But you didn't fail her now!" Sarah told him. "You're both still alive, thank God. It was a dream, Gaston. A mere dream, made up of your deep fears. But it isn't reality." Gaston tenderly cupped her chin.
"Oh, Sarah...my angel..." he purred, finally becoming more calm, "...how could I ever get along without you?"
"You couldn't." Sarah smiled sadly. She lay next to him, resting her head on his chest, and rubbed his sternum. Gaston kissed the top of her head, and held her close, grateful for the personal, intimate contact of another. He was still quite shook up from his too realistic nightmare. And he still felt sickly responsible for what happened in the whole mess, something that would greatly burden him for years to come. But he was finally beginning to truly see and believe that he wasn't alone, anymore! He didn't deserve someone as wonderful as Sarah, but yet she loved him despite everything. He would not go through life's ups and downs alone. He had Sarah to share it with and be there for. HIs heart swelled with passion for her and her loving spirit.
Sarah was soon asleep, sweetly lulled by the sound and regular thump of his heartbeat. Gaston was awake for some time, yet the terror that had tormented him in his slumber seemed to have evaporated gradually. Gaston was finally able to sleep again after such a rough night, with his sweet wife lying on his bosom.