To be honest, I finished this a few days ago. But I couldn't stop editing it. I kept thinking "AAH LAST CHAPTERS IT MUST BE PERFECT!" So I spent a whole lot of time on it, haha.
This time, I'm giving you two chapters. Well, really one chapter and an epilogue. Not just because it's torture for maybe you, but because it also would be torture for me to leave the epilogue dangling for another few more days.
Thank you for reading, reviewing, favouriting, alerting, for everything.
ENJOY. :D

Chapter Sixteen

I feel faint as Altaïr pushes past shocked Templars roaming the corridors. Some try to halt him with their weapons, some succeeding, evident from each time Altaïr falters. Pain shoots through my body relentlessly, stopping me from doing anything except watching everything unfold around me. My mind is filled with guilt an arrow plunges past us, just grazing Altaïr's shoulder. If it weren't for me and for my ignorance, we wouldn't be in this situation.
"I'm sorry," I whisper, just as Altaïr bursts out of the hallway and into the outskirts of nighttime Acre.
"Just hang on Khara," he answers back, his voice strained.
I focus on watching the twinkling stars in the night sky slowly pass us in an attempt to calm myself down. The shouts of angry Templars drift through the open air as Altaïr runs forward, still quite far from Acre. Nobody is around us, probably all asleep at this time of day. I try to keep my breathing even but it's not long before I start breaking down, my breath coming out in little gasps.
"I don't think I can," I reply before bursting into tears. Because I actually can't. All I can feel is pain, physical and emotional. Emotional because were so close to finally being together, and I'm so close to free the love for Altaïr that I've locked away. So close, but I feel like I can't do it anymore.
"I don't think I can make it," I whisper again when he doesn't respond.
Altaïr's tears drop onto my limp body as he continues to run. "You have to."
"It hurts so much." All I can feel is pain, pain, pain. I can't die now. I'm so close to being with Altaïr. So close to that happy ending that I never got. I have to, but I can't. I can't, I can't.
Agonising pain shoots through my body again, reminding me that my death may be imminent. I try to compose myself and choke out the words I've been meaning to say for months.
"I love you."
Altaïr looks down at me, his expression hidden under the shadow of his hood. "I love you too."
I feel myself slipping away and I try not to close my eyes, clinging onto my life. Something bigger is pushing at me, tugging at me. Whispering to me, let go. I grab a handful of Altaïr's robe as the hushed voices try to seize me.
"If I die-"
"You won't."
Altaïr places me cautiously on the ground and I reluctantly release my grip on his robe. I watch through bleary eyes as he sprints forward towards the guards looming in the entrance of the city gates. After a while he returns, his hands this time smeared with not just my blood.
I wish his words were true. I wish I could believe them. But I know what state I'm in. And I know that if I hesitate any longer, I might never get the chance to say what I need to say.
"If I die, I need you to promise something."
Altaïr doesn't try to cut in so I continue.
"Promise me you'll keep living. Promise me that you'll find someone else. Promise me you'll try and be happy. Take a leap of faith for me like I did for you."
"I will, for you," he replies.
But still he continues to run, believing in the hope that this isn't the end. I feel useless as I watch him cling to the lie that I will live.
"I love you," I whisper again, the lump in my throat making my words strained. "I love you so much."
Altaïr now slows down to a walk, staring at the distance in front of him before taking a closer look at me. He stays silent, watching my eyes as they blink away moisture, my lips quivering and bloody. I can't tell what he's feeling because his expression is hidden in the shadow of his hood. All I can see are tears running out of the darkness, dripping slowly onto the floor.
Finally, Altaïr completely stops and softly settles me on the ground. He leans down, kissing me lightly on the lips before gently pushing strands of hair away from my face. His voice cracks as he looks lovingly down at me, tears dripping onto my neck.
"I love you too."
I try to push his hood back but I feel to weak to do it. Realising what I'm trying to do, Altaïr does it for me, revealing his heartbroken expression. Revealing his anger, his struggle. Because he has finally realised that any efforts to save me will be useless. That he can't hope forever. That hope can be the most powerful thing in the world but still not powerful enough to instantly save the most critical physical suffering.
"Don't leave me, Khara," he whispers. "Please, please."
I start to cry even more because the person I love has to endure the emotional pain with me. I don't want him to. But I can't be saved.
"I love you, Altaïr," I say again. "So much. Don't forget it. Don't ever forget it."
The whispers are deafening now, so many voices that they cloud my thoughts completely. Altaïr says something back at me, but I can't hear him. I'm drifting away quickly now because I'm not struggling.
I take one last look Altaïr, imprint that image in my mind, and let my eyes close fully. The voices are like shouts. So many voices now that I can't differentiate one from the other or make out any words. I ignore the whispers and drift away, away from all the pain. Away from life.
But also away from the person I love. Away from Altaïr.
I feel my heart break, but I'm already too distant to realise it.