Sorry for the long wait. Here's chapter sixteen, containing what really happened that night, and a little bit after. This is not the end, there will be an epilogue. *C.E.L
Chapter Sixteen
When the chandelier fell, Rom was very nearly crushed, and he would've been if Eric hadn't shoved him out of the way. Rom grudgingly admitted that Eric had more or less saved his life. It took everyone a while to realize I was gone, and many people feared that I had been crushed. I would've been lost for good if it hadn't been for my landlady. She caught Ethan carrying me into his apartment and went to the theater knowing that people would be looking for me.
Rom was frantic by that point, all this time we thought it was Eric, and now we had no idea who was doing this. Mrs. Grey, my landlady, made a mistake in telling Rom where I was and who had taken me before telling the police. Rom decided not to wait for people who had weapons and training and decided to go right for me. Mrs. Grey, who knew Ethan fairly well, warned him about the bomb and showed him another entrance, through the maintenance room.
When Ethan attacked Rom, he was too surprised to really defend himself and the space was too small for him to duck and get his bearings. Once Ethan got his hands on Rom's throat the fight was over. Still, Rom was clearly a little upset about what I said. "Rom," I said, "Either way, I would've still been Ethan's captive. The way I chose, at least I didn't have to watch you die first." I didn't regret my words, even knowing that I got out, I would never regret saving Rom's life.
Now comes the moment where everything got very weird. That was the moment the police figured out the bomb trap and managed to open the door and throe in some smoke bombs. These were meant to confuse Ethan and give the police time to extract me and Rom. That plan worked out exactly as it was supposed to. Except for one thing.
"Lissie, Ethan had a rare allergic reaction to the smoke. He's blind now." I felt a wide range of emotions upon hearing those words. I was relieved to know that I was safe from Ethan. I had been wrong in thinking that Ethan had gotten away and I was happy to know that I could move on with my life. I was also a little bit sorry for Ethan. He had reacted badly to a tragic situation. I pitied him, but I didn't love him, far from it. Part of me even thought that he deserved it. I felt a little guilty for those thoughts but the wall of pictures in his room, every one of them of me, frightened too much to feel truly remorseful.
Rom had one more thing to tell me about Ethan. "He's been asking for you, Elise. You don't have to go, and no one is forcing you, quite the opposite in fact, but I thought you should know." My thoughts were still a jumbled mess, but I was sure of the decision I made.
"I'm going to go, Rom. I have to face him; I need closure for all of this." Rom nodded slowly.
"I knew you would, I know you too well." He tried for a smile, but it fell flat. It had been a hard night for him, he had been through hell and back for me, and I loved him for it.
Meaghan had gone to my apartment to get me a change of clothes. She had been pacing frantically in the waiting room and eventually my parents sent her for the clothes just to get her away. Once I was changed, I stood and slowly made my way to Ethan's room.
His eyes were bandaged and he looked very weak, vulnerable even, lying completely still on the hospital bed. One hand was cuffed to the bed, to prevent him from running, even though he couldn't see where he was going anymore.
"Elise." He said softly, "You came." I found it a little strange that he knew it was me without looking but I didn't say anything.
"Yes, I came. I came because I wanted you to know that I'm not afraid of you. You killed an innocent woman and almost killed Rom. You stalked me and threatened me and kidnapped me, but you don't scare me. You're the one who's afraid, not me. And I won't let you ruin the happiness I've yet to feel. I will continue my life as though none of this ever happened. I will live through my hardship instead of letting it destroy me, like you did. I wanted to thank you for teaching me that lesson. Life is too precious to waste on fear." I finished, proud of my little speech and pleased to find that I believed it.
"You intend to leave and never see me again, don't you? You wish to forget about me and live your life with you handsome savior and forget who he saved you from. I thought better of you Elise. I also thought that you would keep a promise. You promised to stay with me, and now you have come to me only to say that you are leaving. You admit to the betrayal to my face." His voice was full of anger and pain. But I would not throw my life away in pity for this man. I thought of Rom telling me that he loved me, and I felt stronger.
"Yes, I intend to leave, and that does mean that I am breaking my promise. I wish that I hadn't been forced to choose between love and freedom, but I was and that promise was the result. I am not ashamed to go back on a promise that I only made to save Rom's life." I took a deep breath, and felt a weight that I hadn't known I was carrying lift off my shoulders. "Goodbye, Ethan."
I turned to go, but he called out and stopped me. "Elise, please, before you go, will you sing for me? One last time." So I did.
I sang Ethan an old worship song that my mother had used as a lullaby. The words were familiar and comforting, even though I hadn't sung or heard this song since I was very small. When I finished the song, carrying the final high note until it faded into silence. I leaned down and kissed Ethan's ruined cheek, then I left, closing the door behind me. I walked away into Rom's waiting arms. I didn't look back.