Ned's POV

Oh no...I have no option left to escape now...am I really going to die right here? Yes, my plan was successful, but it doesn't seem that this rogue is going to let me go.

"...It's, therefore, no surprise that no one dares come near it or that side of the forest."

The rogue is blabbering on foolishly, not even thinking why I'm making him talk! Well, really, these criminals are too foolish...But it's always good for us victims, right?

It would have been, if the man wasn't going to shoot at me the next moment.

"Well, I hope you're satisfied now, because even if you're not, you're going to die."

Oh no, I need to get away from here...if not for myself, then for Ashlee. I can't let her see a brutal killing take place right before her eyes, or feel guilty about it later in any way!

I retreat a few steps back, but only to realize that the other two goons are surrounding me well, and even if I try, I can't get around that fast between them and run away to safety.

With no other option left, I know I'm really going to die this very moment, unless a miracle happens. Which, I think, has no reason to occur.

"Wait, look, you can't do this...I -" I start, only to be cut off by the sound of a gunshot.

Or wait, did I hear two gunshots simultaneously? Of course, no - I'm nearing death, and my mind is just playing tricks on me...

I close my eyes, waiting for the pain to come. Waiting for the bullet to pierce my chest. Waiting to collapse on the forest floor, lifeless...

But before I go, I want to tell something to someone.

I love you, Ashlee. I loved you till my last breath...

***

Ashlee's POV

My right hand is shaking as I raise it to point my gun at the goon's left hand, which is holding his revolver. As soon as I see him starting to press in on the trigger of his weapon, I pull the trigger of my own, and hit the target spot-on.

The sound of two gunshots is heard, as the bullet from my revolver grazes the top of Henry's hand, making him wince at the last moment so that the direction of the bullet from his gun changes and the bullet is fired a bit to Ned's left. As soon as the shot is fired, Henry drops his gun and holds his hand with the other, in pain, as his idiot accomplices rush to him with worry.

I sigh in relief, and smile seeing Ned, who's opened his eyes now and is staring wide-eyed at me, now visible from behind the bush as I'm standing. I quickly hold up the gun for him to see, and tell him to start running.

But Ned collects his wits quickly and dives to catch the goon's revolver, now lying on the ground, before any of them have a clue of what's going on.

Fast as lightning, he grabbed the gun in his hands, and pointed it toward the wretches.

"Hands up! I'm not afraid to shoot, you hear? Don't try anything with me, I'll waste no time to fire." he says in a threatening tone, but the uncertainty that lies underneath it can only be caught by me.

At this moment, I step out of the bush I was hiding behind, and pointing my own gun towards the rogues, I walk to stand by Ned's side, holding his arm with my free hand and squeezing it ever so slightly, to assure him everything's going to be alright now.

The goons, frightened at the turn of event, meekly obey Ned's orders and put their hands up. I notice that Henry's hands are covered with a little blood at the top, and I wince from the inside. I never thought I'd have to use my shooting skills for real, when I was under training for it, at 13 years of age. My father had insisted that I learn how to shoot, if I ever needed it for self-defense, because according to him, the world wasn't as safe as it used to be, anymore. How right he'd been!

Suddenly, we hear another gunshot from somewhere in front of us, inside the forest, and we look at each other in alarm, wondering the same thing - are there more of these goons here?

But our doubt is quickly cleared as four men in Police uniform enter the clearing in a near-run, with their own revolvers in their hands. "Stand still, all of you! And drop all your weapons to the ground. Now!" One of them shouted, looking at me and Ned, and we dropped our guns without the slightest of hesitation.

"Officer, please arrest these men, they are the gold smugglers you've been looking for." Ned says confidently.

"Really? And do you have any proof of it?" The officer asks, surprise evident in his tone.

"Yes, Sir, we do," I say, and take out my phone from my jeans pocket, unlocking it and opening the video I'd recorded, simultaneously moving over to hand it to the Police Officer. His colleagues cover the criminals with their guns, and he lowers his own gun, which was pointed at me and Ned before, to have a look at my phone.

He plays the video and looks on with an astonished expression at it. Yes, I'd recorded the whole confession of the criminals as they were bragging about it to Ned!

Ned also comes over to watch it, and smiles with satisfaction. When it's ended, the Policeman barks orders to his colleagues to arrest the trembling men and take them to the Police Station. After they have taken the men out of the clearing, the Officer starts speaking.

"My dear children, you've done an absolutely wonderful, unbelievable thing! I'm so proud of you. You risked your own lives to catch these criminals red-handed. But for now, you'll have to come to the Station with us to get your statements against these men recorded. Your parents are anxiously waiting for you as well; I'm sure you two are the children whom they reported missing since morning. Ah! Wouldn't they be glad to see you and hear about your adventure? Come on, now, follow me."

He says, and turns around to exit the clearing, me and Ned following him happily.

"Ashlee, I can't understand one thing. Where did you get that gun from? And, you didn't tell me you know how to shoot, and that too so well! But, first of all...Thank you, Ashlee. You saved my life. I don't know how I can ever return the favor."

"Oh, Ned! How could I have let anything happen to you? You...I...umm..." I start, but end up blushing.

"What, Ashlee? Tell me..." Ned asks, curiously.

"Ned, I love you." I stop walking, and look deep into his hazel eyes as I speak those words, the truest words I've ever uttered in my life.

He gazes deep into my eyes then, stopping, too, and it seems like his stare is penetrating my soul. He holds my hands in his big, warm ones. My heart flutters and explodes into a thousand butterflies as he replies, "I love you, too, Ashlee."

And saying that, he envelops me into an affectionate hug. I simply melt in his arms.

§

Do I need to say anything more now? ;)

And no, the story hasn't ended yet, just to avoid any confusions about it! :P

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