Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring Novel

Chapter 189 Chapter 189 3.96 % 13 Annie jolted awake at the sound of relentless pounding against her door .

Her breath hitched in her throat ; her body went rigid with fear .

No ! no ! no ! no ! Not yet ! Her heart pounded loudly in her ears as she rummaged through the dimly lit room.

Shadows were jumping around cracked walls and playing into her paranoia .

Shed hidden so well , covering up her tracks so carefully, and yet , somehow they had outsmarted her .

Her fingers clamped over her mouth , stifling the panicked breaths threatening to betray her .

The knocking grew louder , more insistent .

It was aggressive .

Determined .

They were coming for her .

Heart hammering , she threw off the thin sheet and scrambled out of bed .

With trembling hands , she snatched her scattered clothes off the floor and yanked them on .

There was no time to waste .

She had to get out now .

Her mind raced with escape plans , but none seemed viable .

The door had been her only way out , and that was no longer an option .

And suddenly , it clicked .

The window ! She whirled toward it and flung aside the curtains .

The drop wasnt too high if she jumped and landed right , she could run , disappear again before they caught her .

She reached over and snatched up a few pieces of yesterday bread from the bedside table and jammed them into her pockets .

She had no idea when she would eat good food again , but for now , survival was all that mattered .

Just as she was about to hoist herself up , the door exploded off its hinges .

Wood splintered into the air , crashing onto the floor in jagged pieces .

Annie recoiled ; her breath caught in her throat as a towering figure stepped through the wreckage .

A man .

A man with broad shoulders , and a presence that filled the room .

His sharp features shone in the dim flickering light .

His eyes , dark as coal unemotional and calculating cut into hers and pinned her in place .

Power seeped off him , a palpable weight of dominance .

He was deadly .

Lethal .

And he had come for her .

1/3 08:40 Wed , 12 Feb Chapter 189 Her lips trembled ; nothing came from them .

She tried to force words out , and still , only managed a weak swallow .

Then , in a voice low and menacing , to the extent it sent a shiver down her spine , he spoke .

Annie .

A slow , deliberate pause .

Long time no see .

It was the most terrifying voice she had ever heard .

ΑΑΑΑΑ 96 % 1 Jeremy ran to catch up , his voice rising high with urgency .

Jakes lost his bloody mind ! He cant be serious about what hes just said ! But John said nothing , didnt even slacken his pace .

His jaw was locked so tightly it could have cracked under the pressure , his fists opening and closing , as if he were physically restraining himself from punching a wall or worse , punching Jake .

The words his older brother had spat at him still echoed in his brain .

Hed sacrificed his entire existence to back him up and get his trust but now it only felt as if the floor just got ripped right from his feet , throwing him into free fall of betrayal .

His only pillar of strength : believing in family had shattered , and it wreckage was slicing deeper than any physical wound .

Catching his breath , James spoke between deep breaths .

We cannot just let Jake continue to walk all over us .

You see what happened today : even with Father still alive , he has completely taken over .

And mark my words , John , he will do everything in his power to make sure Father never recovers .

John let out a sharp breath and flung his head back towards the sky , as if to searching for some answers from the darkening clouds above .

His hands quivered at his sides , his mind whirling with thoughts , none good .

Could it really be true , that Jake , their eldeso brother , the brother in whom they had once placed all their trust was so far gone hed rather see their family destroyed than at peace ? The very thought made Johns stomach heave .

Jeremys said in silence tone , but neither did it lose its urgency .

We need to do something .

Now .

Before its too late .

Without another word , John got into Jeremys passenger seat .

His silence spoke volumes more than any shouted fight , the simmering rage bubbling over .

The ride back to their mothers was somber and quiet ; Even Jeremy , usually the one to fill the silence with nervous chatter , kept his lips pressed into a thin line .

And as they walked inside , their mother was already awaiting them at the door .

Her eyes were red and swollen and filled despiracy .

She looked into their eyes for some good news .

But she found none .

Her knees almost gave in after seeing this .

Her breath hitched as John looked away .

She stumbled backward , collapsing onto the couch with a strangled sob torn from her throat .

Where did I go wrong ? she whispered , her fingers digging into the material covering her body .

Where did I fail him ? No one has an answer .

John fisted his hands at his sides , his gaze on the woman who had given them everything who had loved them , no matter how undeserving they were .

And now she was breaking in front of them , blaming herself for a monster she didnt create .

08:40 Wed , 12 Feb.

Chapter 189 Something inside of him snapped .

This wasnt just about their father anymore .

3.96 % Jake had turned their home into a war zone .

And if a war was what he wanted , he was going to get one .

AAAAA Vivian knelt beside Ethan , handing him a small cup of ice cream .

Here , sweetheart , she said softly , brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead .

You need to eat something .

Ethan took the cone in his small hands and just stared for a long while .

He was not hungry .

How could he be , with his sister lying pale and unmoving in a hospital bed ? Even though the doctors had saved her for now , everyone kept whispering words he didnt understand .

He ftook a small lick of the ice cream ; he didnt want to disappoint anyone , and most of all , Vivian .

She had been babysitting him since their arrival , making sure that he was fine while the others were oncerned with Emilys welfare .

I wanna look around the hospitial , Ethan said childishly .

Vivian demurred for a moment and considered the youngster .

His brown eyes were wide , innocent , and full of an energy she wished she could protect forever .

With a reluctant sigh , she weighed her decision .

After all , he had been stuck in the hospital for hours on end , with worried adults staring at him from every corner , so maybe letting him go wouldnt do any harm .

She cast a look at the guards : Allow him some walk , but keep him in your sight , she ordered , and then faced Ethan : And you be back soon , okay ?