Chapter 2
As Dax pried at the rubble, small pieces began to fall.
I couldn't bear the thought, "How much pain would my mom be in if that slab came down?"
I lost it. I shoved Dax away with all my strength.
Rubble scattered everywhere.
He stumbled, caught only because Maeve rushed in to steady him.
His eyes darkened instantly, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Talia! Don't push me..."
Before he could finish, he stared in disbelief as I slammed my head hard against a rock.
Blood poured from my forehead, covering half my face in red.
I screamed, "You don't believe my mom is under there? Then I'll bet my life on it!"
Pointing to the slab, tears and blood streaming together, I shouted, "Just listen! She's knocking, begging for help! Why won't you believe me?!"
My vision went black from the blood loss. I collapsed, gasping for air.
Dax rushed over, looking stunned, and pulled me up with a conflicted expression.
A moment later...
Maeve pouted, then sighed softly, "Well, since it's come to this, Dax, you should go check."
She bit her lip and turned her head away. "Fluffy's strong. He can wait."
Dax opened his mouth, then reached out to stroke her head gently. "You really are the kindest."
He gave me a cold, annoyed glance before reluctantly going to the other side.
He crouched down and pressed his ear to the slab.
I let out a deep breath, holding back my dizziness.
I moved to help lift the slab with him, silently praying, "Please hang in there, Mom."
But the moment I reached his side, a force shoved me hard, slamming me face-first into the concrete.
My arms and face were instantly shredded by exposed steel wires.
From behind, Dax roared, "Listen for yourself! Do you hear anything?!"
[Dax is so alpha. Can't wait to see how he pushes Maeve onto the bed later. That's gonna be hot.]
[Talia's mom must've passed out by now. Looks like she's not making it.]
[She's just a side character anyway. Everything exists to serve Maeve and Dax's happiness.]
Panic surged inside me.
My head throbbed so badly. I couldn't hear a thing.
There really was no sound anymore.
On the other side, Maeve suddenly started whimpering, looking tearfully at Dax, "Dax... Fluffy's crying is getting fainter. Is he dying? What do we do?!"
Dax immediately started to walk towards her.
"No!" I grabbed his hand.
"My mom's passed out. We can't wait any longer. Please help me save her!"
My voice was shaking so badly from fear that I could barely form words.
Dax paused, then laughed in disbelief.
"Talia, you'll say anything just to fight with Maeve, huh? If your mom was really down there, she'd be screaming for help."
He slammed my head against the slab.
Leaning close, his breath hot on my ear, he whispered, "Maybe your mom just can't scream. Did the old hag lose her voice?"
He stood up, checked his watch, and scoffed, "I've wasted ten minutes on you. If Fluffy dies because of you, you can forget about marrying me."
Then he stormed off to Maeve, gently wiping her tears.
"Don't worry, Fluffy's gonna be okay."
Maeve nodded hard, looking up at him like he was her savior.
"Don't blame her, Dax. It's my fault. I upset her and dragged Fluffy into this..."
I stared numbly at the blood and tears on the concrete.
My mom's gentle face flashed in my mind.
She once held my hand, so full of love. "Talia, you're grown up now. Whoever you choose to marry, as long as you're happy, that's enough for me."
I thought, "No. Without her, I'm not happy at all.
God, I regret everything. I regretted being so blind, only seeing their true colors now.
I wish I could hold my mom."
"Mom... just hang on, please. I'll get you out of there. Don't leave me. I'm begging you."
I was out of my mind, blinking furiously through the tears.
I dug with both hands, even when they were raw and bleeding.
When Dax finally brought some villagers over, they saw me kneeling there, clawing at the rubble with my bare hands, carving a hole with nothing but sheer desperation.
My fingernails were torn halfway off, barely hanging by a thread of dead skin. My hands were mangled beyond recognition.