The dreadful night - II

Regan was pacing in the room while Jack and Emily were seated on the couch. Drake was constantly in contact with the cops with the detail of each step that could lead them to Anna. Jack and Drake had tried to pacify him but it seemed as if he had lost all his senses after knowing about Anna. He was a raging beast who was fuming with uncontrollable anger when Zander arrived at his place with a huge bandage around his arm. He was shot on his arm that had left him bleeding and numb for a while. After Anna was abducted, he somehow managed to call Regan before slipping into unconsciousness. Vowing to fix his apprehensions, he reached to Regan's pent house as soon as he got back his senses to assist in the situation with his best as he was disappointed with himself for once again failing to protect her. He informed Regan about the phone call and how they were misled by the false information. It was all planned and he was sure that somehow the phone calls were tampered as he could reach no one to confirm his suspicion about his accident. Owing to Anna's worry, he took her to that place where she had sprinted to look for him and before he could stop her to warn to be careful, he was shot and she was taken away.

Regan regretted to avoid Anna throughout the day. Only if he had been with her, she would have been with him…..He was so into his dilemma and hurt by the things he saw that he missed the fact that she had ignored to take the extra guards with her that day. He was about to smash the table lamp when he got a call from the cops informing him that Anna's location was traced and he took no time to move away from their empty home that was killing him with her absence. He didn't even want to imagine of what might have happened to her in those three hours. He was just praying to reach her at the earliest. Before he could make his way out of the door, he was stopped by Emily. He turned to find her standing behind him while bawling her eyes out.

"I think you should know about this."

She gave him the ring that Anna used to wear on her ring finger. His brows twitched on realizing that it belonged to Ashton's and he was aware of how precious was it for her.

"She removed it yesterday night Regan. She kept it in the drawer before leaving with you."

She didn't say further and let her words sink in his mind. Regan looked at the ring in his hand. Realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. His eyes widened and he moved his sight towards Emily to confirm his uncertainty. She nodded and held his hand.

"Please bring her back safe Regan."

Instead of replying her, he streaked out to get her back.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------Anna's eyes widened as she moved back, eventually scrambling back so fast that she fell over. Before she could register the pain from the fall, she felt herself shuddering with the sinister laugh that echoed in the vacant room. She knew what he was capable to do with her. Her past where he snatched away her everything in front of her eyes clogged her mind so much that she didn't realize when he came close to her and bent down to match her level. She was told that he was put behind the bars for his deeds but his presence made her realize how she might have been deceived by the lies from Richard and Emily in all those years. She was scared would be an understatement, but her fear was more for Regan, of what would have happened to him. She didn't even want to think about something happening to him or losing him.

"Where....Where is Regan?"

Her voice quivered showing how scared she was to utter any word, but she mustered everything that was left in her to know if he was alright. She was ready to face her fate but wanted to know if Regan was fine.

Kent's laughter died as he heard Regan's name from her mouth. He gripped her jaw bringing her face closer to him as she struggled against his hold.

"Too bad to say that your so called husband is fuc**** fine little one. But can't tell till when." He smirked on watching her turning more pale than she already was. "How can he be fine when he knows that I took you away from right under his nose. He fuc**** challenged me.....But look at me. I got you little one. Again. Well, I must appreciate him for the amazing security that he set around you. He indeed made it a tad difficult for me. But I like challenges and accepted it. I was just waiting for the right time to get you, and here you are."

His grip loosened a bit and she pushed herself back to create a distance between them, but he was quick to notice it as he harshly clasped her hair in a painful grip which made her whimper in pain.

"Not again little one. Not this time. I am not letting you go until I am done with you. Those Watsons were always a pain in my ass. I couldn't understand how they could live so happily as a one big family after ruining mine. But no…..I was wrong. It was you who bothered me more than them."

A painful sob escaped her lips when he pulled her scalp and made her stood with him. His face lit up with an evil smirk at her pain as he continued. "I feel pity to see a beauty like you in so much pain."

He moved his knuckles along her jaw making her flinch. His other hand pulled her harshly towards him as he continued his assault and moved his hand towards her neck, gradually bending his head in the crook of her neck. Tears pooled in her eyes as she silently begged him to leave her.

"Please leave me. What have I done to you? Please let me go."

He chuckled darkly, and leaned away.

"It was very simple Anastasia. I wanted my revenge from them. I wanted to destroy that bas***'s family like he did mine. My plan worked when your dear Ashton started blaming Richard for his mother's death and hated him with all his guts. I could have easily moved further while targeting Emily, but no... you had to come in between. Why Anastasia? Why did you mend their relation? You not only did that but you let him know my intentions and they cut all their ties with me leaving me alone. That day in Seattle.....I had intended to finish my revenge by killing Ashton, but he brought you there. I don't mind to admit that I failed to notice your importance in their lives. The way he wanted to protect you from me, the way he wanted to hide you from me, the way he fought with me…..for you, his overprotectiveness for you…..Made me want to possess you in front of him….. to break him more than he already was because he knew and he had realized that there was no way for him to get you away from my clutches. I would have had my way with you if I was not interrupted by that so called dad of yours who arrived with the cops and got me arrested. I had to sort for the only option that came into my mind to save myself from going behind the bars. I had to act as a mentally retarded person and spent the precious three years of my life in that fuc**** asylum. I would have not mind that if that Richard Watson had got what I wanted him to get.....the pain of losing his beloved son, you.....his everything. But you ruined my plans bit**. You stood for him and gave him everything he lost. You took away the pain that I wanted him to feel on losing his dear son. You stood beside him like his darling daughter making me hate you more with every passing moment."

"How can you think that he was not affected by what you did? How can you say that he wasn't hurt on losing his son?" Anna didn't held back this time. She was shocked to hear him. Although she was aware about his hatred for Richard, she felt disgusted by his words and couldn't stop herself from giving him a piece of mind.

"He felt and went through every pain that you gave him by playing with his emotions, by betraying his trust, by killing Ashton. But he still stood strong and faced everything for me and Emily. You know why? Because he wasn't a coward like you. He accepted the truth unlike you. He loved you as his own son Kent, saved you from the dark world that you were a part of. He sent your dad to jail for he deserved that, otherwise who knows you might have become the victim of his evil deeds too. How could you think so low? How could you be so evil? The man whom you hate so much treated you as his own son. You lost the chance that life gave you with your own deeds. You ruined yourself Kent. You are the reason for your destruction.....for your poor fate.....for your....."

He slapped her harshly and she landed on the floor with its impact. Her head collided with the hard floor leaving it in a bleeding state.

"Shut up you bi***. I see how your little mouth has started talking shit."

Her face crumpled with pain, tears welled up in her eyes with blood dripping from the corner of her mouth, she looked at him with all the strength she had in and sniggered at his atrocious behavior.

"Truth hurts Kent. You wanted your revenge from dad. You killed Ashton. You wanted to destroy me too, but what have you done to yourself? Just look at you."

Before she could utter a word further, he started slamming his leg in her stomach. She covered it with her hands to defend herself from the endless blows but with the final kick into her ribs, she felt as if the air escaped her lungs as she breathed heavily. She was bruised all over but still tried to push herself up to protect herself, but her breath catched at the sharp pain in her ribs. He once again clasped her hair harshly, and clutched the upper sleeve of her dress tightly ripping it away from her tiny frame. She writhed in agony for a moment before finally stammering a few words.

"Kill me if you want, but please don't do this to me."

She whimpered on her pitiful state as she remembered Regan and closed her eyes shut to overcome the unbearable pain and humility that she felt was a part of her harsh fate which she was unable to escape. In that moment, if she wanted or wished something, then it was to be in Regan's embrace to feel the warmth of his love. Tears streamed down her face as she remembered how happy she was a few hours back to confess her feelings for him, but her plight at the moment compelled her to think if she would even survive to see him for one last time before losing herself against the devil who was all over her like a ravenous predator. This time, the pain she felt was unendurable. Unable to take it more, she wanted to succumb to death to bring an end to her endless misfortune. She felt Kent's hand tightening around her throat. The memory of her past flooded her mind as she withered in pain and lack of air. She cried and he seethed, shattering her more than she already was.

She felt those moments like ages before the weight was pulled off her with a force. She gradually opened her blurry eyes and saw the reason of her misery being insanely beaten and battered by a hazy silhouette. She heard the numerous footsteps that crowded the space around her. She could hardly make out the faint images and loud noises but sighed eventually when she realized one of it lurching on Kent.

"Regan?"

She extended her hand towards his direction and whispered, still unsure about his presence. Although, her voice was low, it was enough to draw Regan's attention who seemed to had gone insane on Kent's hands all over her and her condition. He instantly rushed towards her pushing him back to collide with the wall and held her hand before bringing it to his lips kissing it all over to assure that he had come over for her and there was nothing to worry about anything now. Kent was immediately handled by Drake followed by the cops.

Regan gathered Anna in his arms as she groaned in pain making him realize about her bruised state.

"I am sorry heart. I am sorry to leave you..... I am sorry in failing to protect you."

"You came. I thought that I won't be able to see you again."

Anna said with a faint smile feeling the warmth that she was yearning for so long.

"Anna...You need a doctor. The ambulance is on the way. Just stay with me heart. Please."

"I just need you."

Shaking his head on her statement, he admonished her softly.

"Why did you left without the security? Why did you believe that fake phone call? Why did you have to be so stupid?"

"I was worr.....worried about you. I thought I.....I lost.....lost you."

"Not a chance. At least not in this lifetime. You are stuck with me forever. You know that right?"

She lifted her hand to wipe the tears that flowed through his eyes.

"You didn't pick up my calls. I wanted to come to you but....."

"I am sorry for my ignorance baby. I am sorry for everything. Stay with me please."

She shook her head as she said hoarsely with drooping eyelids, "I am tired Regan. I am tired for fighting.....for so long. I want to sleep now."

"Don't you dare close your eyes Anastasia. Keep your eyes open."

"Always so.....so boss.....bossy Mr. Knight."

She said with a faint smile and he once again shook his head on looking at her worsening condition.

"Don't leave me heart. I won't be able to live without you love. Please stay strong for me. One last time Anna. Fight for me please."

"I won't....leave you ever.....I promise. I.....I lo....." She couldn't complete the words as her world turned dark, barely breathing at all.