Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jeremy started shooting at the guy he noticed and Jerlina sat by his feet without moving an inch. There might be others and she could take a chance and run to the armored jeep those Agent Smith followed her with, but she trusted Jeremy more.

With him knowing that she is pregnant, she knew that he would give his all to protect her.

Gerard scurried to the rock holding his gun not minding the wave of bullets flowing from everywhere. Maybe everyone was concentrating on the shooters in the higher plane, no one notice him crawling on the ground like a snake.

I will take my Jer with me!

That was the only thing that went through his mind. 

"I got him!" Jeremy squatted back and reloaded his gun. "This is the last one," he said as he loaded the gun.

"I'm sorry," Jerlina held his hand. "If only I stayed in-"

"No, don't!" Jeremy kissed her forehead. "I should have been honest with you and told you why I wanted you to stay home."

She is not an unreasonable person. If he was open with her she wouldn't have left the house. He didn't want to tell her that he planned to take down Gerard and so he kept the truth from her and now the truth bit him in the as*.

But it is fine. Nothing is lost yet! We can get through this!

"I think another one is down," Jeremy whispered. There was only one more gunshot sound coming from the woods. 

  "Is it over?" Jerlina whispered and tried to take a peek out, but Jeremy pulled her closer. 

"No, wait…" he whispered and hugged her close to his chest.

That guy might be repositioning himself to find them. He might suddenly pop in front of them. 

"Charlie!" he called.

"TJ! Gerard is gone! Be careful!" Charlie shouted. 

Jeremy kept his weapon ready in case Gerard appears in front of him. He was not thinking about anything but that moment when Gerard pointed his weapon at Jerlina is what stays in his mind. Had he known that Gerard's anger would turn at Jerlina he wouldn't have provoked Gerard.

Ugh! I am stupid! When will I ever learn to be smart? But I cannot give up.

Jerlina hugged Jeremy as she felt that something might be wrong. Of the two guys who came with Jerlina, one ran inside the woods to catch the guy who is left and the other went to check if all the other guys are dead and to find any clues as to who sent them.

Charlie took his eyes off Gerard for a moment but he lost him in that short time. And so he ran around searching for him.

Jerlina's heart started to pound and maybe she was stressed and was crouching for a long time, her lower abdomen started to hurt. And she started feeling giddy. Her forehead started to perspire. And she found it weird that no one from the pub was coming in this direction even after this many gunshot sounds.

Cops… When will they come here? Someone should have dialed the emergency number, right?

But there was no movement and she couldn't bear it anymore.

"Joel," she pulled his sleeve. "I don't feel very good."

"Oh, Jeryl," Jeremy pulled her closer and wiped her forehead.

Leaning on him, she waited to see if they are finding Gerard. They waited for what seemed to be years but no one could find out where Gerard is.

"Joel… Shall I try?" Jerlina asked.

She knew Gerard pointed at her to kill her and she thought at that moment that he will kill her. But deep inside she had a feeling that he is not such a person. Just like she tried to kill Emma out of rage, Gerard might have done the same. But he won't do that for real. She knows that guy. He won't kill her.

Whether it was because of the loss of oxygen supply to her brain after crouching for long, or because of her hormones that go haywire because of her pregnancy, she decided to take care of matters into her own hand.

"NO!" Jeremy held her hand. He didn't think that she would come up with such a stupid idea.

"It's fine, Joel. Trust me," Jerlina patted his hand.

"Gerard!" she shouted.

Jeremy covered her mouth. But she pulled his hand out and tried to stand up.

"Gerard, let's talk!" she shouted.

"Jeryl, just shut up!" Jeremy pulled her back and spoke gritting his teeth."He's not-"

"Jer!" 

Gerard's voice was heard and Jerlina stood up not minding Jeremy pulling her back.

"Gerard, how are you?" Jerlina asked in the direction of Gerard's voice. In the dark woods, she could barely see his silhouette. 

"Jer…" 

Gerard's voice broke and as a gust of wind blew, the leaves got displaced and the moonlight seeped through and she saw his figure. She didn't fail to notice the glint on the metallic object he had in his hand.

The wind whooshed and it seemed like it is whispering something. The moonlight was bright and yet for those in that pub, the scent of spring was not enjoyable.

"Gerard, show your face," she took a step forward. "Let us talk."

Jeremy gritted his teeth and held his gun closer behind his back. His wife has a mind of her own and that doesn't mean he won't protect her. He saw Gerard stepping forward.

"Talk? Let's talk!" Gerard shouted. "Come here."

"You step forward, Gerard. Let me see your face," Jerlina said. 

Jeremy gritted his teeth. He was not at all impressed by his wife's words. But he saw the guys who followed Jerlina getting closer to Gerard from both sides. And Charlie had positioned himself where he is at the right spot to shoot Gerard if necessary.

"Jer! Come here! That guy is having a gun. He will hurt you," Gerard said. He still stayed in the dark unwilling to come to the light.

"No, he won't Gerard. Just go home and take a rest!"

Jerlina hoped he'd leave. He did a lot of stupid things but he thinks he did it all for his love for her. She wanted to set him free. She wanted to try one more time to tell him that she has no feelings for him anymore.

"Home?" Gerard's voice broke and Jerlina fisted his hands as she heard sobs. "No place makes me feel like home anymore, Jer… I lost my home after I left you… You were the one who made that little apartment into my home. It was our home… Just come with me, Jer. Let's go back… Let's go back…"

Jerlina took in a deep breath. "I'm sorry I can't, Gerard… You know-"

"Can't or won't, Jer? Can't you forgive me?" he asked and his sobs reduced as his tone went deep. "I am here like a crazy person. I lost myself for you. Can't you come with me?"

Jeremy pulled her back and Jerlina sensed that Gerard is not fine. And she stepped back.

"Don't lose yourself for me, Gerard," Jerlina added. "You too will find your happiness."

"Happiness?" Gerard's scoff echoed in that empty parking spot. "Are you happy without me?"

Jerlina didn't know if she should respond to this question. Jeremy pulled her behind him and she decided to end it all.

"I am happy, Gerard. Like I said that day. I have everything I ever hoped for and-"

"No!" Gerard shouted. "How can you be happy without me? You lie!" 

  Jerlina stepped backward. She sensed that Gerard is beyond any reasoning and it is useless talking to him.

At that time, they heard sirens and cop cars were approaching them. She saw Gerard getting disoriented hearing the sirens. Leaning on a tree, he rubbed his face. She could see that he is in great distress and she pitied him.

"Jer, come with me," Gerard pleaded and Jerlina thought he was asking her to get closer. 

But she was not planning on stepping forward. She hid behind Jeremy instinctively. 

"Jer!" Gerard shouted. "I need you to come with me!"

"Oh, Shut up!" Jeremy shouted and as Jerlina watched Gerard suddenly pointed his gun squarely at Jeremy.

"Give her to me!"

"No!" Jeremy pointed his weapon at Gerard and there was a stalemate as both of them didn't back off.

"I am pregnant, Gerard," Jerlina stepped forward suddenly and shouted out of nowhere. 

"No! Lies! Lies!" Gerard shouted.

His heart started to palpitate and his hands shook. His chest heaved up and down and his legs became restless. He started to panic.

He wouldn't believe that. His Jer wouldn't have slept with that guy. Like he stayed pure, his Jer would have stayed pure and waited for him too. 

He told her to trust him. She even agreed with him and planned revenge against that guy. How would she get pregnant? She is not telling the truth!

"It is the truth, Gerry. I am pregnant with Jeremy's baby!" Jerlina shouted. "I love him. I love Joel. I love him very much!"

Jeremy gritted his teeth. He wondered how she turned this stupid. With heart filled with panic, he tried to step in front of her. 

*Bang* *Bang*

Jeremy heard the bullets and turned to his side.

"Noooo! Jeryl!"