Niall clasped a hand over his neck. She didn't have the strength to cut deeply, but the breadth of it was sufficient to do the job. Blood poured out from around his clutched hand, and he collapsed sideways to the ground. As he fell, he grabbed at her sleeve with his other hand and she dropped to her knees next to him, trying to free herself from his grip.
She did her best to avoid it, but she couldn't help looking into his eyes.
There was no malice there, as she would have expected. Instead, his eyes seemed to hold fear, pain, and sorrow. His grip on her sleeve released and he grabbed her hand instead, clutching it like it was his salvation. He tapped it against his chest and mouthed something to her, making choking sounds that grew more and more muffled. His insistent look captured her and he tried mouthing the words one more time.
"You're sorry?" she asked, trying to watch the movement of his lips.
He nodded and his mouth gaped for a moment as he tried to draw breath. His body shook in spasms and fear was in his eyes again.
He was clearly terrified at passing, the thought of death having no sense of peace with it.
She could give him peace; even if it was a lie.
"I forgive you," she whispered. "I forgive you."
His clutch about her hand tightened in response and he looked up at her with relief. As the labor of his breathing grew, she couldn't help feeling a loss at this, a horror at what she'd done.
She held his hand until the grip loosened completely and his eyes stared unseeing into the sky.
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In the Shadows~zayn au~Completed ✅EDITING
Fanfiction~Life's not fair when love could start a war~ A timeless tale of forbidden love emerges in the 1650s. And their love not only affects them, but the future of their warring nations. How is there time for love when the fate of a country rests in one's...
