Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 84: An Old Game

Chapter 84: An Old Game

Talia could still hear the sound of the bullet released from the other building as she was focusing on getting to Fred.

As she bent slightly she could feel it pass right near her face stunning her.

’Why is Fred shooting at me? If I was standing upright, it would have hit my heart! ’

*Bang*

Another bullet swished right beside her face. Talia, standing upright now, couldn’t hear anything but that bullet passing beside her. Her ears hurt. She didn’t hear the loud reverberating noise of the helicopter engines and rotors landing behind her.

Waves after waves of heavy wind hit her and she felt so tired and she can’t even stand straight and swayed along the wind like a branch of a tree during a storm passing by.

But still she didn’t want to look away from the man shooting at her. She wanted to confirm if it was him.

It really was Fred!

It really was the same man who hugged her, kissed her and confessed his love to her the day before!

It really was her Freddy bear!

She was confused if she is dreaming or currently living in some other reality!

Did I travel to another dimension like in those sci-fi movies?

*Bang*

Another bullet ended up hitting the ground, half meter in front of her. She still didn’t move as she was looking at Arthur.

His wide chest she wanted to seek asylum was hidden as he stood sideways. For her it felt like he was saying it had no place for her. His left hand that still had the wedding band was pointing the weapon at her and his right hand that liked to touch her always was behind his back.

His emerald eyes so deep that she’d feel like sinking in the love it held wasn’t the same now. They looked sharp, didn’t even have a ripple of emotion in them and was focused.

Was there malice in them? She really couldn’t say.

His thin lips she loved to kiss were pursed to a thin line. They weren’t smiling...

That man... He is Fred, alright... And I’m still here, on earth.

*Bang*

Another bullet hit really closer to her feet. Talia still not willing to blink her eyes felt a sting

She fixed a bunch of hair that fell in her eyes due to the wind. As she fixed them behind her ear, she could feel wetness in the corners of her eyes.

’I surely am not crying... It should be the wind, right? And... There should be more to it!’

Talia tried to make sense of what she is seeing. Her mind went through various scenarios that might make them end up here.

We were fine yesterday... What changed today?

*Bang*

Another bullet... almost hit her...

That’s right. He is shooting bullets one after the other.

She felt the same abandonment she felt on that day... That day she left Esteria.

That day, she couldn’t find him, but today he is trying to kill her.

The cold wind blew hard in her making her shiver and she folded her arms and rubbed her arms with her hands that were frozen stiff.

But...

’That day he really didn’t abandon me... And today... ’

Talia blinked her eyes and everything became clear. She could hear all the noises around her. The screams, the helicopter... Everything.

*Bang*

Another bullet.... Missed again!

Yeah... He’s missing a lot!

’Fred...He came here to bring me back, somehow made me remember the key incidents of my past that made me hate him, made me realise how much I love him and I confessed to him and he almost convinced me to return back to Esteria immediately. He even made me breakfast before he left...

And now, he is trying to kill me..?

That too here? In front of everyone? When he had a lot of chances the past few days.

What am I missing?’

’Fred.. When did he learn to shoot? He swore he won’t touch a gun ever! And is he that bad that he can’t hit a target this close?’

’Or is he that good?’

As she was thinking, she felt something heavy on her shoulders along with that voice she despised to hear rang in her ears,

"Jeez, Mary Ann! Can’t you at least TRY to dodge? What a dumbass!"

The next she felt was a strong push on her neck as the forearm of that man pushed her behind him and she staggered a bit before balancing herself.

As the deep blue long men’s coat enveloped her, a scent of fresh cologne with citrus undertones attacked her senses.

She sneezed.

And...

" Lambert? What are YOU..."

Talia really was perplexed to see the brown haired Prince Lambert here. She talked to King Louis just yesterday and he didn’t mention his brother is here.

*Bang*Bang *Bang*

Before she could finish, Prince Lambert started shooting at Arthur and Talia’s first reaction was to stop him from shooting at Arthur and she almost grabbed his arms.

That’s when she noticed another odd thing.

Prince Lambert is missing his target too!

’What were the odds of that?’

And that’s when something dawned in Talia’s confused mind.

She might not know about the shooting skills of Fred,but she knew Lambert’s. He is the best in Rosandale. He was so good, he won a gold medal in the Olympics on behalf of Rosandale in the past games.

There is no way he misses a target this obvious. And not to mention the Royal bodyguards with Lambert who jumped in the frey were missing their target too.

Yeah, right! Everyone’s missing!

They have planned something.

Her lips curled to a slight smile. She was smiling lightly but only heavens knew how relieved she was to know Fred is not actually against her.

"Get in!"

Prince Lambert, still shooting at Fred, pushed Talia towards the helicopter that was ready to take off.

Talia turned and walked inside the helicopter wrapping the coat that smelled awful.

She wanted to throw the coat right back at him, but alas! if she doesn’t use this coat, her shirts will rise up and she’d have a wardrobe malfunction.

Especially when there is a drone photographing them!

Yep! She noticed a bird like thing hovering above them for some time now.

She went in and the pilot almost let go of his controls to bow to her.

"Your highness!"

Talia sat in the neatly cushioned seat waving her hand and looked around. She felt entirely relaxed. She wanted to ask Fred what he has planned soon.

Lambert’s assistant poured her some water to drink seeing her wretched state and Talia looked out.

The shooting continued as Prince Lambert and his men retreated back to the helicopter and the helicopter slowly took off.

Talia looked at Fred still pointing at the gun with his left hand. She remembered that time he told her about a game.

If he hides his right had behind his back and does something in front of her, the opposite is true. That he is lying. He said if he hid his right hand, he’d be crossing his fingers. And that naturally meant he is lying.

Back then, he’d hide his right hand and would call her stupid and bash her verbally. He used to say that he’d never marry a woman like her, that she is the dumbest and foolish woman.. And so on...

She never took him seriously and thought that he’s using that excuse to scold her to his hearts content.

And seeing him now hiding his right hand and shooting at her... He means that he doesn’t want to do it, right?

Stupid!

But he is missing all the shots. Does that mean he wants me dead?

Idiot! I love him!

Talia’s lips curled to a smile but she hid her smile in the coat above her to make sure her expression is not caught on camera.

As the helicopter lifted, it got a bit closer to the building Arthur was in and she could see his face clearly.

His eyes were focused on her and it seemed like he was pale and worried.

Is he worried that I misunderstood him?

Talia wondered how she could tell him that she still trusted him. That she knew he is not trying to kill her.

"Screw you, Frederick!"

She shouted with all her might so he could hear her over the noise of the helicopter.

He really hated her calling him Frederick. He hated that name with every fibre of his being. So everytime he’d play that game of ’hiding the right hand’, she’d call him, Frederick.

And that would anger him so much, he’d end the game immediately.

The helicopter made a left turn and she looked at the man now getting smaller and smaller. He tried to smirk as if he didn’t care about her cuss. But Talia could still see both the ends of his lips curling up.

’That guy got it!’

Talia was relieved.

But another thought came to her mind.

’Why was he that worried? He could have met me and explained it later even if I misunderstood, right?’

’Ugh! Who am I kidding? I’m the queen of misunderstanding. His worries are not unfounded..’

She smiled to herself.

"You’re looking good for someone who escaped the bullets of three mercenary organisations!"

That voice spoke again and her smile turned to frown.