Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 135: Echoes of the Past

Chapter 135: Echoes of the Past

Mira’s heart raced uncontrollably, each beat echoing like a drum in her chest. A part of her felt a flicker of relief knowing that Zamian was there—at least she wouldn’t face this danger alone. But that was the problem. She had never expected to hear that name again. Zack.

The name sent a cold shiver down her spine, awakening memories she had spent years trying to bury. Memories of the incident that had left an indelible scar on her heart. She shuddered as her mind conjured images of the past, the trauma too vivid. What would have happened if Zamian hadn’t arrived when he did? Would she still be here? She couldn’t bear the thought. The idea of being alone, vulnerable, was something she refused to imagine. She shook her head violently, trying to push the images away.

Before she could even begin to process what was happening, the car jerked, and Mira felt the brakes slam down, the tires screeching as it slowed down abruptly. Her body was thrust forward in her seat, her breath catching in her throat. Just as she turned to Zamian, the car lurched again, spinning sharply, then reversing at full speed. The sudden movement jolted her in her seat, her hands gripping the door handle instinctively. She could feel her pulse pounding in her neck as her senses went into overdrive.

"Shit," Zamian muttered, his voice low and strained with tension, his hands tight on the wheel.

Mira could feel the frustration emanating from him. She had never seen him like this before. Zamian was usually the picture of calm, always measured in his actions, his voice cool and controlled. But now, his words came out in rapid bursts, urgent and clipped.

"Mira, cover your ears. Shut your eyes. Now," he commanded, his tone demanding obedience.

Her body responded before her mind could process the gravity of the situation. Without hesitation, Mira squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her hands over her ears, her trembling fingers betraying her fear. The air was thick with tension, her breath coming in shallow gasps as the unmistakable sound of gunshots rang through the night, tearing through the silence with a deafening crack. Even though her hands were tightly pressed against her ears, the sound still penetrated, vibrating through her entire body.

Another gunshot. Then another. Mira’s body trembled, the fear tightening around her chest like a vice. Zamian cursed again, his frustration barely contained. His low growls of irritation mixed with the chaos outside. Mira felt the car swerve again, the tires screeching as Zamian steered sharply to the side. Every movement felt too fast, too sharp, as though they were racing against something that could destroy them both.

His voice broke through the storm of sounds outside. He sounded more like a different man now, one Mira wasn’t used to hearing. His voice softened, but the urgency didn’t fade.

"No matter what happens, do not open your eyes," he instructed, his words firm, unyielding.

Mira nodded, her body shaking uncontrollably. She could feel her heart hammering against her ribcage, her mind struggling to process the chaos. She had to trust him. She had to believe he knew what he was doing. Despite the growing fear, she focused on his words, repeating them in her mind as a mantra. "Do not open your eyes. Do not open your eyes."

But even with her ears covered, she could still hear the chaos. The screech of tires, the sharp pops of gunfire, the low growl of Zamian’s voice—it all swirled together into a cacophony of terror. The music playing faintly in her ears only made everything feel worse, as if the melody was being drowned in an ocean of tension. Mira’s hands fumbled nervously at the controls, her fingers trembling as she tried to focus on the soothing sound of a song.

She found a track quickly, but the music felt hollow, unable to calm the storm inside her. The soft melody should have been a comfort, but all it did was amplify the unease that crawled under her skin, settling in the pit of her stomach. She tried to breathe, to focus on the music, but it was impossible. Her thoughts were scattered, her body still frozen in fear. There was no escape from the dread that gripped her.

Mira closed her eyes tighter, trying to will herself into calm. She wanted to feel safe, to trust that everything would be okay. But the doubts gnawed at her, refusing to leave. Her mind raced with endless questions. What if something happened to Zamian? What if he didn’t make it out of whatever he was facing? Her body shuddered again, this time not just from the fear but from the weight of the uncertainty.

Then, suddenly, the car came to a halt. The engine cut out, and the silence that followed was almost suffocating. Mira’s eyes fluttered open slowly, the quiet around her too heavy, too still. Her heart beat in her ears as she tried to make sense of the moment. Zamian’s voice, calm yet filled with an undertone of urgency, sliced through the silence.

"Do not come out, no matter what happens."

Mira’s chest tightened as the words sank in. She blinked, confusion clouding her thoughts. Her voice, barely a whisper, escaped her lips before she could stop it.

"Where are you going?"

Zamian turned to her, his gaze intense, his face etched with determination. "Just stay here. Don’t go anywhere."

Mira’s stomach clenched. She looked at him, her mind racing with fear and doubt. Something about the way he said it made the unease in her chest grow, tightening until she could hardly breathe. She opened her mouth, wanting to protest, to demand answers, but Zamian silenced her with a single, firm gesture.

"Everything is going to be okay," he reassured her, his voice low and steady. "I’m here. I will protect you."

She nodded, but the fear still gnawed at her insides. Her body shook with uncertainty as he reached for the door, his movements swift and sure. She wanted to call out, to stop him, but the words caught in her throat. What if something happened to him? What if he didn’t come back?

Zamian left the car, and Mira was left alone, her mind spinning with questions that she couldn’t answer. The fear still clung to her, suffocating her. She turned the music back on, hoping it would calm her nerves, but the soft melody only seemed to grow louder in her ears. It wasn’t helping. Nothing was helping. She shut off the music, the silence once again stretching between her and the unknown. She tried to steady her breathing, but every passing second felt like an eternity.

Then, suddenly, the unmistakable sound of a gunshot shattered the silence, tearing through the air like a slap. Mira froze, her heart skipping a beat, the blood in her veins turning to ice. The noise was sharp, jarring—too real. Her breath hitched, her hands trembling as she gripped the seat. Was Zamian okay? Was he still alive?

"Is he okay?" she whispered to the empty air, her voice full of desperation. But there was no answer, only the echoes of her own fear.

Time stretched on. Minutes passed, but they felt like hours, each one heavier than the last. Mira’s restlessness grew. She couldn’t just sit there. She couldn’t stay in the car any longer. She had to know what was happening. She had to find him.

With shaking hands, she unlocked the door and stepped out, the cold air biting at her skin. Her legs felt unsteady beneath her as she started to run, the sound of her own heartbeat deafening in her ears. She called out his name, her voice cracking with fear, but there was no reply. "Zamian!" She called again, her voice echoing in the empty night. Nothing.

Her mind spun in circles, her thoughts a blur of confusion and worry. What was happening? Why was Zack doing this? Was it because of her? Were they really forbidden from being together? Every question seemed to hang in the air, unanswered, growing heavier with each step.

All she wanted was to find him. She needed to know he was okay. That he was safe.

And then, in the distance, she saw a figure. Her heart leapt in her chest—was it him? Was it Zamian? She called out his name, her voice trembling, her breath shallow in her throat. But as she got closer, the figure stopped, and she froze, her breath catching in her chest.

A strong hand grabbed her arm, yanking her backward with a force that left her breathless. She tried to pull away, but the grip was too strong, too familiar.

"Long time no see, Mira."

Her body went cold at the sound of the voice. Her legs went weak, and she stumbled, her mind struggling to process the words. She looked up, her breath catching in her throat, her eyes widening as she took in the figure before her.

It wasn’t Zamian.

It was Zack.