Reborn Wife: I'll Chase Happiness Instead of My Husband Chapter 19: Heartless

SOPHIA

A fierce gust of wind hit us. I grabbed onto the duke as I found my cape whipped off . It sailed into the sky, spinning away like an agitated ghost into the dark sky.

We’d been up nearly the whole night, and I admit that between the excitent of the maze and emotional roller coaster of love lost and found, I felt tired to my bones.

Another gust of wind battered us, and this one knocked Jace to his knees. He cried out, gripping the leg with the wound. "Damn it!"

"Storm coming, sir!"

The stars disappeared as big, fat gray clouds swept towards the airship. Thunder reveberated in the air, followed by a flash of lightning in the distance.

"We must avoid the storm or we’ll be in peril," said the Duke. "I’ll take you the captain’s cabin."

"No!" I said, suddenly afraid that if the Duke went out of my sight, he would be gone forever. It was an irrational fear, but my gut roiled with anxiety all the sa. Jace had managed to get back to his feet, but even he was having a difficult ti standing. He staggered to the staircase that led to the bridge.

He wrapped his arms around the railing. "Get to safety, Sophia!" he yelled.

Like he really cared if I lived or died.

On the bridge, a huge, muscular man dressed in a gray T-shirt and black pants stood at the wheel, holding it tightly as it tried to spin.

"Go east," yelled Duke Stonehart. "Toward the farms. If this thing crashes, we need to avoid populated areas."

"Crashes!" I felt my heart pounding as fear prickled my skin. "Is that a possibility?"

"I’ll protect you." He guided toward a door located between the two staircases that led to the bridge. Apparently the captain’s quarters had been built underneath it. He opened the heavy wood door and gently pushed inside.

"No!" I yelled.

More thunder roared, and then sheets of rain suddenly pumled the deck. Duke Stonehart took my hand and kissed my knuckles. "Stay safe. I’ll co for you."

I didn’t want to be the cause of his worry. Distraction now could an the difference between landing the airship safely or crashing it to the ground.

I nodded, my gaze never leaving his as he shut the door between us.

All I could do now was sit and wait.

The room wasn’t that big. A built-in bed to the right. A desk and chair to the left. There was a bookshelf filled with maps and books. Unorganized. ssy. The desk was much the sa. It seed Nathan spent a great deal of ti in here. I wondered how often he used the airship and what adventures he’d been on.

I wondered, too, if we would have adventures together.

The airship suddenly tilted. I fell and slid toward the wall. Papers filled the air. Books thunked to the floor.

Another wild shift. The other direction.

This ti, I was sliding toward the bed. As soon as I got close enough, I jumped on the mattress and held on to the fabric privacy curtain.

The rain slashed at the small window at the back of the room. I could hear the shouts of n. The crack of thunder. The crash and bang of objects as the airship fought with the edge of the storm.

Would the crew be okay? Could we actually escape the bad weather long enought to safely land the airship?

A loud BANG startled so bad, I scread. Then the airship was tilting. Spinning. Creaking. Groaning.

What was happening?

No, no, no. Surely we weren’t falling.

My stomach dropped and a sour taste filled my mouth. Fear. Worry.

Nathan, are you okay?

The ship righted. I pressed a hand against my roiling belly and tried to take in a few deep breaths. My heart hamred in my chest. Sweat poured off my brow. I clutched the curtain so hard, the fabric was beginning to tear.

But we were fine now, right?

I looked at the door. Should I check? A quick peek to see how things we’re looking on the deck.

I discarded the idea. Nathan told to stay put. To stay safe. I wanted the sa for him, but I knew I had no experience or knowledge that would be helpful in these terrible monts.

The best thing I could do was stay in the room until Nathan ca for .

Another loud BANG!

Goddess above, that noise was scary. I patted my chest to calm myself down, but anxiety pinched at . My skin prickled and my throat knotted.

The airship suddenly went into free fall.

I felt my body lift from the bed and then I slamd back down. This happened over and over.

I scread and scread.

The curtain ripped and I tumbled off the bed.

Spin. Spin. Spin.

Panic overwheld as I tried to grab anything to stop rolling all over the place.

Finally, I was able to grab the leg of the desk. It was big and ornate, nailed to the floor probably to prevent its movent during wild rides like this one. I wrapped my arms it, holding on tightly. Squeezed my eyes shut.

My legs went this way and that. I felt objects hit , and knew that I would be bruised from head to toe.

I would certainly take bruises over death.

I just ca back, I thought. What a sha it would be to die again so soon.

Tears fell.

I felt so alone. So scared.

And the ship.

The ship.

Spin. Spin. Spin.

I thought I could hear my na being called through the cacophony of the storm and the dying sounds of the airship.

But maybe that was just my imagination. My desire for soone to rescue .

However, I learned one thing from my murder in my previous life. And it was this: We all die alone.

Then I felt sothing hard smash into my skull.

And I fell into darkness.