I Want to Die, But I Am Immortal-Chapter 92: Sophia in danger (2)

The man was taken aback by Adam’s composure. He had expected to see fear pleading desperation. He had not expected this quiet confidence. A slow smile spread across his face. He threw his cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his boot.

"I like you kid," he said. "So I won’t make you suffer too much before you die. To answer your question my name is Johnny. They call me ’Wild Johnny’ in the underworld because I’m impossible to control. And because of that I have a lot of influence over a large part of the underworld."

Adam’s eyes widened. "So you’re one of the big families that run the underworld," he said stepping forward.

Johnny’s smile vanished. His expression changed from one of amusement to one of shock. "So you know about the families," he said his voice a low whisper. "I shouldn’t be surprised. You’re the one who picked a fight with them."

He paused for a moment then continued. "To answer your question again no I’m not one of them. I have influence yes. But I’m nothing compared to the families. I admire your courage for going against them. I couldn’t do it even if I wanted to. I don’t know what you did to make them your enemies but it must have been something big."

Adam did not care about the man’s words. He did not want his sympathy. He only wanted one thing. He wanted to kill as many of them as he could before he died.

He knew that saving Sophia was almost impossible. He looked at her his heart aching with a pain that was sharper than any physical wound.

"Sophia," he said his voice a soft whisper that barely carried across the large room.

Sophia who had been staring at the floor sobbing quietly looked up at the sound of her name. Her eyes met his and in them he saw a mixture of terror and a faint glimmer of hope.

Johnny and his men stared at Adam a stunned silence falling over the factory. They had expected a fight a desperate last stand. They had not expected this. This quiet conversation this strange confession.

Adam stood his ground his eyes locked on Sophia’s. "I told you before," he said his voice soft but clear. "The more you get involved with me the worse your life will become."

Sophia looked at him her mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. She had heard what Johnny had said. She knew the entire underworld was after Adam. A part of her a small selfish part wished he had just left her here wished he had never come.

Adam smiled a sad gentle smile. "But you didn’t listen," he continued. "And I knew you wouldn’t. And maybe that’s why you’re the only person in this whole world I trust."

His words surprised her. A flicker of warmth sparked in her chest a small light in the darkness of her fear. "Adam," she whispered her voice barely audible.

"Sophia, I like you," Adam said his voice steady and unwavering.

those words are unexpected.

The words hung in the air a simple yet profound declaration. Sophia stared at him her heart pounding in her chest. Why was he saying this now? In this place? In this situation? But despite the confusion despite the fear she could not deny the warmth that spread through her a warmth that chased away some of the cold terror that had gripped her for so long.

Johnny and his men exchanged bewildered glances. They had never seen anything like this. A boy confessing his feelings in the middle of a hostage situation it was surreal it was absurd.

Sophia gathered her courage. "You should go," she said her voice a little stronger now. "You shouldn’t have come here."

Adam laughed a short sharp sound that echoed in the silent factory. "Shut up you idiot," he said a genuine smile touching his lips. "You’re always getting me into trouble you know that?"

His laughter faded and his expression turned serious again. He looked at her his eyes burning with an intensity that took her breath away. "Answer me," he said. "I like you. Do you like me too?"

The men in the room started to laugh. They found the scene amusing a welcome distraction from the tension of the standoff. They thought it was a joke a desperate attempt by a cornered boy to buy himself some time.

They did not understand the gravity of the moment. They did not understand that this was not a confession. It was a promise.

Johnny chuckled a deep rumbling sound that echoed in the factory. "What a beautiful story," he said his voice dripping with sarcasm.

He looked at Sophia his eyes cold and devoid of any emotion. "Answer him girl," he said.

"This is the last time you two will ever see each other. The boy knows it. That’s why he’s confessing his feelings. I can at least grant you this one small favor."

The other men in the room laughed along with him their amusement a cruel counterpoint to the raw emotion of the moment.

Johnny’s words hit Sophia with the force of a physical blow. She realized he was right. Adam knew they were going to die. That was why he was doing this. That was why he was saying these things.

She looked at him her cheeks flushing a deep crimson despite the terror that gripped her heart. "I I like you too Adam," she said her voice a soft whisper that was almost lost in the vastness of the room.

A genuine smile touched Adam’s lips. "Sophia I would die for you," he said his voice filled with a quiet conviction.

His words stunned her. Her cheeks grew even redder. What was he saying? Why was he saying these things? But she could not look away from him. She could not break the intense connection that bound them together in this final moment.