The story didn't feel complete without a little extra something. Here it is! Shoutout to @Millie4u for the inspiration. Hope you enjoy. :)
Camille
There was only a week before the wedding. A week before the biggest commitment of my life was to be made in front of over 100 people.
I was extremely nervous, but I didn't have cold feet. I knew I wanted to marry Josiah. I wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with him. There he was sitting looking all handsome as he talked on the phone.
I sighed, I was really going to marry him. His eyes meet mine and he smiles back at me. He phone call comes to an end and he walks over to me, "The florist says that Hydrangeas cannot be made into flower crowns babe, you gotta pick another flower."
I gasp, "That sucks, I really wanted the bridesmaids to have flower crowns. I'm going down there to talk to the florist."
He chuckles, "Wouldn't any purple flower be okay?"
"Yes it would but I really wanted Hydrangeas. I'll go look at other options at the shop." He nods before giving me a kiss on my forehead, "Have fun."
"I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you more baby."
I blow him a kiss before grabbing my purse and tugging on my shoes to go to the flower shop. I get into my car and head to the shop down the street. "Camille! Good afternoon how are you! Did Josiah pass on the message? I'm sorry about the inconvenience! You will make such a lovely bride mi amor!"
I giggle at the florist as she rambles on, "Thank you Mrs. Garcia, and it's okay. I came down to pick another flower. Any suggestions? I really want something purple."
She nods, "Si! Look." She brings out an arrangement of purple flowers for me to chose from.
I spend almost up to an hour in the shop discussing ideas and flowers with Mrs. Garcia. She was such a sweet woman. When I finally come to a decision I wave goodbye to Mrs. Garcia before heading out to the parking lot behind the store. It was evening time now since I hadn't exactly left the house early. I pull out my phone to text Josiah that I would be on the way home now and he responds with a heart. I smile before pulling my car door open.
Suddenly I feel something hard against my head and a painful sensation blurs my vision. Things suddenly go dark and I collapse.
When my eyes finally open I wake up to a strange environment. Voices could be heard in the corner of the room. A male and a female? It seemed as though they were arguing. I keep my eyes closed but listen carefully.
"Okay now what do we do? She'll wake up any second!" The female voice questions.
The male voice chuckles, "We wait. Big Jo will definitely come once he notices his bride is missing. Then we'll get the justice we deserve."
"Aren't you scared? He is big Jo after all?"
"He's been out of the game for 4 years now, he'll definitely be rusty. But I'm ready, he'll never know what hit him."
I internally groan, who the hell are these people? And why did they wait till just days before my wedding to do this? I was so mad! This wasn't supposed to be happening. I thought we were done with all this.
"I can't believe you dragged me into this, I'm not sure if getting revenge for Tyler and your mentor is worth my life. I think I'm backing out." The female voice says. Suddenly I hear her shriek, "Oh no little missy, you're too far in now. If I go down, you'll definitely go down with me."
"Let go of my hair!"
A hear a sudden thud and open my eye slightly to see the girl on the floor.
So this was about Tyler? Great, my past was coming back to haunt me. I didn't recognize either the man or the woman but I guess they had some unfinished business with Josiah.
"I think it's about time to give him a call don't you think?"
The girl agrees and hands the man a phone. I hear the phone ring before someone a voice answers. "Where the hell is she and who is this?" Josiah's voice was low and angry.
"She's here, come and get her." And with that the line went dead.
An hour or so has passed and the man and woman did nothing to me. Almost as if they didn't care about me at all, they just waited for Josiah's arrival. I had a bad feeling about this. These two were the only ones here and it was a pretty big warehouse. What exactly did they have planned?
I noticed I was alone and the other two had gone to some room. I didn't want to take the chances of Josiah coming into a trap and took the opportunity to try to free myself. I was seated on the ground and my arms zip tied behind me back as well as on my ankles.
I had watched a video on how to free yourself from these. But none of the videos I've seen show you how to get out out one with your hands behind your back! I attempt to get my arms out from under my legs without making any noise. After 3 minutes of struggling I let out a sigh, this is pointless.
I try to slip off my shoes to slide my feet out of the zip-ties once again no use. I hear a door open and immediately close my eyes to pretend I'm asleep. "I think he's here! Get into position." I hear the man say. The girl comes over to me and tapes my mouth shut, "Stop with the act. I know you're awake."
I open my eyes and glare at her.
After some shuffling around the room is quiet, until suddenly the doors burst open and Josiah comes in alone with a single handgun. He notices me on the floor against a wall and immediately comes toward me. I shake my head at him, trying to warn him of what was to come. A single shot goes off and Josiah groans in pain, holding onto his shoulder. The man behind him let's out very familiar maniacal laugh.
Josiah turns around to face him, drawing his own gun. "Nuh uh! Shoot me and I'll just shoot the girl."
Josiah's shoulder was bleeding but he held his gun firmly as he shields me with his body. "Who are you?" He asks, his voice full of hatred.
"My names Donte, and you killed my mentor. Now it's time to atone for your sins!"
Josiah rolls his eyes, "And who was your mentor?"
Donte glared at Josiah menacingly before exclaiming, "Lancing! And you killed him!" He held his gun shakily as he screamed at Josiah. The man was clearly unhinged.
"Look, your mentor was a sicko who had a crush on me. How about we just forget this and I go home with my wife?" Josiah asks nonchalantly.
Donte scowled at Josiah, "Die!" Before he could shoot, a single shot went off and Donte fell to the ground. Josiah let's out a sigh and looks across the room. "Thank you man."
Charlie comes out from behind a large crate with a gun in his hand. "Always." Josiah crouches down to me and removes the tape. "There's another one!" I exclaim. Just as I said it, the woman from earlier appears with a match and a gun in her hand. "Don't move." She says quietly as she points her gun toward the three of us.
"I must avenge my brother, and to do that you must die." She lights the match, "Tyler died for nothing, at the hands of you because of her." Charlie and Josiah had their guns drawn. She smirks at the sight, "The place is drenched in gasoline. Even if you shoot me the match will drop and I'll see all of you in hell."
I looked around and she was right, the floors were wet and it reeked of gas. We were all silent until she spoke again, "I truly don't want to kill all of you, it's only him that I'm after." She points her gun to Josiah.
"Are you willing to sacrifice yourself Prince Charming?"
Josiah nods at Charlie signaling him to put down his gun. Josiah finally speaks, "Let him take her out of here, then I'll drop my weapon."
I stare at him wide eyed, "Josiah no."
"Okay, fine." The woman responds.
He looks at me, "Camille go."
Charlie comes toward me and lifts me off the ground and heads toward the exit. "No! Put me down Charlie! Josiah what are you doing?! No!" Josiah doesn't look back at me as I angrily try to struggle out of Charlie's hold. Fire quickly erupts from behind us and I begin sobbing.
"Charlie what the hell! How could you let him do that?" Charlie is silent as he releases me from my zip ties. "Answer me! Is there a plan? Is he coming back?"
"I don't know." He mutters.
My eyes widen, "What do you mean you don't know?"
Silence.
"Charlie answer me!" I scream.
He refuses to meet my eyes, "The prime goal was to get you out safe. Regardless of what happens."
"Josiah you idiot! I'm going back in." I head toward the flaming entrance and Charlie pulls me back. "I can't let you do that."
"Let go of me!" I sobbed. I sobbed so hard, I couldn't lose him. I didn't want to, I refused! "Charlie please!"
Suddenly a loud crash comes from the side of the building. A tall figure stumbles out from the side before collapsing next to the building. I elbow Charlie in the stomach before running toward the person.
Charlie follows behind me after recollecting himself. I crouch next to the body and recognize Josiah's face. "Charlie help me!" He grabs the body and drags it away from the burning building.
Charlie presses his fingers onto Josiah's neck. "He's still alive, but we have to get him to a hospital."
We got into the car and Charlie drove us to the nearest hospital. Josiah was rushed into the ER and I ran along with the gurney until I was stopped by a doctor, "Ma'am you can see him after we're done."
"Will he be okay?" I ask. The lady nodded, "We'll try our best."
Charlie led me to the waiting area where's we sat in silence. "He'll be okay." Charlie said suddenly, "He's survived through a lot, a little smoke won't keep him down."
I nod quietly, hoping he was right.
An hour or so later a nurse comes to the waiting room, "Family of Josiah Wells?" I stand up immediately, "Is he okay?"
She nods, "He's asleep and currently on oxygen to support his lungs. He'll need to be kept in the hospital for some days. He has a couple burns that we've treated and thankfully his gunshot would was not fatal. You may see him now though."
The nurse leads Charlie and I to a hospital room where Josiah was asleep in a bed. His shoulder was wrapped up and he had a mask on his mouth hooked onto a machine. Tears fell from my eyes seeing him like this. "My baby."
I sat next to his bed and grabbed his hand gently. "You big idiot, why would you scare me like that?" I ask softly. I kiss his hand and let the tears fall. The hand moves and places itself on my head. "Hey baby."
"Josiah! Don't scare me like that ever again."
"Do you still love me?" He asks. I frown at him, "Of course I do, why would you ask that?"
"I killed that woman." He says hoarsely. "Do you still love me?"
His eyes looked tired and concerned. "Josiah stop talking, I promise there's nothing you can do that could make me stop loving you. Just rest baby." This time I kissed his forehead and he closed his eyes.
"I love you Camille Wells."
I chuckle, "I love you more Josiah Wells."
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Josiah was discharged from the hospital days before the wedding. We kept a low profile and Josiah decided to come with me to run most of my errands as a safety measure. He was still not 100% but he was a lot better. The doctors said he'd be fine for the wedding but needed to avoid strenuous activities.
Today was the big day.
I was in the dressing room of the venue getting ready. I stared at myself in the mirror, my dress was gorgeous. Rosa had helped me pick it out when she came to visit a couple months ago. It was long and white with sleeves made of lace and crystals. My shoulders were exposed and I wore white little flowers in my pinned up hair.
I hear a knock from the door, "Come in."
My brother appears with a smile on his face once he sees my dress. "Wow." Is all he says as he sheds a tear and my eyes water, "Stop it or I'll cry too!"
"You look so beautiful." He picks up the veil and places it on my head, "You ready?"
I nod and he leads me outside to the door we were meant to walk through. "I'm so proud of you Camille."
I smile at him, "I couldn't have made it this far without you." He gives me a hug before we get ready to walk through the doors.
The doors open and the music begins. Josiah is standing at the end of the aisle waiting at the alter for me. When his eyes meet mine, tears are visibly streaming down his face. He wipes them quickly before I can get to him. As I walk down the isle I notice everyone in the audience, Mitchie was with her new husband, Jane was here smiling brightly at the reception, Susan my former coworker could be seen gushing in the crowd as well. Charlie and Rosa were sitting together looking very acquainted, I'll ask her about that later.
For now I set my sights back to the main event, the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. The isle felt like it went on forever before I finally reached Josiah and the priest.
My brother let go of my arm and gave Josiah a nod. I hugged him before walking up to Josiah. The priest begins with his little speech and vows are exchanged. The priest places the rings on both of our fingers before finally saying;
"You may now kiss the bride."
Josiah grabs my waist immediately and brings his lips to mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he kissed me passionately.
"I love you." He whispers against my lips as the crowd cheers.
"And I love you more." He brings his lips back to mine.
I think we finally got our happy every after.
THEÂ END