The sound of the gunshot echoed through the forest, and Lale instinctively crouched down. Her heart was pounding in her chest like a trapped bird, her equilibrium already shattered by the confession she'd just heard. As if learning that Rüzgar was her fiancé's killer wasn't enough, now guns were speaking. Rustling in the depths of the forest, dancing shadows... This place felt less like a safe haven and more like a deadly trap.
"Lale, get up!" Rüzgar's harsh voice startled her. His eyes were ablaze, a wilder expression on his face than before. He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the trees. "We have to get out of here."
"Who was that?" Lale asked, her voice trembling. "Who fired?"
Rüzgar didn't answer. He just ran faster, dragging Lale behind him. Branches scraped her face, and her feet struggled to gain purchase on the ground. One question consumed her mind: Where were they running to? And most importantly, why?
*Can I trust him?* Lale wondered. *He confessed to killing my fiancé. Maybe he'll kill me too.*
Their frantic race through the forest continued for some time. Lale's breath grew short, and her legs struggled to carry her. Finally, Rüzgar stopped behind a rock and pulled Lale down with him.
"Don't make a sound," Rüzgar whispered, his eyes darting around. "Don't let them find us."
Lale nodded. Her heart was still pounding like crazy. She gripped Rüzgar's arm tightly. She was scared. So scared.
After a while, silence returned to the forest. Only the sounds of distant birds could be heard. Lale could feel Rüzgar's tension. His body was taut, as if he were waiting on high alert.
"Who were they?" Lale asked in a whisper. "The mafia?"
Rüzgar hesitated for a moment. His eyes locked with Lale's. It was as if he wanted to say something, but then he gave up.
"It doesn't matter," Rüzgar said. "What matters now is getting out of here alive."
Lale frowned. Rüzgar was hiding something. She was sure of it. But what?
"Is it something to do with Demir?" Lale asked. "Has something happened to him?"
A momentary flicker of hesitation crossed Rüzgar's face. But then he composed himself.
"Demir is safe," Rüzgar said. "Nothing will happen to him."
Lale didn't believe him. The tone in Rüzgar's voice, the expression in his eyes... Everything was screaming lies.
"You're lying," Lale said. "Demir is in danger. And you know it."
Rüzgar was silent. He didn't answer. He just looked at Lale. There was a look of desperation in his eyes.
"Lale," Rüzgar said, his voice soft. "I'll tell you everything. But not now. Now we have to survive."
Lale wanted to believe Rüzgar's words. But she couldn't. She wanted to trust him, but she had learned that he was her fiancé's killer. How could she trust him?
"Where are we going?" Lale asked.
"Somewhere safe," Rüzgar replied. "We have to get away from here."
Rüzgar grabbed Lale's arm again and began running into the depths of the forest. Lale ran after him. One question consumed her mind: Would she be able to survive this escape?
*Who is Rüzgar running from?* Lale wondered. *And why did he take me with him? Maybe he's going to use me as bait.*
As she ran, Lale noticed something strange. The secret Rüzgar was hiding was much more than just about Demir. It was like climbing a mountain with an ice-covered peak, each step more dangerous, colder...
"Rüzgar," Lale said, breathless. "Tell me the truth. What's going on?"
Rüzgar stopped. His eyes gleamed in the darkness.
"You want the truth?" Rüzgar asked. His voice was barely a whisper. "Alright, I'll tell you the truth. Demir... Demir is actually..."
Rüzgar's words were cut off by the sound of another gunshot. The bullet passed right over Lale's head. Lale screamed and collapsed to the ground.
Rüzgar quickly fell on top of Lale. Shielding her body, as if to protect her.
"Lale, are you okay?" Rüzgar asked.
Lale nodded. She was trembling. From fear and shock...
Rüzgar lifted Lale off the ground and started running again. But this time, he was running in a different direction. To a place they had never been before...
"Where are we going?" Lale asked.
"To the place I promised you," Rüzgar replied. "Somewhere safe. But first... First, I have to take care of something."
Rüzgar hid Lale behind a tree. His eyes shone with determination.
"Wait here," Rüzgar said. "Don't move. Wait until I get back."
Lale grabbed Rüzgar's arm.
"Where are you going?" Lale asked.
Rüzgar smiled. It was a bitter smile.
"To settle things," Rüzgar said. "I'm going to settle things with my past."
And then, Rüzgar disappeared into the darkness of the forest. Lale was left alone behind the tree. Her heart was pounding with fear. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know who to trust. All she knew was that Rüzgar had left her alone once again.
A whisper from the depths of the forest made Lale's skin crawl: "Don't trust him..."