Out of Reach | Mikhaiah

Chapter 40

Disclaimer: This is pure fiction. Any similarities to real people, places, or events are purely coincidental. Read, enjoy, and don't take it too seriously!

— ✦ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 ✦ —

Arisha’s POV:

“Mikhazra!”

The air felt suffocating, thick with tension as everything around me slowed to a crawl. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, louder than the chaos unfolding in front of me. I could barely breathe, my lungs refusing to cooperate. The laser pressed against my chest like a physical weight, pinning me in place, and I couldn’t even move—frozen, helpless, caught in this twisted web of lies, betrayal, and fear.

“Malisse!” My voice cracked, desperate, but the words barely left my throat. She was right there, her form still and trembling beside me, but no matter how much I tried to reach out, she couldn’t hear me.

Her wide eyes were full of confusion and terror, the same terror that gripped me, but she couldn’t move. The laser aimed at her, aimed at all of us, and I couldn’t break free.

“Malisse, please… wake up!” I begged again, but it was like shouting into an abyss, and I didn’t know how much more of this I could take.

And then—Lauren’s laughter cut through the air.

It was cold. Twisted. Almost like it was rehearsed. It sent a shiver down my spine, making every instinct in my body scream to run, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t leave her. I couldn’t leave Mikhazra.

“Still trying to fight?” Lauren's voice was laced with mockery. His eyes—dark, calculating—pierced into mine, and I felt the weight of them pressing down on me.

“I’m afraid that you and your precious little family are too late.” He chuckled darkly, stepping closer, each footfall deliberate, each word designed to inflict pain.

“You really thought you were untouchable, didn’t you? You thought the Kamizakis had it all under control.” His voice grew more venomous with every syllable.

“Well, let me tell you something, Arisha…” He smirked as he walked closer, making sure he had all of our attention. “I’m the one who’s been pulling the strings this whole time. I’m the one who’s been making things happen. And now?” He gestured toward the unconscious form of Mikhazra lying at my feet, and something flickered in his eyes—like a predator eyeing its prey. “Now, I’m going to make sure you all pay.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. It was too much. Too much to take in all at once. This man, this monster, was the one responsible for all the suffering, all the pain that we’d endured. It was his doing. And now, he stood here—mocking us.

“I am the man behind the Valtheron Corporation. The one who should have been at the top.” He spat the words like they were poison, his anger palpable, his resentment growing with each passing second. “But no, the Kamizakis and their little empire have been standing in my way. And I’m done. I’m done letting people like you get in my way.” He laughed, his voice chilling. “I should be the one at the top. Not them.”

I couldn’t process it. My mind was swirling, trying to understand. Mikhazra's family, my family... all of this was connected. This was the man we’d been up against all along. The one who’d been behind the threats, behind the destruction of everything we had. And now, he was about to take it all away.

“You know what?” He sneered, looking at Mikhazra. “I should’ve done this a long time ago. Get rid of the weak, the ones who can’t handle the pressure. Your precious Kamizakis, all of them—weak. And now look where we are.” He took a step back and gestured to Mikhazra again. “She’s just another casualty. She was always going to be.”