Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1267

Samuel walked up to Kearney, a smirk playing on his lips. "What's the matter? Can't handle it anymore? There are five shots left. If you can't take it, maybe let Ms. Phenix take over."

"No..." Kearney managed to wheeze out the single word, his voice barely above a whisper.

With trembling hands, he reached out and took hold of the gun once more. His grip was shaky, but he kept muttering the same words over and over, "Let her go, let him go..."

"There are five bullets left in here. Once they’re all used up, we'll let him go. But here’s the thing—you've got to survive until then. If you die before the bullets are gone, the rest are for Phenix," Samuel said, almost casually.

Kearney was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling like a bellows. He'd been shot several times, but none were fatal. His control over the gun was remarkable, almost surgical. Otherwise, Sean wouldn't have taken ten bullets to the vital organs.

Ironically, Kearney was now enduring his own version of those ten shots, each one carefully placed to keep him alive. This kind of pain, it was unfathomable for most.

Kearney raised the gun, fired two more shots into himself.

Even Agnes, who had been watching silently, couldn't take it anymore. She shouted, "Enough, enough!"

Her voice cracked with desperation as she pleaded with Samuel. "You can kill him, but stop torturing him. Please, just stop."

Blood was pouring from Kearney's mouth, and he lay there, unable to move, half of his face submerged in a pool of his own blood. His body convulsed with the pain, but he still clung to the gun as if it were a lifeline.

Agnes watched, her heart aching. No ordinary person could withstand such torment. She couldn't bear to see someone reduced to this state.

"Phenix... Phenix..." Kearney's voice was slurred, his consciousness slipping away. He strained to open his eyes, trying to catch one last glimpse of her silhouette.

With the last of his strength, he lifted the gun, pulling the trigger twice, but both shots went wide, merely tearing through his clothes.

Finally, Kearney, now out of bullets and energy, dropped the gun. He lay there, unable to even open his eyes, mumbling, "Phenix, just look at me one more time..."

At that moment, Samuel picked up the gun Kearney had dropped and started walking toward Phenix.

Agnes's heart skipped a beat, fear gripping her, remembering Samuel's words: if Kearney died before all ten shots, the remaining bullets would be for Phenix.