NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1151: I’m Scared
Villain Ch 1151. I'm Scared
Mila bit her lip, her gaze flickering away briefly before locking back onto Allen's. She was clearly struggling to find the right words, and Allen, sensing her discomfort, remained silent, waiting for her to speak.
Before she could, Elio cleared his throat, sensing the need for some privacy. He glanced at Mila and then at Allen. "I'll head back to the base first. You know where to find me, right?" he said, giving Mila a nod of reassurance.
Mila nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'll meet you there."
With that, Elio left, leaving Allen and Mila alone in the bustling marketplace. The noise around them seemed distant, almost muffled.
Once Elio was out of sight, Mila let out a deep breath, her shoulders sagging slightly. "I... I've been thinking a lot since the event," she started, her voice soft but determined. "I need to... get away from James and Noah. It's like I'm trapped. I don't want to be their tool anymore."
Allen raised an eyebrow, surprised by her admission. He had expected her to bring up the game, maybe the event, but this... this was deeper. He could hear the strain in her voice, the exhaustion. "Calm down." Allen held up his hands, trying to ease her into the conversation. "Is this about your family?"
Mila nodded. "Yeah... but it's not just that." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "The event today—it opened my eyes. I know it's just a game, but... it made me realize that if I keep letting myself be used like this, if I keep letting them control me, I'll end up like Zael, like the Devil Emperor."
Allen's eyes widened slightly at her comparison. He hadn't expected the event to affect her so profoundly. "You think you'll end up like Zael?" he asked, surprised. "Mila, you're not some tragic hero trapped by circumstance. You have a choice."
Mila laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "Do I, though? It feels like everything I do is tied to them." She looked down at the ground, her hands clenching into fists. "James and Noah... they've always pushed me to be their inside person, their way of getting closer to people like you. And I let them because... because I thought I didn't have another option."
Allen's expression softened. He hadn't realized how deep her entanglement with them ran. "Look, I know it's not easy, but you do have a choice. You don't have to let them control you."
Mila's eyes flickered with a hint of hope, but doubt quickly clouded her features again. "But what if they don't let me go? They're... persistent, and they'll use whatever they can to keep me tied to them."
"Then you fight," Allen said firmly. "If you don't want to be their tool anymore, then you have to stand your ground. It won't be easy, but it's better than living like this, right?"
Mila looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I'm scared, Allen. Scared of what they'll do if I stand up to them. Scared of being alone."
Allen nodded. He had been through betrayal, and he knew how hard it was to sever ties with people she once trusted. "It's okay. It will hurt at first, but after that, you will taste freedom," he said softly.
Mila swallowed hard, trying to hold back her emotions. "It's hard, though. I've spent so long thinking that being useful was the only way to be wanted. But after seeing Zael... after seeing what it did to him... I don't want to be that person anymore."
Allen stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. "You're more than just useful, Mila. You don't have to prove your worth by being someone's pawn. You can make your own decisions."
Mila met his gaze, and for the first time in a long time, she felt a flicker of real hope. "Do you really think I can do that?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Allen nodded. "I know you can. But you have to believe it first. You have to be willing to take that step and break free from them."
Mila bit her lip. She looked away for a moment, trying to gather her courage. "I'll try," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I'll try to break away from them. But it's not going to be easy."
"No, it won't be," Allen agreed, "but you'll be stronger for it."
Mila nodded, her resolve slowly building. "Thank you, Allen," she whispered, her voice full of gratitude.
Without warning, she stepped forward and hugged him tightly. For a moment, Allen stiffened in surprise, unsure of how to react. But after a beat, he relaxed, letting her embrace him. The hug was warm, sincere, and felt like a release of all the tension that had been building between them.
Around them, a few players glanced their way, but the hug looked friendly enough. In Hell's Gate, there were limits to physical interactions, and this was the most intimate gesture the game would allow. Still, there was something meaningful in the way Mila held on, as if she was grounding herself, finding comfort in the connection.
After a few moments, Mila let go and stepped back, her eyes shining but her expression resolute. "I have good news for you," she said cryptically, a small, playful smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Before Allen could ask what she meant, Mila turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd of players that bustled through the marketplace. He stood there for a second, watching her go, wondering what that last statement meant. His mind buzzed with questions—what good news?—but there was no time to dwell on it now.
As soon as Mila left, the familiar sound of giggles and footsteps made Allen turn. The girls—Vivian, Shea, Larissa, Jane, Zoe, Bella, and Alice—approached one by one, teasing smiles plastered across their faces. It was clear they had seen the whole thing and they were going to tease him for it.