Blood Rose: Ch. 3
Hot tears dripped from my cheeks. I wasn’t ready for this moment.
I wasn’t ready to die.
Not here. Not now.
Not like this.
“Please,” my voice sounded more like a croak, “please, don’t ki—"
Before I could finish my plea for mercy, another one of these strange people—another man this time—leapt onto the one that was about to kill me, ripping her head from her body in one fluid motion before his feet could even touch the ground. Then, just as suddenly, he scooped me up in his arms, and began to run.
He was running so fast, the friction pinned me to his chest, and I couldn’t move. It was like we were moving in hyperspeed, all visible surroundings nothing more than a blur.
“Where—“ I started, my breath catching in my throat. The air felt like it was being sucked from my lungs, but I had to ask. I had to know. “where…are…you…ta-taking…me? Please…please…don’t…ki-kill…me.”
The strange man didn’t answer. Instead, he crushed me closer against his chest.
My head felt lighter than a balloon filled with helium. I couldn’t even be certain it was still attached to my body.
I could feel my eyelids getting heavy. No, I shouted in my head. I have to stay awake! I have to stay alive! My family needs me!
My lungs were choking. I could feel them spasm inside my ribcage. It hurt so much. I just needed air. Just one breath and…
Everything went black.
*******
I dreamt of Grandpa. I dreamt we were at his house in Arizona, the sun beaming down on us as we gazed upon the mountains in the distance. I felt peaceful, content. Like the moment just after a great laugh.
But then—
“Why did you let me die, Grace?” Grandpa questioned, and I turned to look at him. “Why didn’t you save me?”
Half his neck was gone, and blood was pouring out of him, staining his clothes and the deck we were sitting on. Tears rained down my cheeks as an anguished sob escaped from my chest.
“Grandpa, I’m so sorry! I’m so very sorry! I tried! I tried!” I cried as I wrapped my arms around him.
I was being soaked with his blood, but I didn’t care. Grandpa was beginning to fade between my arms, and I was losing my grasp on him.
“Grandpa, no! Please don’t go! Please!” I begged.
The disappointment and despair in his eyes were the last to disappear.
And I was left standing alone on his porch, covered in his blood.
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