by Unknown
As Aiden and Marcus wrestle for control, I bolt for the bedroom, flinging the top drawer out of the dresser. The gun falls to the ground as I grab for it. My hand shakes from the adrenaline of what I’m about to do.
I take the safety off and rush back into the kitchen. I see that Aiden and Marcus have made it to their feet again, when Marcus sucker punches Aiden in his ribcage. I breathe in through my nose and out my mouth, trying to focus on my target. All of my training has prepared me for this moment.
Before I waste another second, I pull the trigger, an ear splitting boom piercing the air. It almost sounded like I could hear the bullet leaving the gun before I even fired it. I see Aiden fall backwards, the punch from Marcus making him lose his balance. Marcus drops the gun from his hand, clutching his chest with his hand, looking at me with surprise and anger. He starts to stumble towards me, when I see another bullet and another, hitting him in the chest and throat. His eyes lose their onyx shade, the life slowing draining out of them. He falls face first onto the tile in front of me, his body twitching in obvious pain.
“Emma, stay right where you are,” I hear in the background, my ears still ringing from the gunshots.
I look down at Marcus, mesmerized by the blood spilling out from underneath him. His moans become softer as his back relaxes in defeat. I see his entire body still, wondering if he just took his very last breath. I shiver, not fully comprehending what just took place within a matter of seconds. How can a human life end so abruptly, so brutally?
“Emma, look at me please. It’s Colin. You’re okay. You’re safe now,” I hear as hands grab my arms.
“Colin?” I ask confused.
I shake myself out of my daze, wondering why Colin is here and Aiden isn’t beside me right now. I look over to the kitchen, seeing Aiden’s unmoving form on the ground. Did Marcus knock him unconscious?
I push Colin away, rushing over to Aiden.
“Aiden, wake up. Aiden…,” I say as my face turns white.
I see dark red blood on the tile beside his head. Oh my God! Was he shot?
“Aiden! Please, no!” I scream.
I get down on my hands and knees, yelling out in pain. I tear off my shirt, applying pressure to the wound on his head. I don’t know how deep it is but I do know that blood is dripping enough to cause harm. I can’t tell if he’s alive or dead but I do know that I’m not giving up on him. I try to wrap the shirt around his head, frantically trying to think of what to do. Shit! I need to call an ambulance, that’s what I need to do. Try to keep it together, Emma. You need to get help for him.
“Emma, calm down. I’m calling for help right now,” I hear Colin say.
Shit, I almost forgot he was here. I keep applying pressure to the wound, thankful that Colin is here to make the call.
In a daze, I hear Colin give them our address, reassuring me that an ambulance is on the way. I see blood seeping through the fabric of my shirt and I suck in a harsh sob.
“Don’t leave me, Aiden. You promised you wouldn’t leave me. You said you would always protect me. Just wake up and come back to me. I can’t live if you don’t!” I say frantically.
“Come back to me,” I chant over and over again as I feel hands grip my shoulders.
I see the paramedics come into the house, bringing a stretcher with them. Colin grabs me from behind, lifting me up off the ground as they attend to Aiden. I watch them, sobbing, wanting to know if he’s still with me.
“He’s not breathing,” I hear one of the paramedics say to the other.
I cry out sharply, as if a heavy weight is being placed upon my chest. My body falls forwards as my eyes roll back in my head. I feel myself being caught before I hit the ground, strong arms holding me up.
“I’ve got you, Emma. I’ve got you,” I hear Colin say reassuringly.
He’s gone, I can feel it. Aiden’s gone, and I’m all alone once again.
Before I lose all consciousness, I remember two words permanently etched into my wedding ring. Two words that will have to keep me going. Only one of two things I have left of him now.
Always Aiden
Epilogue: Her
My fucking head hurts. The kind of pain you get when a migraine sneaks up on you, splitting your skull in two. Did somebody hit me with a sledgehammer or what?
I try to move my hand towards my head but I can’t. My arms are heavy, my movements paralyzed. I try to focus, but my brain is so scattered, I can barely keep my train of thought.
It feels as if a black shadow has settled over me, blanketing everything. Every time I try to think or remember something, my mind becomes vacant. What has happened to me? Where the fuck am I? I can feel the exasperation settling in, making me feel defeated and angry.
I keep seeing a face appear in front of me, one that doesn’t seem familiar in the slightest. A woman with dark hair and a smooth, pale complexion flashes before me. She’s crying, she’s hurt, saddened by something.
I see her again, her face happy this time, her face taking on an enthralling expression, one that I can’t look away from. Who is she and why can’t I stop seeing her face? Images of her flood my brain, making it painful to look away. She arches her back, her lips parting, her eyes closing as I find myself looking down above her, realizing that I’m making her feel this way. Her expression is for me alone.
I can’t figure out what’s happening to me. Maybe I don’t want to. I’m savoring every glimpse I get of her. I can’t stand that she makes me weak. No woman has ever done that. I hate her. I hate that I want her even more.
A familiar songs materializes in my head, almost as if the lyrics are a secret message. Why do the words spill out so clearly and what do they mean?
Iʼm tearing up, across your face
Move dust through the light
To find your name
It's something faint
This is not a place
Not yet awake, I'm raised of wake
Still alive who you love
Still alive who you love
Still alive who you love
Before I can decode their significance, a black hole appears in front of me, sucking me in. White light blinds me, as I begin to feel numb. I am alone now. Maybe that’s all I ever was or ever will be; alone.
“Please, don’t leave me,” I hear in the distance, a fleeting whisper.
I realize that this must be a dream, a night terror meant to torture me. I hear her screaming my name, as I try to block out the agonizing cries. They become fainter, until I can no longer hear them. A sense of complete abandonment washes over me, when I realize that she is gone and I am truly all alone.
“He’s breathing now. We have him stabilized. Stay with me. You’re going to be okay. Just stay with me,” I hear someone say.
I nod my head, the image of her keeping me alive.
To be concluded…
Fight With Me Playlist (Indie Mix)
Aiden’s Song: For Emma – Bon Iver
Emma’s Song: Through the Mines – Stars
Silver Spring – Likke Li
Pickup Truck – Kings of Leon
Bound to Happen – Spill Canvas
Falling For You – The 1975
All Mixed Up – Red House Painters
Rockers to Swallow – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Mother We Share – Chvrches
Go Your Own Way – Lissie
Up All Night – Best Coast
How Much More – Stars
Ho Hey – The Luminers
Eavesdrop – The Civil Wars
Gold On the Ceiling – Black Keys
Slow and Steady – Of Monsters And Men
Like Knives – City And Colour
WDYWFM – The Neighborhood
All I Wanted – Paramore
No One’s Gonna Love You – Band of Horses
Gun – Chvrches
Hearts Like Ours – The Naked And The Famous
Byegone – Volcano Choir
About Author
I am the self-published
author of my debut novel, We Fight, We Fall. Fight With Me is the second work in the series. I am currently writing Fall With Me, the third and final book in the Fight and Fall trilogy.
After brief stints as a musician, barista and self-proclaimed serial job hopper, I decided to try my hand at writing New Adult Fiction. I fell in love with the genre and found myself daydreaming and plotting my very own stories. I had so many ideas floating around in my head, I had to write them down and share them with fellow book addicts.
My obsession with music, piercings, sarcastic humor (is there any other kind?), and tattoos help to create the atmosphere for my characters, who I like to call “moody misfits.”
When I’m not thrift-store hunting and concocting the perfect cup of iced coffee at my casa, I’m glued to my Kindle (which I secretly nicknamed Kindy…yeah, clever name, this I know!) until the wee hours of the night.
I live in El Mirage, AZ with my doting fiancee, Mom, four dogs and one exceedingly needy cat.
“I try to live my life like one giant Seinfeld episode. As long as I’m doing better than George, I think I’m doing just fine.” – Insightful quote by yours truly
Contact me or just say hi at:
www.authornicolecallesto.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/Nicolecallesto
www.goodreads.com/NicoleCallesto