A HERO

Chapter 1: Now

(Salem Warehouse District)

"EJ ... NOOOOO!!!!!!" Sami yells at the top of her lungs, her golden hair swinging across her shoulder.

Her baby blue eyes widen in disbelief and terror as the scene before her unfolds. As if in slow motion she watches as EJ comes running from behind a building "SAMANTHA RUN, GET OUT OF HERE!!" he bellows at her even as his long legs stretch out and start closing the distance between them. Her feet would not obey his command even as she sees Tony appear just a few steps behind EJ and carrying a gun in his hand.

"BEHIND YOU!" Sami screams

"GO DARLING GO, RUN!!" is his shouted reply.

Finally Sami turns and starts to run as fast as she can, being seven months pregnant its not very fast. A gun shot explodes in the night air, looking behind her she sees EJ stagger, but he keeps running still yelling at her to run. Sami redoubles her effort to get away, as she realizes that EJ is slowing down to keep himself between her and Tony's gun. Again the gun blasts thru the air, and echos off the buildings surrounding them. Chancing another look over her shoulder she sees EJ falling to his knees. Sami whips around to go to his side, but he waves her back.

"No Samantha! Get out of here!" EJ gasps.

Sami watches in horror as Tony comes up to EJ, leaning down he whispers something in his younger brothers ear. EJ's soulful brown eyes lock with her bright blue ones. In that moment she sees her past, her present, her future all reflected in his eyes.

For the third and final time the sound of gunfire shatters the night.

"EJ ...NOOOOO!!!!!!"