Black

Everything was dark. But Ryan Atwood was sure he had his eyes open. He blinked a few times until he was able to make out shapes in the darkness. Eyes searching, he soon found a tiny ray of light from the digital clock. 21:52. Looking down at himself he saw everything was dark there as well.

Blood

His clothes were drenched in a dark liquid. His blood. Oozing in a constant stream from all over his body. And from each of those wounds came

Pain

Excruciating pain. Like nothing he'd ever experienced before. Right now, the pain from all those beatings back in Chino didn't amount to much in comparison to what he was feeling now. He knew he was in bad shape; memories of past events told him that several of his bones were broken. Ryan took a gasping breath, finding little relief from the smoky air.

Heat

Ryan became aware of bristling heat slowly warming all of his body. Invisible flames seemed to lick at him, trying to singe his skin. Trying to take him away.

Giving up

As Ryan sat there, semi-conscious, he could feel his life source ebbing away, leaving him drained. Dolefully he accepted that this would be the end for him. It was too hard to move; too painful. It wasn't worth it; as Ryan headed towards unconsciousness again; there was nothing worth fighting this pain for.

Hopelessness

Ryan's head fell onto his shoulder. Through heavy eyes he struggled to make out the discernable object beside him. His eyes flickered over to the clock as the time changed; 21:53. He dragged them back to the thing beside him when he heard a small moan escaping from it.

"R…iss," Ryan croaked, heart breaking at the sight of the beautiful, broken body beside him.

21:53

21:53 was the moment Ryan Atwood's heart stopped.