I'd never given much thought to how I would die; much like Bella Swan from Twilight. But I knew when my time was up. I'd taken several bullets and several knife wounds to places that were vital and my body was beginning to shut down. There was no way I'd make it to a hospital; not that I believe they'd be able to fix this mess.
I suppose I'd walked right into it the moment I'd been able to wrench my best friend from the clutches of her alcoholic abusive boyfriend. While she was forever grateful, he became vengeful. So it shouldn't have surprised me when his gang showed up to an old out of date and out of town movie house to jump us as we were coming out.
I'd handled most of them pretty well only gaining a few scratches and cuts here and there. I'd knocked them out easily enough. But then 'he'd' decided to pull out his gun which he'd stolen from somewhere I'm sure. He claimed he knew my weakness and so he promptly aimed the gun at my best friend's heart. With my speed, I'd made it just in time to block the hit with my own body. It passed through my shoulder blade completely destroying it.
The shots hadn't stopped there. A few more hit my calf, my hip and luckily a few just missed but by the time it was over, I was riddled with bullet wounds, bleeding out fast, growing dizzy and in need of medical attention. He'd grinned maniacally as he downed the last of his beer. Then he came for us.
My friend was busy crying hysterically, trying to keep me with her. It was when I somehow sensed the knife coming in from behind that I found the strength to shove her away and turned to catch the incoming threat with my bare hand earning a nasty gash in between my index and middle finger on my right hand. I'd watched one of my favourite anime characters do this once and in that moment it'd hurt like a bitch. However, he had the upper hand as my strength was waning and was able after a few tugs to pull the knife back now glistening with my blood. He attacked again.
In that instant, I felt the adrenaline rush through my veins and I attacked back with sloppy yet still accurately strong kicks and punches from my still good arm. I knew taking those karate classes would benefit me someday. Of course, he got a few good stabs in since drunks were wildly unpredictable. Finally he cut me somewhere in the diaphragm and I coughed up blood. He attempted to kill her next and make me watch but despite my growing inability to breathe properly, I acted on the last amount of adrenaline I had and attacked, jumping up and grabbing ahold of the scarf she'd asked me to give him once just to be kind. How ironic that it would be his undoing one day.
I grabbed the ends and kicked his knee joint from behind hard enough to snap it. He hollered out in pain and attempted to turn around to kill me instantly but I was one step ahead as I ducked then managed to tie the scarf ever so tightly around his wind pipe and hold on. I kicked out his other knee and continued pulling on the scarf to keep him away from my friend who could only watch in horror. It was at this point I yelled slash wheezed at her to turn away and somehow – thankfully – she tore her gaze away from the gruesome sight of her ex-boyfriend trying to kill her best friend while her best friend returned the favor. I did it to protect her.
"You won't get away with this bitch!" he choked out. His eyes danced with a fury promising vengeance. I continued my assault by shifting into a choke hold to help out the scarf. He gagged and slammed his knife down into my arm. However, I only tightened my grip and gritted my teeth, allowing a few pain filled tears to roll down my cheeks.
"Yeah, well I could say the same for you!" I replied finding it increasingly hard to breathe yet enough strength and air to talk back anyways.
"Bitch; I'll kill you!" he tried to scream but it only came out as a strangled cry. I chuckled darkly – couldn't help it; just the spur of the moment I guess.
"No worries pal, I think you've already succeeded," I choked out. "I'm just making sure that I'm your only victim tonight by returning the favor. Think of it…'cough', 'cough', 'cough'…as a life for a life kinda deal; equivalent exchange!" I know right? Here I am dying and I'm referencing the Fullmetal Alchemist. I'm not saying my whole life revolved around anime no. I'm just going to point out that it was that which taught me how to protect my loved ones. I'd joined karate the moment my little brother started getting beat up after school.
I'm a guardian; a protector and that's what I've always been. Whether it's been guarding my siblings against school bullies or defending my mother's honor as a mother and proud strong woman; hell I've even stood up for strangers. I don't care if the heat switches onto me no matter what because as long as it's on me; I know that I've done my job in becoming the enemy and making the ones I care about less of a target. The same goes for this situation so I'm not going to back down; no matter what. I accept the consequences of my actions to protect.
"Y-you'll go to jail," he choked out, barely able to speak anymore. His face was turning an ungodly colour. I chuckled again.
"No…you're wrong. I'll be dead but your ex-girlfriend will still live on and tell everyone what an asshole you are. It must suck having to die this way," I quipped. I'm wheezing harder now by the way.
"But me…'cough', 'cough', 'cough', 'cough' , 'cough'…I have no regrets!" With that he went limp in my arms and I knew he was gone. I dropped him unceremoniously on the ground and untied the scarf. Then I collapsed looking toward my friend still looking away and crying silently.
"I'm sorry," I apologized. "That's probably not something you wanted to see or hear huh?" She whirled around slightly angry at me but mostly fearful. She shuffled over to me in a great hurry and started sobbing.
"Why!?" she screamed, pounding the pavement. "Why, why, why, why!" I remained silent letting her calm down. I believe I distinctly heard sirens in the distance and I was vaguely aware of the crowd gathering.
"Why are you such a stupid bitch!? Why'd it have to end this way!?" she shuddered. I smirked. I think my legs just went numb; I can't feel some things anymore and the feeling is spreading all over my body slowly yet quickly.
"You shouldn't be crying on my account," I spoke hoarsely. "I've done something unforgivable here. I killed a man who probably had some people who still cared about him somewhere else! They won't ever get to see him again so it's only fair that the same is said for me." She hiccupped as her tears ran down her face.
"But it wasn't your f-fault!" she wept. "He tried to kill me and you…you…he struck first!" she tried to reason.
"Even so…'cough'…if I did survive this night I'd probably be sent to prison. I would go to court because I still killed a man and that's called murder. It could've been solved another way I guess but to be honest I was scared I wouldn't…'cough', 'cough', 'cough', 'cough', 'cough'….'cough', 'cough', 'cough', 'cough', 'cough'…" I had to take a moment to catch whatever little breath I had left.
"I was scared I wouldn't be strong enough to simply knock him out; to beat him ya know? My instincts just took over. Although I suppose seeing you happy and alive would be enough for me. You're one of my very precious people." I shuddered in the cold but only barely. I was losing the ability to feel anything physically. My eyesight was also beginning to go blurry but I managed to clear it to at least say a few last things. I took her hand in mine somehow.
"Listen…you have to promise me…that no matter what happens next…you'll live on and find something to be happy about again. Find someone who will treat you right and give you the life you deserve okay! Also…if you could tell my family…a few things too…I'd be most grateful." Her eyes shined with tears.
"But…but what about finishing your degree; graduating and getting that job you wanted? Damn it Alex we were supposed to move to New York together!" I gave her a pained smile.
"Yeah…guess you'll have to go there without me. I'll be rootin' for ya though. But could you please listen…'wheeze', 'cough', 'wheeze'…I don't have much time left." She froze for a moment before nodding her head and wiping at her tears. I gave her a smile.
"Good. Please…tell my mother that I followed the path I wanted for myself and I risked my life to do so to make it worthwhile. Tell my father…that he doesn't have to feel guilty because he raised me to believe in myself and protect the ones I care about. Please tell them both…I love them with all of my heart and that even though this might be hard for them, I know they'll pull through." I took some more breaths, shaky and wheezy but still enough to let me finish.
"Next…'wheeze', tell my brothers not to fight each other over every little thing. They love each other even if they won't admit it and they'll need each other for the hardships to come. Also…tell them to look after our sister too. Make sure she doesn't fall into despair and keep her safe. I know they're…strong!" Now the light is fading. Damn, how long can a dying person go on right?
"For my sister…she's reckless and immature. Make sure she knows to be careful in the future and not to fight mom and dad over what they put on the table. She is now the official winner in Mario Kart and I hope she'll follow her own heart as well into the future." I took a few more breaths. Probably my last ones.
"Lastly…tell the gang…I made my grand exit with pride. I may not have made it to stardom but I know they all sure as hell will. Tell Jake I'll miss him and that I love him still but I don't want him to be stuck on me. If he finds himself falling in love with someone else…make sure she'll treat him well and love him back the way I did. I want him to find happiness again…too." I stopped once more thinking I couldn't go on. However, I could still hear her sniffling in the distance. Damn I was fading all too quickly. I felt a stray tear run down my cheek. Was it mine?
"Raina…" I wheezed out using my very last breath. I wonder if I'm even still talking."…I love you all…you were my...greatest treasures!" Then…I fell into oblivion.