Chapter 4: Drop DEAD? Gorgeous
Dimitri POV:
"Christian? What is it" I asked as I locked the car. Christian was shaking and looked like he'd just seen a ghost.
"It- its Rose." And with that my heart stopped. I barely heard him explain. I was off running before he even finished. As I sprinted down the slope to the shore I threw down her sweater that I'd gotten for her. I couldn't think, just do. I could barely breathe. Rose couldn't leave me; she just couldn't, not like this. Rose was a fighter. She was supposed to go down fighting, with me by her side. I dove into the icy water and swam to where she went off the cliff. Taking a big breath I went under desperately searching the murky water for my Roza. I came up for breaths three more times. After each breath I got more desperate.
It was her hair I saw. It moved as if it were billowing in the wind. The way it framed her face took my breath away. Her clothes mimicked her hair in the flowing motion that made her look like a goddess. She was drop dead gorgeous. And that was my biggest fear, that she was dead.
As fast as I could I hauled her up and began to swim to shore.
Lissa POV:
A couple of my other guardians dropped me off. They promised to give us a peaceful picnic and keep their distance. As they spread out I noticed a shaken Christian sitting by a bush. He had his head in his hands and looked like he'd been crying. He glanced up and noticed me staring. He'd been kind of weird around me lately, like I was fragile. It was causing a bit of a strain on our relationship. Then other times everything would be the same as it used to be. At the end of the day he loved me and I him. He stood up, his face like that of a sad puppy who lost a bone.
"I-I'm sorry Lissa, I shoulda done something," He suddenly put on a strong face, ready to be there for me. I was utterly confused. What was happening? As walked toward the beach hand in hand I wondered where Rose was. And Dimitri. As Christian led me to the beach I saw Dimitri swimming to shore with a limp body in his arms. My breath labored as I recognized the form he carried. Tears swelled as I ran to the shore, Christian followed ready to help Dimitri.
Christian and Dimitri managed to get her onto the sand. By then tears were streaming down my face. Seeing her like that, it was even harder than the last time. I felt powerless, I wanted her to get up and laugh at how scared we'd all gotten. I was ready for her to say it was all a joke and she didn't mean any of it. I managed to croak out a few words.
"I need you Rose, more than you know."
Dimitri POV:
After Christian helped me with Rose I shooed him away. Lissa needed him more than I did. I'm far from weak but when it comes to Rose I let my guard down. My guardian mask slipped away as I stroked my Roza's face. My fingers brushed her lips as I checked for breath, there was none. I took a moment to assess the situation, just long enough for a tear to trickle down my cheek and land with a splash onto the sand. Hastily I brushed it away. I took a breath, tilted her head back and brought my lips to hers. I thought fondly of all the other moments I'd done just that but with different intentions. I felt her chest rise and fall with the breath. I repeated the process three more times and then stopped to check her breathing.
By that time tears were streaming down my face. I just couldn't lose her. She was my life. I'd almost lost her before and I wasn't about to now. "Please Roza," I practically sobbed, "don't you leave me. I'm not letting you get away this easy. We need you, we all do. What about Lissa? What about us? After everything we've been through, after all the challenges we faced, it can't end like this." I gave her four more breaths, with the same failed result. "Please Rose, I'm practically pouring my heart out to you," I managed a chuckle, "the least you can do is have the decency to wake up and listen." I stroked her face and checked her pulse. It felt weaker than earlier, I was running out of time. I forgot about the others and just focused on Rose. As her heart beat faded a little more I began chest compressions. "Rose, don't die on me!" My voice grew from its whispers and sobs; it even had a hint of anger. Lissa and Christian looked up from where they stood. I barely noticed. Lissa came up and sat near Rose. She was sobbing terribly. I mentally scolded myself for being weak. I needed to be strong. I had never been a weak man and I wasn't about to start. Sobbing myself senseless wouldn't help Rose, I needed to think clearly.
"Rose, I love you," I said, my voice semi-steady. "Please, please don't leave me."
Lissa began to stroke Rose's wet hair as she whispered through her tears. From what I caught she was begging Rose not to die. I worried it was too late. We all did.
Sorry to end with a cliff hanger and for taking a while to update. I promise Rose won't die. I don't own VA or its characters. Thanks for all the reading and comments. I'm hoping for around 7 or 8 before I put up the next chapter. -wbnm
