Kyle
June 17th, 2015
2:04 p.m.
I was home alone. Chloe was off at a job interview, while Max and Warren are on a date. Jamie took Stella out to propose, turns out we did find the perfect ring for them.
Nearly everyone had something to do today except for myself. I was left to my own devices at the apartment, which I was perfectly fine with. I was busy playing the XBox online with several of my friends back from my old home.
As I quit for a small break to grab some food, my phone rang.
"'Ello?" I asked in between bites of sandwhich.
"Hey," Dakota answered in her distinct Kiwi accent. "You doing anything?"
"Just on the XBox," I recalled while grabbing some Kool-Aid. "Surprised you're not on."
"I thought about it. Everyone is gone here and I just don't feel like being here alone. Mind if I come over?"
I shrugged, then realized she couldn't see that. "Yeah, I'll come pick you up. Give me… 5 minutes?"
"Okay, thank you."
"No problem. I'll be there soon."
Dakota has been hanging around with us a lot lately. Not that I minded, she was instrumental in Warren getting better and for us burying the hatchet with Victoria. Not that I'm still 100% okay with her, yet.
I put on some decent clothes before grabbing the keys to our shared car. I listened to music as I drove to Dakota's house. I had just learned of her condition a few weeks ago, and, despite kinda wanting to be home alone, I wanted to let her come over. Partly because of sympathy, partly because I do like hanging out with her.
She walked out of her house looking casual. She wore a Green Lantern shirt that was tied at the bottom to show the barest hint of skin, denim shorts, and black shoes. I could tell she felt lazy with a red snapback worn over her light brunette hair.
"Hey," I greeted her politely. I reached across to open the door for her.
"Thanks," she muttered. She sat down heavily in the passenger's seat next to me.
"You doing okay?" I asked quietly. Hesitently, in fact.
"I'm okay," she sighed. "The place between my ears isn't something I like to face alone. I'm sorry for pulling you away from your friends on the XBox."
"It's not a problem." I pulled the gear shift to reverse out of the driveway. I started to drive my way back to the apartment. "I told you any time you need any of us, we'll be there."
"I know."
We didn't say anything else the rest of the way. I could tell Dakota was not in the mood, and to be honest, I just wasn't sure what to say. How do you help a friend during a depressive spell without sounding condescending?
Dakota stared out the window. She glanced at the green lawns and the birds flying high into the blue sky, but I could tell she couldn't care less about nature. I couldn't imagine how heavy her thoughts were.
We pulled to a stop back in the apartment complex's parking lot. I got out and pulled my keys into my pocket. I wanted to get out of the summer heat as quickly as I could.
Dakota hesitated before finally swinging a tan leg out of the car. She attempted to pull herself out of the vehicle before she fell. It seemed like she just tripped on nothing.
I stopped watching after she had pulled a leg out. I had just assumed she would be okay. It wasn't until I heard a curse and the sound of a body falling on concrete that I knew.
"Shit!" Dakota cried on impact. "Goddammit!"
"You okay?" I had turned around and kneeled. I stuck out a hand to help my friend up to a vertical base.
"No," she answered emphatically. I could tell she was trying to hold it together, but she couldn't stop her voice from shaking. Reluctantly, she took my hand. I pulled her up gently. Her elbow had been scraped lightly, but it bled slowly.
She glanced at it, and sighed. "I'm falling apart, Kyle. I'm losing it."
I understood the gravity of the statement. We had seen her shaking and losing "it" for a couple of days now. None of us wanted to say it. Partly because we knew it'd bring her down, partly because we didn't want it to happen. Saying it out loud would make it real.
"Let me help you back inside," I offered.
"Okay."
I felt so awful, but there wasn't anything I could say to help her. We all knew this was going to happen. We all knew that the clock is ticking, but for it to happen so soon to her was heartbreaking.
She didn't need much help, admittedly. Still, she shook and was slightly unsteady on her feet. I took her by the elbow (her good one), and guided her into the living room. She sat down heavily in the couch, almost reminiscent of sitting in the car.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. Do you need anything? Like food, some water?"
"No," she shook her head. "I'm fine. I'll play some games though."
"Cool, what do you wanna play?"
"Mm," she considered. "Still got the Wii U? I'll kick your ass in Mario Kart!"
I raised her small smile with a chuckle of my own. "It's a deal. Although we both know you'll kick my ass."
"Uh, that's the point."
At least she was smiling.
We played for more than two hours. Different games, of course. I wasn't going to let her kick my ass for over 120 minutes.
"If it's all the same to you," she sat the controller on the table after the round of Call of Duty. "I think I'll take that drink now."
"I couldn't agree more," I replied whilst setting my own controller down.
"I'll go grab some H20. What do you want?"
"Same thing, please!" she called to my back.
"Will do," I waved.
I walked in through the kitchen door and let it shut softly behind me. I hummed a song to myself as I dug in the fridge for some water bottles. I grabbed the two remaining ones in the back of the fridge before closing the door.
I took one step, and then I felt, rather than saw the muscular, tattooed arm wrap around my throat.
Choking. I'm choking. I drop the water bottles on the floor and grab and claw on the arm over my neck.
I felt adrenaline bubble up in me and I kicked my feet up on the counter. I pushed off and slammed myself and the person behind me against the opposite counter top. I felt the grip over my neck slack, and felt a momentary relief.
Then before I could find a weapon to defend myself, the arm was over me again.
I tried to steuggle, but the person swung me around and my head hit hard on the refrigerator door. My vision became blurry.
"Stop struggling, kid, and you'll live."
Like I was going to give up that easily. I struggled as much as I could, but the man was too strong. My vision became even blurrier and I was feeling myself pass out.
Unfortunately, I was too far gone to do anything but watch the events unfold. Dakota walked in. Through the haze, I could hear her demanding to know what the noise was. I could only watch as the man behind me took out his gun and shot Dakota once in the chest.
I heard her cry out, and then I couldn't hear or see anything anymore.
