A/N: Aaaand the next chapter, like I promised :). Sometimes I DO keep my promises! Please review?

C24

CARLOS POV

'Carlitos…' The man turned around and faced me. He was wearing a grey sweatshirt, which looked like it hadn't been washed in weeks, and dirty blue jeans. He had converse shoes on himself, which were worn to a thread.

'Don't call me Carlitos,' I said, like I had said on the phone.

'I call you whatever you want,' The man came closer and suddenly I recognized him. It was an old friend of my father's, though I couldn't remember his name. He came a little more closer and touched my cheek with his filthy hand. 'Carlitos.'

'Don't touch me.' I said, but I didn't wipe his hand away, I was too afraid to move. The man noticed and grinned.

'Yeah, yeah, you don't want your friends to get hurt, do you? You're a good friend, Carlitos…' I could see his yellow teeth, which apparently weren't brushed in weeks either. I shook my head, I wasn't a good friend. The man widened his eyes. 'Oh, you don't think so? Anyway, you didn't listen to me, didya?'

I didn't answer him, but he continued anyway. 'You'll have to pay for that, you know.'

'James already did.' I blurted. I didn't want to say that but I couldn't help it.

'Yes, yes, James did.' He grinned again and I wanted to smack him for how he pronounced James' name. 'But you didn't. Didya think you'd be rid of me now James is in hospital? Oh, you did? That's so cute!'

I couldn't stand this man, but I knew I shouldn't smack him. It would only make things worse.

'Now, you can either have it the hard way or the soft way… whattaya want?'

'Which one does not involve my friends?'

'They both don't if you listen to me.'

'Good.'

'The soft way: get your father out of jail. Tomorrow.' He started, but I cut him off.

'I'll have the hard way. What is it?' I said. I didn't want my father to get out of jail, not now I knew I could stay with Kendall and I wouldn't be alone at all. The guy moved a little and suddenly he had a gun in his hands.

He pointed his gun towards my head and grinned. 'Have it your way.'

I closed my eyes and felt tears – of fear – sliding down my cheeks. So this was how it was going to end? I could feel the cold gun pressed against my forehead. Suddenly I thought of how I didn't even say goodbye to my friends and I had seen James only one time after his accident… I didn't even talk a lot to Kendall and Logan… That guy was wrong, I was a horrible friend. But at least they would be safe.

I waited for the gunshot, which didn't come to my surprise. Suddenly I heard an unknown voice.

'DROP THAT GUN!'

I didn't dare to open my eyes and I was still waiting for the gunshot.

'DROP IT, NOW.'

I felt the gun being lifted away from my head, but I still didn't dare to open my eyes, until someone almost knocked me over. I saw at least five policemen and to my surprise, my father's friend wasn't the only one around. I saw at least three other guys I didn't know, all holding guns, pointed to me, to the policemen or – gasp – to Logan and Kendall. I opened my mouth but I didn't dare to say anything.

'DROP THE GUNS.' He used plural now. They didn't listen. They just stood there, their guns pointed at me, Logan and Kendall. And the policemen knew that as soon as they shot one of those man, the others would shoot me, Logan or Kendall. Please, I thought, please let it be me.

BANG. I heard a gunshot this time, though I didn't feel anything. The policemen fired a shot at the man who was calling me "Carlitos" all the time. I immediately heard more gunshots. I was still paralyzed by fear, I couldn't move, though I wanted to duck. I turned around, looking at Logan and Kendall. I heard another gunshot and I saw a bullet setting down Logan. He screamed in surprise and fell over. I looked around again and the friend – as I started calling him – who was shot by the police was lying on the ground, his gun still pointed towards Logan.

So this is how he wanted to do it. Not hurting me, but hurting my friends after all. I wanted to walk towards Logan, to help him. He sitting on the ground, Kendall had his arms around him to comfort him, and he was holding his leg. I saw blood, Logan's blood. He was crying, but I hoped that it was because of the shock rather than because of the pain.

I wanted to walk towards him but somehow I just couldn't. I couldn't move, still paralyzed by fear. Everything that just happened had happened in just a few seconds, but it felt like all this took hours. Logan got shot and was totally defenseless now. Kendall was with Logan, totally defenseless too. They were already busted so why wouldn't they just kill them? And it was all my fault.

Someone please shoot me.

When I said someone please shoot me I didn't actually mean it, come on, no one should take the things I say literally! Especially not in this situation! I heard another gunshot, but this time I felt a horrible, stinging pain right above my upper arm. I looked down and saw blood spreading around my t-shirt. My eyes widened and I felt my jaw drop. I heard someone scream my name but I couldn't recognize the voice. And that's where I passed out and everything went black.