I landed hard on the compact dirt. Agony shooting up my shoulder, the dark night stars twinkling against the black backstop of the sky. I was in pain but not enough to have been shot. I laid there for a second getting my baring before I heard sobbing, hard terrified heart racking sobbing. I lifted my head and saw Tasha. Her mouth was set in an O. the gun she had fired hanging limply from her hand. Christof was trying to usher her away but she stayed put, staring behind me.
I didn't think I had it in me to turn around and see Lisa, either dead or bleeding to death. Rose crying over her best friend. Her soul-mate. But I knew I had to help or to be there for Rose. So, when I sat up it shocked me to numbness to see Lissa's pale head blocking a body lying limply on the ground from my view.
I sprang to my feet and launched myself, her name ripping from my lips. Rose was lying in the dirt, her hands pressed to her chest, Lissa pushing down on top of them, but I could see the blood blooming between her fingers. Roses face was slack, the colour drained.
"Dimitri" Lissa sobbed. It was a heart-stopping sound. Pure agony, terror and heartache in a single word. She looked up at me with those endless green eyes pleading for me to do something. I grabbed my phone from my pocket, dropping to my knees beside Rose. I dialled 911 and as soon as the operator answered I was barking out commands, I knew I was rude but I couldn't care less. I needed help. Rose needed help.
"Here," I said to Lissa throwing my phone to the ground and gently moving her hands, they were gloved in Roses blood. I moved Roses hands aside too and she didn't fight me. I could see the nasty oozing hole where the bullet had entered her chest. I pressed my hands on top of it hopefully stemming the blood till help arrived. I heard a low whimper from Rose and felt tears pool in my eyes. She was still alive, I could feel the faint fluttering of her heart under my palms.
I leant forward and placed my lips to her forehead, she felt so cold. I heard her whisper something but I didn't catch it.
"What was that?" I said before pressing my ear to her lips.
"Do you really not love me?" she said, her voice so quiet I was straining to hear it over Lissa's crying and sniffling. I laughed, it wasn't a happy sound, more a jerk reaction.
"Really Rose? You've been shot and that's what you ask?" I pressed my forehead to hers. I wanted to touch her cheek so badly but was terrified of moving my hands. "I love you so much it hurts. Physically hurts. I have never dreamed I would ever feel anything like this. You are my heart; you own it completely, it's all yours." I saw Roses's eyes sparkle for a moment and her lips twitched into a smile.
"Kiss me," she said her breath getting heavy and raspy. Tears were rolling down her temples and I felt my own rolling down my cheek. "One last ti..."
Before she could finish her sentence, I pressed my lips to hers. They were still warm and as soft as ever and I felt a sob wrack through my body. As I lifted my face to look into Roses's eyes her smile set and she closed her eyelids, Taking a deep sighing breath. But then she didn't take another.
I felt cold and hot and uncomfortable but comfortable at the same time. My eyelids were so heavy I couldn't open them but I could hear. I could hear Lissa, I knew it was her without needing to see her. I could feel her soft skin against my fingers. She was crying, I didn't know why and I couldn't talk, I couldn't make my voice ask her or comfort her.
"Rose, please wake up. I can't lose you too." Lissa was sobbing squeezing my hand tighter than I knew she was possible of. I wanted to tell her. I was here, I could hear her I was alive. Well, I thought I was. I had only felt like this once before and that was after the accident with Lissa's parents.
"She's not going anywhere. She is a fighter. She will come back to you." it was Dimitri his voice was confident but I could feel his sadness, his fear. My heart started racing. I felt his fingers glide against my check and was screaming inside. Open your eyes. Speak. Move your hand. Do Something so he knows you can hear him. I couldn't but darkness rose over me and I couldn't hear them anymore, I was rolling in a tide of nothingness. Lost. I was terrified. I wanted Dimitri, I wanted Lissa. God, I even wanted my mother.
I don't know how long I was stuck in a black hole of nothing, floating and lost. My mind racing, images flashing in the darkness. The first time I met Lissa when we were in kindergarten. Lissa's mum making me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as we sat at the kitchen bench at her family's home when we were 7. Lissa's brother Andre teaching me how to shoot hoops, Lissa's dad driving us home after we got drunk at a party when we were 14, his quiet disappointment in not just in his daughter but in me as well.
At the time I had been furious that someone who wasn't even my real dad was punishing me, but looking back at it, they were my family and they had treated me with every respect they gave their own biological children. Then a beautiful tan face framed in dark chocolate hair burst behind my eyes. His pink lips twisted in a wry smile, his head tilted to the side, his fingers scratching his chin as he watched me approach him. It was the first time I had met him, in his office. It really had been love at first sight for me. More images flickered, they were all Dimitri, him smiling on our first date, frowning at me after an incident with Natasha, kissing me after Victor's party, holding me to his chest as we lay in his bed. My mind was full to the brim with his face, pushing hard on the fragile walls of my brain. I wanted to scream, to grab at my head to release the tension. I was sure I was dying, but I never imagined my life flashing before my eyes could be so painful. I didn't want to leave. I wanted to see Dimitri again, kiss him, hold him. Marry him for god sakes. I could feel a scream building up in my chest. The images flying through the air like a thousand angry bees.
The pressure so intense but suddenly it stopped and my eyes flew open. It was so bright after the disorienting darkness I had risen from. I blinked hard tears forming in my eyes. A soft intake of breath caught my attention and I turned my head slowly to the side. Like my dreams had materialized him there he was. His hair hanging limply around a slightly paler looking face, his eyes tight with worry and a decent amount of stubble gracing his chin. My Dimitri.
"Rosa," he whispered, he was already holding my hand but brought it up to his face, pressing my palm against his cheek. I smiled at the familiar warmth of him and the unfamiliar feel of stubble against my callused palms, I scrubbed my fingers gently through the hair and his face lit up in a smile that threatened to beat out the brightness of the sun.
"Dimitri" I croaked, my voice was so rough and dry even to my own ears.
"I'll get you a drink"
"No, don't leave me" I said gripping his hand as he tried to stand up. I knew it was needy but I couldn't bear to not be looking into those eyes right now. The movement stung and I looked down, there was a large pure white bandage wrapped around my chest.
"No worries Rosa, I'm right here okay."
"How long have I been.." I searched my vocabulary for the right word. "out?" I finished with a grimace.
"It's been about a week, I guess."
"A week?" I gasped then cringed, a stabbing pain so intense shot through my chest I flopped against the pillow.
"Rosa, Rosa." Dimitri let go of my hand and stood up, he looked freaked out. "are you in pain? I'll get the nurse."
"Dimitri" I grimaced. But he was already out the door, and a second later he was nearly dragging a young male doctor behind him
"She's awake but she is in pain. Help her."
"Hi Rosemarie, I'm Dr Stephens. How are you feeling?" the doctor began to check my vitals, checked my eyes with the flashlight, listened to my heart and lungs, checked all the necessary things as I just laid there. I'd only been awake; 10-15 minutes and I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open.
"Sore, and really tired."
"That's to be expected, you were on quite a heavy sedation because you were shot."
"I remember, I don't think I will ever forget."
"Well, let's see how you're healing then." the doctor said as his hands reached over to the bandage, he looked too young to be a doctor, but I could see the lines around him smiling eyes and the flecks of grey in his dark blonde hair.
"Do you want me to leave?" Dimitri asked.
"No, you can stay. Unless you don't want to because it might be gross." as much as I claimed to be a badass, I really hated hospitals and blood and gore. If it was up to me, I'd probably leave the room too. Dimitri just smiled and sat down reaching over and taking my hand firmly in his.
"This might hurt just a little." The doctor lifted the bandage where it adhered to my skin and I hissed. The doctor gave me an apologetic smile and I closed my eyes. The pain was quick. Quite literally like ripping off a Band-Aid.
"Looks like you're healing well." the doctor said, I looked down and nearly fainted. It wasn't nearly as healed as I had expected for a week and told the doctor so. He laughed, not in a taunting way. "you are healing perfectly on time. It was a lot of trauma to both your body and your skin, give yourself some time."
"I was so worried about you," Dimitri said after the doctor had given me some pain medication and rebandaged me and left the room. I squeezed his hand.
"I'm sorry."
"No, I should be the one who's sorry. It was my crazy ex who shot you."
"Well, I mean. She was shooting at Lissa, not me. If you want to be pedantic."
"That doesn't mean it wasn't my fault. She kidnapped you because of me."
"Not exactly." I sighed. "sure, you were a part of her hatred, but I wasn't kidnapped. I went there to get Lissa. Victor Dashkov had drugged her and was taking her blood because she's magical or something."
"Yes, Lissa told us all about it. Viktor, Natasha and her Hench guard have all been apprehended and put in jail, looks like he's gone a bit crazy in his old age.'
"What about Natalie?" I asked avoiding the rest of Dimitri's statement. I had seen how Lissa's blood had change Victor with my own eyes, would Dimitri believe me? Or would he think I had lost my mind?
"Natalie? Viktors daughter?"
"Yeah, she helped Vicktor. She's evil Dimitri."
"Lissa didn't say anything about her," Dimitri said sitting back and scratching his stubbled chin. "I wonder why?"
"I don't. She probably feels guilty and didn't want for her to get in trouble." Dimitri frowned. "that's Lissa for you. Nice to a fault." Dimitri shook his head.
"She's probably fled the country by now, well if she was smart, she would have." suddenly my heart thudded. Dimitri looked over at me, the machine connected to my pulse made a beeping noise. "are you okay?"
"Christian?"
"Rose." Dimitri sighed.
"Is... he okay? Dimitri, Natasha was the only family he had." my lower lip was wobbling, I didn't want to cry. It was probably going to hurt so bad.
"No, no she's not." a voice said from the door, I turned my head and there he was. Christian. His arm wrapped around Lissa. Her hand was covering her mouth and she was already crying. It looked like Christian's arm was the only thing holding her back from launching herself at me.
"What do you mean?"
"Lissa, is my family now, and that means so are you and Adrian, and I guess this guy If he's sticking around," Christian said pointing at Dimitri. He had a smile on his face but I could see and feel the sadness behind his eyes.
"Christian, I'm so sorry" I sobbed.
"Hey, why are you the one apologizing. It was my aunt who tried to kill you." my eyes flicked over to Lissa and the look on her face said 'don't go there' obviously Christian didn't know she was aiming at Lissa and not me.
"How are you feeling?" Lissa said, rushing over to me and grabbing my other hand. Her fingers were as cool and smooth as usual.
"I'm fine" I lied. It was getting harder and harder to keep my eyes open, the pain in my chest was now a dull throbbing ache.
"You're lying"
"I'm not, really. I feel like I could run a marathon." I said with what I hoped was a reassuring smile. Lissa rolled her eyes and I saw Dimitri shake his head. Christian made his way over to the bed but stood a small distance away from everyone.
"Rose really, you don't have to pretend with us."
"Come her sparky," I said patting the side of the bed while I studiously ignored Lissa glaring at me.
"No, I'm okay here," Christian said crossing his arms. He looked awkward and uncomfortable. "don't want to cramp your space." I just rolled my eyes, Lissa squeezed my hand and I looked up at her, tears were swimming in her green eyes.
"I don't know what I would have done if I lost you."
"Don't you worry your pretty little head, Liss, I have too many good things at the moment to go anywhere."
I looked over at Dimitri and smiled, he returned my smile pressing my hand to his warm cheek our eyes locking. Even now recently skewered through with a bullet and on enough pain killers to take out a rhino, looking at Dimitri's unguarded smile and touching his electrifying skin my body was alive like a wire. A tingling sensation filling my stomach, my heart rate picking up the longer I stared at his magnificent face. The full soft curve of his lip, his warm chocolate eyes fringed with thick lashes the achingly soft hair I could see peeking over his sweater. I knew that a fine line trailed down to his navel and beyond to possibly my second favourite part of Dimitri, his face coming in first. I was making a list of all my other favourite parts of him, realizing there wasn't any part of Dimitri I didn't find sexy, other than maybe his feet when someone cleared their throat.
"Would you like us to leave?" Christian asked, Lissa had moved away from the bed sometime in my space out and was cuddled against her boyfriend. I looked back at Dimitri my cheeks flaming, he looked the same. Dazed like he had forgotten that they were even here.
I started to apologize but Lissa raised her hand. "don't worry about it." she giggled. "I get it. We will give you guys some alone time; I'll go talk to the doctors, see if we can't get you home." with a smile and a wave they were both gone. I looked over at Dimitri my cheeks flaming again.
"Sorry." he chuckled. "I didn't mean to scare them away." I laughed and cringed, a sharp pain shooting through my chest. I tried to cover it but Dimitri's eyes widened.
"Come here," I said shuffling over to make room for him on the bed. He eyed me suspiciously.
"Rose, you're going to hurt yourself be careful."
"No, I'm fine, really. I just want you to hold me." I attempted to bat my lashes at him, looking up at him with a pout. I probably looked deranged, but Dimitri sighed and shucked off his shoes before very carefully stretching out on the bed beside me, my side was instantly warm as he pressed against me head to toe. His arms came around me cradling my head and his other hand stroked my side, my eyes drifting closed, taking a deep breath and letting go of the tension I didn't even know that I was holding.
"I love you," Dimitri said his lips pressed to the top of my head.
"I love you too, Dimitri. so much."
"I love you more," he said pressing another kiss but this time to my forehead.
I placed my hand over Dimitri's heart and smiled, even though we were just sitting here in a pretty PG situation Dimitri's heart was beating like a small bird beneath my palm. I knew mine was the same, anytime I was around Dimitri I felt more alive and just a pure sense of happiness. This was love. Real true heart retching world-changing love. And I had found it in one of the most beautiful men in the world. And not just on the outside, I had found someone who calmed me, who listened, who cared. Who loved with his whole heart.
"What now?" I asked Dimitri. He was wrapping a piece of my hair round and round his finger.
"Now we live happily ever after," he said leaning down and pressing his lips achingly softly against mine. After a few minutes bullet wound be dammed, I grabbed that gorgeous man's face and kissed him slowly, I wasn't going to rush. We had all the time in the world.
And there we have it. it took a lot longer than I thought but it's done. I am endlessly sorry for how long it took me to finish this.
but what a crazy time we are in at the moment. where are you from and how has the COVID-19 affected you and your towns?
in my town in Australia, our numbers were steadily rising. my work closed, schools, shops, restaurants, bars. its been 3 weeks and I've bearly left my house. I have one more week until my work is supposed to open but honestly I don't know if that will happen.
my heart hurts for everyone who has been so affected. America I am so sorry that you are struggling. I love your beautiful country so much. do believe that when this is all over and the dust is settled I will be back!
thank you, everyone, for reading and reviewing this story. hopefully, it gave you a few moments of peace among that madness. and know if you need someone to vent to or something to talk to my messages are always open.
thank you. I love you.