Love me when I'm gone

Chapter 8:

Don't fall away and leave love bleeding in my hands. Love lies bleeding

~Fuel, Hemorrhage

Helga stared at the mirror at her image. The swelling around her eye was finally going down. Today was Harold and Rhonda's wedding and she was getting ready to leave. She tried calling Chad to make up with him but he wasn't answering his cell phone and she thought he had went back to L.A. Sighing she grabbed her purse and bridesmaid dress and left the hotel room. A taxi dropped her at the recreation center. As she headed for a room in the back she didn't notice the shadow following her. She opened the door to her dressing room and felt someone push her inside. She gasped when she turned around and saw Chad standing there. " I tried calling you a thousand times. Where were you?"

"I missed you."

" I missed you too."

" Come here and give me a hug," he said smiling wickedly.

Smiling, Helga threw her arms around him but pulled away when she felt him press something against her stomach. He grabbed her and pulled her closer to him. " Don't you dare scream or I will kill you right here and right now."

He pressed the gun into her stomach and whispered, " Back up so I can shut the door."

She obeyed him and he shut the door and locked it behind him. She looked at the gun he was pointing at her, " Chad please…."

" Oh don't start that. Oh please Chad, don't hurt me please. You always complained about everything. Sit down."

She sat down then stood back up, " Chad…"

" I SAID SIT DOWN!"

" Helga… is everything all right?" Arnold asked, " Open the door. Helga…"

" Is that your new boyfriend? Huh? Is he?"

" No…"

" Shut up."

" Chad…Helga is he in there? Open this damn door!" Arnold said, slamming against the door trying to break it open.

" Arnold what's going on?" Gerald asked.

" It's Chad. He's got Helga locked in there. Help me get this door open."

" He's your little hero isn't he?" Chad asked.

" No Chad…"

" Helga shut up. Ya know I should just finish this right now."

He got down beside her and pushed the gun into her stomach. Her breath sped up. She closed her eyes, " dear god I'm going to die." she thought.

Arnold and Gerald slammed against the door and they heard a crack. Chad looked up. He could see an enormous crack in the door. " So long baby." he said pulling the trigger.

The gun fired and Helga's hands covered the wound. He dropped the gun and looked around for a place to escape. Spotting the window he pushed it open and crawled out. Arnold threw himself against the door once more and it finally gave in. He looked at Helga who had fallen on the floor. She was breathing sparsely. " Helga what happened?"

" I…I always get…tired…of people…asking me…that."

" What happened?"

Carefully she pulled her hands away and showed him her blood soaked shirt.

" oh god, he shot her. Somebody call 911!"

He stood to see if someone heard him but she grabbed his arm.

" Arnold… please don't…. leave me." she said covering her stomach with her blood drenched hands.

" Don't worry I won't."

Gerald ran up. "The ambulance is on the way."

" Just hold on Helga. Your going to be all right." Arnold said gently pulling her head onto his knee. She looked up and at him and smiled best she could. The paramedics rushed into the room. " we better get her to the hospital. We need someone to ride with her."

" I'll do it." Arnold said.

As they got inside the ambulance Helga said, " Don't be mad Arnold…don't be mad."

They had been at the hospital for an hour when a doctor walked up to the Arnold who had been joined their friends, Helga's parents, and sister.

" Are you Arnold?" the doctor asked.

" Yes I am. How is she?"

" I'm Dr. Shaw. You better sit down. She's in ICU and isn't looking good. She's in a coma and I don't think she'll make it through the night."

" But she was fine back at the rec center." Arnold said.

" She's lost a lot of blood."

He got up and punched at the wall. " This is my fault."

" Arnold don't say that you didn't know he had a gun." Gerald said trying his best to comfort his best friend

" I should have been there to protect her. When she needed me the most wasn't there."

" Don't say that man."

" I know one thing that bastard better hope the police find him before I do." he said heading for the door.