I pumped my legs harder, closer to Cody. Closer to my brother. The streets were dimly lit by a few dusky streetlights. I could spot another alley around a corner. I ran faster, closer to the corner. As I came around though, a horrible sight met my eyes.
A beautiful girl with tangled brown hair and blue eyes, dressed in a nightshirt kneeled on the ground holding something. Someone.
Cody.
This boy didn't look like my brother though. He lay limply in her ams…like he was-dead. His blonde hair was missing a huge patch at the top, like someone had torn it from his head. He was covered in blood, in crusty patches around his body. Cody's face looked smaller then I remembered. He was skinnier, like he hadn't eaten much at all since he left. And he was pale. Deathly pale, to where the red blood seeping from his body contrasted with a sickening color. But it was still Cody.
"Tanya?" I said, the dream I had flashing instantly in my head. Was this Tanya? The one that the blonde woman told me to protect?
Something told me that it was.
The girl's arms were shaking in fear as she held Cody's limp body. She slowly looked up, pure fear written on her misty eyes. She stared at me, as if I were some type of ghost. I walked closer to her, slowly so as not to frighten her. I kneeled down, and reached out a hand to touch Cody's cheek. It was cold and wet with blood.
"Zack? Is that you?" She piped up, in a quiet voice.
"Yeah…how did you know?"
"You look just like C…Cody. How did you know mine?"
"I heard it in a dream. Then when I saw you, I just sorta knew. Knew that you were the one who's name I had heard. What happened to Cody? Is he going to be alright?"
I tried to keep the explanation of my strong feelings down, along with my extreme attraction to this girl. This was no time to be falling for someone. So I reached down and stroked what was left of Cody's long blonde hair. I cradled his pale head in my arms gently, feeling tears at my eyes again.
"Everything. He's been through too much. We need to get help! He might not be ok." She hugged him closer, fresh tears streaming down her face.
"Don't worry, I'll find someone. It'll be ok. You don't have to tell me anything. Come with me."
I picked Cody up and slung his limp body over my shoulder. He was lighter then I expected. Probably because of all the weight he had lost. Then I started in the direction I had come from. Tanya timidly walked directly behind me, holding Cody's chin up with a dainty hand to keep it from bouncing on my back.
I walked faster, blocking out all emotion. I had a goal…to get Cody somewhere safe. So I didn't speak, didn't think, just walked. Power walked closer to my destination. Closer to home. But I couldn't help but feel the slightest bit of satisfaction.
I had found him. I found my brother. Now life would be normal again. There would be no more days going home to hearing my Mom weeping uncontrollably. No more lying on my bed, and staring over at the empty one beside me. Now Cody would be back.
It never occurred to me he might not survive.
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The line break thing isn't working! Oh well. What did you think? Sorry I've been taking time to update...I have 3 other stories I'm writing. I know I know, my fault. But I couldn't just let the ideas hang there. Anyway...hmmm what am I going to do next? What will happen to Cody? You may not find out if you don't review! Please review...if I don't get enough I wont update! heehee, evil I know.