A/N: Hey guys, I want to start off this chapter, they same way I always do, which is by thanking all of you inexplicably amazing people who read my story, favourite my story and of course, review my story!!!! You are all fantastic, especially those of you who review, it means so much to me, and I love to sit down and read them all. I love you all (In a non-creepy way) and if I could track you all down and give you a hug, I would!!!
Ok, a quick thing, as many of you emailed me about it; I did post this chapter yesterday, but stupid fanfiction decided not to save any of the changes I'd recently made, so I decided to pull it and work on it this morning. Sorry about that. :D
Ok, on with chapter seventeen, wow it's getting long now!!!
Oh, warning for swearing....and it's pretty fast paced so read slowly! Please enjoy...
All Just A Lie.
Chapter Seventeen: Awaiting Death.
Shane blinked rapidly as Mitchie's words repeated around his head, the weight of the world suddenly bestowing upon his shoulders as he tried to understand them further. He had seen the honesty and the tears at home within her eyes, her lips forming the words that sent the broken pieces of his heart into spasm, re-igniting the hope in his entire body, the hope that had been extinguished the day she broke up with him, the day she broke him completely.
And it had all been for another man, or so he had thought.
For now it seemed that this was not true. There had been no one else and it had all been a lie.
Shane felt his head fall under a spell of fogginess as he tried to, painfully, relive the break-up and the day he had found her in his apartment. Both times she had been crying, the second time she had looked ill, and sickeningly thin.
"She's hurting herself."
Shane's breath hitched in his throat as Caitlyn's words entered his mind. He had previously decided not to believe that Mitchie had self-harmed, considering there was no reason for her to. But now, it appeared that there was. Shane felt bile rise in his stomach at the thought.
Why had she done it?
Had she truly wanted to die?
Is that why she so willingly offered herself up to Alex?
Shane shook the thought from his head, the agony it caused him was too much to bare, to much to handle, especially as he was pulled backwards down a stair case, a growling Alex gripping tightly on to the collar of his shirt.
Alex.
The man that had beaten and abused his Mitchie.
He had wanted to kill this man, but as of now, it looked like it would be the other way around.
"They told me if I didn't break up with you they would drop Connect Three."
Shane found himself unable to keep the words at bay as he entered a dark room, as of Alex's furious pulls.
He wanted to believe the words so badly, his stomach churning with longing but dosed with a small amount of skepticism.
She could have been lying.
She might still have cared for him, and wanted him to die feeling a small pinch of happiness. Wanting a snippet of joy to destroy the sorrow and depression that usually engulfed the entirety of his body, at least when he took his last and final breath.
Shane shook his head a little. No, he wanted to believe her, so he would. He couldn't exactly question her. So, as he was thrown to the floor with a loud thump Shane pushed all feelings of uncertainty to the back of his mind, letting his heart well and truly believe that Mitchie Torres was still in love with him. Letting himself wholesomely believe that she had done what she had because she wanted to protect him, to save his career.
And he knew he would die happier because of it.
"What is wrong with you people? I just want to be a part of my child's life?" Alex grunted as he turned on a light in the room, a dismal glow smothering the small area between the crumbling walls.
Shane squinted as he let his eyes adjust to the lighting, before he surveyed the area, the room was rather small, Alex standing in front of him. Two or three meters behind him were two steps that lead up to a door. That door, Shane knew was his only way of escape, it would lead him to a large set of rickety stairs and those stairs would lead him to Mitchie.
Shane took a deep breath as he thought of his Mitchie tied to a chair, blood oozing from numerous cuts on her body, her head bruised and beaten. He was her one and only hope now, he just had to get through that door, and of course, past the blood-thirsty man the stood in front of him, reloading his gun.
"So, how do you want this done, quick and painless of slow and painful?" Alex asked, a teasing smile on his face as he looked down at Shane, whose dark eyes glared up at him. "I'm only joking, of course I won't give you the choice." Alex added with a low chuckle. "Hmmm, It's a shame that you couldn't be the hero you so desperately tried to be." Alex taunted as he stepped a little close to Shane, crouching down slightly. "Now, no one can save your little girlfriend." He laughed again.
"Shut up." Shane growled furiously, those being the only two words he could think of. The fury that built up in him completely blocking his mind, stopping him from thinking straight, sick, paining images crashing into his mind.
"Or what?" Alex asked, his eyes wide as he mocked Shane further, his disturbed smirk showing the clear amusement he felt. "Maybe I should just explain to you, in detail, everything I plan to do to her when you're gone." He added, Shane swallowing as he bit his lip, his whole body rigid. "Yep, I like that plan, and then I can kill you." Alex laughed once more, the sound bouncing through the room.
Shane closed his eyes as Alex began to talk, his heart aching, and his body longing to hold Mitchie close to him. But it was too late. All Shane could do now was wish for death to take him a little bit sooner.
Mitchie panted loudly as her eyes darted around the room, tears pouring incessantly from her eyes as she awaited the sound of a gunshot. The gun shot that would inevitably mean the death of Shane, his life taken by a bullet, his soul torn apart by a demented man. Mitchie sobbed loudly as she realized this was all her fault.
Shane shouldn't have been involved in this situation. She had, unbeknownst to herself, dragged him into it. And because of her, he would die. Because she just had to save her friend, Shane would die, along with the friend she had fought so hard to protect.
Mitchie threw her head back slightly as the weight became to much, the guilt, fear and desperation building up with in her body, the pain of previous wounds, the pain that filled her heart causing her whole body to shudder. Her head thumping as tears poured through her.
She spluttered through her sobs, attempting to breath and trying to block out the sound of Caitlyn's own cries as she called to Nate, who laid helpless on the floor, still unmoving.
This was entirely her fault.
"Caitlyn, I'm sorry." Mitchie whispered through her tears, Caitlyn ceased her shouts instantly, looking up at Mitchie, whose eyes were wide with sincerity, circled with smudged mascara and blood.
"It's- It's not your fault." Caitlyn stammered out, pursing her lips as she fought against another round of tears.
"Yes…yes it is." Mitchie whispered, her face crinkling with honesty and her own tears.
"No, Mitchie." Caitlyn replied, her voice gaining character and strength as she connected her eyes with Mitchie's. "This isn't your fault, it's mine. You were trying to help….this would have happened eventually, and I hate that you had to be involved with it." Caitlyn added, her voice breaking, yet still she pushed back her tears.
"I'm sorry." Mitchie added nonetheless.
"Don't be…thank you for what you did." Caitlyn replied with a small sideward smile. "But you're such an idiot for doing it." She added, coupling her words with a dry laugh. "You're officially the best friend ever." She continued.
"No, you are." Mitchie retorted, following suit with Caitlyn and allowing a bitter laugh to escape her lips.
"Wow, I feel sick." Rob muttered from his place at the side of the room, where he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed casually over his chest. "Can you two just shut it." He added with a disgusting glare. "I want to hear the gun shot, so we know just when the little shit is dead." He beamed. Mitchie closed her eyes, clenching her teeth at his words.
The waiting was the worst thing.
It was as if she was waiting for death herself. In fact, Mitchie would without a doubt prefer that.
She had to stop this.
Mitchie gasped for breath as she began to fight against the rope that bound her to the chair, stunned to find the ropes looser than they had been once more for.
"Oh my gosh." Mitchie whispered, gaining only the attention of Caitlyn who looked up at her questioningly. Mitchie thought back to when Shane had first found her, he had delved for the ropes, attempting to untie them. It was only now that Mitchie realized he had almost succeeded.
"My ropes…they're lose." Mitchie whispered through gritted teeth to Caitlyn, whose eyes widened, glistening with shock and optimism. Mitchie grunted, clenching her jaw further as she wrestled against the ropes, attempting to remain subtle. She bit back a gasp as she felt her hands slide, slightly painfully, from the ropes. She was free.
But now what?
As if time, god and fate were on her side Rob slipped a flask from a bag and began to sip from it. An idea instantly bursting into Mitchie's mind, as she gave no thought to what could happen if it went wrong.
This was her last chance to save her friends, and she would take it.
"Hey!" She shouted, Caitlyn's neck snapping to Rob in disbelief.
"What?" He snapped back.
"I need a drink." Mitchie demanded, shocked by how confident and fearless she sounded.
"And?" Rob retorted as he took another sip from his flask.
"Look Rob." She started, spitting out his name like it was a bad taste upon her tongue. "Alex obviously wants me around for some reason, I don't think he'd be to happy if he found out you let me die of dehydration." Mitchie hissed, watching as his smirk disappeared, replaced with a look of contemplation, and then finally he concluded she was in fact correct and began to walk in her direction.
Mitchie pressed her lips into a hard line as he advanced on her, her mind racing as she quickly realized she should have thought the plan through a little further before rushing into it.
But she didn't have time.
The gunshot could go off any second.
"There you go." Oliver muttered as he appeared in front of her, Mitchie stared up at him, a look of disbelief smothering her face as she studied his stupidity.
"I can't use my arms, idiot." She spat at him hoping her hadn't noticed that her hands were untied and rolling her eyes at his ignorance.
"Alright, don't back chat me, bitch." Rob retorted, narrowing his eyes and raising his clenched fist in a warning. "Here." He muttered, stretching out his arm and placing the flask to her lips, tilting it carefully. Mitchie looked up at him, willing herself to move, and finally she did. With all the power she had she brought one of her free hands to the side of his face, watching as her punch set him staggering backwards a few steps, the water flask falling to the floor forgotten.
"You whore!" Rob shouted as he clutched his face, Mitchie leaping up from her seat, unsure of what to do next. Rob recovered quickly as he ripped the gun out from the back of his trousers, pointing it at Mitchie's knee cap with a smile.
Mitchie wasn't sure where her sudden burst of bravery came from, or her sudden wave of adrenaline, but without a hint of hesitation she leapt forwards, wrapping her own hands around the gun and pointing it to the floor.
"Ge' off." Rob bellowed as he fought for control of the weapon, his finger accidently pressing against the trigger as numerous bullets shot into the floor. Mitchie gritted her teeth as she refused to let go, but her lacking strength and energy told her that she could not fight for much longer. Using the reamining ounce of strength that bubbled through her body, Mitchie brought her foot sharply into Rob's groin, pride floating through her as she felt his hands slide from the gun as he fell to the floor, clutching himself and writhing in pain.
Mitchie quickly ran to the man who immediately tried to get to his feet, his face twisted in pain as Mitchie brought the gun to his head, much like she had seen Alex inflict upon Nate earlier, Rob grunted slightly as he fell to the floor unconscious.
Mitchie stood still for a moment, surveying the man who seemed paralyzed. Shocked that she had managed to bring him down, stunned that her plan had actually worked.
"Jesus Christ, you're like a ninja." Caitlyn gasped, bringing Mitchie's attention to her. They both laughed despite themselves, and despite the situation. But they quickly remembered everything that was happening, their smiles fading and the jokes forgotten. "Mitch, untie me." Caitlyn mumbled as her eyes flickered to the other unconscious body in the room, Nate. Mitchie immediately leapt into action, maneuvering behind the pole and undoing the knots that bound her friend there. Caitlyn burst to her feet instantly, running to Nate's side and skidding to her knees in front of him.
She gasped, sobbing hysterically as she looked at the pool of blood that surrounded him, her cries reverberating throughout the dingy room.
"I'm going to help Shane." Mitchie whispered as she held the gun tightly in her hands, cursing as she realized there were no bullets left.
"Be careful, Mitch." Caitlyn said in reply, knowing she could not persuade her from doing otherwise. Mitchie nodded at her, smiling as she turned to the door Shane had previously been dragged through. She closed her eyes as Caitlyn's sobs started once more as she begged Nate to wake up, pleading with him to open his eyes, declaring her love between sharp breaths.
Mitchie picked up her pace as she pulled open the door, winding down the feeble staircase that lead her deeper into darkness, but closer to Shane.
What if she was too late?
Mitchie bit down harshly onto her tongue as the thought crept into her mind, sending her heart into a spasm of sorrow, and subconsciously her feet sped up, skipping over the stairs two at a time. She had to save him.
What would she do without him?
Not being with him was bad enough, she had almost turned to suicide. What if he wasn't in the world at all? What would she do then?
Mitchie's eyes flickered to a door, light glowing around the space as she skidded to a halt. Shane had to be in there. And sure enough Alex's voice filled the air, her intestines twisting with hatred.
She slyly moved to the side of the door, pressing her back against it and breathing slowly as she moved her head around to look into the room which held a murderer and the love of her life.
She saw Alex, whose back was thankfully to her, and then there was Shane, lying in the corner, tears creeping down his face and a murderous look in his eyes. His entire body was stiff, his jaw tensed and his fists clenched into tight balls. She quickly realized why as Alex continued to speak.
"I assume she's a virgin, that will make it all the more fun." Alex leered as he stepped closer to the fuming Shane, towering over his crumbled body. "Had enough yet?" Alex questioned, playing with the gun in his hands.
Mitchie placed a hand over her mouth as she choked back a sob, she had to do something? But what? Could she really just burst into the room, with no weapon, and no plan?
Mitchie watched as Shane nodded in reply to Alex's question, clearly given up on hope and life. And then his eyes flickered to the door, widening as he noticed Mitchie standing there, tears swamping her. He subtly shook his head at her, his body tensing even more.
"Ok, lets get this over with." Alex remarked, holding the gun.
"No, don't." Shane blurted out, his eyes once again falling upon Mitchie as she placed her foot on the first step into the room. She looked at him, realizing his words had been directed at her and not at Alex, his eyes pleading with her to stay where she was and to just leave him.
How could she do that?
"Oh shut it." Alex cursed. "Say goodbye, Shane." He laughed. But his laugh was followed by a loud thump as Mitchie leapt onto his back, wrapping her arms tightly around his throat as he gasped. She had hoped he had dropped the gun, but no such luck.
Alex used his free hand to fight against her constricting arms, grunting and shouting curses at her, the weapon still pointed in Shane's direction as he made a move to help Mitchie. "Don't!" Alex warned, his voice strained, as he took a few steps backwards, slamming Mitchie into the wall, she groaned, coughing as she felt the pain tear through her, her arms releasing from their tight rip around Alex.
"Mitchie!" Shane gasped as he watched her slide down the wall, laying on the floor and taking sharp deep breaths. She was clearing in pain, from the recent injury and from old bruises and wounds that now reflected new types of agony.
"I have had it up to here with you people!" Alex cried, raising his hand in the air as he looked from Mitchie to Shane. "You are so not worth the trouble!" Alex bellowed to Mitchie as she cowered underneath his fierce glares. "Who wants to die first?" He questioned casually as if quiering about the weather. Mitchie and Shane suddenly locked eyes, desperation, devotion, love and fear transferring between them. Both hoping that the other would understand their silent declarations of love.
"You!" Alex yelled, Mitchie's eye widened as the gun was turned on Shane, Alex's finger dancing over the trigger.
"No!" Mitchie yelped, her chest rising fervishly as she panted for breath, but Alex ignored her cries, a taunting smirk on his face as he removed the safety from the gun.
And then the world seemed to slow down.
Everything, at least for Mitchie, happening in an ominous slow motion.
She leapt up, ignoring the pain that tore through her, running to Shane.
At the same time, Alex's finger was pressed firmly onto the trigger.
A bullet was fired into the air.
A bullet that was intended for Shane.
A bullet that embedded itself into Mitchie's side as she leapt into it's path.
Alex cursed as Mitchie fell upon Shane's legs with a a thud.
Shane screamed her name as she laid limply upon him, her face twisted in sheer agony.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Alex bellowed as blood began to appear, Shane untangled himself from Mitchie's still body, kneeling by her side and blocking her from Alex's view. "Just move aside so I can kill her." Alex ordered, Shane turned to him and shook his head, determind to protect his Mitchie, determind to keep any further damage from being done to her frail form.
"Look at her, she's going to die anyway, idiot. I'm just putting her out of her misery." Alex muttered light-heartedly, as if he was doing the right thing. Shane pressed his lips together firmly, he couldn't look at her, his neck stiff as he kept his eyes upon Alex. He was too scared of what he would find, too scared to find blood, petrified that he wouldn't find her alive. "Fine, I'll just kill you first." Alex added, knowing this new plan was obvious. Shane shrugged rigidly, he would happily die before he allowed another bullet to enter his Mitchie.
"Good god." Alex muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes at Shane's final act of heroics. "Have it your way then." He said, raising his gun once again, Shane reached behind him, clasping Mitchie's hand in his as he braced himself for the gun shot, braced himself for the icy claw of death to grip hold of him.
But nothing happened, until another loud thump filled the air. Shane looked up at Alex to see his eyes cross before he fell to the floor in a slump, exposing a pale, and shaking Caitlyn clutching onto a discarded metal pole. Their wide, shocked eyes locked, until Caitlyn's flittered behind him, a heart-breaking, spine-chilling cry of disbelief escaping her throat.
"Mitchie?" She whispered before diving to the floor and rummaging through Alex's pockets and extracting a mobile phone, she climbed up weakly, her legs visibly shaking beneath her. "I-I have to go back to Nate." She stammered, looking at the body that lay behind Shane one last time before she dissapeared from the room, screaming down the phone as she went, demanding an ambulance and of course, the police.
Shane took a deep breath as he prepared himself to turn to Mitchie, his hand still attached to her cold one, what if she was already dead? Could he handle observing such a thing? Shane shook his head at his cowardice, knowing he would have to look, and would have to face the consequences of having the image scorned into his memory forever. And then he felt a slight pressure upon his hand and his name whispered weakly, his heart lurching at the broken voice. And he finally turned around, a sob escaping his own lips as he noticed the blood seeping through her shirt.
"M-Mitchie?" Shane spluttered out as he cupped her pale face in his trembling hands, she looked up at him with dim eyes, a small smile upon her face. "Why would you do that?" He questioned desperately, a hint of anger in his tone.
"I- I couldn't just let him shoot you." She whispered, her words soft and almost inaudible. She gritted her teeth, bucking her hips slightly as an excruciating pain burst through her side.
"Oh god." Shane sobbed, running his hands through his hair in desperation. He repeated the phrase a few more times before removing his jacket and bundling it over the bleeding wound, praying to god it would stop the bloodshed. He had never felt so useless in his life as he watched the light slowly fade from Mitchie's eyes. "Don't leave me, Mitchie, you can't leave me." He cried, shuffling closer to her, one hand grazing her cheek, the other clutching her hand to his chest. She said nothing, the ghost of a smile still upon her lips, and her eyes locked onto his, her breathing growing fainter as Shane could only cry.
"Mitchie, stay with me." He sobbed desperately, as he placed a soft kiss on her lips, he felt her return the pressure slightly as he reluctantly pulled away looking at her once more. "I can't lose you…I just can't." He muttered, trying to swallow the lump in his throat. "I love you so much, Mitchie." He choked out, his sorrowful tears falling upon her.
"I.." She started, but found herself unable to continue, her throat dry and the excruciating pain preventing her from speaking.
"It's ok." Shane said through his heavy breaths, his thumb grazing over her lips as he placed a soft, lingering, loving kiss upon her hand. "Everything's going to be ok, I promise." He sobbed, although his shaking words suggested otherwise. Mitchie smiled timidly at his optimism before her eyelids fluttered shut. "NO!" Shane cried, shaking her shoulder timidly. "Stay awake, Mitchie, stay with me. Please." He begged, his voice cracking as more tears cascaded down his face. "Mitchie!" He cried, his head slumping onto her chest as unconsciousness took hold of her, his entire body shaking with heartbroken sobs that echoed around the cold, lifeless room.
All he could do now was pray that the ambulance would come in the little time that Mitchie had left.
In the little time Mitchie had before death took her as his victim, leaving nothing but a broken body, and a broken man.
A/n: Wow, shocker, another cliffhanger, sorry once again!! Well, this was the longest chapter so far, I think and it was definitly the most fun, yet hardest to right (if that makes any sense at all.) Anyway, I'm sorry if it sucked, or if you hated it, it was really quite challenging to portray their feelings and realistically write what was happening.
Anywhoo let me know what you thought of it, by.......you guessed it.....reviewing!!! Woooo! :D
Love you all!!
Emma.x