A/N: Disclaimer: doesn't. belong. to. me.
CHAPTER SIX
Brazil, 1996
Melodie was running- and they were chasing. Chasing her down a network of alleyways, from the place where she was safe to a place she'd never set eyes on before... how long had she been running?
Then she stopped short; before her was a wall. And behind her... Oh, God, no! she thought. It's a dead end! I'm trapped!
She spun around to face the seven grinning gang members; two of them held knives and one a gun. They were laughing as she backed into a corner; great, now she really was trapped.
"There's no way out," one of them snickered, repeating her thoughts. It was the leader, the one with the gun... she gulped, feeling sick.
"N-No!" she stuttered. "Please! Leave me alone! What have I ever done to you?"
"Nothing," the leader said again. "We just want to make ourselves known... one day, we will rule this city..." He laughed. "You will be the first of many..." He pointed the gun at her head.
"Please, no!" she whimpered; too late. His finger tightened on the trigger, and Melodie fell backwards, sagging against the wall. She whimpered in pain, bringing her hand up to the wound; hissing in pain, she let it drop. Her hand was caked in blood; it made her sick to look at.
"She's still alive- you gonna give 'er another shot?" one of the other gang members asked.
"Nah, just leave her here... no-one will find her, she'll be dead before the hour's up."
They left, leaving Melodie alone and dying. Alone and dying... it was a scary thought.
"Melodie?" asked a soft voice, and a man appeared, bending down to her height.
"How'd you know my name?" Melodie croaked.
"It'll come later... do you want to survive?"
"Yes!" she whimpered.
"You wont get your life back, though," the man said quietly. "But I promise, no-one can hurt you again."
"You swear?" Melodie asked.
"I swear," the man said. "Now, if you'll take my hand..."
Melodie did so, and felt an odd sensation like falling. So this is what dying feels like, she thought, before everything vanished.