PATRICIA'S POV
"Eddie! What is that!"
A cloaked figure emerges out of nowhere and springs onto the hood of Eddie's car. I feel the entire vehicle shake violently at the force of the landing.
Eddie's arm creates a barrier in front of me instinctively for protection. I am screaming loudly that I almost miss when the shadowy creature begins to speak.
It emanates this unearthly noise that sends chills down my spine. At first, I only hear little beats of noise, small creaks and cracks. Then the voice grows louder and begins to speak. Its voice is low and deep and definitely not human.
"Osirian," is all it says at first. My eyes widen. Was this the evil burdening Eddie? I glance at him. He's biting his lip and his eyes are scrunched. I know he's in pain, but he doesn't want me to see.
"Osirian!" It bellows again, louder this time. At this, Eddie's arm retracts from in front of me to his forehead where he grasps it in discomfort. A muffled squeal escapes my lips when the figure bangs on the hood.
"OSIRIAN!" At this, I can't hold it back. I scream. "COME OUT AND FACE ME!" it says.
Eddie glares at the figure, motionless. I know he's deciding if he should go and fight, leaving me in the car.
I look closely at the figure as Eddie ponders the options. A black hood covers what I first thought was a face, but what I see now is that the hood is cloaking a black empty space. There's no face, nothing. Just darkness.
Emerging from the dark hood come two red circles of light. I scream loudly and nudge Eddie, not taking my eyes away from the creature. Fear bubbles inside of me as the red glows widen and form a pair of gleaming red eyes. I feel as if I've encountered them before.
"Patricia," Eddie says fiercely. "Whatever you do, stay in the car. Don't come out to get me. It isn't safe."
"Eddie, no, you can't!"
"I'm sorry." He kisses me passionately, and it resonates with me oddly, as if it's the last time I'll ever feel his lips in this way.
"I love you," he says softly.
I release his hand from my grasp, already regretting letting his touch leave mine.
Eddie cautiously unlocks his door and plants his feet firmly and bravely on the ground. He slams the door as the figure nears the car so as to make sure it cannot penetrate where I am.
Even through locked doors and closed windows, I still hear and see the fight vividly. Eddie's hands illuminate a purplish glow, and it begins to brighten. Instantaneously, the light jets forward and reaches the figure where it's blasted out of the air. Eddie's solemn expression wavers as a new emotion crosses his face - hope.
The feeling is lost when the creature springs back to consciousness and charges angrily at Eddie. The figure refuses to lose yet again.
The figure bounds forward and strikes Eddie down with a massive blow. Eddie is flat on his back on the grass. Blood is streaming from his mouth and forehead.
"Eddie!" I scream, before realizing that is a horrid idea. The figure whisks its head to me and slams against the windowpane. My heart jumps and beats faster than ever before.
I know that I'm dead. Not yet, but any minute now.
I prepare for the worst until I hear a strangled cry. I immediately assume it's Eddie. But, when an orange beam of light cross the sky from off in the distance and blasts the figure to the ground, I feel almost uplifted. I watch as the figure crumbles to ash beneath me.
I wait for a moment to be sure the figure will not reform before unlocking the door. I trip on the ledge as I bolt out to Eddie who's still lying limp on the marshy grass. He's breathing, but faintly. I cry out in exasperation, knowing that there's little chance anyone is nearby to help.
"Eddie, listen to me. Can you hear me? Eddie?" I cry desperately. "Eddie, wake up."
Tears roll down my cheek and land on his bloody forehead. "Wake up. Please wake up."
I stroke his matted golden hair, caressing each silky strand. He's covered in blood and barely breathing, which makes me wonder if I'll ever get to tell him I love him back. I could say it to him now, make sure that even if he's unconscious at the moment, he'll get to hear me say it to him before he's gone. But what meaning will that have? Even if he does hear me, it's not like I'd get to see his reaction, have him kiss me, pull me close to him. Just one last time.
"Wake up, wake up. I need you."
I gently kiss Eddie's forehead. Without warning, he abruptly shoots upright, colliding heads with me.
"EDDIE!" I scream breathlessly. "You're alive!"
"Sort of," he moans with a broad grin. I wrap my arms around him and squeeze. He winces, so I loosen my grip but I don't let go.
"Get in the car. I'm driving you home," I say. "It's close to 4 and you need to rest."
"Thanks, Patricia."
On the drive home, we don't talk much. We vaguely discuss the matter. There wasn't much to say; we saw what happened, and we're just happy to be alive.
"I'm glad you're ok, Eddie," I say, breaking the silence.
"I know," is all he says. His mouth is still swollen and bloody and it's painful for him to speak.
Taking a deep breath, I open my lips to declare my feelings to him profusely.
"I have almost lost you twice within three days of starting senior year. I don't know what I'd do without you. Twice have I felt my heart break, seeing you beat up and mangled on the ground. Twice have I thought that I may never see you again. Twice have I thought I may never be the same. I guess what I'm trying to say is that without you, I don't work right. I need you. I love you."
"I know."