Chapter 70: I Am Sorry

< Shirley >
My heart skipped a beat before my mind went numb. My body had frozen as soon as I heard the gunshot. It wasn't because the bullet hit me, rather I would have been happier if it did. But it hit the person that I loved.
I felt weak to my knees when I could feel the extra weight on me. I raised up my trembling hands to see crimson liquid on it. Never had blood scared me that much.
I sobbed so hard, it could choke me.
It wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening. Please tell me it's not happening!
I let out an agonizing, blood-curdling scream—a scream of despair. I wanted him to be alright, more than anything.
"No... Please no, don't. Dylan..." My voice broke. Hot tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Anything else didn't matter. All I wanted was to give my life in his exchange. Why didn't he move away when he saw that bullet coming?
I started feeling sick to my stomach. I wanted to make him happy, but I was the one who brought him destruction.
I held onto Dylan tightly, his weak body leaning against me and his chin was resting on my shoulder. Over his shoulder, I could see the men in black suits and those SUVs around us.
"Shirley..." Dylan whispered in a weak voice. I placed a hand on his chest to feel his faint heartbeat, which made my heart race faster. I didn't know what to do. Everything was crumbling around me.
"Dylan, please," I begged. I was crying frantically.
"Please, run away… Save yourself..." he rasped out while losing consciousness.
I let my legs give up and fell down with him on top of me. I whimpered, holding his bloody body onto mine. His white t-shirt was colored red with his own blood. It was my fault. We should have just run away instead of enjoying the rain. Because of me, Dylan was shot at the back of his chest.
I didn't know what to do. Run or stay?
If I ran, I could call for help. If I stayed, I would get caught. Running seemed more logical, but it was practically impossible when more than twenty people were blocking every path around us.
The person I loved was on the verge of death.
Everything was alright. How did this happen?
I heard the shuffling of metallic firearms. I looked around to find myself completely surrounded. I took off the jacket which Dylan had given me and my loose cotton top, leaving myself in my sports bra. I didn't care about anything other than saving my love's life.
As Dylan was losing too much blood, I tied my top around his wound and placed the jacket over it so that the rain droplets wouldn't make it worse. I made him lay on the ground and stood up.
Those men raised their guns at me. I looked up at them and some of them flinched at the glare I shot them. I was sure my eyes were bloodshot and I looked scary as hell.
I wasn't the smartest tool in the shed, but I didn't lack any courage; I never did.
"Hey, stay back. I will kill you!" shouted the person in front of me while I didn't even flinch. I felt like I was possessed, and I had super strength.
"You don't scare me nearly as much as the feeling of losing the person I love does," I responded dangerously.
I slowly walked towards them. In a swift motion, I kicked away the gun from one of them, who seemed to the weakest of them. As he was in shock, I twisted his neck taking it as an opportunity. They wouldn't kill me, no matter what—I had to bet on it.
I searched through his pockets and found a cell phone. "Hey, someone capture her. Quick!" one of them ordered.
The time they took to come near me, I opened up the dial pad and frantically started pressing the contact number of Adrian. I couldn't remember Xavier or Riley's phone number, so I decided to dial my brother's number, which I had memorized like the back of my palm.
Before I could complete typing the number, someone snatched the phone out of my hand. I clenched my teeth and grappled him onto the ground, smashing his head onto the concrete.
It was time to put my martial arts training into motion. Not to mention, the superhuman strength I gained from the urge to save Dylan.
I managed to call Adrian's number.
The phone flew out of my hand as someone grabbed me by the hair. I elbowed him in the shin and punched him square in the face. The rain was to my advantage since it made their vision blurred.
No sooner had the screen turned blue, I screamed out, "At the northern forest! Please come here. Dylan is shot! Ady, you have to come_Ahh!" Someone hit me in the head with the back of their gun and trampled the cell phone underneath their feet.
No, there was no way Ady could track that number. It wasn't even five seconds.
"Don't fight back anymore. Don't force us to shoot his corpse," said one of them.
All my hopes were lost.
My vision became blurred. My legs felt weak, and my whole body felt nauseous. My hands were pinned behind my back. I was being dragged away from Dylan. I saw his lifeless body with blood around him.
I wanted to scream, but my throat felt dry. It was just a moment ago when his warm lips were on mine. I selfishly wanted that to repeat. I wanted the time to stop so that I could save him, but I was wishing for the impossible here.
Tears welled up in my eyes. I remembered his smiles and all the unforgettable memories with him. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I whimpered and started crying out loud again.
"Please let me save him," I begged, tears flowing down my cheeks. It was hard to distinguish my tears from all the heavy rainstorm.
"He is already dead," someone replied, and I bit my lips.
No! Don't say it!
The last time I saw him before being pushed into their car was in the pool of his own blood. That image was going to haunt me forever.
When I was pushed inside the car, they tied my mouth, eyes, and limbs. I heard the engine roar to life and the car started moving.
"Woman, don't you fear for your life? We could have easily killed you," said an elderly voice.
"She sure is feisty. I almost feel bad for her," someone else commented.
"No wonder Boss is crazy for her. She can kick asses," spoke up the person beside me.
What was the point? For all I knew, I was incapable of saving the love of my life. It was futile, but I tried. But who cares about that? In the end, the result was nothing.
I couldn't save Dylan, who I promised to cherish for the rest of my life. I wanted to make him love me, but before that I killed him.
It was all my fault. If he wasn't with me, he would not have been caught in the crossfire. Or if I insisted on spending the night in the woods, then maybe... he would be still alive?
Right now, all I could feel was regrets and the agonizing pain in my heart. I started reminiscing my memories with him. His rare smiles, his free laughter, his haughtiness, his sarcasm, everything. I recalled the moment after I woke up in the woods.
I opened my eyes to meet his caring gaze at me. I smiled and snuggled closer to him.
"If something were to happen to me after we separate, how would you know, Shirley?" Dylan had asked.
I answered, "I would just know."
"How?" He brushed a few strands of my hair, twirling a strand around his finger.
"My heart would tell me," I said, grinning.
"Your heart must be crazy." He chuckled.
"For you," I mumbled so quietly that it went unheard by him.
I wanted to believe that Dylan was alive, that his heart was still beating, even if it was faint. My heart also believed that he wouldn't die. But logic said otherwise. Who would save him? With such vague information, I doubted that Adrian could manage to trace him.
Forgive me, Dylan. I love you. Yet, I couldn't save you. I deserve all the pain in the world. I'm worthless. I tried to make you fall for me, but you know what? I'm not worthy of your love.
I am sorry.
I am sorry.
Dylan, I am sorry!