Chapter 91: Live For Me

< Dylan >
I was panting, trying to grasp some breath. I groaned in pain as more blood dripped from my shoulder.
I was shot in the left shoulder, handicapping me from using two guns at a gun which had always been my advantage. I was hiding inside the storage room of the motel.
All the men that I brought here were dead. I only brought five of them because many more were needed at the headquarters for defense.
I tried raising my right hand, which was shaking. I placed my gun down and tore a piece of a curtain from the window. I tied it around my shoulder to stop the bleeding.
Once I was done, I got up on my feet. I didn't have time to waste. I needed to be there at the airport before midnight. I needed to keep my promise to Shirley. She must be waiting for me.
I took a deep breath and stepped out of the storage room. I shot down the first person that came into my view there. I hid behind the staircase and eliminated the two other men there. There were probably the only ones left inside. I found a window in the corridor and jumped out of it.
I covered myself behind a big tree as I saw many enemy men patrolling near the exit. I needed to kill them all to get out of there. They were probably the last ones I needed to kill before I could get out of here.
I checked my submachine. It had just enough bullets to finish them all off. But if I missed more than thrice, I would be out of bullets. I swallowed and calmed myself.
You have to do this. You need to get out of here alive, I told myself and took a few deep breaths. With that, I aimed at the one who seemed to their platoon leader. I shot down the street lights on my side first then I shot them in the head one by one.
Everything was going according to plan as they couldn't spot me in the darkness. However, there was one miscalculation. There was someone among them left inside, who sneaked up on behind me. I jumped out of the way before his bullet could hit any of my vitals, which resulted in my left leg hitting a tree branch.
I ignored the stabbing pain in my leg and shot the man. I was behind the bushes now. I looked at the wound in my leg. A tree branch stuck to it, and it was bruised badly. I had no other choice but to take it out, which made the wound start to bleed profusely.
I was losing too much blood, which made my vision start to go blurry. My head was spinning. The injury in my shoulder and leg was unbearable.
"It hurts, Mom..." I breathed out as the pain was so excruciating I wanted to scream. Despite that, I tried to shoot the two remaining men. But I had no strength left in my arm. I missed the target twice, leaving me with no bullet.
I sighed.
It was all over.
"I am so sorry, Shirley," I mumbled as tears slid down my cheeks. I looked up at the sky, trying to find the moon that was covered by the clouds. There was no ray of light in the sky as well.
Would she really take her life if I were to die here?
She better not. She should live her life more happily for my sake. Then again, I was the one who dragged her into this kind of life. I wish I could have done more for her. Yet, I couldn't even keep my promise to her.
The closer their footsteps felt, the more helpless I felt.
Would I be too selfish to wish for a miracle now? Or would I be too unrealistic? Or should I try making my own miracle? But I couldn't even stand on my feet, and I was in no state to fight anyone with bare hands. I already used my knives. I didn't have anything to defend myself with.
As a last resort, I dragged myself out of the hiding and went in front of them. The two men looked at me like I was crazy. I lowered my gun and dropped to my knees.
Till the end, the only person who could make me kneel was Shirley. The prideful me was on my knees in front of my enemies for her sake, humiliating myself.
I raised my stable hand in surrender and said, "Kill me and end it all but don't go after that woman. I am the one responsible for your boss's death, and she is the daughter of your boss. Let her live, please."
Before the two of them could speak up, like a final gift from heaven, one of them was shot in the chest and another one was hit by a car. I blinked a few times to adjust my vision to see whether I was dreaming or not. The door of the car opened and a woman rushed out of it along with another man.
I tried calling out her name, instead, blood came out of my mouth. I felt weaker than ever. I was starting to lose all my strength as I was about to fall on my back. But a pair of arms held me, pulling my powerless body to herself with all her might.
"Dylan," she said, her voice timid and terrified. She was crying, I could tell. Even so, my vision was so hazy I couldn't see anything but light specks of her purple hair. However, the touch of her hand on my cheek was unmistakable.
"Why… did you… come back?" I was breathing unsteadily, and I couldn't speak properly.
"You idiot, how could you think I would leave you here?" Shirley rebuked and peppered my face with kisses in relief that I was still alive.
What should I do with this woman? She couldn't think of anything but me.
"We need to get you treated. You are bleeding too much," she let out in panic. "Max, help me get him into the car," she hollered at one of my guards who I had sent her with.
Max helped me settle in the backseat with Shirley. He started the car and drove on her instructions. Apparently, she had a doctor friend who lived in Madrid, so she was going to take me to her private clinic.
Shirley was clutching to me as if I would disappear if she let go.
I tried to reach out my hand to cup her cheek that was drenched with tears. "Shir… ley," I spoke up in a weak voice. There was a jabbing pain in my shoulder as the car took a rough turn, making me wince.
"Don't speak. Just try to stay awake," she urged, pressing a piece of cloth on the wound of my leg to not let any more blood out.
There were so many things I wanted to say to her, so many things I wanted to do to make her happy. Somehow, I only ended up making her sad. "Let me… I don't… know… whether I… would be alive…"
"Shut up, you idiot. Nothing will happen to you. As long as I am breathing, I won't let anything happen to you," she scolded me.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and said, "Even if I die… please keep living."
"No, no. Stop talking." Shirley closed her eyes, letting out a sob.
"And I am… sorry… for not being… able to… keep my promise…" My body was feeling weaker with every passing moment as if my soul was starting to leave my body bit by bit. I tried to grasp a breath and said, "It's my… last request. Live a long, happy life… with or without me…"
I wanted to tell her so much more, but my throat wouldn't let me. I wanted to tell her to find more happiness in her life. She didn't need anyone to be happy on her own. If she needed to, she should find another man—although the thought was terrifying.
I wish I could be more selfless to be able to tell her to forget me. But I wanted her to remember me even if I died today. I wanted her to cherish her memories with me forever and ever. I wanted to be the one only to live in her heart. I wanted to live with her. I wanted to do so much more with her. I wanted a family with her. I wanted her to be my wife.
But to do so, I would need to live. However, that hope was dim. I could feel myself dying. It was hurting so much. My shoulder. My leg. Every inch of my body was in immeasurable pain. Even so, I wanted to live. For her. Please, God.
"... Don't die on me, you idiot. You have to live for me. Stay awake. Don't lose consciousness. We are almost there." She was so near, yet her voice felt so far away; it was fading even more now. Her hands were on me, yet I couldn't feel her warmth through it.
My breaths were falling shorter. My heartbeat was slowing down.
"I love you," I managed to whisper before everything went black for me.