It was a mistake, I thought as I ran down the street in terror, to have listened to her. How could I have been so stupid? Why did I listen to her? My heart pounded as darkness fell over the city.
It had been seven hours since I’d become lost in the unknown streets. At first it had seemed ok, I tried asking directions but people ignored me. I’d tried using the little money I had to call someone but I had no idea where I was.
And all that time I knew my instincts were no longer helpful.
I wasn’t able to survive like I used to anymore.
As I turned down a darker alley something began to bother me in the back of my mind. A strange feeling… like I was being watched. I looked behind me and saw a man following at a slow pace. At first it seemed like he was just walking by but when I turned again I saw him eye my expensive clothes and finger something in his belt. My heart stopped for a moment and I panicked. I increased my pace.
I looked for a crowd I might lose myself in, but it was late and the streets were almost deserted. I darted down a side alley and began to run. I thought I could hear footsteps behind me and instinctively I pulled the dagger from my skirt pocket. Just in case.
My mind was oddly silent and it only increased the adrenaline pulsing through my veins. I reached the end of the alley.
In front of me was that same man. He must’ve taken a shortcut to cut me off. I tried to scream as he advanced but my throat was dry and no sound came from my open mouth. Silently I backed off in pure terror, trying to decide what to do.
I saw the man stop and stare at something behind me. Suddenly I felt someone grasp my shoulder from behind. Instinct took over and I whirled around, stabbing the person behind me.
Dimly it seemed, I caught a flash of white hair, of a school emblem on a white shirt, of hazel eyes, wide and surprised.
Only when Travis fell on the ground did I understand. The red stain spread from the knifepoint in his heart and covered his shirt.
I fell to my knees, I couldn’t take it in.
“Lily…” he said as he gasped with pain.
It was as if I was the one dying. I screamed.
The man behind me ran as people ran outside to see who was screaming in the middle of the night.
“Travis! No, no, no, no, NO!”
In another world I heard someone else cry out in horror, heard voices as someone tried to contact the police.
“Someone’s been hurt!”
“Call an ambulance!”
“Quickly, someone help me lift him off the ground.”
I grasped his hand for need of comfort as the tears fell and I continued to say his name over and over again. He was still alive, but his breathing was becoming more and more labored.
“Lily,” he repeated.
“Travis, oh God, oh God!”
“It’s not your fault,” he said with trouble. “I was just trying to find you and protect you…” his voice withered away.
Someone was trying to lift him, but I couldn’t move. Tears were falling thick.
“It’s going to be ok, love…” he whispered.
“Travis,” I sobbed.
He grasped my hand tightly.
“I love you.”
And suddenly he was coughing violently and blood ran down his mouth.
I screamed again and tightened my hold.
“Someone get him on the stretcher!”
“Move girl, we need to get him in the ambulance!”
I felt someone push me out of the way; felt his hand slip out of mine; saw him being lifted into a stretcher; heard sirens nearby; and suddenly everything went dark. I fell to the ground as nearby his heartbeat slowed…

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