Creating My Dreams•A BYE Fanfic

Chapter 47

Sam's POV:

I stop walking. I don't say anything. I don't listen to their questions. I just look. And the crazy thing is, I'm not seeing things. I'm seeing them. They're right there.

"Oh my god..." Connor whispers beside me. I looked at him, my face still stunned, to find his the same way.

I run back up the driveway and hop over the small wooden fence, I don't bother to look behind me to see if they're following. I don't care. Because they're there. Right there.

By the time I get down the small hill and turn the corner, they have their backs toward us and grace is climbing out the window. They turn and before they can say anything, I run up and grab grace is my arms.

I'm shaking. I know I am. But I'm so relieved they're alive. "Oh my god, I thought you were dead..." I tell her fighting back tears. I feel her arms slowly encircle me and then they grab me tighter.

"I'm fine... I'm fine..." She says shaking. But she's clearly not fine. She's shaking, crying and there's dried blood on her face. Not to mention it has to be twenty degrees out and she's wearing nothing but a sports bra.

I let go of her only so I can take my jacket off and wrap it around her. She looks frail and weak, like she's going to collapse any second. I wrap my arm around her waist and hold her up.

I look over to Riley, in the same state as Grace is but a little better. I turn just in time to see Toby come up and hug his brother I knew he thought was dead. His eyes are squeezed shut and I know it hurts him to see Riley like this. Its all too bittersweet.

"We gotta go... He was gonna come back down...." Grace says into my ear. It gives me the chills on top of my goosebumps.

"Guys we gotta go. He's gonna come find us." I say. No one says anything, but in a hurried matter, Connor and Andrew grab a side of Riley and Toby comes on the other side of Grace.

"Sam..." She mumbles.

"Hey. No no no. Stay awake. Just a little longer Grace. Come on." I tell her. But its no use. All of her weight is shifted onto me and I struggle to keep her up.

"I got her," Toby bends down and picks her up bridal style. I don't get how guys do that. Like its so easy. I'd die if I tried that...

Were able to move much quicker now but not quick enough. By the time were at the end of the driveway and about to turn the corner, hidden by a row of trees, we hear three gun shots behind us.

"Stop!!" A man, Mr. Smith yells. At that we all run as fast as we can. I catch up to andrew and since I'm not holding anyone up I decide to run ahead. "Andrew! Where we going? Back to the shelter?"

"Yeah, go! We'll meet you there!" I'm hesitant but I know its for the best. At that I sprint as fast as I can, back to the shelter, back to Rhian and Lucy, back to safety.

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Riley's POV:

We meet Sam back at the shelter a few minutes later. After awhile, the shooting stopped, but we didn't. We kept on going. I mean they did, I didn't. After awhile my legs gave out and I couldn't walk on my own at all.

Connor and Andrew give the door a few kicks before it opens with Sam on the other side. Connor goes down and some how I manage to get down after him, without crushing him.

Andrew comes down after and turns back to grab Grace from Toby. But she isn't awake like I am. Well I could definetly sleep if I had time to, but shes out. Unconscious.

Toby hands her down and andrew grabs her and carries her over to the other corner. Not by where Connor is taking me, but away. So I can't watch. But I don't think they know I care that much. Why would they?

Connor grabs me a shirt, jacket and wraps a blanket around me. Then, on one of two small cots, I lay down and fall asleep instantly. The last thing I see is grace laying over there unconscious, everyone around her, cleaning her bruised body.

***

I wake up a couple of hours later. It must be late at night because its even darker in here and only one of the lanterns is lit. Everyone is quiet, probably sleeping.

When I turn on my side, my muscles ache and it hurts to move. I notice my pained wrists are wrapped up and it brings the memories flooding back. Grace...

I immediately lift my head from the cot and look for her. I find her asleep on the cot next to me. The cots are pushed against the wall, so only the tops of the bunks are pushed together, touching.

I sit up through the ache in my back and lay on my stomach, propped up on my elbows. From here I could easily reach out and touch her, but I don't. I'm scared to. She's broken. Tired. Scarred from what she's been through. And what I'm worried most about is what that kiss actually meant.

I know I love her. I really do. And when she let me free and I saw her so fragile and wounded I couldn't contain myself. I had to. I had to kiss her.

But she kissed back. And I don't know what that means. Probably nothing. And it hurts so much to think that. I guess I'm just a pawn in the game of love.

But in the game of chess, the pawns still fight to win, even though most of them are killed off. But some remain, standing by their queen to protect them. And the thing they don't lose is their loyalty and devotion. They never give up. Pawns never do. And if I'm a pawn, then I won't give up on her.

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Grace's POV:

I don't wake up until hours later, when its dark and no ones awake. What happened slowly comes back to me and I can't help it but let my watery eyes shed their tears silently. I could've died. They could've died, and for me.

And I'm scared of what's going to happen now. For all we know, this Smith guy is waiting outside right now waiting for us to come out. I just want all of this to be over. I want to continue with my normal life, where I complain about school, how pale I am and how I need a tan, how I don't get my homework. And where I can just escape from life with volleyball.

But never in my how many years of playing have I experienced this much physical and mental pain. I haven't seen my bruises but I know they're there. I feel them. And I just want to forget everything that has happened.

Everything except for Riley. I just want him to hold me like he had before. Kiss me like before. Beg me to come to him, like before. But that was before. How does he feel now? Now that I'm not dying...

I can't help but look for him. I just need to at least see him if I can't have what I want. It takes a lot of energy, energy I don't have to sit up on my side. And when I do, it is well worth the pain.

I find him sitting up against the wall on his cot. He's staring off into space but when I move, shaking my bed, he looks over at me. In the dim light I can see his face change from solemn to concerned.

He lays down on his cot facing me, not more than ten inches away. His eyes search mine while I his, and I'm so lost in them I don't see his hand until I feel it on my cheek.

I grab it in mine and it feels good to feel something strong but gentle. He squeezes my hand softly and he looks down at our entwined fingers, playing with mine a little.

I follow his gaze and for awhile I just look at our hands. Its crazy how much one thing could make you feel. I mean I'm just holding a hand. An ordinary hand. Why don't I feel like this when I hold an ordinary... Book or something. I don't know. But I don't care either.

I suddenly feel his fingers run across my face, sweeping a strand of hair away from my eyes. I look up and he whispers, "you should get some rest."

I nod and so I don't have to move my hand away from his, I move my pillow with my other hand and place it where my head is now: half on my cot half on his.

He does the same and lays his head down next to mine from above me, so were looking at each other upside down, holding hands. And the last thing I see before my eyes close for the night is his face. The last thing I feel: his touch.