Mellifluous

Chapter One

Eddie P.O.V

"Bad, huh?" I asked, trying to swallow in what little air I could. The air was so cold and dry that it felt like I was straining to get anything into my lungs. At the same time, blood was building up in the back of my mouth. I cough slightly, trying to clear my throat.

I don't understand; all the bats attacking me just dropped dead. All one hundred of them swarming above me, with probably five or six holding me down and eating my damn flesh off. I'd say I would have survived one more minute if they didn't just stop. Being torn apart, flesh by flesh, I got to say, has to be one of the worst ways to die. I felt every single bite, every single tooth those motherfuckers dug into me, and I just had to take it. The damn things held me down for the others to rip me into shreds. And now, here I am. I was lying in my own puddle of blood, unable to move.

I hope it was worth it. I hope those damn bats being dead means that he is dead. If me dying a horrendous death means that piece of shit is dead and stopped from murdering others, it's worth it. If only it could have happened a couple of minutes earlier, maybe I could have gotten away and found the others to enjoy the outcome. At least, I hope that's what all of this means.

"No, no, no, no, no. You're going to be fine. We need to get you to a hospital, okay?" I hear Dustin say. I tilt my head to my right, seeing Dustin on his knees by my side, shaking at the sight of my body. Poor kid. He has always seen me in a better light, and now he has to watch me die. I have to get him out of here.

"Okay." I gulp again. Breathing was starting to get more demanding, and my effort was slowly diminishing. I could feel the blood drip from my mouth. God, I probably look like a horror film. My sides were throbbing harshly. There was intense pain with every breath I took.

Dustin started to put his hands under my back, grunting while trying to lift me up. I winced, grinding my teeth at the pain. Fuck, that hurts like a bitch.

"Hold on a second; I thin- I think I need a second, okay?" I grimaced. The sharp stabbing pain in my abdomen was so intense I could barely focus on anything else. I wish I could go numb. Doesn't the human body go numb after a certain level of pain or something? Man, I guess I was never able to catch a break.

I open my eyes back toward Dustin. Discouragement starting to settle in. He looks down at my dismembered body, trying to figure a way to get me out of here. I could tell his mind was spiraling, trying his hardest to figure out some type of solution.

I can't let him continue to look at me like this. I can't allow him to begin to feel guilty. I can see it on his face now. I made this choice to fight back and not run. I knew death would be a risk, and I was willing to take it. I used what was left of my strength and slowly moved my right hand towards his, lightly touching the top of his hand. I smile. I need him to know everything is going to be okay. I'm okay.

"I didn't run away this time, did I?" I ask, echoing my last thought while smiling through the pain.

Dustin shakes his head, tears starting to fill his eyes. "No, no, you didn't run this time." The sadness in his voice already settling in.

"You'll have to look over those little sheep for me." I choke out. Dustin immediately starts to disagree. "Nah, man. Say you are going to look after them. Say it." I begged him, squeezing his hand.

Dustin's tears started to fall down his face. The realization of the situation is beginning to finally sink in. "I'm - I'm gonna look after them." He begins to sob, tears falling over my face. I don't mind; I can't cry right now. I need to stay strong for him.

I felt a thick liquid slide down my throat. How do I have this much blood to choke on? I cough, trying to clear the blood from building up. "Cause I am actually going to graduate. I think it's finally my year, Henderson." I smile up at him.