Fighting For Ava

*24*

Simultaneous gasps flew out of Jethro and Ava as the groan roared into the night.

"Jessy. Jessy." Jethro called frantically but Jessy could not answer him. The girl just slowly collapsed into her knees, the blood oozing out her belly.

Ava cringed and breathed heavily in horror. Her eyes stared dreadfully at Jethro, asking what they should do next.

"We have to leave, quick!" Jethro panted to her. He tried to grab her hand but Ava refused. She just bent low to the moaning girl and whisper her name anxiously.

"Jessy." But still, the girl would not answer. She was gradually dying.

"Ava, we have to leave." Jethro hastened again when he heard some footsteps. Ava refused to listen to him again and he decided to rather take her forcefully. Staying here longer would be a foolish risk. He grasped her hand and just before he could pull her up, a flicker of light lingered towards their side.

What! They both froze.

"You've killed her. Stab!" That was what they heard afterward as a man staggered toward them in the darkness.

"Ava, we run. Now!" Jethro prompted, held tightly unto the girl, and before the man could reach them, they dashed out of the corner.

They bolted down the long road, breathing heavily as they sought to evade their unseen pursuer. The night suddenly grew rough, the sky turning darker while the moon seemed to disappear. Thunders rumbled and rain-calling breezes surged everywhere.

Now and then, Ava would stop running, feeling tired and Jethro would yell at her, telling her to keep running.

"Run Ava, Ava." He would scream but it got to a point where the girl gave up. She flopped on the road, her breathing ragged. Jethro moved closer to her and offered, "Should I back you?"

"No one is chasing us." She puffed.

"C'mon can't you hear that." Jethro panted back as a clap of thunder boomed.

Ava was startled and instantly obeyed. She climbed on Jethro's back and the boy struggled with pace till they got to a dark house. He dropped the girl calmly and breathed relief as he stretched his stressed back. He led her to the back of the house and they sat under an awning.

Jethro inhaled deeply again as he stared at the sullen sky. Ava was curled up beside him, shuddering and he wrapped a palm around her to soothe her. The night went into an abrupt quietness and Jethro heard his heartbeat forming a piece of low music in it.

"I'm scared, Jethro." Ava's voice quavered in fright.

"We'll be fine," Jethro assured her, caressing her tresses.

Another moment of silence was about to come in when a clang of plates suddenly hit the air. Jethro's eyes bulged and Ava shivered. A gurgling of water followed and then a foul-smelling liquid expelled from the window landed on their heads.

"Ouch!" Jethro cried before he could restrain himself.

"What!" A feminine voice exclaimed from the house, "Who's that?"

Jethro stiffened, knowing he had done an absolute senseless thing.

"Who's that?" The voice asked again.

Ava looked at Jethro, wanting to say something but he hushed her. They did not hear the questioning voice again but in the next couple of minutes, they almost jumped out of their skins when they saw a glimmer of light approaching them.

They sat rigid in their positions, dead.

"Who are you? What are you doing there?" The voice demanded, accompanied by the rustling sound of footsteps.