When I Die

Ch.21

Perry

When I was a kid, I had always wondered about what I wanted to be. An astronaut? No, I hated the dark. I thought maybe Id be a farmer, but I hated bugs. My mom loved gardening despite the creepy crawly things and my dad loved growing us healthy food. Still, the bugs grossed me out.

So I kept wondering, for years, and never had a solid clue. There were so many options, so many choices. It didn't help that my mom told me I could be anything I wanted. That gave me even more choices. I could be a doctor or a firefighter. A Lawyer? A writer? The possibilities were endless.

But now, at 19, all I can think about is wanting to live. This couldn't be the end, right? I was too young.

Keith and I haven't had any time.

Through hazy eyes, I stared up at the man who had my heart. He was pacing, looking from me to the bite.

"Keith," Speaking felt exhausting.

"No Perry, I can't fucking do it." Keith shook his head, tears filling his eyes.

"Keith, Come." I whispered, my eyes were getting heavier. Maybe If I went to sleep, when I wake up, everything will be better. He stopped his pacing and came to my side, crouching to join me on the floor. I looked at his enchanting caramel colored eyes. Have they always looked like that?

"I can't do it, what if you die?" His voice was shaky. For someone so tough and scary, he looked so fragile.

"If you don't, I die." My eyes were too heavy to hold open any longer.

"Perry."

I opened my eyes and suddenly, I was in my old bedroom. My mom was standing over me, holding my alarm clock in her hand, "Perry Kit- If you dont wake up right now, your ass is grass."

I smiled, "Just a few more minutes? Im so tired." I pulled my purple fuzzy blanket tighter around me.

"No sweetheart, its time to wake up. You've got a life to live." My mom smiled and I couldn't help but tear up. She was so beautiful. I closed my eyes once more.

"Perry," A distant voice called.

"Perry!" Cold water splashed my face and my eyes opened reluctantly. The candle light was blinding.

I looked around, panic setting in, where was I? Pink walls and white windows surrounded me.

"Per, Its okay. Look at me." I looked over to my right and saw Keith standing, a warm hand on my shoulder.

"Where are we?" My voice was raspy, how long was I out for?

"We're in one of the houses from the neighborhood, Do you remember that?" He was so gentle and talked slow for me. I felt like a child.

I nodded, I remember us being surrounded. I remember the biters. My stomach dropped as I looked down at my arm- it was gone.

"So that wasn't a dream, huh?" My voice had gone from raspy to shaky. My fucking arm is gone. It's just gone. I wasn't gonna survive this anymore. No one survives with two arms, how in gods name was I gonna do it with one?

"Breathe, Everything will be okay." Keith cupped my face in those giant warm hands of his. Nothing was gonna be okay. My life is over.

I began sobbing. I couldn't even wipe my tears properly, but Keith did it for me.

He held me until my body was shaking from how hard I was crying and I was all out of tears.

"Perry, This is gonna suck, but you're gonna get through it." Keith whispered as he ran a hand through my hair.

I didn't believe him.

After about 10 more sniffles, I finally sat up, "So, um, how did we get here? Why aren't we in the cash room?"

"The biters finally cleared out, but the Hallows came back. This was the safest place to take you. They had already searched and cleared it so there was no doubt they wouldn't be coming back." He held me closer.

"I know her." If this was going to work, I had to be truthful. He pulled back from me, "What?"

His face flashed with hurt and betrayal. Did he think I helped them do this?

"I knew her pre-end of the world bullshit. Her name is Sam and she was my best friend." I clarified and he relaxed, how could he possibly think that? Especially after our talk in the car?

"Oh," He sighed, "Im sorry, that must've been hard seeing her." He once again embraced me in a hug.

The thing was though, that it wasn't hard seeing her. I missed her but she ruined our home and killed our people. That sets a new tone.

A lot can change in just a few months, in just nearly a year.

Sam, my once love obsessed best friend, was now apart of a malicious group.

My best friend, once unable to hurt a fly, was now using an automatic handgun.

It would be hard to see her if she was my Sam, but she no longer is.