The Bookstore

(34) Bloody Road

Lily

Everything became blur, all I could think about was the pain I was feeling, it was dulling my senses. I just lay on the ground, I couldn't move a single muscle. I decided to do something for my own life and not just die here. Desperation clawed at me and I managed to grab my phone from my pocket with a weak hand. I dialed Jack's number, hoping he would answer immediately.

Fortunately, he picked it up right away and I heard his voice, firm but concerned. "Lily, are you okay? Is everything fine?"

How could I find the words to tell him that nothing's fine and I'm bleeding in the middle of an empty street thanks to our dearest friend Sophie? All I could manage to say was some weak words that came out of my throat automatically.

"Jack... help..." I muttered, followed by a little cough.

"What?" Somehow, I could feel the panic in his voice. "What happened? We're on our way. Hold on and don't move."

I let the phone slip from my fingers, letting it down on the cold ground. Don't worry, I definitely won't move. The ground beneath me felt wet, the blood smearing it all slowly. My own blood burned me in my back, it was a sharp and unpleasant feeling. But I just had to hold on a little more. After all, they weren't far from me.

It felt like an eternity waiting there, but they were just minutes until I started hearing quick footsteps on the pavement, approaching me at a fast pace. I felt a sense of pure hope and I looked up weakly. My fastest movement right now was at a turtle's pace.

I saw Jack running to me, Tyler following behind him. He dropped himself in his knees besides me, his face pale. His hand hovered over my body, afraid to touch me and cause more pain. But I felt so much pain I couldn't even think straight.

"Oh my God... what the hell happened here?" His voice cracked, and he turned to look at Tyler, "call an ambulance, now!" Tyler nodded immediately and grabbed his phone from his pocket with urgency in his hands.

Jack turned to me and brushed the sweaty hair in my face away. "Stay with me, hold on a little more. Help is on thr way."

The world seemed to be slipping away for a moment, my vision going even more blurry each second. Even my eyes started to hurt slightly, so I just decided to close them slowly. I lightly patted Jack's hand to let him know I didn't just die. I could feel him panicking silently, not taking his eyes off of me, but glancing at Tyler from time to time.

I drifted in and out of consciousness. All I could hear were muffled voices and sounds. And suddenly, I was lifted onto a stretcher. I opened my eyes slightly, seeing people that seemed to be doubled but it was just my shitty and blurry vision. The sirens wailed loud in the street.

I fought to stay awake, looking at Jack's face as he followed the stretcher I was laying on. He took my hand, giving it a tight squeeze to reassure me and let me know he was right by my side. "You're going to be okay, Lily." I could hear him muttering.

I closed my eyes and just let the darkness take me, letting them do whatever they need to do.

***

When I woke up again, I was in those white hospital rooms. I looked around and spotted Jack sitting in a chair beside me, his head resting in his arms, and Tyler sitting on the windowsill, looking out it with a somber expression. 

"Jack..." I muttered just to jolt him awake and let him know I was awake. His head lifted up from his arms abruptly and he looked at me while relief washed over his face. He reached for my hand.

"Lily, thank God." He sat up straighter, eyes red and tired, which lets me know I spent the night here. "How do you feel?"

"Sore," I admitted, but managed to crack a little smile, "but better than before."

Tyler walks up to us, "you scared the hell out of us. Oh, and, the police caught Sophie with a bloody and hidden knife walking in the streets while bringing you here. She's under arrest."

I nodded slowly. "Well, seems like Anna and Sophie are made for each other after all."

Well, this is how everything ends (unless Tyler or Jack are also under all this shit). 

As I lay there, hearing the muffled sounds of bustling people in the hospital's hallways, I realized that you can't just trust everyone. But no person in this world could've guessed that this is how things were going to end.

How the hell can people plan a whole devilish plan to give you something to investigate for some time while they silently lead you to where they wanted you to be? I guess I'll never get it.