It All Started With The Kidnapping

chapter 10 - On the Edge of Darkness

Theo's pov

As I shot Mason, I yelled for Luna to run. She looked at me, then bolted down the alleyway. This might be the last time I ever see her, because if I were her, I'd never look back or come back. After she ran off, I turned to finish off Mason, but instead, I found James pointing a gun at me with a wicked smile on his face. Before I could react, he shot me three times.

Everything after that seemed to move in slow motion. I heard Elijah screaming for me to move, but it was already too late. Blood soaked my shirt as I looked down and pressed my hand against one of my wounds. I collapsed to the ground, hearing a few more gunshots but feeling nothing–numbness had taken over. Turning my head to the side, I watched the alleyway where Luna had run, hoping she made it out alive.

I saw James supporting Mason as they ran off like scared little dogs. All I could think about was whether Luna was out of harm's way. Elijah rushed up to me, falling to the ground and pressing his hands against my bullet wounds, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. Nothing was working. I started blinking, struggling to stay awake as the minutes passed by. "Theo, come on, keep your eyes open," Elijah said desperately.

As I lay dying on the cold ground, I realized I had truly fallen for Luna, despite trying so hard not to. Even in my final moments, I knew I would do it all over again to save her. I wished I could have told her how I felt. My blood pooled around me, and I felt an overwhelming exhaustion. Elijah's frantic screams to stay awake grew distant as I felt him trying to lift me.

I tried to shake my head but could only manage to say, "Leave me here. Go find her and keep her safe. That is my final wish—and for you to lead the mafia to its fullest." My voice was fading as the darkness closed in, enveloping me completely. I heard Elijah calling my name, but I couldn't respond. I was engulfed in darkness, and for the first time, I felt a sense of peace and calmness.

Elijah's pov

When Theo said his last words, I tried to lift him and carry him back to our truck. I placed him in the backseat, praying I could get him to the hospital in time. I jumped into the driver's seat, fumbling with the keys before finally starting the engine. I reversed out of the parking lot, nearly hitting a car in my haste, then pulled onto the street. I called the nearest hospital, urgently telling them to prepare for our arrival.

I merged onto the highway, speeding around cars to reach the hospital as quickly as possible. When I heard police sirens behind me, I slammed my hands on the steering wheel and decided not to pull over. This was a life-and-death situation.

By the time I reached the exit for the hospital, I had two cops following me, but I didn't care. When I arrived at a red light, unable to run it due to cars blocking the way, a police officer walked up to the truck and knocked on the window. I sighed and rolled it down.

"Young man, I need you to step out of the vehicle and put your hands where I can see them," the officer commanded.

God damn it, I don't have time for this bullshit. I need to get Theo to the hospital. Reluctantly, I did as the officer instructed and got out of the truck. I glanced back to check on Theo and saw his chest rise slightly, but if I didn't hurry, the situation would become dire.

The officer spoke, drawing my attention. "Sir, did you know you were speeding and that we were right behind you with our sirens on?"

I wanted to sarcastically reply, "No, I thought it was the radio," but I held my tongue.

I sighed. "Yes, I did, but there's an emergency and I need to get to the hospital now," I said, frantically motioning to the truck.

The officer shined a light in my eyes to ensure I wasn't under the influence, then directed it toward the truck. "What's happening here?" he asked.

I glanced at the truck, praying Theo was still breathing and not already dead. "My friend is in the back of the truck, and he was shot three times. I'm trying to get him to the hospital before he dies. Can you just give me a ticket or whatever at the hospital? I'm running out of time to save him," I pleaded.

The police officer shined his light into the back seat, saw Theo lying there, and told me to follow him to the hospital. He said he would only give me a warning and not to do this again, adding that he had questions to ask when we got there. I got back into the truck and followed him with his sirens on to the hospital.

As soon as I parked at the entrance, a group of doctors and nurses rushed out, grabbed Theo, put him on a stretcher, and hurried him into the hospital. I tried to follow them, but a nurse stopped me. "Sir, you can't go back there. You have to wait in the waiting room. Your friend has lost too much blood, but we're going to try to save him." I sat in the waiting room, texted everyone about Theo, and prayed he wouldn't die today. I couldn't handle that.