Philophobic : Tyler Galpin

32: The Preventable

Wednesday night, November 21st

[author's pov]

Victoria's hyde form fled into the forest desperately heading for the boats. She thought about Tyler at the boats as Laurel had demanded. She felt an aching in her shoulder and the hyde roared with a terrifying shake.

Tyler, who stood at the boats, whipped around—he knew the familiar sound. But he'd only ever heard it from himself as the hyde. His heart raced as he knew it was her. That's why he'd purposely nudged her shoulder painfully. To her her last touch.

Victoria caught sight of Tyler as she remained deep in the woods and her heart sank. She felt herself grow weak from his stern eyes as her form changed back. She gasped for air through the cold as she fell to her knees on the muddy ground.

"Victoria!" Tyler yelled as she tried to reach him.

His feet were glued to the docks, as Laurel ordered. He couldn't even move toward her to help.

He saw the arrow that stuck out from her thigh and screamed from distress. He wanted to run toward her and make sure she was okay as her human form collapsed on the ground weakly.

"Tyler," Victoria gasped, her thigh losing its nerves as she tried to stand. She collapsed back on the ground.

"Fuck, I can't- I can't reach you," Tyler exclaimed, his hands running through his hair. "She told me I- I can't."

Victoria couldn't hear him, only hearing the ringing in her ears as her eyes fluttered shut. She was crawling, but barely reaching him as she clung onto the ground as she bled herself almost dry.

She wanted to run into his arms during her last possible moments. "Help me, Tyler, please," she pleaded.

As if on cue, he stepped off the dock and ran for her.

He removed his flannel button up and covered her immediately. He lifted her and brought her to the dock, laying her down as he washed her bloody face with the water.

"Wake up, wake up!" He shouted as he caressed her, covering the wound on her leg.

He was so disturbed by her silence and unresponsive body that he hadn't noticed that he broke through Laurel's hold on him. His lips met hers as he tried to breathe air into her—from all the blood and oxygen she'd lost.

He rested his ear against her chest and heard soft heartbeats. Lifting her into his arms again, he knew he had to get help.

His feet carried him to Nevermore's gates desperately. And her eyes kept on fluttering open and closed. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew she was with Tyler. And that was good enough no matter what happened.

"Tyler..." she said quietly. "I'm- I'm so cold."

"I know," he panted as he ran into the school. "Just- hang in there. Please."

He rested her by the gates and took out his phone, dialing an ambulance. She could hear him screaming as he panicked. His tone was demanding and pleading all at once.

She was going to beg him to stay when her vision got darker and his face became unrecognizable to her. She figured he was an angel as her smile grew weak.

Even weaker than her grip on his jacket as it all went dark.

- ✦ -

Thursday, November 22nd

Her body felt like it was adrift until she heard a constant beeping.

The noises of a heartbeat monitor beeped, the sound ringing through her ears as she slowly awoke in a plain hospital room. Her memories were groggy, but she remembered Tyler's face. His endearing and fearful tone echoed in her ears as she sat up, cords being pulled from her as she sat up.