Stockholm Syndrome

Ready to Run

The world moved around me in slow motion as my knees buckled under my seemingly now unbearable weight. I could only stare at the unmoving body of the doctor as I fell to my knees, my eyes open wide, unblinking. He couldn't be dead could he? No... John wouldn't kill him, I told myself as my mind tried to rationalize the situation in front of me. Part of me prayed that Dr. Hanks was still alive, that there was a way he could be saved if he received medical attention. The other part of me knew that John was perfectly capable of extinguishing a life. Either way, I had to get closer to confirm anything... I had to find some sign of life.

My hands shook as I crawled on the ground, slowly, towards the body. I couldn't support my own weight, I was still shaking, so I used every ounce of strength to drag myself along the dirt paved road. Dirt and blood mixed together, forming a dark gritty substance that stained road clothes and my hands as I got closer still to the body. We'd been only a few yards apart, Dr. Hanks and I, but it felt like miles. Time was literally frozen, suspended indefinitely, the inverse of my racing heart. My heartbeat drummed through my ears, the only sound I could hear, and it beat faster and faster as I finally reached my destination.

"D-Dr. Hanks?" I called, my voice barely above a whisper.

There was no response. Maybe he hadn't heard me... I doubted it, but I wanted to retain some optimism that the man who'd saved my life was still alive. I decided to try again, but louder this time. "Dr. Hanks!"

When there was still no response I inched closer. My heart continued to beat rapidly with fear, as I gently placed one of my now filthy hands on his shoulder and squeezed it gently. Dr. Hanks' back was facing me, so I couldn't see his face to determine his fate. His body was still warm to the touch, causing me to shiver involuntarily. I'd never seen someone get shot, let alone die. I was pretty sure that he was dead... but again I had to confirm it to be sure.

"Dr. Hanks..."

My eyes scanned his body, searching for where he'd been shot, but I couldn't find the point of entry. All I saw was a dark, warm, sticky liquid forming a pool around us. Blood. It was useless trying to keep myself clean. My clothes were stained red, and my hands were now slick with it. I didn't know it was possible for someone to bleed so much.

I couldn't stop my hands from shaking as I used the last of my strength to turn his body over, so that I could see his face.

His usually bright green eyes were now dull and lifeless. I shivered again and looked down quickly as I continued to look for the wound. After a few seconds my eyes were drawn to the left side of his chest. The blood was flowing, practically pouring, out from a gaping hole where flesh should have been. His heart... he'd been shot directly in the heart.

A soft whimper escaped my lips when it hit me that he'd never stood a chance of surviving. Just a few moments ago he'd saved me from Max, and now he was laying before me dead. Tears blurred my vision as I gently placed a hand over Dr. Hanks' eyes and shut them. The brilliant green eyes that saved people's lives would never open again. I buried my face in the crook of my elbow and let out a sob.

It wasn't supposed to be like this... another cry raked my body as my hands clenched into fists. I was responsible for this innocent man's death. He'd done nothing but help me. He deserved so much better than to be lying dead on the perfectly manicured front lawn of Max's mansion.

My eyes were blurred with both anger and tears as I hit the ground with my fists. "This wasn't supposed to happen!"

"It was a clean shot," a distant voice muttered calmly.

I turned, my eyes tearing themselves from the dead body in front of me up to the man who'd killed him. Only now, after watching me while I struggled to accept the fact that my rescuer was dead, did he dare to speak. That bastard! Who the hell did he think he was, speaking up now and trying to consul me?