Troubled Boy

Eight

"Kylie?"  all she could hear was her rapid heartbeat and her name fading in and out from someone's mouth. But who's?

"Kylie!"  she heard it once again, this time louder and more pronounced. But everything was black. Kylie couldn't see a thing. With her arms outstretched, she took a step forward. There was a floor. Kylie placed her sweat-covered hands on her waist, hoping she was real and not some ghost. Yep, she had a body. Her heart was still a tremor beating fast behind her ribs.

"Kylie! I'm right here!"

She recognized the voice. Kylie spun around in a full 360. There was no one in sight. What the fuck? She thought.

"Where? Who--? " She tried speaking but no words escaped her quivering lips. Why couldn't she talk? Kylie did the only thing she knew she could do. Scream. So, she mustered enough strength and screamed until her throat went raw and sore.

"I can hear you! Stop screaming!"  the familiar voice shouted.

"Where are you?" Kylie said softly, speaking to the vast emptiness.

"Behind you, love."

Kylie spun around, coming face-to-face (well, face-to-chest) with the lean figure. Suddenly, a faint light illuminated the barren space where they stood. He towered above her with his hands shoved in his black skinny jean pockets.

"Harry."  

He grinned and Kylie stood with confusion masked over her face. She wasn't sure what they were doing there...or where there was, in fact. All she could recall was what happened in the ambulance. Harry convulsing, EMTs shouting over the loud honks and beeps around them and the vehicle, her own vision going blurry, the loud beep signaling the cease of Harry's heart, and then everything going pitch black.

"Where...are we?"  she asked warily.

Harry's voice was deep and it vibrated through Kylie's ears as he chuckled.

"What do you mean? We're close to the end. You have to chose. Although, I'd highly suggest you chose life over death. Whatever."

What??

"Um...uh," Kylie stuttered.

"Darling, you hit your head when you passed out. Damage was done. You have to chose,"  he smirked. Kylie wondered why he was being careless. She was used to people not caring but this was different. Death was near and he didn't care whether she lived or died...and that broke her heart. But she pushed those thoughts away.

"What about you?" she asked, trying to act just as indifferent as he.

"Kylie,"  he stabbed a finger to his chest. "Don't worry about me."

"Louis would,"  she muttered. She hoped he didn't hear her. Louis was unknown to her but was obviously important to Harry. Kylie wanted to know more about this "Louis" because she knew that if she lived, and if Harry lived, that there was no going back. Harry was stuck in her life. She liked him. A lot. His mysterious disposition, his sarcasm, everything...it drew her in. She was addicted. Harry was a drug and there was no going back. He made her feel important. No, they weren't close but she had hope. She always did.

"Louis...has nothing to do with this,"  Harry growled. He was no longer looking at Kylie but at his boots. His attitude shifted and the sweet, gentle Harry evaporated to God knows where.

"Who is he?"  Kylie didn't care whether she jumped into uncharted territory with Harry. Her curiosity got the best of her and she suddenly wanted to know everything about the man standing before her. She knew there was a risk of being shot down. Of becoming invisible to him. Someday, whether it be in a day or in the years to come, he'd forget about her and she'd be right back where she was. Unwanted and alone. She took that risk.