The Guardians

Chapter 1

I gazed at the sun as it made its journey down to the earth. I sipped water from my water bottle  and turned to the road. I glanced a my watch and sighed. Time to head home. I hopped on my bike and started the thirty minute bike ride home.

School was pretty hectic and very busy. Well, I guess that what happens on your last day of high school. Home was no picnic either, considering the fact my mother is having a mental meltdown over every little thing that I do. I mean, I get it. Your one and only son is leaving the house into the real world after 18 years of raising him. It's probably very nerve wracking for her and I understand that so I let her have her way and try not to give her any grief over it.

I pedaled down the street and felt a buzz in my pocket. Pulling over I took my phone out of my back pocket. It was my best friend Trevor.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey, bro. Can you meet me at the Starbucks by your house?" He replied. I glanced at my watch and shrugged. What's twenty more minutes?

"Sure thing, Trev. Be right there." I hung up the phone and started on my way there. I hadn't even made it ten minutes when I heard a bloodcurdling scream.

"Someone help me, please!" Someone yelled frantically. I mashed my brakes and quickly hopped of my bike. I whirled around and saw a head of brunette hair get yanked into ally. I ran full speed into the ally and stopped in my tracks as a barrel of a .44 magnum revolver was pointed straight at my head.

"Hey buddy, just put the gun down nice and easy," I said softly raising my hands. The gun flashed toward my head and I ducked quickly.

"If you empty your pockets on the floor and walk away right now no one will get hurt," The guy said pointing the gun to the brunette's head.

Once the threat left my face I lunged for the gun. The gun went off and the girls head snapped back. I stopped my assault and stared at the prone body on the floor. The guy kicked my legs from under me and pointed the gun at me.

"Sorry about this, mate," he said smiling, a thick accent coating his voice. "Can't have you living to tell the cops." He he cocked the hammer backed and pulled the trigger.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"...tough situation..."

"...very slim chances of survival..."

"...going to die..."

I cracked open my eyes and stared at the doctors incomprehensibly.

"Wha . . . what's going on?" I slurred.

The doctor, a female with pretty blonde hair and cold blue eyes, glanced at me and smiled.

"Nothing, dear. Everything's fine," she said sweetly. She turned to the male nurse standing awkwardly next to her. He had brown hair and puzzled green eyes.

"Put him under," she told him. He hesitated and took a step in my direction, confusion written all over his face.

"Ignorant new nurses, gotta do everything myself," The doctor snarled to herself. She pushed the nurse aside and grabbed a syringe on a metal tray. She smiled at me and plunged the needle into the IV that was connected to the crook of my right elbow.

"Sweet dreams, darling,"  she said coldly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My sleep was plagues by nightmares.

I was strapped to a chair and there was a rope digging into my wrists as well as ankles The same man from the alley walked into my line of vision. He grinned crookedly at me as he yanked a girl in front me and pulled a knife from his boot. He trailed a knife on her cheek and she choked down a sob.

I never had a chance to get a clear look at his face but I somehow knew exactly what he looks like. Short brown hair that was cut short and clung to his head. A crooked nose and yellow teeth protruded from his face. Small brown eyes glared from under bushy eyebrows. His sickly pale skin suggested somebody who doesn't get out much. He was of medium build and roughly 6'0" or 6'1". His large hands were wounded tightly in the girls blonde hair.

Her brown eyes were full of fear and pleading as she looked at the man. She glanced at me and her eyes filled with hope. I struggled against my bonds, trying to get to her. The man looked at me and smirked.

"You're a bloody pathetic swine, you can't even get out of those simple bonds," he snarled. His accent like a spiked mace smashing into my ears.

I lurched at him and felt the chair lift from the ground. I flew at him and he dodged easily out of the way. I crashed to the floor face first. Groaning I turned and tried to struggle to my feet. The man threw the girl to the ground and wound up his foot to kick. His foot launched to my ribs and fiery pain flared up in my side.

"You're nothing, you little rat. You can't do anything. You're just a little ol' boy in a huge world and you can't do anything at all," he spat. He pulled out a .44 magnum from his waistband and pointed it at the girl's head.

"You're useless and powerless. You. Are. Nothing. Remember this for the rest of your life, Reuben Carter. You are a worthless nothing and you can't save anyone," he turned and fired.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I lurched upright with a yell. I felt my chest and my face sure that there was a hole somewhere. My hand brushed against a hard lump on my left shoulder. I yelped as a sharp pain shot through my shoulder. My mother barged in and flicked on the light. I groaned and covered my eyes with my right hand.

"Nurse! Nurse! He's awake! Please, come quick!" My mother hollered down the hall.

"Mom, please," I groaned bringing my finger to my lips. She mouthed, sorry and glanced at a figure that was slumped on a chair. Soft snores flitted in and out of the shadow's mouth.

My mother smiled and put her finger to her lips with a wink. I furrowed my brows in confusion. Who is that? I mouthed. My mom ignored me and put her mouth close to the silhouette's ear and took a breath.

"Trevor, wake up! Reuben is awake you lazy bum!" She yelled. I laughed as Trevor leaped from the chair and glanced around the room and tried to get his bearings. My laughter was abruptly cut off as a hot knife stabbed into the back of my head. Groaning I gritted my teeth as my vision exploded with stars and black holes. My mother's face settled into a stony expression. The nurse came walking in and saw the state I was in.

"Leave the room," the nurse said. My mom froze and looked puzzled. Trevor nodded at me and gave a weak smile.

"See ya later, pal. Hang in there. Don't die on me, you hear?" Trevor said pointing an accusing finger. I grimaced and nodded. He took my mother's arm and steered her to the door.

"Have fun," Trevor called over his shoulder jokingly. I saw right through it. Joking was Trevor's way of hiding behind his pain. I knew this was killing him as much as it was killing my mother. The nurse looked down at me mournfully.

"I'm sorry to do this to you, man. But I have no choice. They got my family man. They'll kill them otherwise," he said. I glanced up at him quizzically. He held up a needle and plunged it into my IV. After he squeezed the syringe I immediately felt dizzy.

"Wha—what did you give me?" I spluttered. The nurse smiled sadly at me.

"Something that slows you're heart rate to barely nothing. As far as the world is concerned, you're dead."

I tried to respond to do anything at all. But I couldn't even move my eyelids. I spiraled down into the darkness trying to fight its cold embrace but it was no use. Cold dark arms wrapped around me and tugged me close.

Right before I completely lost consciousness I heard my heart flat line.