Ominous shadows darted around the flickering streetlight in the world’s darkest and most dangerous city. I walked hurriedly down the street, trying to draw the least attention possible. I couldn’t have Aidan knowing I came into this part of town, especially at 2am; he’d throw a fit and never let me out of his sight again, he didn’t understand that I had no choice, I had to come here.
“C’mon, Alexandrina, where are you?” I whispered to myself, my eyes darting around, looking at every entrance to every bar, and trying-hoping- to find my older sister.
As I walk past a dark ally, I was suddenly grabbed and pulled in. I panicked, striking out at my attacker.
“Em, Em, STOP!”A voice said low in my ear, causing me to freeze. I knew that voice. “My name is Kai, your sister sent me to find you, she was afraid for your safety. Now, I’m going to let you go, but if you run, I’ll have to knock you out and I really don’t want to do that” I made a sound of agreement and Kai slowly released me.
“Where is she?” I asked instantly, spinning around to face Kai and almost smashing into his chest. He looked down at me for a moment, then recognition flared in his eyes.
“Ella, what are you doing here? Wait, shit! You, your Rina’s sister! Does Aidan know your here?”
“Yes, she’s my sister, now where is she?” I asked impatiently
“She’s safe, wait if you’re her sister, why did she tell me to call you ‘Em’?”
“Cause my name s Ella-Marie, ‘EM’ it’s what Rina’s always called me. Can you please take me to my sister now? I need to see her” I asked again.
“Oh, okay, come on.” Kai took my hand and led me deeper into the ally...
...................
“So, does Aidan know your here? You didn’t answer me before. ” Kai asked me curiously, quietly, as we walked the dark backstreets of downtown.
“No, he doesn’t, he’s at home, I- I left him in bed...” I said nervously.
“Ella, honey, you know my cousin wouldn’t approve of this... and when he wakes up and finds you gone, he’s going to come after you” Kai said cautiously
I walked in silence for a few minutes, then said,
“I know, it’s why I have to get Rina fast.” I looked up at Kai, pleading with my eyes.
“Ella... Please don’t do that, you know I can’t deny you what you want when you do, it’s unfair” Kai looked down at me.
“Please” I looked up at him.
“Hmm okay Ella, but you’re not doing this alone- I’m staying with you, for your protection. If anything happened to you I could never forgive myself and if Aidan found out...” kai put his arm around my waist as I stumbled over something I couldn’t see in the darkness of the street.
“How far now?” I asked.
“Shh, be careful we’re almost there, look there’s Rina” he whispered in my ear, Rina looked up and seen us walking toward her
“Em! Honey-” Rina started to walk toward me, but she didn’t see the large men dressed in black rushing in behind her.
“Rina! Look out!” I rushed forward, but I was knocked back suddenly, the very large form of Kai blocking my view of my sister and rushing forward
“Stay back Ella!” Kai ordered over his shoulder, punching one man in the face and knocking him back, then rushed the man holding Rina.
“Oh my god! Kai watch out! He has a knife!” I jumped from the dirty ground and ran as fast as I could, small my 5’1 body colliding with the first man, and knocking him off balance causing him to fall to the ground. He reached out and grabbed my arm, taking me down with him.
I landed on top of him. Striking out, I landed a hard blow the man’s face, hopefully knocking him out, and struggled out of his grip, landing an elbow shot to his ribs, releasing his hold on me. I got up quickly and looked around franticly to see if I could see Kai and Rina.
Suddenly I heard a scream and a gunshot, toward the end of the ally, I ran, as fast as I’ve ever ran in my life. I dropped to my knees beside Kai, who had an arm wrapped around his stomach, holding his side, and the other around Rina’s small bloody body.
“No, Rina! No! Please!” I cried
“Em, its okay... please doesn’t cry, I got to see you... one last time- hold me?” Rina said, in barely a whisper.
“Oh Rina, I love you! Please, please don’t die- I need you”ll gathered Rina in my arms and held her tight against my chest, my shirt soaking in her blood.
“I love you too Em” a tear ran down Rina’s face.
“Please don’t leave me Rina; the ambulance is on its way just hold on. Please, I can’t- I can’t” I couldn’t Finnish the sentence. “I can’t be alone in the dark”
“Em, honey, you’ll be okay” Rina took a shallow breath, her face grimacing in pain,
“Don’t be afraid of the dark Em, I’m not afraid of the dark.” And with that, my sister drew he last breath... and died in my arms.
The ambulance arrived 3 minutes later, the paramedics treated Kai’s wound and said he’d be fine, but I wouldn’t let them touch me. Kai assured them I was okay, and if it was needed he would take me to the hospital.
“Come on Ella, you have to let her go, she’s finally found peace” Kai said quietly.
“I’ll miss her so much” I whispered
“I know honey, I know” Kai put his arms around me.
“I want to go home Kai, please, I want Aidan” I slowly released Rina into the arms of the paramedics. Kai lifted into his arms, carried me to his car and strapped me into the passenger seat.
I slept the whole drive back to my home, arriving just before the sunrise, as Kai pulled to a stop in my driveway, Aidan came bolting out the house, and at 6 foot tall, and built like a tank, and he was a force to be reckoned with. Aidan almost ripped the door off to get to me; luckily I pulled off my seatbelt once we started to pull in. Aidan pulled me into his arms, thanking god that I was safe and telling me he loved me, that I was crazy to go out there alone, thanking Kai for protecting me, and apologising for the loss of my sister.
Aidan lifted me into his arms, cradling me to his broad chest, and carried me in to the house, Kai following close behind. We all ended up in my lounge, I was still in Aidan’s arms, with Kai next to us.
I never found out what Rina so desperately wanted to get away from, but as I slowly drifted to sleep again, safe in my husband’s arms, just before I slipped into unconsciousness, I whispered...
“I’m not afraid of the dark”
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authors note:
well, this is my first try at a crime story.. and im pretty sure its not that good but i tried, so here it is :)
