Human

Heart Beats

Ray

I hear a bang, like a snap from outside and a dead weight fills my chest.

No.

Everything slows down and I try to pull myself up but my side burns and I grit my teeth. There is another bang.

Oh God please.

I strain against the tearing sensation in my side. Using my elbows I push and feel the pressure in my neck as I swallow against the pain. There is a third shot and it rings through my head, all I hear is her name.

Asha.

I push myself onto my knees holding my side and draw my legs up like a puppet. I feel sick thinking about it.

What if she's d-

No! I can't think like that. Asha is strong, brave she'd make it even if the fight was unfair.

But Anna was a killer. Asha is different.

I blink back tears and grab onto the nearest bench to hold myself up, its hard, but I manage. I'm wheezing for breath and blood pools more heavily around the wound, making a trail down my pants. I reach for the next Pew and pull myself forward. My breathing echoes in my ears and I can hear my heart.

There is a small creak and I look up to see the church doors open and Anna come round the door. I begin hyperventilating and my world falls apart, I look at her and scream out "No!"

She walks about five steps into the church and stops, looking dead into my eyes I see the flicker of a smile and blood dribbles down her chin. She folds into herself, now a heap on the floor.

I move faster past the benches and towards the body, seeing the red hair I gag and look at the doors. Where is she? "Asha?" It comes out a pathetic whimper and I walk through the exit and out into the barren outdoors.

I search for her desperately my eyes looking left and right. Then I see her, curled up on the ground. I can't breathe, my heart drums in my ears and I feel light headed as my skin turns cold.

No.

I half walk, half stumble towards her and land on my knees next to her, wrapping my arms around her and resting her head onto my lap- ignoring the pain my wound gives me. Tears fall from my eyes and I sniffle loudly, sobs racking my chest. I'm shaking and I run my hand through her hair, whispering for her to open her eyes. Her right temple is bloody and I can see a hole. The bullet? I trail my finger towards it and try to wipe it away, but the blood continues to flow from her head and I start to whisper loudly breathing through words. "Asha. Please." She's limp and my hands are too unstable for me to check her pulse. I move my hand towards hers, which are hidden where she curls. I grab her hands and try to pull them away. They're cold, but they're clasped far to tightly for her to be dead.

She's holding a gun.

I sigh with relief and shout her again, she doesn't reply but I see a slight rise on her chest and laugh to myself.

I haven't lost her yet.