Finally

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Chloe

I now pronounce you husband and wife.” the minister said. “You may kiss the bride.” I didn’t hesitate, flinging myself into Jace’s arms and kissing him. The crowd cheered, then cheered again as we strode out of the chapel, hand in hand, our fingers intertwined. We kept walking until we reached a small room in the back. I sat on Jace’s lap and we kissed some more until Jace’s best man, Jesse, came and got us.

“They’re ready,” he said. Jace picked me up bridal style and walked out of the room. The wedding guests were waiting outside, blowing bubbles, cheering, ushering us into the off-white limo outside the chapel doors. Jace gently set me down outside the limo, opened the door, and got inside. After he had slid across the seat, I climbed in as gracefully as I could and sat next to him. The limo began to move, the tin cans behind us clanking against each other. Jace leaned over and kissed me.

“Finally,” he said, “I can be with you forever.” He kissed me again, just as a loud bang went off. I felt Jace jerk away from me.

“Jace, Are you okay?” I asked. He was looking down. I followed his gaze. Crimson blood stained the chest of his white shirt. He had been shot. Jace fell forwards, and I caught him.

“Stay with me,” I whispered. But it was too late. His eyes stared up at me, very glassy, and very dead.

I woke with a start, twisting in my blankets, tears streamed down my cheeks. It’s ok, I told myself. It was just a dream. Jace is fine. He’s perfectly fine. But try as hard as I might, I couldn’t calm myself down. I decided to call Jace. I picked up my phone and dialed his number. It was 2:20 AM. After four rings, the phone picked up.

“Hello?” Jace asked.

“Jace,” I breathed. “You’re alright. I’m so sorry to wake you, I just-”

“GOTCHA!!!!!” Jace’s voice cut me off. “Sorry about that, but I can’t come to the phone right now, so leave me a message after the beep and maybe I’ll return your call. BEEEEEEP.”

“Jace, it’s Chloe. Call me when you get this. I love you.” I hung up, the fear building in my stomach. What if something had happened to Jace? I paced the room now, too nervous to sit still. He probably just has his phone on vibrate. I reassured myself. If I’m really that worried then I should go to his room, just to prove that he’s fine. I took my advice and walked down the hallway to Jace’s room. I knocked, but no one answered the door. Jace had given me a key to his room when we had gotten here the day before. I took it out now and inserted it into the lock. I heard the door click open and walked in the room. Jace wasn’t there. His phone was sitting on the dresser next to the bed, but the bed was perfectly made. I felt my breaths speeding up, and told myself to calm down and check the roof, maybe he had gone back up there. I basically ran up the stairs to the roof. After taking a look around, I realized that Jace wasn’t there. It was taking all my self-control not to hyperventilate. Slowly, I walked to the edge of the roof and sat down, thinking. Where could Jace be? And was he okay? I Looked down off the roof, and saw it, ten stories below, something dark and twisted lying on the ground. Jumping up, I ran to the stairs, and back down to my floor, searching frantically for an elevator. I jammed my finger into the Lobby button and the elevator started going down. When the doors opened, I slowly walked to the front doors. I opened them gingerly, now not sure if I wanted to know what was on the other side. I stepped out into the night and screamed as I saw who the body at my feet was. Jace.

It was a long time before I stopped screaming.