Redemption.

Chapter 13: Things get Hectic

Diamond

Anthony stood in the middle of the street, staring at me with the most distasteful look plastered on his face. I was so stuck in the moment to move. His unexpected appearance caught me off guard, even though I knew I should have had my guard up all this time. He even said he was going to come back soon. What was I thinking to just walk outside thinking he won't just pop up at any second?

This is it...I need to face him. I can't keep running away from adversity. This entire time I've been running away from my problems, now it's time to face the worst one. I know I'm terrified, but he will never go away unless I face him. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I think I'm ready.

I stepped forward off of the porch and stood in front of the house. I didn't want to get too close to him. "Anthony, it's over," I shook my head. "whatever you came here to do, just walk away. Things shouldn't get any worse than what they already are." My voice began to break.

What I said seemed to not faze him one bit. He continued to glare at me. "Where's Patrick?" Anthony growled, taking a step closer.

"Anthony, just leave...you don't need to do what you came to do."

"I'm not gonna ask you again!" Anthony questioned much louder, almost yelling. I shook my head, almost in tears. I reached in my pocket and retrieved my engagement ring. I peered down at it in my hand, shaking my head. I looked back up at him and noticed his eyes landed on the ring. His jaw tensed up. I can tell he got even angrier.

"I won't be needing this anymore."  Setting his feelings to the side, I tossed him the ring. He didn't even attempt to catch it. The ring just bounced from his body and landed onto the ground away from him. He chuckled.

"Diamond, I think you almost forgot who you're dealing with. I'm not gonna repeat myself. If you think I won't hurt you, you're gonna be in for a rude awakening." Anthony growled. From a distance I heard police sirens approaching. We both glanced around to see if they were coming this way. I sure hope they were. As the sirens grew louder, two police cruisers raced down the street and stopped abruptly in our area.

"Fuck." Anthony asserted. He then charged toward me. It was a natural instinct for me to scream and flinch as he did. He grabbed my body forcefully and pulled out a gun, holding it to my head. This is it. Everything's over. My life is about to end. Tears streamed out of my eyes as I sobbed uncontrollably. "Shut the fuck up Diamond!" He yelled into my ear.

The police hopped out of their cruisers and drew their weapons, staying put behind the doors for cover. "Put the weapon down now!"

"Fuck you!" Anthony yelled. He pressed the muzzle of his gun against my head harder. I whimpered in pain at the feeling.

"Please, don't do this." I whispered in tears.

"Diamond nobody has pity for you. Stop the fucking crying! I'm not going down without Patrick coming with me!" Anthony yelled. To my left I heard the front door open and someone run out.

My eyes widened. "Patrick no!"

Suddenly, Anthony threw my body away from him. My head hit the trunk of an SUV before I landed on the ground. My vision blurred and my hearing faded. I heard three shots fire before multiple ones fired afterward. Everything seemed to go in slow motion. Anthony's body fell beside me. I tried to scream, but my voice was trapped. Blood was dripping from his mouth and his body was covered in bloody bullet wounds.

I choked on my tears. My eyes wandered over to where Patrick stood. He laid on the porch stone still. That was enough for my voice to break free. I screamed and screamed. He couldn't be dead, he just couldn't be. I began to regain my vision and hearing after a couple more seconds.

A firm hand grabbed my shoulder and stood me up. It was a police officer. I couldn't stop crying. I buried my eyes into the officers chest and sobbed. I heard a scream from the house. I already knew it was my mom by the sound of her voice. All of a sudden, everything went black.

4:00 PM

My eyes started to flutter open. The first thing I saw was a blurred image of my mother squatting before me. "She's waking up."

I groaned as my hand traveled to my head where it hurt. My vision restored clearly, allowing me to see those who stood before me. Tammy, my mom, Carnell, Bryan, Kelly and a nurse. The kids must be at Adrian's house. "What happened? Where are we?"

"Diamond, we're at the hospital. You passed out back at the house," my mother told as she sniffed back tears. "The nurse said you may have a minor concussion. Nothing too serious."

"Where's Patrick?" I asked. I remembered the events that had taken place earlier. I started to panic, then the tears came back.

"Diamond, he's alive."

I sat still, trying to process what she just said. "What?"

"He's alive, Diamond. He's in critical condition. The doctor says there's a chance he may pull through, but it's not guaranteed." My mom informed me.

"I want to see him...I want to see him!" I said, my voice rising. I didn't know whether to be relieved or afraid.

"He's currently undergoing surgery. He's unable to have visitors." The nurse said. I could do nothing but weep.

"This is all my fault...all my fault." I sobbed. I hid my face in my hands and cried. My mom hugged me and rubbed my back. I wrapped my arms around her and cried on her shoulder. I just hope Patrick will survive this.

7:21 PM

"Diamond...Diamond."

My eyes opened. I must have fallen asleep. My mom was shaking my shoulder to wake me up. I peered around the waiting room. It was only my mom and I besides a few other strangers. "Where'd everyone go?" I asked wearily.

"They went home. I was just waking you to ask if you wanted anything to eat or drink. The nurse told me that she'll notify us when Patrick was allowed visitors, which was a couple hours ago."

"Oh, uh, sure yeah. A water would be fine."

"Okay, I'll be back." She told.

"You ready to go?" I heard another voice say. I peered up to see Michael.

"Mom why is he here?" I asked sitting up in my chair.

"Diamond what's the matter? Why are you being so rude?" She questioned, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

"Nothing, nothing. Just go."

"No, is there something you're not telling me?"

I glanced at Michael and shook my head. "Not now mom, please."

"Okay, I'll be back in ten to twenty minutes." She told, still wearing a confused look. They both walked off, leaving me in the waiting room.

"Visitors for Patrick Breeding?"

I looked over to see the nurse from earlier standing by. I stood to my feet quickly. "Right here ma'am."

"Right this way."

The nurse guided me to the room Patrick was staying in. When we arrived, I glanced through the glass window of the door. Patrick laid in the bed asleep, hooked up to a couple machines. One tracking the beat of his heart. I entered the room and quickly stood by his side. His heart beat was weak judging from the sound of the machine.

A tear streamed down my cheek. I pulled up a chair and sat beside him. "Patrick, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. This shouldn't have happened to you, I tried to stop it. It all happened so fast. I thought you were dead," I sniffed. "Please pull through, Owen needs you, I need you...I love you so much."

I grabbed his hand and held it. I placed my head on the bed and sobbed. I don't know what to do anymore. Something caught my attention, causing me quiet my sobbing.

Patrick had given my hand a weak squeeze.