World Of Words

IV - Painful Death

"Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once."

-William Shakespeare

It was a walking distance from Reese to the Green Cafè. So they decided to walk.

The girl, the same waiter Charlie had met showed up. She has a kinky black hair, taller than Charlie, and she smells nice. She smells like coffee.

"Charlie, what do you want?", he asked as he read the menu. He was now wearing glasses, the same rectangled one.

"Anything.", she was staring through the transparent glass, directly looking outside. She wondered if she really had a brother. She treated Ethan like a brother, but knowing you have one, a real one, would be great. Knowing that your grandpa and you wouldn't be stuck forever until one of them dies leaving the other alone. She threw the thought aside.

"You shouldn't answer me with 'anything', idiot.", he snapped.

"You're copying me!"

"No I'm not!"

"You just did!"

"I did not!"

"Um, excuse me. Again, what's your order.", the waiter spoke.

"Sorry. Just uh. . . Two lasagnas and two sodas.", he smiled.

"Okay. ", she was about to turn around when she asked something that only Ethan could hear.

"Is she your girlfriend?", the waiter asked as if they were close, as if she's not in here working.

"Wha-"

"Nothing", she turned around and smiled as if she did not say anything.

"She likes you. One point for you."

"I guess."

She caught a glimpse at the sides of her eyes of something dark, hiding in the shadows.

"Did you see that?"

"What?"

"Nothing.", she swallowed hard. Hard enough she could feel her throat being carved like wood. She saw something.

"Oh, my mom said my family will be having breakfast tomorrow, together. She's inviting you". Their order was served. She reached for the soda and took a sip.

She pictured herself getting up early for the breakfast. Ever since she have lived with her grandpa, she learned how to wake up early. He always taught her to be responsible and independent of her own duties.

"Sure."

"Can we watch a movie together? Tonight? Or play video games? M&m fight? Let's just take out some food for your grandpa."

"Sure, um. Why not?", she forced a smile although she was still bothered by what she saw.

~

If there's something bad that's about to happen, she would feel it. Right now she's feeling there is.

Their house was a typical house anyone would imagine. When you opened the door, a white sofa would appear in front of you.

"Pa Arl, we brought you dinner. It's your favorite. Mushroom soup, fried chicken with rice, and black coffee.", she smiled as she placed all of it on the table.

"I have something to tell you.", he rose up from the sofa. The television was on.

"Don't worry, it's thigh."

"No. It's-", he was interrupted when there was a loud bang on the door. Her skin felt cold. I knew it, she thought. She feels her insides shivering, filled with fear, as if her bones cracking. She staggered.

"Charlie, whatever happens do not get out of the house. You promise me. If something bad happens you know what to do. ", he had taught her what to do if there's an trespasser in the house.

Head to the kitchen, go get the sharpest knife, head to the attic, and hide on the back of the shelf. She remembered that that specific shelf was facing the wall so you won't see what's in it.

All those thoughts faded when she was actually in a reality of her thoughts.

She went straight to the kitchen finding the sharpest knife.

There was a loud bang on the door. She sighed. She held a so-called weapon on her hand, facing whoever it was who opened the door.

She closed her eyes. "Stop! Stay there or I will throw this to you."

"What? A whisk?", a familiar voice spoke.

She opened her eyes realizing how dumb she sounded.

"Is there a problem? Have you forgotten something?", said Ethan, wearing pajamas, holding a gym back full of clothes and essentials.

"Ah, um. Yeah, sure. I. . . I just remembered, I left my bike.", she blinked, feeling stupid. She held the thought of patting her forehead.

"You forgot to prepare for the movie night. ", she cannot think of the popcorns right now.

"Have you seen grandpa? Outside?", the thought came back.

"I'll check.", she remembered she left her grandpa, and walked as if nothing had happened.

She knew that the thing she saw on the cafeteria has something to do with what's happening. After minutes of her worrying, she became even more worried. Ethan opened the door. Her grandpa, his one arm leaning on his shoulders. She could feel his nervousness. They were both shaking. Coldness ran through her veins.

"Pa Arl!"

She couldn't resist thinking parts of the movies where there loved ones die in there arms. This won't happen, no, she thought.

He placed him on the floor, his head on her lap.

"He's been stabbed. Go. . . Go get a medical kit.", there's blood on his shirt, on his trunk.

"No.", her grandpa muttered.

She shook her head. "Just get it!", tears start falling down along her cheeks.

"Pa Arl, stay with me. . . Okay? Please, just."

She knew he was having a hard time breathing. He's giving out deep breaths.

He got something from his neck. All along she hadn't seen him wearing that necklace with a big pendant.

"It's a medallion. It. . . It's important. Keep everything safe. I trust you.", he tried to say the words, he's already catching his breath.

"I got it", said Ethan.

There was a repeated loud bang on the door, forcing it to open. The door was shaking.

"Charlie, I think we should get going.", the kit accidentally fell off the floor.

"What? Leave him alone here, dying? Think of it, Ethan!"

"Charlie. . . Go. . .", her grandpa spoke.

"We cannot leave him alone!", she was catching her breath, not knowing what to do.

He grabbed her on the wrist, dragging her to the stairs.

"Pa Arl, I'm sorry we have to do this but we gotta-", she slipped from his hand. The center of the door was cracking.

"Do it for me Charlie! If you love me then go!", he forced the words. He showed them his last smile.

She felt her heart as if shattered to tiny pieces, wounding her lungs, forcing her not to breathe. Tears from her eyes started dripping. She held the medallion tight in her hands. The door cracked open. There were three men chasing them.

They ran towards the attic, making loud footsteps. Leaving him behind.