Forbidden

prologue

Wednesday 6:32pm
December 26, 2018

Plop. Plop. Plop. Plop…

The cold winter breeze blew over my face while I listened to the familiar sound of melting ice dripping all over the dashboard. I still had my eyes closed but I know I'm still alive. I could feel my heart trying to beat out of my chest and I can hear my lungs trying to absorb as much oxygen as it can. I've been knocked out only God knows for how long.

Plop. Plop. Plop...

The sound didn't stop. The air got colder. I slowly opened my eyes, and tried to familiarize myself with my surroundings, with what actually happened, but before I could do so, I felt it. A sharp pain emerged from my ankle and radiated towards my entire left leg. I couldn't move.

Plop... Plop…... Plop…

The dripping sound had slowed down. That only meant that whatever heat that emanated from the car was no longer there and it was dissipating fast. We were about to freeze if we don't get out immediately.

"Aiden." I murmured softly. I still haven't found my strength to belt out a stronger and louder voice. After what just happened, I bet no one really could. "Aiden." I said again, a little louder this time. I'm slowly regaining my consciousness and strength. But, at the same time, the pain that I was feeling in my leg was now getting stronger.

I realized that one of the things that restricted my movement was my seatbelt which was still on so I unbuckled myself.  As soon as I did, I fell downward and my entire body hit the roof of the car I was in. Apparently, the car had been tipped over. "Shit!"

I finally saw where the pain was coming from. My leg broke and part of my ankle had just popped out. I could see it because the jeans I was wearing got torn off. It wasn't bleeding much so I knew I wasn't in real danger. "Aiden!" I called out again, louder, but he still wasn't responding.

When I glanced at the driver's side, I finally figured out why he wasn't responding. Aiden wasn't there. There was a large hole in front of our windshield. What I heard earlier wasn't ice melting. It was blood, dripping from the sharp edges of the broken glass.

Panic struck me. I screamed out his name louder, hoping that he can hear me and he's not that far from where I am. "AIDEN!"

The snow on the ground was getting thicker by the minute and so did the ones falling from the sky. I needed to move. I had to. Otherwise, Aiden might die. I might die.

I can't die. Not when he's far from me. Not when we haven't had our own happy endings. Not when we were almost finally free.

I can't die. He can't die.

I had to tell myself that in order to move. I had to tell myself that so I could push myself out of the car. I had to tell myself that so that I could make myself walk despite the immense pain I was experiencing.

When I finally got out of the door, I dragged myself outside and looked around. The falling snow wasn't as heavy as it seemed to be but it really was getting deeper. I couldn't find Aiden anywhere. All I saw was our car, a truck that was also lying on the ground a few meters away from where I was standing, and blood trails.

"Blood trails!" I screamed which seemed too optimistic considering it meant that someone was bleeding or someone was dyinh. But, it was better than nothing.

As I walked slowly towards the source, I pulled out my phone and dialed 911. I know that the people who are after us, they will know our whereabouts and maybe put an end to us, to Aiden and me, but it was better than being dead. It was better than losing him over our selfish choices. It was better than letting the man I love die.

"911, what's your name and emergency?" The operator on the other line called out.

"My name's  Nicole Richards. I don't know where we are but we were in a car accident. Please come for us. My leg is broken. I think my head is still bleeding. It's also snowing. Please hurry." I said over the phone as fast as I can.

Then I saw him. . Lying on the ground, face down, lifeless. He was lying in a pool of his own blood. "Oh my God!" I shouted.

I rushed towards him, moved my hand over his neck and tried to feel for a pulse. I felt a beat but it was faint. "He's..." I manage to croak out.

"Ma'am, is everything okay." The lady on the other line said. "We've traced where you are. Rescuers are on their way."

"Please hurry!" My voice broke even more. I didn't know what to do so I just held Aiden's hand. "Ma'am, please hurry."

"Is there anyone with you? Are they injured?" She asked. I kept my phone close to my ear as I intertwined my fingers with Aiden's.

"Yes, someone's with me... please hurry." Tears started streaming down my face as I held his hand. It was getting colder by the minute.

"Ma'am, who's with you? Stay calm. The ambulance is almost there." The lady from the phone said. As much as I wanted to calm down. I couldn't. Aiden was dying.

Everything that we did for the past year flashed before my eyes. How we got closer together. How he became my bestfriend. How he kissed me while I kissed him back. How he cared for me more than how my parents did. How he loved me, more than anyone else did. How he treated me like I was the only girl in the world for him.

I regret everything. I shouldn't have done it. We shouldn't have run. None of this would have ever happened if we had just stopped.

Tears streamed down my face. I sat there thinking that it should have just been me because everything is my fault. Everything.

"Please hurry! My brother Aiden is dying." I replied.