GO

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4

I run past the driver, heart racing. I hurt her. How could I have been so stupid? I scoop the girl up, phone in hand. I press the button and I cry, tears like a river rolling, "Shard Avenue, House six. Black. She was hit by a car. Please.'

I hear the operator pause and reply nervously, "Six? Are you... You sure?"

I reply, "Yes. Please."

They hang up and I feel the frigid tears like a mountain stream, my hair lashing a bit as I see the ambulance. I put my arm right up, tears falling down my face. I hear a voice and look down. The girl is talking in her sleep?

I hear her say, "I won't leave you... I won't." I nod and try to find my common English, but its' gone with my breath. What?

The EMTs tell me to go home, the one in charge taken aback by my tears. The driver is infuriated at me by the time I walk back onto the side walk.

She screams, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?"

I reply, "Nothing! I got into a fight with her brother... It didn't involve her!" My body shakes in confirmation, anger still hot in my heart.

She snarls, getting into my face, "You hurt my baby girl. Look what you did, you monster!"

I stare in shock as Alex rushes out.

"What did you do to my baby? You monster!"

My heart races as I whimper with teary eyes, "Nothing! I didn't do that!"

She snares my wrists and roars, "All you are is a monster. A life sucking beast.'

Ever since, a single tattoo lays on my wrist, over many scars of the past, "Breathe. No guilt. No shame." It also covers a much more aggressive tattoo. It read, "Don't get too close. I don't want to hurt you."

The woman roars, "You too? Well, I think the three of you can stay out!"

Alex and I both roar, like thunder and lightning, one rolling and the other striking perfectly, "THAT'S NOT FAIR!"

She snides, "No, it is. You need to get your stuff and hers."

Alex surges forward, lightning stare ready to defend his own. I roll between them, and catch his shoulders. I slide back and whisper, my voice unrecognized to me, like thunder roaring, "She ain't worth it."

I see the others pour out as I make Alex settle down. Alex and I always get into fights like that, but they aren't serious like that one was. I guess Vienna is a touchy topic. Noted and archived for later. Alex snarls, not to me this time as I curl my fingers around his shoulders for support, "Stay away from her. Come on, Keys. Let's go."

We get into my truck and the hospital zooms into view. What are we going to tell her? Your mother is making you move into the band house? No, this won't go well. Alex suddenly turns to me. He's gripping the steering wheel, eyes intense and pain filled. He comments, "Keys, if something was to... Happen.... To me... I need you to do two things. One, find the journals and give then to Vienna. She deserves that. I also want to ask this of you. It's a lot. Can you... can you handle it?"

I reply solemnly and instantly , shifting awkwardly, heart in my hand, "Yes." He knows that I'd do almost anything for him.

He takes a deep breath, voice and body shaking, "Protect her." Is he asking about his sister? Is he tasking me with his sisters' life?

I blink and reply with a shaky voice, "Vienna?"

He nods slowly and replies with a shaking, firm tone, "Yes. You are my best friend, I trust you not to hurt her. I know the way you look at her. You'd give your life for her. I know it's a ton to ask..."

Realization smacks like a furious female and I snap, "What's going on Alex? What might... 'happen'....to...To... you?"

Alex grabs my collar and my breath hitches as he whispers with tears running down his gaunt and pale face, "I only have two weeks left."

Tears stream as he let's me go. I feel my world explode and I beg, shaking violently, "WHAT? This isn't funny, Alex!'

He replies, cold as his hands were on my collar, tears like a river, "Neither was I."

I reply, "Why? How?"

Alex replies, "I got some viral disease last summer while helping some injured kid on tour.'

I bang my head into the dash, and sigh, "Alex, you care too much."

He smiles and replies, "I'm leaving you with her. You don't tell her okay? Not until you receive a letter from my lawyer. I'll take her stuff back to the band house.'

I nod and get out. I watch him drive away, heart ripped apart. Tears stream down like a tsunami and I sob into my hands. I get an aweful lot of stares, and hear my phone singing. I take it out and open it up. The voice recording app?

I must've had it on in the recording room. It turns on to the word 'go'. Meaning it's been on this whole time. It shuts off after two hours, but it autosaves every second so I don't loose anything in an emergency situation. I shut it down and watch my frosty breath. I feel the cold cement under my boots as I stride across the parking lot. I begin to run, the cold pavement disappearing into a doorway. I jog in and wipe my boots off. I slip over to the mahogany desk. A few people are staring at me, I guess they recognize 'The Kali Hearts' guitarist. I didn't think (hoped)anyone (no one) would recognize me. I ask the stunned lady, "Vienna Kali. Where is she?"

She asks, squeaking, "Name?"

I whisper, "Keys Heart."

She replies, "This way, Mr. Heart."

I track her down the hall and hear a siren blaring. We stop to let medics go by with a body out of the ambulance. One man croaks, "Alex Kali. Age eighteen. Poor kid. Barely got to live."

I whisper, "Shit."

The lady asks, "Did you know Alex?"

I reply, "Ye.. Yeah. He was my best friend." I feel the tears run and feel myself go numb. The lady takes me to Viennas' room and leaves me in a chair. Tears run down my face, and I whisper, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Vienna."

She looks at me and cries, "Keys? Where... Where's Alex?"

I whisper, "He's he.... Er..."

The tears flow like a river and I wipe them off.