Your Love Is Standing Next To Me

Chapter 17 - Balaclava

- Up with your hands! a balaclava-wearing gorilla shouted, followed by another two behind him.

They had guns pointed towards us. I paralyzed. I looked around and took the others' example.

- Put all your cells, pagers and other shits on the table! a tall guy yelled at us.

I knew I had to do something. I took advantage of my position in the corner, right next to Alex and, before taking the mobile phone out of my pocket, I managed to dial 911. I didn't remember exactly if it was the number for police, ambulance or God knows what but I took the chance. I moved slowly and placed the device on the green table, with the screen down.

There were now three masked people with guns in front of us. They started to search our pockets (and not only), starting with Jamie's. The girl next to him let out a short scream when the big guy touched her and that made his slap her face. Jamie reacted immediately and he eventually got hit with the pistol in his scruff and fainted. Everyone started to scream, including me. Poor Jamie. I'd been overwhelmed by anger. I had to do something. Alex clutched my wrist as I felt some invisible force who made me want to move forward. I could feel him trembling.

- Don't make anything that could put you in danger please. I whispered into Alex's ear in a moment of inattention from the robbers.

Even though I was the one who was ready to put her life in danger for everyone in the room, he nodded.

It was my turn. The fat guy came next to me and moved his hands up and down my sweated and frozen body. He took my jewellery, including my grandmother's ring and searched in my purse. I had fifty dollars cash and Alex's and my credit cards. I didn't say a word. I closed my eyes and praised for the moment to stop. I could feel Alex's heavy breath on my scruff and hear him clenching his teeth. The robber stopped in front of me.

- What's your name, sweetheart?

- J..Je... Je ne parle pas l'anglais.... I... No speak... I faked a great French accent which made me proud of myself.

- She doesn't speak English. Alex said behind my back.

- Did I ask you something? Shut the fuck up, dick!

- So... Don't you understand what we're saying?

I looked at Alex, pretending not to understand what I'd been asked.

- Stop looking at him! the masked guy yelled at me.

I couldn't help but start crying. I was scared. All three robbers were not in front of me. It was exactly what everyone in the room wanted. I was distracting their attention while I noticed Matt slowly taking a phone from the table.

I had to act to get everyone out of that shit. For a moment, I felt fearless. I felt like I could've done anything in order to help and save the people in the room.

- Please.... Please... No hurt! I acted stupidly.

The tall guy made a sign to the one who had his head a couple centimeters from mine to leave me alone. He took my face into his big rough hands. I was disgusted.

- Leave her alone! Alex shouted and punched the guy in front of me.

The gorilla raised his fist to Alex and was ready to strike, when the police came into the room. The next second, Alex was down with blood coming from his nose and everybody was screaming. I wanted to help him but all of a sudden I felt something cold touching my temple. Alex's face turned white. Was it what I was thinking it was?

- Up with you hands! the police shouted.

- Don't move or I kill her!

The tall guy was having my head under his arm and the pistol into my temple. I froze.

I wanted to tell Alex how much I loved him, I wanted to say goodbye to him before dying.

I'd always hated the phrase "I'm too young to die". You never are. I'd always though of my death as something basic. I'd never expected anything special, maybe a car accident, a plane crash, then a little nice funeral, a couple tears and some people lying about how important I was for them and that was all. All I wanted was the chance to have my conscience clear and to confess my feelings to the people I loved.

- One more step and I send a bullet into her head!

I couldn't say a word.

- Let's talk! the policeman suggested.

- Leave the building and then we talk!

He pushed the gun deeper into my head. I heard the voices getting further and further. My knees were melting and I was slowly losing control over my own body. I closed my eyes and I collapsed into the guy's arms. Needless to say, everything blacked out.

***

I got up. I was laying on a cold tight bed in a tiny crammed room. There was someone napping in a chair next to me. A paramedic, I supposed. I was in an ambulance. I got up. I could feel the whole world spinning around me. I stopped. Using all the force I possessed, I managed to open the door.

There were red and blue lights everywhere into the dark. The police had cordoned off a great area in front of me. It looked like the scene of a crime. My head was still spinning.

- Detective Owens, LAPD. Are you ok? We were waiting for you to give us a declaration, could you...

I couldn't hear what the lady who was walking next to me was saying. Declaration? Was anyone dead? What happened? I couldn't say a word. I nodded. She drove me next to a van and put a blanket on my back.

- Could you please tell me your name?

My name? That was a simple question. My mouth was open but the words just didn't want to get out of it.

- What hour did you enter the club?

I couldn't talk.

- Are you ok, lady?

Then I saw him. Twenty meters away from me. I got up and started to run. He was talking to a detective when he spotted my silhouette running towards him in the dark.

There was nothing better than feeling his cold skin touching mine. I was alive and in the arms of the person I loved. It was a dream, wasn't it? I was dead, I died when the masked man shot me, didn't I?

- Marie! I've thought I lost you!

Alex was crying. Literally. He was holding me so tight I could hardly breathe. But what if I stopped breathing? I couldn't die because I was already dead, right?

"So heaven smells like cologne, cigarettes and alcohol" I thought. It was better than I'd expected.

Alex pulled away. I looked into his eyes.

- Marie, say something! he ordered me after minutes of silence.

I opened my mouth but speaking was impossible. I burst into tears.

- Marie, I love you! I can't imagine a day without you! I'm so sorry for everything that happened! Please, tell me you forgive me! I swear I'll change!

I did forgive him a long time ago. And I wanted to tell him that. But I just couldn't.

The dizziness came back.

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I'm really curious what you think about this chapter (it's not my best one, I have to admit it).

Do you think Marie will go back to London?

Any ideas for the next chapters?

Thank you for your constant support!

Have a great day! ^.^