The Suicide Helpline | ✔ #Wattys2018

46

S H A W N

A reflex action. You know what a reflex action is? It's an action performed when immediate reaction is needed. Like, when you touch a hot pan by accident, the part of your hand which touches it gets an immediate command to remove itself. That's a reflex action.

That's what Adam did. I couldn't even blink my eye, when Brandon pulled the trigger of the gun, and in split second, Adam jumped in the middle, taking the bullet himself.

One bullet to the chest.

Xandra screamed from behind me and we both ran towards Adam, trying to break his fall from our useless hands. Brandon stood proudly, laughing maniacally. He was proud of the thing he had just done.

Xavier turned around, shock prominent on his face. It wasn't even difficult to guess how much Adam meant to him. Leaving the man in his hands, he ran towards us, while Natalie took the gun and walked towards that man.

He punched Brandon on his jaw, causing him to fall down, as he laughed mercilessly.

"How dare you?!", he screamed, with a voice which clearly explained the pain he might be feeling.

Adam started breathing heavily and I looked at him.

"Don't worry. We'll take you to the hospital.", I said, trying to make him get up with me as Xandra helped me, too.

"Wait kid-do.", he panted. "It's of no use now."

"But-", Xandra started, as tears fell from her eyes.

"Sh-sh. Don't cry. Listen, dying isn't a bad thing, unless you die without doing something meaningful in your life. I'm a happy man. I'm dying after I tried saving you and making a daughter meet her parents. That's the biggest thing I could do. My purpose of life is served.", he paused and took in a long breath.

"It is painful, even to look at.", Xandra broke down. "I'm sorry. This is all because of me."

"Xandi.", his voice depicted disappointment. "Never ever, I repeat, never ever blame yourself for anything. You've not done anything. This is what karma has given me, for the deeds I did at my early age. Smile now, or else I'll be sad."

Xandra gave a sad smile, wiping her tears from her cheeks.

"Where's my idiot of a best friend?", he chuckled. "Tell him he can kill that bastard mercilessly."

Just then the sound of bullets came, grabbing our attention. Xavier shot Brandon four times. But the thing that was more shocking was, when Natalie shot the man in front of her and called him big brother.

They both ran up to us, sitting next to me and Xandra.

"Take care of Xandra.", Adam breathed slowly.

"Don't leave us.", Natalie cried, holding his hand. "Please."

"Shh.", he smiled. "I can be with Melody now."

Natalie broke down on hearing the name. Maybe, that was one of the many things we were yet to know.

"And you,", he looked at Xavier, "I'll haunt you and keep you updated with the information of your enemies."

A small chuckle left his lips, as everyone started crying.

I held Xandra as she cried.

"Don't miss me much.", he said, closing his eyes. "I love you all."

Even though I hadn't know this man for more than two weeks, we had a connection. And now, maybe, that was broken.

Adam was no more.

******