"Come on! We're going to be late" I looked back at Ryan, tugging his arm to hurry him up. Ryan stopped in his tracks. His face fell and his eyes glazed over. A small smile twitched at the side of his mouth as his head slowly fell to his right shoulder. He leaned gently onto a nearby planter in the centre of the walkway. A panicked lump rose in my throat. It was happening again. "Help! Somebody Help!" confused expressions turned in our direction. Ryan's body swayed unbalanced. I scanned the crowded shopping centre trying to formulate a plan as quickly as I could. My stomach turned over inside me and my head pounded. Then things seemed to happen all at once. Instinct had me reaching out to grab a cushion from one of the waiting chairs outside the salon next to us. It wouldn't budge. They had secured them to the chairs. "Are you okay?" a woman had started to ask, but it was too late. It seemed to happen quicker and quicker every time. Ryan had dropped to the floor, shaking uncontrollably. No cushioning in hand I dropped down beside him trying to stop his head from slamming into the bottom of the planter. His eyes were open, bloodshot and unfocused. His head tilted back on a sickening angle. The woman stepped back startled by the horror unfolding in front of her. Suddenly everyone was looking. The skin on Ryan's forehead was split and blood was pouring out from his head and mouth. A small sob escaped my lips. "No, No, No, NO!" I felt helpless. Nothing I was doing was making a difference and I was running out of time. I looked around. People had started to scatter. A mother rushed her children towards the exit. A small group had lingered attempting to see what was going on. "I need you to stay with him," the woman who had tried to ask if we were okay was still standing a few feet away frozen to the spot. The request seemed to startle her out of her daze. "Please?" She started to object but I was already on my feet pulling my jumper over my head. I knew I needed to be faster than this. Tears pushed at the back of my eyes as I pushed the jumper into her arms. She looked at me annoyed but seemed to understand what I needed. She scowled at me, hesitated a few more seconds and then rushed over to Ryan's convulsing body. She knelt down as far away as physically possible and began cradling his head in my jumper. My heart hurt and I knew she was wandering why I couldn't help him myself but I had stayed too long already. Who knew, she might still have a chance to find out. Ryan's head snapped back into place and his body went still. "Are you okay?" the woman repeated to Ryan as he looked up at her. He started to nod confused. The woman relaxed a little and shifted closer. "Do you know your name?" she asked. "Umm...." That's when he saw me. I tried to turn and run but it was too late. A horrible expression took hold of his face and a low growl rumbled from his mouth. There was a terrifying scream as he shoved the woman to the side and locked eyes on me. I wanted to stay and make sure she was okay. It was all my fault. I wanted to make sure everyone was okay. Unfortunately I didn't have that luxury. He didn't want them. He wanted me. I spun on the spot, looking for the nearest exit, and that's when he ran at me.
