Perseverance ( completed! )

Research

My heart was pounding painfully in my chest, confusion and fear clouding my senses.

"NO!"

It took me a moment to realized the scream came from me, muffled through the hand of the person holding me, the scream begged Liam to stop. But it seem I needn't have worried about him stoping. A moment later, I felt something hard and metallic on my right temple.

Liam froze in mid sprint, starring at me with an expression so pained it stroke bitter sadness in the deepest depth of my heart. He was hurting and it was my fault. It was all my fault bad things kept happening to him, if only he just stayed away from me!

I fought back the prickling sensation in my eyes as I looked at him, close enough to see his reassuring pale blue eyes. I didn't remove my gaze from his. Nor did he, even as the person above me started to speak.

"Stay back or I will shoot a radically invasive projectile, 9 millimeter bullet, into your boyfriends temple." The voice that spoke was calm, collected, and unbelievably familiar.

Liam obeyed silently, obviously in no position to question the word choice used here. Josh was watching with a slightly confused expression, but also a hint of something else that I couldn't quite figure out. Buddy was already trying to sprint over to me, but Liam snatched him up swiftly, holding him protectively against his chest. I needed to make sure to thank him for that later. Later.... later..? Would there even be a later for us?

"You are going to stay there, and allow me to escort Gabriel Kingston away without a fuss. Unless, of course, you want him to die." The voice the man was using to address Liam, and Liam alone, was soft and quiet, but not at all weak. Nor was his grip, my shoulders were beginning to ache from all the pressure being put on them by his heavy arm. But I was not at all in a position to worry about that.

Countless thoughts were going through my head, for example; why in the world did he know my full name? What was he planning to do with me? And why was I his target?! But most of all, I was painfully aching for Liam to agree, and stay where he was. I would not put his life in danger because of mine any more. Liam meant to much for me to just watch him get hurt!

While all these thoughts swirled and danced throughout my consciousness, Liam have began speaking. His tone was level, with a heavy edge of forced calm. His gaze continuously flickered in my direction, but he forced his gaze to remain calmly on the man. Or, at least remain on him.

"Why are you after Gabriel?"

"That is of no concern of yours," came the mans oh so familiar voice. Where did I know him from?

Liam looked panicked and stricken, torn between fear of me loosing my life or being taken away from him for possibly forever. I couldn't blame him. I was just as scared, if not more so.

Buddy whimpered in Liam's arms, trying to comprehend the situation in front of him. Fact one, his owner was being held by some strange man that Liam and Gabriel did not seem to recognize. Fact two, his owner was not with him and was producing a large aroma of fear. But thankfully, Liam continued to restrain him, not allowing the puppy to get caught in the crossfire.

"Please just leave Gabriel alone," Liam's voice came out uncharacteristically pleading, desperate. Like he was on his deathbed and this was his last and final wish. But this man wasn't looking to grant wishes.

"Try and follow and I'll shoot. But I wont shoot you, oh no, I'll shoot this one," the man snarled, pushing the barrel harder against my temple, earning from me a soft yelp behind his large hand.

Liam flinched, swallowing hard as his head dropped. He was defeated. Forcing his head back up, his eyes met mine. Slowly, he mouthed three words, not breaking eye contact until the mans frame got in the way as he escorted me away.