Earth Angel

Chapter 25

Has something so bad ever happened to you that you kind of hate yourself for it? You think of different scenarios where you didn't do whatever provoked the awful experience and wish you would've been smarter and then you just feel stumped because you don't know what to do. This seemed to happen to me a lot, especially whenever I came down to the Bronx. I always felt like whatever evil happened to me was my fault. Even if it really wasn't.

But, you see, with this, it was my fault. I didn't have to come down here to return the dumb jacket. I could've waited until things between me and Dom were good, and then he'd visit me and that way he could receive his jacket, which, in all honesty, he really could have just gotten another from his closet. This was unnecessary and a huge mistake.

Dom stood in front of me, holding my wrist in his hand. His knuckles were white from gripping it so hard, and they were also covered in bruises and fresh blood from the man whose head was bashed into a wall, and who was unconscious now from Dom punching way more than he needed to. Even though I was still angry with him, I felt safe behind him. I wanted to hug him there, but now obviously was the worst time to do that.

The 5 other men approached us slowly and Dom pushed me back farther. I began to fear for Dom's safety... I knew they had guns and Dom did not. And it was right for me to fear for his safety.

Just as I thought we could at least get halfway down the long, secluded alleyway, Dominic whispered, "Go." And so I took his hand and started taking off. He followed with ease for only a second before I felt hum tugging. But when I turned around, it hadn't been hum tugging. One the men had his arm around Dom's neck and a gun... to his head.

Oh God, I thought I was going to pass out. I was filled with so much anxiety and fear and dread, I didn't even think I could stand. I wanted to run but there was no way in hell I would leave Dominic here, and there was also nothing I, an 110 pound girl, could do.

"You let him go!" I screamed at him, which proved to be yet another mistake as two men painfully twisted both my arms back, making me moan in pain.

"Don't you hurt her!" Dominic shouted at them. The man holding him pushed the gun harder to his head and by this pointed I felt so sick. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't seem weak.

"We can do whatever we want to her." The scrawny man holding my left hand said, laughing. My throat tensed up and I could actually taste the vomit that rose in my throat.

This definitely set something off in Dominic when he used all his strength get the man's arm from around his neck. When he did succeed, the man just wrapped his arm around his chest, and then Dominic grabbed the man's wrist and moved the gun.

Gunshots. Two gunshots, one lacking any extra noise, the next including a yell. I was running by this point, but when I turned around I only saw Dom trip and then get back up to sprint to me. I even kicked off my shoes in the process of running down the alley so they wouldn't slow me down. I had worn a pair of white sandals with a small wedge which I normally wore to church - when we went that is. But I couldn't care less.

Dom and I gripped each other's hands as we ran towards his building. We made it inside and then dashed up to his apartment. The door was locked.

"It's locked!" I cried. I was about to tell Dominic to get his key when I spotted his left hand. Dark blood all over, and large wound right in the middle. "Oh my God.. Your hand.."

"It's fine," he mumbled, using his right hand to get his keys from his left pocket. He got them quickly and unlocked the door just in time.

I don't think they would have chased us to the building, but I still felt the need to lock the door and slide the deadbolt. Then I went over to Dom who sat on the couch, holding a white towel to his hand.