Ghosted

Fragments

I pressed a heavy food against on the gas pedal, I was clearly sweating, trying to dodge every obstacle in front of me. I jerked the steering wheel left... then right, and left again. The cars droned mindlessly forward, clearly unaware of the speeding bullet swerving past each and every one of them. It was petrifying being in the front seat but I had to keep going forward, no matter how many traffic lights I had run, the adrenaline kept me going. I'm going to make it. I'm going to make it. I'm going to-

GAME OVER

The bold red letters flashed up on the screen, what a shame, I had run into a limo.

"Better luck next time. Maybe you'll even beat the high score!" Jamie comforted.

I flashed a smile his way and snatched my milkshake out of his hands, spilling a few drops over his shirt.

"This game is rigged! I'm obviously just too good for it so the game had to kill me!" I quipped as I got up from the driver's seat.

I grabbed his arm as we raced out of the arcade and into the mall where I stumbled, bumping into the man ahead of me and making my milkshake stain his green sweater. The man glared at me with cold green eyes. It was like looking into the eyes of snakes, it made me shudder.

"Oh my God, I am so sorry sir, let me get you a tissue, Jamie go and get some now please," I said, looking for the nearest bathroom. Jamie had run off to it already though.

"No, no miss that'll be unnecessary, I can get this cleaned at home." He shrugged and walked to the nearby bakery.

Jamie ran back to my side, panting with a crumpled handful of tissues from the bathroom.

"Where'd he go?" Jamie panted as he bent down to catch his breath.

"The bakery, I guess he didn't need anything."

Jamie turned to look at me with his sea-blue eyes, hidden behind square frames of glass and in hidden disbelief.

"You're kidding, right?"

Jamie stormed over to the trashcan and threw them in angrily. When he returned I pulled him into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry for wasting your energy like that, here's the rest of my milkshake." I pushed the plastic cup into his chest.

Jamie laughed and downed the small amount of liquid still left in the cup before we continued on our aimless walk around the mall. Apart from making myself closer to being absolutely broke, I had no problems roaming the mall. I enjoyed the glamorous surroundings, the sound of spoiled kids going "Can I have." and "I want." added to the experience of it all. I watched as the armed guards in front of designer stores I knew I'd never get a taste of opened doors for the wealthy to enjoy splurging on shirts costing a minimum $199.99 dollars. We passed by a cafe with a line of people stretching outside of the door, Jamie ended up being one of them. So I took the opportunity to do some shopping for myself.

I approached the transparent doors of my favorite clothing brand and immediately went over to the sweaters and hoodies and trying to get the opinions of smiling employees who were trying to help confused customers. I ended up choosing 4 hoodies, all very similar in color. I struggled with closing the curtain because one of the hooks and fallen down so I had to hold it back with one hand at all times to stop it from opening. With my free hand, I pulled a red hoodie over my head. I put the hood on and pulled tightly on the straps making the whole thing tighten across my face. I laughed. I probably looked so weird right now. I took a picture for Jamie.

"That red looks just like your hair, it makes you look bald!" He texted back.

Unbelievable.

"I hate you," I replied.

"I love you!" He wrote back.

It made me smile.

While holding 2 bags in my hands, I walked out of the store with a sense of satisfaction; I knew I had completed my mission, finding the perfect hoodie. I walked towards a smiling Jamie who was clearly enjoying his taiyaki ice cream.

"Have you tried these? They're amazing, the perfect blend of waffle and ice cream!" He beamed.

"No, but I'm about to." Without warning, I took a huge bite of his ice cream.

I looked at him with a face full of ice cream. He looked back at me. He smiled and leaned into me. His lips pressed warmly on mine.

A loud shot rang out, momentarily deafening everyone present. We both looked to the source of the sound still processing what we had just heard. A scream came. Then another, and suddenly everyone was running. I heard the sound of breaking glass as a wave of people came rushing towards us. Everyone was scrambling to the exit, I was being pushed around so much that I had dropped my bags, letting them be trampled by the hundreds trying to run from the bullets. I was pushed to the side of the crowd, rolling my ankle and falling to the ground. I was shaking like crazy.

"JAMIE!?" I screamed. Noone replied it was too loud.

"JAMIE!? WHERE ARE YOU?" I screamed again still to no avail.

I stood up and looked towards the mob, running around like headless chickens. I ran against the wave of people, searching every face familiar blue eyes and black hair. I stopped. A child lying there, clutching a stuffed dog. Blood pouring from his forehead. Making a pool beside him. I started gagging, unable to look at the child anymore.

I heard a click come from behind me.

Then I heard a shot.

"Turn around, slowly." A gruff voice demanded.

Tears started rushing down my face. I was frozen to the spot.

"Turn around or I'll shoot you. I won't hesitate." His voice shook as he spoke to me.

"I'll count to 3."

"1..."

Oh god.

"2..."

This was really it.

"3!"

I heard the bullet scream out of the gun. But I felt nothing. I turned my head slowly to look at the man, then at the body on the floor. Jamie.

No.

Was it?

Yes.

My thoughts raced, I couldn't even hear the sound of the gun reloading. I couldn't hold the heartbreak any longer and fell to the floor in a disheveled heap as grief poured out in a flood of uncontrollable tears. I put my arms over Jamie's body and tried to shake him, he still had a heartbeat, I just knew it. I could save him.

The man watched me, my back turned, even though the bullet never hit me he still smiled. I turned my head to him, protecting the rest of Jamie's body like a lioness. He pulled the gun towards me and pulled the trigger. First to me. Then to his own head.

The gunshots brought back the pain; the pain of seeing Jamie lying there as if his blood was still flowing through his veins not painting the floor red. My stomach lurched. I felt burning pains in my lower back, it hurt too much to move my legs so I just lay there looking at Jamie. At least my last moments would be with the man I loved.

"Lena." A weak sound came out of his mouth.

Jamie took one of my hands and squeezed it with whatever strength he had left.

"I love you."

I was crying, I couldn't even tell him how much I loved him as I choked on all my tears. His grip began to ever so slowly grew. It was like I could feel his life slipping through my fingers. It was like he was a fragment of my imagination. If our happiness was real, he would want me to move on, but I couldn't because we'd leave this world together. His pulse stopped and so did his heartbeat. I closed his vacant eyes and lay there, hoping they'd take me too.