Memory Lane

Chapter 36: To Be a Villain

Performed songs: Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift
Mentioned songs: Daughter of the Sea (Warbringers: Jaina) performed by Laura Bailey, Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Inspired songs: Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Fire and Rain by James Taylor

Violet stared at the gun.

It fired.

Her body jerked with the shot, but she could not feel any pain, too hyped up on adrenaline and fear to feel anything. Her phone dropped, still on the active call to Jared as an arm wrapped around her attacker's waist, and with one massive grunt, he suplexed the gunman and knocked him out against the floor.

"Rex?" Nothing felt real.

He turned to her, eyes still blazing with anger, but was quickly diminished with a worried look and carried her out of the closet.

Violet kept her phone tucked with her, still on the active call. Rex said nothing about it, he could not anyways.

Izzy followed behind him, looking green as hell but determinedly carrying a first-aid kit. "Rex, you were right to tell me to swipe this."

Rex looked at Violet with a worried look, before looking between her and Izzy.

"I can try to stop the bleeding but my first-aid skills can only get me so far," Izzy said apologetically.

"I... thought... you were...?" Violet mumbled.

"Me and Rex climbed over the fence," Izzy said sheepishly, getting out all the supplies as Rex took off his jacket and covered it over Violet's abdomen, which she quickly realized was bleeding. A lot.

Nothing seemed to make sense to Violet, and she frowned at Izzy.

"Why?"

"This asshole wanted to barge in without assistance."

Rex frowned, signing something back at Izzy. (You can't even fight!)

But to Violet, her sight was blurry and everything did not feel good. So she did not understand anything that Rex signed. She felt dizzy and sick.

"No fight..." Violet muttered, and she felt like all of her pain was beginning to seep in and burn and hurt.

Oh yeah, being shot was way worse this time around.

Rex signed something else. (Entry and exit wound?)

"Just entry wound. I'm not keen on flipping her on her back to see if there's an exit wound..." Izzy said, her voice trying to remain light and cheerful but she could not respond so easily to these kinds of situations. It was terrifying, knowing that you could make one little fuck-up and know that your friend's life is over. Even if that friend was a dick to you and your friends.

"Izzy... Izzy..." Violet whispered, gripping Izzy's arm as she pressed down on the wound, making her gasp in pain.

She faltered, but continued pressing as Rex dragged the gunman out.

"Don't try to talk."

"I... have to tell you something..." Violet gritted out.

"Oh my God, if it's your last words or anything, I shouldn't be the one to hear it," Izzy said, trying to stem the blood flow. Her voice was as shaky as her hands. Izzy's voice had a hitch in it, like she was trying really hard not to cry.

"Wanted to say... I'm sorry," Violet said, and Izzy closed her eyes to prevent more tears from falling. "In case I don't make it."

"You are NOT going to die," Izzy said firmly, and the hitch was back even more, as one traitorous tear flowed down her cheek. "You are going to come back to rehearsal and say that in front of everybody. I'm not going to let you go like that."