Wanted

The New Me

~ Chapter 6 ~

Arden

"Asshole," I mumbled under my breath as I passed the middle-aged man who had cat-called me only a few moments earlier on the sidewalk. I found it so frustrating to not be able to be seen as anything more than a pretty face - an object - any time I went out alone.

It was an afternoon as bleak as my outlook on life, and I strained my eyes trying to pick out any color other than gray. I had no success. The temperature was unusually bearable for February, though, which was why I decided to leave my LightBike at home and travel on foot. I was en route to Astro Coffee just like every day from Monday through Thursday when I noticed that, aside from the perv I had passed long ago, hardly anyone else was on the normally occupied street. I quickened my pace, wishing more than ever that Luke was there to walk with me.

There's nothing quite like unnerving silence to make a mind wander. Of course, the first person I thought of was my best friend. Since Luke left, his brother started to stay home with their mom more often. I was glad Jaxen was there to support both Ms. Maddington and myself. I felt lost without Luke and John, every day seeming mechanical and unfocused, so Jax took it upon himself to keep me company in my empty apartment. We ended up spending more and more time together, always watching movies and falling asleep on the couch before they were over. The company was nice for the both of us.

I snapped out of my daydream when I realized I could take a shortcut to get off of the uncomfortably deserted street and to work sooner. I veered right, into an alleyway, then hastened to the end. At its opening, a large square was revealed. I was planning to run through it, but something stopped me.

There was a man holding a gun to the head of a woman. A pregnant woman.

What do I do? I knew they hadn't seen me, so I had the chance to turn back, but I couldn't. I would never be able to live with myself if I left that woman to fend for herself and her child. Besides, everyone I loved had left, but this lady was going to have a baby.

"Let her go!" I yelled as I ran into the square.

"Don't come any closer," the man growled at me. I slowed to almost a stop, but took another smaller, more cautious step forward.

"Go find help!" the woman cried to me, but the man threw his left hand around her mouth. He shoved the tip of the gun into the woman's temple. I couldn't help but wonder what in the world she had done to make this man so angry. Maybe she hadn't done anything at all. It could have simply been that he needed money. However, if that was the case, it would have made more sense for him to demand something from both me and the woman.

"Wa-wait! Take me instead!" I heard myself yell. I was almost surprised at the words that fell from my mouth, but I didn't regret them. The man looked at me, and I could see the insanity in his eyes. He shoved the woman forward, toward me.

"Are you sure about this? You're just a girl!" The woman looked at me desperately.

As I said before, I didn't regret my choice.

"I don't have anything else here for me, but you have a baby." I smiled somewhat sadly at the woman.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. I'll run and get help." The lady hobbled as fast as she could to the nearest building.

I turned back to the man. He had his gun raised and pointed at my stomach. I watched him pull the trigger, and it was like everything switched to slow-motion.

I saw the bullet and the flames come out of the gun. So much force rippled through my body that I fell to the ground, and the boom echoed in my ears. I tried to stand, but I couldn't get my limbs to work. Slowly, blackness creeped into my vision. I fought to stay conscious, but I felt tired. So, so tired.