Forget Me Not

XIII

~About half a year ago~

Their footsteps were too loud against the cobblestone in her ears. The guards could probably hear them from a mile away, or maybe she was thinking that because of her panic? And the clouds had decided that night, instead of embracing the full moon that was high and bright in the sky, to distance themselves from it. But what could they do about any of it?

This was all because of her.

Gil and I were clad in all black to blend in with the late night, their swords strapped to their backs, as to be less in their way. Gil and I each had a packed bag slung over one shoulder, as full as possible with supplies for their journey. They were on their way to the docks, where Gil had told me he had a friend waiting for them with a ship. This friend, John Reed, owed Gil an incredibly huge favor for something Gil had done for him in the past. Although Gil was never going to collect on that favor, he now felt there was no other choice.

"We are almost there!" Gil grabbed my hand as he sharply rounded a corner, and I felt myself relax ever so slightly at his touch. He looked back at me for a second, his grey eyes gentle as they reflected the moonlight, his feathery black hair blowing back as they ran, and she felt protected and safe.

Up ahead, just barely, I could see a fairly large ship with people bustling about on deck. Gil had told her earlier that the man they had let live and his family were going to be on that ship with them on their journey, to give them the best odds of survival. It was always endearing to me, the risks and steps he was willing to take to protect the ones he loved. Despite everything they had done, I knew his heart would always stay pure.

"I think they are going to the docks! You two! Go that way just in case!" I yelped when I heard a guards thunderous voice echo through the night a couple blocks away. Gil gripped my hand tighter in comfort as we turned to the dock we needed, our footsteps pounding wildly against the wood to the same rhythm as our beating hearts.

"John!" Gil called out frantically, as he ushered me forward onto the gangplank, holding my hand to help me keep my balance part-way up. John appeared above the gangplank almost immediately and held out his hand, ready to help me.

"There they are!" The same guard from earlier called out. There were four of them clattering down the dock towards us, they would be on us in only seconds. "Stop them!"

"Get her out of here!" Gil yelled up at John. A look passed between them, a secret conversation. John grimaced and then finally, reluctantly nodded. Gil hurriedly tossed the bag he was carrying up to John, who caught it easily and put it aside.

"Wait--" I stopped at the top of the gangplank and looked down at Gil in sudden panic. "What do you mean--"

But Gil turned away, already rushing towards the group of guards. I took a step back down, about to rush to his side without a second thought. How could I let him fight alone? We always did everything together.

Suddenly, John grabbed my hand and yanked me onto the ship, and before I could react, he was pulling up the gangplank.

"What are you doing? Gil is still down there!" I cried out, incredulously. When John didn't respond, I aggressively took hold of the gangplank, stopping him. "What do you think you're doing!"

"I don't like this idea any more than you do." John whispered. His face was solemn, and he wasn't making eye contact with me. I felt then, the ship start to move.

"No! Tell them to stop!" I turned angrily to John, panic setting in. "Stop the ship!"

I spun around to watch Gil as he dodged a swing of a sword and kicked at another, causing the guard to topple into the water. He spun around, raising his sword to block an attack, pushing forward, causing the guard to stumble and lose balance. Gil lost precious time doing that, however, and barely managed to dodge the incoming attack of the two other guards.

Gil stumbled, and tilted the top half of his body backwards, narrowly missing a sword to the face. One of the guards yelled out in anger and started furiously swinging at Gil. Gil was constantly blocking and dodging, unable to place any attacks of his own.

"Gil, behind you!" I yelled out a warning, my heart feeling as if it stopped in my chest. I watched as the guy that Gil had pushed to the ground stood up behind him and grabbed his shoulder. Before Gil could react to my warning, the guard placed his sword to Gil's back and violently ran him through with it.

"No!" I gave out a bloodcurdling scream, my voice inhuman to my ears.

Gil's sword dropped from his hand, and clattered to the dock. The guard retracted his sword and let go of Gil, stepping back to watch as Gil fell to his knees. He looked up at me then, and I swore I saw him smile.

Cries imbedded in my throat, I dropped the bag I was carrying and rushed to the side of the boat, half hung over it, my hand reaching, as if I could grab a hold of him. I was ready to jump off the side then, when a rough pair of hands grabbed my arm, stopping me. John. I tried to shove him off, but every time I broke free, he'd grab hold of me again and keep me back.

"Stop!" John said, his voice breaking. "Please stop..."

"He needs me!" I screamed.

"You can't help him!"

"You don't know that!" I yelled. But even as I said it, I watched as Gil collapsed, and as the guards grabbed him and started dragging him down the dock by his arms, away from the ship.  Away from me. "No—please, don't take him... Don't take him away from me!"

I collapsed into a pile on the deck of the ship, and John fell with me, hugging me tightly and crying into my hair. I felt too weak to shake him off. I screamed with every sob, my vision blurred, everything far beyond recognition.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." John whispered over and over again in my ear, stuck on repeat.

I couldn't respond to him, all that passed my lips were howls of grief and my own wails for my best friend, for my other half, that carried far into the night.

"Gil!"