Kidnapped

Chapter 23 - "Is she dead?"

Chapter 23 – Katie Peterson

All of a sudden it’s like everything was still…no one moved…

Jack was gone; he ran as fast as he could when he pulled the trigger. Detective Hanes, obviously, went after him, but who knows what had happened.

My best friend, my sister, she’d been shot.

“Nick!!” I screamed, “get the key to these chains and get me out now!”

Nick ran into the other room as I attempted to stand, “Sam?”

Sam wasn’t even moved by my words; all he did was rush to Jessica’s side as she had small coughing fits and was gasping for air. Nick ran back in quickly was the key in hand; I was out of those chains in no time.

***Sam Heasley’s POV***

I picked up Jessica’s upper half of her body and brought her close so I could attempt to talk to her; I held her in my arms, trying to support her neck and back at the same time.

“J-Jessica,” I spoke between tears, “Speak to me! Say something!! Anything!!”

I sobbed; Jessica was having trouble managing a simple word, “Jessica!! Come on, stay with me.”

Jessica’s eyes were fluttering a bit as I spoke; I felt a hand on my back and turned around to see Katie, “Please, Katie, you have to call 911. Right now!”

Katie didn’t say anything; she just ran into the other room and used an emergency phone line. I looked back to Jessica and saw that blood just kept coming from the crook of her neck and shoulder. Without even thinking I placed my hand over the wound to stop the flow of blood from her shoulder. I hear Nick clear his throat; my eyes move to his direction to see that he’s holding his hoodie in front of me…I take the hoodie and apply it to Jessica’s wound.

I hear Katie run back in but she says nothing.

“S-S-Sam?” Jessica’s voice surfaces from the silence.

“Jessica, shhh, I’m right here,” I respond in a soothing voice; my tears still visible.

“Sam?” Jessica asked, her voice strained, “a-am I dead?”

I shook my head violently, “no, no, you’re not dead, Jessica.”

“I can’t—I can’t feel anything,” she whispered.

“Sh, it’s okay,” I replied, trying to keep my cool; but it obviously wasn’t working—I was full on bawling and I couldn’t do anything until paramedics arrive, “but you’ve got to stay with me okay? Promise me that you will.”

Jessica didn’t respond to my question, she just continued to stare at me with fluttering eyes; in the background I could hear quiet sirens coming towards the house, “Jessica, please, promise me that you’ll stay with me?! Jessica?!” I shook her shoulders, wanting an answer to come from her. But I didn’t get one; all she did was stare—but it wasn’t just any stare I was just looking at now. Her eyes were glassy, tears had streaked her face and she felt limp.

The sirens were now in front of the house—Katie and Nick stood and ran out of the basement and towards the sirens.

“Jessica?” I spoke into the silence.

No response.

“J-Jessica?!”

Still…no response; I shook Jessica with everything I had and now I was just torn…I was crying to beyond belief and I was staring at the best friend I had ever had.

“JESSICA?!” I sobbed, “No…no…no!! Please!!”

I attempted to shake her again, screaming her name, everything. No response.

“No, no, no, no,” I cried, “Jessica please, come back…please!!”

“Sam?!” I heard my name from behind me. Katie rushed in to see me sobbing; my cheeks were completely wet and my hands were placed on each side of Jessica’s face; just looking at her. I shut Jessica’s eyes before Katie reached me.

“Oh my god,” Katie said, her voice shaky.

Paramedics ran into the room after Katie and they crouched down next to me.

“Sir?” one of the paramedics asked; trying to get my attention.

My eyes slowly moved to look at the paramedic, “what?” I spoke, my voice very weak.

“Is she dead?” the other paramedic asked.

I couldn’t even answer their question; I just placed my forehead on Jessica’s and sobbed, “Why?!?!!?” I finally screamed.

The paramedics ripped me away from Jessica’s life-less body, “NO!! NO! Let me go!!” I screamed; I was surrounded by a pair of arms, as I screamed.

“No!” I cried, “Jessica, please!! Come back!”

I sobbed into Katie’s shoulder as the paramedics picked up Jessica’s body and put it on a gurney. Katie didn’t even say anything she just sat there and held me.

I sniffled after a while of just sitting there; Katie’s shirt was soaked and I finally sat up—almost blinded by the sun, “She-she’s gone…”

Katie stared at me; she didn’t have any words.

My relationship with Jessica…It wasn’t long enough…

I felt completely empty and heartbroken.

Everything that Jessica and I had: our friendship…it wasn’t long enough, to last forever.

Authors note: I literally felt like crying when i was writing this...one more chapter...

-Epilouge: "I loved her..." -Sam

It just wasn’t long enough, because now…she was just gone.