It Begins With Us

9.

Alba:

"Hey!" I holler with all my might at the very top of my lungs and the person grabs hold of the scared little girl.

Just as the phone picks up, Ryle runs past me. 

I start running after him, all while trying my best to explain the situation to the responder on the other side of the phone. 

Then Ryle grabs hold of the person and pulls him back, hard. The person falls unto their back, and I run past them, catching a glimpse of Ryle. His face, it's twisted with fury, but his eyes, there drawing a complete blank. Like the eyes of a blind person. I grab unto the girl and she grabs unto me twice as hard. Pressing her face into my chest and covering her ears. I look over my shoulder to see if Ryle's okay.

"Ryle!" I yell as he climbs on top of the person and starts slamming his fist into his face. Something, a terrible cracking sound, echoes against the trees. Then Ryle pulls back his fist and does it again, and again, and again. Each time his fist makes contact the person underneath him kicks, and cries out.

"Ryle! Ryle, stop!" I yell and try to go to him, but the poor little baby girl is to terrified to let go of me.

There's no way in hell that I'm taking her anywhere near that. Still I have to do something, so I firmly pull her off of me, my voice is soft and trembling. I make her turn away, wrap my scarf around her head, making her tuck her head between her knees. 

Once I've gotten her into her position, I turn and sprint over to Ryle, who's still at it. I press my hands to his shoulder and try to pull him off but he's resists. So I grab his arm and pulling it tightly to my chest, I try to hold him at bay.

"Ryle! It's okay! She's okay! The police are coming, Ryle!" I keep screaming, and keep begging.

Finally he turns, and my breath catches in my throat leaving me frozen with fear. His face, his eyes, they're not at all what I've fallen in love with. They don't belong to the person that I've spent a whole month with. Not the man that teased me, not the man that kissed me, not the man that called me gorgeous.

"Ryle." I whisper. "It's okay."

I thought I'd gotten through to him, I thought I'd brought him back. I thought I was some ind of beauty is was some kind of beast.

He gave a hard push, ramming his elbow deep into my chest and sending me sprawling. I press my hands over the aching chest, and curl up trying to catch my breath.

'He......shoved me.' I think, tears dripping from my eyes.

Then I remember what she'd said to me yesterday. Right before Ryle had called to meet up. Her green eyes were determined and full of anticipation. Her wide lips were pursed and fuller then mine. I used to look like that once upon a time.

"Don't leave him, he's hurt."

"Okay, okay." I keep chanting, and then there's sirens and and the lights to match.

'The cops. Ryle.' I stand up, just as a police officer comes running over and taking one look at the situation he pulls out his gun and holds it up. 'No. No!'

"Wait! Ryle! The police are here! It's okay now. They've got him!" I yell so that they now that he's not the person I called for, and sure enough the officer glances at me, then back to Ryle.