“I didnt think about that.”

“You dont think about anything, shh, hide their coming.”

He grabbed my waist and pulled me down behind boxes. I buried my face in his chest, afraid of their arrival. He stroked a finger through my hair.

”Its going to be okay, i wont let them hurt you.”

I heard the reving of motercycles coming up. I squeezed my eyes shut- they were going to kill us. They’ve been hunting us down for weeks and now they were going to kill us. All because of me. I was the one they tricked. I was the one they called and I was the one who answered, making it so they could track our location. All of this is my fault. I had thrown my phone into the river but it was too late, they knew we were here.

“Where are you?” One of the men asked in his thick italian accent.

“We know your here.”

“Come out, come out wherever you are.”

I clutched to Josh and he held me tightly. He gave me a firm kiss on my forehead and whispered,”Stay down.” Before i could respond ge stood up.

“Right here fella’s.” Josh announced.

“Perfect.” A man smirked.

Another man pulled out a gun and fired. Josh collapsed om the floor in pain.

“Where is the girl?” One asked.

“Not here, lets keep looking.”

They left the dark alley leaving Josh dying on the floor. Tears fell down my cheeks.

“Josh, JOSH!” i screamed. I cupped his head and lifted it off the ground. I stroked his cheek with my thumb. He wasn’t dead but he didnt react to anything, his eyes started right through me as if i wasn’t even there.

“Josh can you hear me? Josh please, yoh can’t leave me. You can’t leave me.” I sobbed.

My cries echoed throughout the vacant alley. Suddenly his hand found mine and squeezed softly. “I love you.” he mumbled. I smiled and let a laugh escape from my cries. “ I love you too.” I hugged him and didn’t let go.

I realized that he was dying and that i had to do something.

“Josh? Can you stand up?”

He propped himself up on his shoulders and grunted,” I can try.”

“I helped him up to his feet. He wrapped his arms around me and i helped him walk to his motercycle.

“Kels, you don’t know how to drive this thing.” He laughed weakly.

“Well its the best option we have.” We both climbed on, he wrapped his arms around me and i twisted the throttle. As fast as it could go, we drove to the hospital.

Once we made it, I helped him off. His eyes were dulling and he acted as if he didnt know what was happening. We made it into the ER and to the front desk.

“Ma’am,” I pleaded,” please help us, please, he’s shot and dying.”

She got out her radio and said a bunch of codes, i wasnt sure what they meant.

Two nurses came from behind me and layed Josh down onto a stretcher.

“Were taking him to the surgery room to remove the bullet,” One told me,” He doesn’t have much time left, we have to hurry.”

They ran down the hallway and into a door, I tried to follow them but another nurse stopped me,” I know your worried but you can’t go in there, please, take a seat in the waiting room.”

The waiting room. It was torcher sitting there without knowing if Josh was okay. I felt like it was taking longer than it should be. Finally the nurses came back out.

“He’s stable.” One assured me.

“And asleep, but you can go see him now.” The other smiled.

“Thank you, thank you so much.”

I walked down the hallway to room 234. I took a deep breath and opened the door. I saw him lying there with IV’s up his arms and a hospital goen on. I went to sit diwn next to him.

“Oh Josh,” I sobbed, tears dripping onto his gown,” I know you can’t hear me but I am so happy to see you. I thought you were dead, I thought that I- that I lost you.”

He took a deep beathe in and opened his eyes,” Kelsie?” he mumbled.

I nodded,” Yeah, yes its me.”

“ Kels how did you know how to drive that motercycle?”

I laughed,” I picked up a few things from you.” I hugged him and he held me like he did before, when i thought he was going to die. I held him harder knowing that i almost lost him. And knowing that we’re still being hunted…that this isn’t over.