Page 94 of Meet Me in the Vines
“Fine. You leave me no choice, little bird,” he chokes. I snap my eyes to Kellan, my grip tightening on Audrey’s wrist. “If I can’t have you,neither can he.”
Kellan’s hand emerges from his pocket, exposing a shiny silver pistol pointing straight at Audrey. The world stops spinning. All I see is Audrey. My girl. The love of my life. Seconds go by, but it seems like hours. Days even. I twist and maneuver my body in front of her. Time moves slowly. The only sound I hear is a faint ticking that echoes from a clock that hangs nearby.
Tick.
Tick.
Boom.
A sharp pain. A searing burn. My eyes lock onto the green irises that hold so much love. So many memories of us. The light in her eyes instantly warms my chest until I realize that warmth is seeping out of me quickly. Blood. Audrey’s eyes widen, an incoherent sound leaves her lips.
“Donovan?! Oh, god! Baby?!” Her arms clutch mine, gripping my forearms so tight that her nails dig into them.
“Audrey, are you hurt? Are yo—” I utter breathlessly.
I fall to my knees, taking Audrey down with me. Her mouth is moving, but nothing comes out. I home in on the freckles that dance across her nose, mustering all of my strength to trace them. To touch her. I open my mouth to say something, but I can’t.
Blood spreads all throughout my back and chest, warm, wet, and sticky. I can’t hold myself up. I need to lie down. Audrey catches my head, putting it in her lap. I want to hear her voice.
Mouse?
God, she’s gorgeous. How did I ever get so lucky? My vision blurs and I will myself to focus just a little longer. Let me see that beautiful face. I see a rush of movement blur past Audrey above me, but I keep my eyes on her. My Audrey. My ears dampen, unable to hear my girl. Her voice is muffled as her hands touch my face and over my chest. I love the way her touch feels againstmy skin, like reading a favorite book for the first time. That’s how she feels. Like it’s the first time.
Searing hot pain rips through me like a scorched branding iron for a moment, then leaves me. There’s that ticking again, mixed with my heartbeat.
Tick.
Thump.
Boom.
Please let me hear her voice. She’s trying to say something to me, but I’m fading too fast.
I gotta tell her I love her.
Focus, Donovan.
But I can’t. Audrey, I’m so sorry.
I hold on just long enough to see her strawberry hair frame her delicate face. Her lips full, eyes so green I want to explore the forests inside them.
Maybe that’s where I’ll go.
Maybe I’ll find her there.
And maybe I’ll wake up.
But I don’t.
AUDREY
Caleb comes crashing in, sprinting past me. I don’t look up. My eyes stay on Donovan. There’s so much blood. Too much blood. I press my hands against his chest, trying to stop it from seeping out.
Guttural grunts and struggle fill the room, but all I care about is Donovan’s labored breathing.
Boom.
My body reacts, jolting to a second gunshot, only to see Caleb rushing to my side moments later. I don’t look behind me. I know Kellan is dead.
