Page 37 of Petals of Blue: Part Two
"Something just moved!" Jared whisper-shouts, startling me into action. I run to catch up to him with Felix trailing behind me. "The sunflowers."
"An animal?" Roman wonders and narrows his eyes in the direction of Jared's flashlight. "Or wind?"
I don't see any more movement, so I point my light in the other direction to keep an eye on our backs. Don't want to be caught unaware by someone, especially if it were Blue, since guns are involved. I'm uncertain how trigger-happy Levi and Kevin are, and I refuse to take that chance.
"There!" Jared says, his volume bordering on a shout. "Did you see that?"
Turning back around, I move closer to my brother and Jared. The soft lighting of the path lanterns lights up their faces enough for me to read their expressions. Roman looks grave as Levi and Kevin inch toward the tree line.
Like something out of a horror movie, I wait for a monster to jump out of the dark branches and scraggly underbrush. After this, I don't think I will ever watch another horror movie again. Consider this the ultimate horror film of all time, and I'm fuckinglivingit.
Don't puke.
Felix must read my body language, because he wraps an arm around my hip to keep me steady. I'm grateful because all of this suspense is crackling and begging for an outlet.
The air feels charged while we hold our breaths. Six flashlights brighten the small forest, not staying on aspecific spot long, just in case we miss something elsewhere.
Then, everything changes.
With the strength of Felix behind me, I manage to hold my stress response in. Someone should have been holding Roman, though.
My big brother roars a sound of pure horror and relief as he barrels through Kevin and Levi. As his shout cuts off, a high-pitched wail pierces my ears, but as soon as it ends, I feel bereft. Like I'd been waiting for that sound for days.
Blue.
"ROMAN! Don't!" Kevin warns, sprinting after my brother as the rest of us scramble to comprehend what's happening.
Flashlights shift and swing, making the space around us look like a lightning storm. My feet begin to move as Kevin raises his gun, pointing it at the back of my brother's head while running.No!
Chest forward, right arm rising, I push off to...to what? Save Roman from Kevin? To warn him? Jump in front of the bullet?
I'm too far away to doanything,especially as I watch Roman disappear through the tree line.
The next shock comes as a big spotlight shines on the entire surrounding area. I jolt, ready to turn around to figure out what the fuck is going on behind us, when Kevin comes to a halt and sets his posture as if readying to shoot.
My heart stops and restarts with a terrified shout. "ROMAN!"
The sounds of other people yelling and boots slapping against the wet ground sound far away as I watch without the cover of darkness to shield the trauma of this moment.
Well, it doesn't matter because Felix's arm around my back grabs hold of my jeans, while his body twists to block my forward motion.
As if in slow motion, I watch my love's eyes widen and feel him place his cold hand on my chest. Our gazes lock, ignoring the officers sprinting past us. The white light highlights the red in his eyes and freezing cheeks. He looks like a truly horrified version of himself. Yet, he's stopping me from saving my brother.How could he do?—
BANG!
Twenty-Eight
ROMAN
Isaw her. My Petal.
In the shine of my light, her blue hair glowed, and her mouth opened as if surprised. My lips parted, and a burning fire seared my throat as I expelled all of my pent-up emotions.
Then she disappeared—Blue, my beautiful Blue, collapsed.
Losing sight of her once again, then hearing her scream of pure terror, made my brain shut down. Nothing existed but reaching the spot I last saw her. Once I find her, she's never leaving my sight.
Heart in my throat, I pump my arms and stretch my legs.Faster, harder!I push myself to reach her before something else happens.Please let me get there this time!
