My Way (shredded by love)

Episode 3: The shock

James slowly approaches the end of the alleyway, desperately searching for any sign of Chloe with the fear of losing her clearly written on his face as he looks down and sees her phone on the floor.

Wait, that's Chloe's phone. Hope she's fine. I need to find her now. I can't get rid of the odd feeling that keeps giving me the Creeps.

Chloe…, Chloe…

A considerate passerby stops him and asks..

Hello there, are you OK?

He turns and looks at the stranger's face and responds…

I'm fine but I am searching for someone. A girl, she is fair, and she is about this height (he uses his hands to show how tall she is), like 5 feet, and she passed through here, she came out of that alleyway.

As he points towards the same alleyway.

No, I didn't. Is everything alright?

Thanks.

He leaves immediately without responding, as he continues his search, his heart pounding like it's going to fall out of his chest until he hears a loud scream up ahead and immediately rushes over, but the sight of what he sees leaves him in shock, a small trail of blood on the ground.

Speechless as he looks around, trying so hard to find her with clear desperation in his eyes, he yells and smashes his hand at the wall in frustration.

Chloe!!!, where are you?

As he tries to leave a hand and weakly grabs his shirt from behind, he immediately reacts to see who it was. His gaze slowly brightens as his eyes land on Chloe.

Chloe, what happened? Are you alright? I saw the blood and I panicked, thinking the worst. Thanks to the heavens that you are fine.

Chloe, already disheveled and tired, covered in bruises and clear signs of broken bones visible, looks at James with relief as if she is finally safe as she loses consciousness while James screams her name trying to keep her awake, his pain clearly visible.

He scooped her up, ignoring all the pain, and ran toward the street, screaming for help like a man whose life is slowly slipping away from his grasp.

He slowly lays her down on the ground beside the road and runs into the road, no longer caring for his life. A driver slammed on his brakes and honked at James, yelling,

“Get out of the road! Do you have a death wish?”

James ignores him, waving frantically toward Chloe's body. The driver's annoyance shifts to shock as he sees her. He immediately lends a hand to get her to the hospital.

They arrive at the hospital. As James carries Chloe down, he sprints inside shouting for help. As Chloe is being admitted into the hospital, she slowly regains consciousness for a bit as she mumbles something to James while pointing at someone. James, not listening to what was happening, is overjoyed that she is awake.

“Chloe.., Chloe…”

Don't worry, you are safe now, we are in the hospital.

James tries to reassure Chloe, as she tries to reveal something to him.

Ja…, ja..mes

Her face fixed on something as if she was trying so hard to give him a clue of what she wanted to say while pointing at someone.

Yes, Chloe. You need to relax and let the doctors do their job.

She holds his hand firmly as she uses her other hand to point down the hallway. James slowly turns his head following Chloe's hand, trying to understand what she was pointing at, and he's left surprised and shocked. At the same time as he makes contact with the person, the room grows silent, like a dead zone with no living thing around.