Beneath the scars

The gunshot tore through the quiet street without warning. One second, Asia Richmore was walking home from the pharmacy and the next,Pain exploded through her body. A sharp scream escaped her lips as the bullet slammed into the upper left side of her back, dangerously close to her heart. The paper bag slipped from her fingers and crashed into the wet ground, medicine scattering everywhere as rain immediately swallowed it. Her umbrella followed right after. For a moment, Asia couldn’t even breathe,It felt like fire had ripped straight through her body. Rain poured harder around her, soaking her hair and clothes, mixing with the blood already spreading beneath her. Her vision immediately started to blur. “No…” “No, no, no…” she whispered. Her shaking hand moved slowly behind her back.There was So much blood. Fear hit her all at once. Not for herself but for the baby. A broken sound escaped her throat as both hands immediately moved protectively toward her stomach. “Please…” she whispered painfully. “Please…” That was when she heard footsteps. Asia lifted her head weakly, her blurred vision trying to focus through the rain. At the end of the alley, a dark figure stood still, their face hidden beneath shadow and distance. They weren’t rushing. They weren’t afraid. They were just watching her. “You…” Asia’s voice trembled as she struggled to speak. “Who… who are you?” The figure didn’t respond.Instead, a familiar soft laugh reached her ears.Something inside Asia froze instantly. Her eyes widened slightly as she tried to place it, But before she could grasp it, the figure stepped back slightly. Lightning flashed across the sky for a brief second, but it wasn’t enough to reveal anything clearly. Then the figure turned and disappeared back into the alley like they had never been there at all. Leaving her alone,Bleeding and Dying. Asia tried to move, but another sharp pain shot through her chest immediately. A cry escaped her lips. Her body collapsed fully onto the wet pavement this time.Everything suddenly felt so cold. Tears mixed with rain on her face as panic swallowed her whole. “No…please stay in there.i can’t lose you not after everything “she struggled to voice out while holding her stomach. Her fingers trembled violently against her stomach while memories flashed uncontrollably through her mind.