I Died When She Saved Me

Friends

Io Atkinson

Savy scrunched her eyes, signaling me that she’s now about to get her consciousness back.

“Savy.”

I called in a low and soft voice and sit on the edge of the bed.

Savy slowly opened her eyes then blink a few times, trying to adjust her eyes into the dim light coming from a candle.

It’s only 6:30 in the evening. The electric current was cut maybe there was an incident that results in losing the supply of electricity. And for me, it was a good thing because I don't want other people to find out that someone was living here and then we get us in trouble again. 

“Io.”

Savy called in a broken voice. She looks dehydrated like she hadn’t drunk any water for days.

“Do you want some water?”

“Yes please.”

I helped Savy sit up on the bed and rest her back on the bed headboard. I give her a bottle of water and in an instant, she emptied it.

 “I never knew water was this delicious until now.”

I giggled at her comment. Missing those comments of her. 

“Bakka. Tell me what happened.”

Savy smiled bitterly then shifted her eyes on her clasped hands for a few seconds before she looks back at me.

“September 30, I just got home from work. There are no lights open in our house so I assumed that my parents went out. But when I opened our door, I saw my mom and dad on the ground, sitting and shaking in fear, and a g*n was pointed out to them. There were 4 guys who are not even wearing something to cover their faces. It looks like they are trying to rob our house. When they see me, they smiled wickedly, as if they are planning to do something nasty with me. Dad sees it and he runs to the guy approaching me and punch the guy and telling me to run. The guy didn’t even flinch when my Dad punches him. I thought they will shoot my Dad but no, they beat him up to death. Dad smiled at me and whispered for me to go, run away, save myself, and keep safe. But before I can fully get away from our house, I heard a consecutive ‘bang’ coming from our house. I really want to go back but I know I’ll only get myself killed so I ran so fast. I thought about calling the police but no one’s answering. I bump into a bunch of sickening situations and almost get myself killed, thrice I think. I don’t really know what’s happening, why everyone is acting like that and then I remember your dream, so I decided to come to you but I lost on my way and then you found me lying on the ground.”

I pulled Savy into a tight hug. Comforting her, she experienced hell more than what I experienced and she even gets her parents killed in front of her eyes. I couldn’t utter any word and just cried with her while holding her tightly.

We stayed like that for 20 minutes, before we heard her stomach growled, followed by mine. We laugh in unison then return to a serious expression.

“Savy, don’t worry. Everything will soon be fine.”

I mumbled and she smiled at me.

“Thank you. But where are we?”

Savy mumbled and look around the room.

“We’re in a vacation house of someone I just met. The house was pretty far to the city so we kind of safe here, I think.”

“So you’ve made friends other than me.”

Savy teased and I get nervous hearing the word friend and having Rylai’s smiling face crossed my mind.

“No. They are-”

I sighed remembering Rylai’s words earlier.

“Yes, I can consider them friends, since they are the ones who save me.”

“Save you from what?”

I scratched the back of my neck. I really don’t want to remember it again, but fine.

“Well, remembered what I think was a dream that mentioned to you when we are still in college?”

Savy nods, allowing me to continue.

“I was supposed to get killed in the same way and the same people if not because of them.”

“Sounds like heroes.”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

I said and remembered how Rylai saves me that night. 

She puts her life on the line and then I acted like that towards her. I'm terrible.

“About that dream-”

Savy was interrupted when her stomach growled again.

“I think it’s better we come down and eat first before we talked about that.”

Savy agreed and motion for me to go out first, making sure to blow the fire on the candle before we left the room.

We found Hart, Treant, and Rylai sitting on the couch and talking in a low voice. The place was only illuminated by a small candle. The house was pretty covered by curtains, it’s really dark on the way to the living room but we arrived there without tripping our feet.

“Guys.”

I called in a shy and in a low voice that hardly get their attention. They all look back at me and Savy. I met Rylai's eyes but she instantly looks away. 

I may be really hurt her.

Savy noticed that I’m a bit shy to introduce her to them so she introduces herself instead.

“Hello. Thank you for welcoming me here and for saving me. I’m Savy, Io’s best friend.”

Savy waved at them, giving her a sweet smile like she didn’t experience hell for the last 2 days.

“Hello. I’m Treant.”

“Hart.”

“Rylai.”  

Savy shakes their hands and exchanged smiles with them.

“Aren’t you two hungry now? Come with me. I cooked the most delicious meal in this world.”

Hart said and led us to the kitchen. Giving us a plate half full of heated canned goods and rice.

“I never knew canned goods was this delicious until now.”

Savy, complimented as she put a spoonful of food in her mouth. There’s a bit of sarcasm in her words and so Hart noticed it.

“Hey, if you don’t like it stop eating.”

Hart snatched the plate from Savy but Savy snatched it back on her. Seeing them argued like that, the thought of they already know each other crossed my mind even though I know they are not. I know that Savy is a person which is very good at making friends so I don’t know why she kept teasing Hart like this. Or maybe Savy instantly like Hart that’s why they are like that. Talk about love at first sight, I guess? 

 I giggled lightly and was about to continue eating my food when Treant from my back speak out loud.

“Wow, Io I never see you as the giggling type.”

I looked back at Treant and met Rylai’s eyes too and immediately look away from her.

“Why? Did she never laugh at you?”

Treant sits down on a stool beside me then Rylai.

“No, never. Even smile, maybe it was because it's only 3 days since we met.”

I just look down at my food and continued eating.

“Oh, the truth is I’m her only friend. She never tries to get close to other people. And also never been in a relationship.”

I choke on my food, hearing her say that.

The hell? Did she really need to say those words?

A glass of water was pushed closer to me and when I look at the one who gives it, it was Rylai.

I took it and mumbled thank you then drink it in an instant.

“Okay, guys, enough of that. I’m really dying to know what is happening in the world.”

Hart changed the topic.

“You mean the killing and all sorts of crimes?”

“Yes. I know some people are kind of wild now, but it looks like everyone became crazy. They are killing everyone boldly. And even the police or government, they are not doing anything to stop it from happening. They are even part of the problem. How come everything turns out like this?”

“Do you think we are the only ones who haven’t lost their mind?”

Hart was about to answer when I interrupted her.

“I-I know what’s happening.”

I blurted out and they all look back at me, including Rylai. Savy just smiled at me, encouraging me to open it to everyone. After all, they really need to know. For safety purposes and to get everyone’s help.

“I-I know how the world turns into this.”

They didn’t speak and just kept their eyes on me.

I’m feeling a little awkward. I hate when people stare at me.

“I-I’ll just get something in the room.”

I stand up and walk in darkness on the way to the room where I kept the energy drink, ‘Neurons’.

I pick this up earlier so I can conduct more studies about this drink. I feel like I don’t know everything about this drink.

After a couple of minutes, I sat on the same stool that I sat in earlier. They are still pretty quiet, still waiting for me to open up.

“This is the reason.”

I put the ‘Neurons’ on the table and they all look at it then back at me confusingly.

“Isn’t this the energy drink that we’re about to drink two days ago but you stopped us?”

Treant exchanged looks with me and Rylai.

Rylai looks at me blankly, waiting for me to answer.

“Yes.”

“Is that the energy drink that claimed that if you drink it, your strength will be tripled?”

Hart asks and I just nod.

“But this is not an ordinary energy drink. I’ve been studying it for 2 days, and yes it will really triple your strength but it will also kill your mind.”

They all look at me like I’m a beautiful movie they are so engrossed about. Even if I find it uncomfortable, I need to continue what I’m trying to say.

“If you drink it, thousand or maybe millions of your brain cells will be killed. On your first time drinking it, you will not get insane in an instant, but after a second bottle. A second bottle was more than enough for you to kill someone even if their your family or friends or lover. Also if you happen to at least take a sip of it, your body will crave and will look for more pleasure that it gives. Because it has drugs on it. I don’t exactly know what this d**g but it’s not good. The government was an accomplice of the company who made this drink because if they are not, I’m sure it won’t pass the examination of Foods and Drugs Association.”

“If you drink it, you’ll lose the capability to think rationally. That’s why people who are under the influence of this energy drink are acting like that, they don’t know what they are doing. They don’t have control over their minds anymore, the creator has. Not like they can command people or control them like a robot, I think it’s because of their craziness for the drink, you know when you have that eagerness to get one thing, you’re willing to do anything. T-that’s it.”

They all gasped and look anywhere else but me. They are trying to digest everything I said, I understand them, even if when I first know about this, I kind of can’t process too.

“If that’s what is happening now, how about us? How can we live in this world anymore?”

“I doubt if we will be safe here forever and also sometimes we need to go somewhere to get some supplies. We can’t just live here until they found us here.”

I agree with Hart, but what we can do? We’re only 5 adults who barely knows about the world. I don’t think we can come up with a good plan and carry it out. That’s way too impossible, I guess?

“Let’s save the planning for tomorrow. Just take a rest and I’ll guard the house tonight.”

Everyone agree with Rylai and stood up, making their way to the rooms but I remain seated on the stool. Hesitating about something, to do something. 

“Hey-“

Savy approaches me but didn’t get a chance to finish what she was about to say because I tug on Rylai clothes making her look back at me.

I felt her look back at me but I kept my head low, don’t want to be lost on her eyes again.

“Do you need something from me Io?”

“I-I want to help you.”

I can feel Savy’s eyes on my back, she will probably showered me with questions later.

“It’s okay Io, just-”

I look up since she’s pretty tall for me and meet her enticing orbs.

“I want to. P-please?”

She thinks for a second. Not sure if she will agree with the idea but after a few seconds, I saw her smile and pet my head. The thing that I miss about her. I miss her doing this. I kind of feel- I don’t know how should explain it.

“Okay then.”

After Rylai left the kitchen, I felt a tap on my shoulder which sent shivers all over my body.

“You have some explaining to do but I’ll let you go now. Go to your Rylai now.”

Savy smirked at me. She emphasized the word ‘your’ then left me alone blushing.

The hell. Savy is misunderstanding everything. She’s not mine. I just want to help her because she saves my life twice and now even Savy’s. Also, I feel like I want to apologize to her. That’s all.

But, seriously speaking, her smile alone was enough to lit up my world and fool me that everything is fine the way it is now even if I know, it’s not. And I wonder why?