BitterSweet - 1

Chapter 17

The rope bit deeply into my skin and dug down into my flesh. I could feel the wetness of blood seeping. My tears flowed. I couldn't keep them in. I was scared that this stupid plan wouldn't work. Scared I'm was going to screw everything up. The van's doors opened again and I stopped struggling with the rope. A man came in and my hope fades away. I can hardly get out now, unless. I shoot him. But I'm not some agent from a film. I can't just shoot someone dead. Even if my life depends on it. The van's engine rumbled and the man smiled at me, he had nice teeth in the dark, and his hair was a milky chocolate colour. If it wasn't for the fact that this dude had probably hit and hurt Clay, I may have found him hot,

"Hello sexy." He smiled at me. I could see the gun in his hands and suddenly he don't seem too good looking. The man sighed and sat down. I gently start tugging on the ropes again, pulling small layers of flesh of as I do. Crap it hurt,

"Where are we going?" I asked,

"To my boss" He muttered,

"Yeah. The radio news people said I was the leader of this stupid gang thing." I snarl, making the pain in my voice sound more like anger. Jee if I get out of this I am gonna go to the S.A.S and become a spy! The man laughed,

"Yeah. The media would believe anything, even that some seventeen year old hot posh chick is our boss." As I listen I pull on the ropes slowly scrapping my flesh away as I attempted to squeeze my wrists through. My hands had pins and needles eating at them. Just keep talking Scarlett.

"But why? Why do you need me?" I ask confused. The man stared at me, almost with a look of pity,

"Sometimes to make someone do what you want, you have to take the most important thing to them." He grunted. What was this dude on about? Think later Scarlett. Escape now. The ropes finally give and my hands were free. Oh crap they hurt but I did it! Now what? I couldn't kill this man, but maybe I didn't have too. I bit my lip softly and acted before I could bottle out,

"You're kinda hot." I breathed. The man looked up at me in surprise, and then his face changed. Suddenly he is no where near good looking, suddenly he just looks like some sick pedo,

"Yeah? What's the matter chick? Your gagging for it aren't you?" He breathed. I feel sick inside but I keep the fake smile planted on. One thing about being a rich kid, every one thinks your a slag,

"Too right." I whispered and guess what? The man buys it. He moved forwards leaving his gun on the van's floor just like I prayed for him to do and in seconds he's leaning over me and bringing his dirty lips to mine. I kiss him, softly and detach myself. The kiss is only a way to distract him. I take a breath on his lips, slide my hand into my pocket and grip the gun tight. It's already loaded all I have to do is shoot his foot. He can't die from that can he? Clay got shot in the shoulder and he was still walking about. The man brings his grubby hands up and squeezed my breast too tight. It makes me feel dirty, sick. I took another breath, placed my finger on the trigger and aimed for his foot.

But as was pulling down the trigger he moved and the exploding bullet lands square in his chest. The kick back of the gun slammed up my arm, but I couldn't think of what had just happened. I had to be quick. I jumped up from the van floor and aimed a bullet at the doors.

Bang. The bullet hits them.

Slam. The doors slam open.

Crash. They crash down into the speeding road.

The wind hit me in an icy chill as I looked out the gap. Fields whizzed passed too fast too see, a weak sun tried to shine down and not too far away the gleam of a black car racing up the road heads towards us. It's Clay, somehow, it's him. but I can't stop and stare at him. I have to jump and run before the van stops, because they will stop, they must have heard the gun shots. The man behind me is groaning now and swearing loudly. Crap. I have to get out. I hold my breath and bend my knees just as the loud crack of a gun shot hits the air again. I feel the impact on my leg but I don't feel the pain. It makes me stumble and trip out of the still moving van. The slam of the road rocks through me. I roll unable to stop but I don't feel any of the pain. My whole body is numb. I should be feeling pain. Crap. Am I going to die? But I feel fine, maybe a bit fuzzy but I just jumped out a van. Forty miles an hour, surly that's normal. I try and get to my feet but, my body doesn't want to work. The sound of more gun shots fill the air but I still can't move and damn. I'm so tired. I could sleep here. It was warm..and I didn't hurt at all. Silence fills the air and then I see green eyes glaring into me and it's the best thing I've ever seen. I try and say his name but the weirdest thing happens when I try to talk, my throat is numb and swollen and the words won't come out,

"It's OK. I'm here." He says and his voice is full of fear, but the men in the van must be dead, he must have killed them. So why is he so scared? I'm OK. I just need a little sleep because I'm so tired, just a little one...

"No! You have to stay awake!" He shouts,

"HuI'mm turod." I try to say I'm tired but I can't and why won't he just let me sleep? I'm so tired. I close my eyes,

"Please Scarlett. Please." I feel his hands on my leg, "Speak to me." I don't open my eyes. I can't. I'm too tired but I try and talk, because it's Clay,

"I shop 'im...u man...in van..ha...he...issed me...ut I ad too." Which in my head translated to, I shot him, the man in the van, he kissed me but I had too,

"You done well." I open my eyes and see that Clay has his top off and he's wrapped around my leg. I stare at his bare chest. He is so hot. If I'm dying at least I get to see his beautiful chest once more. I can't stay awake,

"Scarlett please. s**t, no, no." He's swearing and I feel his arms surrounding me. Lifting me. I close my eyes as he begs me to stay with him but I can't and...

I'm gone.

Into the warm dark.

I see my mum.

She smiles.

Reaches out a soft hand.

And I'm gone....

***************************

Clay lifts her body into his arms. Her blood is smeared thickly all over him but he doesn't care about the blood. He looks down at Scarlett's' face which is usually flushed red but now it's a pale inside of an apple white colour. Her lips are grey and blue, but he has to be quick because more gang members will be here soon. He has to be quick because he can feel her pulse slowing with each second and he preys to a God he never believed in, preys for her to live and pushes away the dark voice in his mind. The dark inside voice which says that this was his fault because he shouldn't have gotten so close, should have seen the van before they kissed.

Don't let her die.