Page 3 of Fatality

Brakes screech somewhere nearby, but the sound feels impossibly far away.

People are crowding, murmuring, some are shouting now.

“No... no, no, no, no, NO!” I repeat frantically in shock and disbelief.

I try to stand but collapse back onto my knees. I don't think.

I crawl toward him on all fours, my palms slipping on the rain-slick asphalt while my bare skin tears against the rough pavement.

It doesn't matter—He does.

“Kyle! Kyle! No! Please no!” Finally, I reach him and pull his head onto my thighs.

I can't stop shaking.

“I'm so sorry... Please Kyle... Please don't leave me with them... Please, I love you... Please...” I plea, my voice breaking apart completely.

“Ri..ven..” He forces out “B-Be.. yourself.. O-Okay?” Kyle whispers weakly, his voice fading with every word. “I-I love… you my… little star…”

His eyes slowly and heavily closes.

“No... please... you're going to be okay... please... open your eyes…” I shake him gently before snapping my head up “Someone help! Please! My big brother is hurt! He won’t wake up! Please! Someone help me!” I scream at everyone, at myself.

It’s my fault, he saved my life and now he is dying—because of me.

I pull him closer, wrapping myself around him as blood spreads across my hands and clothes.

Too much blood. Too much.

Then, I feel his body goes completely slack against my body.

“K-Kyle?..” A beat. “Big brother... please wake up... I won't run away ever again, I promise you... please open your eyes... I need you... please... please...”

The words leave my mouth like a prayer, over and over, my breath warm against his cheek slowly turning cold.

The screams of the drones and sirens around us feel distant now, drowned beneath the ringing in my ears.

Sirens paint everything in flashing red and blue while medics talk to me somewhere nearby but I can't hear them properly.

I feel a hand clamping at my shoulder, gentle but firm, pulling me away from Kyle's body.

“You need to let go to let us work, sweetie.”

I can't let go. I won't.

I struggle weakly against the person holding me, trying to wrench my arm free. Whoever grabbed me is trying to help.

I know that but all it feels like I'm abandoning my big brother.

Another pair of hands grabs me and finally manages to haul me farther away.

I stand there shaking, crying and bleeding--Is it my blood or Kyle's?

I don't even know.

Panic tears through me as the medics swarm around my brother, checking his vitals, shouting instructions, their hands moving with frantic precision.

Drones descend carrying equipment, voices overlap all around me.