We were running for about an hour and a half now, both panting and struggling, but not willing to stop running. It was hard to see the road ahead when the wind was blowing this hard as the rain continued to drizzle us with its big drops. I still couldn't forget the look on that monster's face, how he stood.. his mask.. and how the sleeve of his black jacket barely covered a tattoo on his wrist.. How he turned the gun around his finger.. and how he laughed as his own blood was dripping from his wounded lips. I couldn't believe this all happened after a happy and memorable night with Michael.
I let the tears roll down my cheeks as I gritted my teeth, trying to keep a steady pace. The pain on my left shoulder was making it more difficult for me and it got worse as my arms involuntarily swayed while we were running. It was almost unbearable but I couldn't let this weakness took over me.
"Andria, you're bleeding." Michael stopped, worried eyes staring at my shoulder.
It didn't stop my pace; I closed my eyes, forcing my feet to continue each step as I ran out of breath. He was going to worry then he would ask me to stop and take a rest which I could not allow. We had to keep moving because I knew those monsters were still after us. Michael overtook and stopped before me. His arms stretched, blocking my way. "Andria, stop!"
And just as my knees started to wobble and a lump rose in my throat, I finally gave in and let my exhausted body fell in his strong arms as I gasped for air. The prickling pain got unbearable now.
He laid me down on his lap as he sat on the road, gazing on my wound, slowly recognizing where it came from. His head hung low as he sighed, his shoulders were shaking. I realized, he was crying.
"I'm so stupid, I'm sorry Andria." he said, slowly shaking his head. "I was not thinking back there, I'm really sorry. We have to find a hospital.." he said slowly standing up, carrying me in his arms. "..we have to keep going. We'll call for help."
"Michael.." I said. But he didn't say a word. He was walking faster as he tried to run. "..put me down Michael."
"No, please just.. let me carry you." he said. His curls were damp and stuck against his skin as the rain kept pouring hard.
I covered my face with my hands as I cried. This was just too much to take. "I'm so sorry.." I said in between sobs. "..this is all my fault Michael, please put me down." He stopped walking, gently lowering his arms to put me down. I pushed some wet hair at the back of my ears, preventing it from sticking into my face. "I shouldn't have brought us here in the first place." I shuddered, letting my knees hit the ground as I weakly slump on the wet road.
He bent his knees in front of me, his hands rested on his thighs as he sat on the back of his ankles. "No Andria, don't blame yourself. We're here now, we got away. We're going home." His hands cupped my cheeks as his green eyes met my brown ones, his thumb was gently brushing my cheeks. "Don't worry about it Andria, we're going home. I'm here, I'll take care of you." he said, although his tears were unnoticeable, his features showed that he was crying.. And I couldn't bare to see him like this. He was always a happy and careless person, and I was the idiot that made him cry. It was all because of me.
He moved forward and kissed my forehead. "I'm sorry, I won't let this happen again." he said afterwards, before he tilted my head up for his lips to meet mine, giving me a tender kiss. Its comfort crawled through me, and it's no wonder why only his lips were the sweetest kiss I've ever had. Because they were with love.
I held his hands as our foreheads touched, and I noticed the bruises on his knuckles. I gently brushed my fingers over his bruise and gave them a kiss. "They're bruised.." I muttered.
He chuckled. "I'm glad to have those after breaking that mask on his face." he said scratching the back of his neck. He looked back on the end of the road where we came from. "We better get going." he smiled, and God how I missed those dimpled smiles.
He placed one of my arm around his waist as he rested his arm around my shoulders. We continued walking, shivering under the rain. He rubbed my arm every once in a while, trying to produce heat with the friction in our skin but sadly, it didn't help. "Maybe we should stop for a while and wait for the rain to cease a bit."
I was about to answer when a bright light catched our attention, coming from a truck behind us, somewhat a delivery truck. Michael turned and waved at the approaching truck.
"We need help!" But the truck drove passed us.
"Hey! Please!" he screamed, after chasing the truck for a few meters. He stopped, put his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
I followed him. He stood straight upon seeing me. I knew he didn't want to show any signs of defeat, still sticking to his promise to take care of everything.
I saw another light ahead, coming from a van on the other side of the road. "Shall we ask for help on this one?"
He shrugged. "But it will drive us further from home."
The van slowed down and stopped in front of us. The window rolled down as a lady in her late thirties spoke. "What are you kids doing out here on the road? The rain is pouring hard for God's sake!"
"We need help, there are people back there trying to kill us." Michael said pointing at the direction where we came from.
She started driving as soon as we got into the backseat of her van. She was humming as the radio played some 90's hits. A small snoopy toy was hanging at the top of the windshield, slightly swaying as the car moves. Her hair was brown that was tied in a loose bun.
Michael cleared his throat. "Excuse me ma'am but..., I thought you said you're going to take us home. My girlfriend here needs help, she's been shot."
"Yes, that's what I said." she said. Her head slightly swayed into the rhythm.
"But why are we still heading south?"
"Oh honey, I was referring to my home....."