I woke up shaking, desperate, breathless. I could move just enough to tap the boy next to me.

"Chris, don't wake me up." His eyes flickered open and went wide. "Guys, I need help, guys!" Around ten heads turned and they all gathered around me. They were followed by whispers of "Is he okay?"and "What should we do?" But those melted easily in my memory. The thing that caught my eye was seeing Lily's face with tears streaming down it. She was too young to see this. 5 years. The only thing that kept me going was her smiling face. If I survive, I will keep on moving, working, in whatever condition I am in. 

But I won't even make it to my chance to get out of here.

My family would not be there for me, not even if they wanted to, and I would be the factionless who didn't live to be an adult. Remembered as the kid who died a kid.

Jake sat next to me and started to speak, But my hearing was fading. All I could make out was lips moving, so I read them. They mouthed "Friends since birth." Jordan was holding my hand. 

"More than friends"I wanted to say to her, but Jordan would not let me talk. She simply put a finger over my lip.

"Shhh. Save your strength."She whispered kindly, like I was completely alive. To her, I probably was.

I did not want any one to pity me, instead I would like them to carry on, well, most of them. I only want Jordan and Jake to be with me.

The color was draining from my face, the light pouring from my eyes. 

"Bye buddy," Jake's lips read. I saw tears developing in his eyes."Bye Chris."

My eyelashes were getting in the way of my vision. I could see long enough to see Jordan, leaning closer. Then, I saw black.

I was awake long enough to feel soft lips, graze mine for one last time.

The last time.