"She's not going anywhere." I say boldly.

The man cocks the gun. Luke and I freeze. The psycho man has Aaron in his grasp. As much as I don't like the kid for trying to make a move on Vi, I don't want to see him killed.

"Hey!" One man shouts. He aims his gun at Maria as she tries to call someone on her phone. She quickly drops the phone, but he still shoots her, then Aaron in the head. Someone screams, another person passes out. Vi is frozen in shock, staring at Aaron's bleeding corpse.

"Come with us now, Vi, or your precious Ashton gets it." They point their guns at me now that their hostage is dead.

"Sorry, Ashton," she looks at the ground as she makes her way towards him. "I can save you if I go, all of you. I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"No, Vi!" It's a trap! The second man is already cocking the gun as Vi willingly walks over to him. She doesn't notice. I try to run for her but Luke and Ricky work together to stop me.

"Stop!" I struggle against my friends, my friends! as they hold me back from trying to rescue my girlfriend. "Stop them!" I yell at the two policemen standing in the corner of the room.

One shrugs.

"Sorry, not our job." He turns away.

Time slows as he pulls the trigger and the bullet is propelled from the gun. A little wisp of smoke is the only evidence that the bullet was ever in the gun. It's felt like forever I've been standing here, watching, unable to look away. Vi turns back to smile at me as the bullet goes right through her--

I gasp and sit up in bed.

"It was just a dream."

Just a dream. I tell myself, wiping away the tears I feel running down my cheeks.

A week ago, Vi was abducted. She wasn't shot that night, I remind myself, but that dream felt so real! I haven't gotten any sleep since then, nor have I attended any classes or left the apartment except to go over into Vi's apartment. Her old apartment.

Sammi told me I had to go somewhere besides the couch, so I went into her room that she used to share with Vi and sat on her bed, hugging her pillows and crying. Sammi never told me to do anything again. I took Vi's pillows and blankets into my apartment. I rub the soft fabric of the orange comforter between my fingers. It's a comforting feeling.

I roll over and check the clock. 3:36. It's going to be a long night.

***

Welp. As you can imagine, Ashton isn't doing very well.

Got one more chapter for you today!

~ashtonfortherwin