c a l u m:

This wasn't fear. This was a nightmare crafted by the Devil himself, and I didn't know if I were ever going to wake up. My heart raced, my stomach dropped, and I swore the pain felt worse than a bullet straight through the head. At the time I didn't know what emotions were grasping onto my heart, but they were feelings felt deeper than I could describe.

There was so much I wanted to do, but couldn't at the same time. As cliche as it sounded, this was a matter of life or death, and when it came to Fiora, death always triumphed. When I locked eyes with Gwen, seeing her for the first time in weeks, I wanted nothing more than to run into her arms. I wanted to hold her tight, kiss her, and cry out loud. She was so close to me, yet so far and I didn't know what to do.

Gwen had been home this whole God damn time; right under my nose and I didn't know. But despite it all, I had wished Gwen was back home in the U.S.. Because this fate; a fate that Fiora handpicked for the innocent girl with the long, dark hair was no fate at all: it was a death sentence.

"Calum..." Fiora spoke, his deep tone echoing in my ears and sending an indescribable chill straight down my spine.

"Y-yes," I responded, not exactly sure how to in a moment like this. I hadn't looked at Fiora yet, not when there was Gwen kneeling down before me, and an immaculate, black gun in my vision.

"You have fifteen seconds to decide," Fiora gave me an ultimatum and my eyes quickly averted to my evil boss, "or you both die."

And just like that, life as I knew it was over. This wasn't a video game that I could restart, or a painting I could try again. This was a reality I wanted nothing to be a part of. I turned my head slowly to look at Gwen, the only thing that I wanted to hold and to touch. There was something about her that I couldn't pin point; something that had me captivated from day one. I loved Janet, and part of me still does - but Gwen, I was in love with her, and life was an everlasting dream with her in it.

"Baby," Gwen gazed at me with eyes brimming with tears and laced with despair. Her voice was soft, yet clear and the very words that were about to escape her lips, were the very same ones that could kill me too. "It's okay."

I knew what she meant, and I shook my head in response. I was shocked, pissed, frustrated that Gwen's mind could even concoct a solution as twisted as hers.

"No!" I shouted through gritted teeth, "I won't!"

Gwen, in slow, cautious movements, stood up. She wasn't restrained, which seemed like a careless mistake on Fiora's part but he knew these girls inside and out - he hand picked them. He knew they wouldn't disobey him. Fiora and his men watched with a hawk eye at the girl I loved so deeply, watched as she took two small steps towards me. With trembling hands, and a perpetual gaze into my eyes, Gwen reached to touch my hand.

"Shh," Gwen breathed, keeping her voice steady and her demeanor calm. She held onto the hand which held onto the weapon, and with confidence she placed the gun's end to her forehead.

"Baby no," I cried, shaking my head. "Anything but this."

"I love you," Gwen declared, and just like that she accepted death; she accepted my life over hers.

I shuddered in my skin. I couldn't do it, and I refused to. Time was ticking down, and I only had four seconds to make a decision. Tonight there will be death, but it won't be Gwen's - I'd die protecting her. So I chose her over me, and quickly pointed the gun at my own head instead.

Fiora was distracted.

It was perfect. He pegged me for a weak boy; a frail thing with a selfish heart, but to suddenly aim the gun at my head was not an act of a scared little boy. It was an act of bravery, an act of sacrifice that Fiora didn't think I'd have in me. And it was that thought process that distracted him.

It happened so quick, but in my eyes everything was in slow motion. I had the gun to my forehead one second, and in the next I had swiftly twirled the weapon in my hand to face it towards Fiora. With my finger to the trigger, I looked over at Gwen who had fear flush her eyes. While it was only a millisecond, it was enough time to look her deep into her brown eyes and speak a conversation that contained no words. A conversation we once had that seemed like ages ago, but a conversation Gwen knew all too well. I nodded my head, and she knew, my girl knew.

"Run baby, run!"

//

g w e n:

I was no longer tired. I found strength deep inside of me, and I pulled it out. There was some fight left in me, and while masked by darkness, Calum was the light that showed me it was still there. So I ran. As fast as my feet would let me, I ran in sporadic motions through the docks. My bare feet stomped across the cold, damp wood as l tried my absolute hardest to get away.

BANG.

I slowed down my pace. The loud, jolting, explosive sound rattled my entire insides and worry hugged my stomach. With heavy breaths and tired legs, I looked over my shoulder. I clenched my hands as I peered back at the nightmare behind me, praying to God that Calum was okay.

I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding in and was relieved when the squirming lump on the ground didn't belong to the body of Calum. Instead, the wriggling body was of Fiora's. I let out a mental cheer but this war was far from over.

"Right there!"

My stomach dropped. Two men appeared from around the corner of one of the warehouses and stampeded towards me at full speed. I spun back around, sprinting across the dock.

BANG.

A bullet zoomed right over my heart and I shrieked in fear. I ran faster, forcing my body to go past the limit of my usual exertion. I was headed towards the end and needed to find another way out.

BANG.

I winced in pain and like reflex I held onto my left arm where I was struck. Blood oozed out from the wound, dripping down my arm and through my fingers. I bit down on my bottom lip from the stinging pain that traveled up and down my arm. I wanted to slow down, to aid my wounded arm but I couldn't.

I turned left behind a warehouse, the dingy lights casting minimal light. The waves crashed violently against the wooden legs that held up the dock and the heavy steps of the men behind me echoed in my ears. I told my legs to push harder, trying to convince myself that I was not tired nor in pain. I had to fight for Calum, for my family, for my friends, for me.

Up.

At the corner of my eye I spotted a metal railing. That sketchy piece of equipment was a latter bolted to the side of a warehouse and it became my best option. I held onto the metal, cold as ice to the touch and began my climb up. My wounded arm was burning with pain, and the sting was rapidly growing to envelop my entire body.

As I inched closer and closer to the roof of the warehouse, did I have a much better vantage point of the scene below. The lack of light helped mask me from Fiora's men who were still desperately searching for me all while shooting their guns aimlessly. I kept my head low and hid in the shadows as I continued up the ladder. I couldn't see much but I could hear a lot, and what I was hearing couldn't be any more soul shattering.

Flesh to flesh, punch by punch, Calum and Fiora's men brawled. Groans and blood splattering to the ground continued to filter into my ears, and I cringed at the sounds. I made it to the roof of the warehouse where the wind seemed to be stronger. I crawled to the edge, keeping my movements slow and quiet as I kept my eyes pinned on Calum.

He was struggling to fight back, struggling to stay alive as strong men pounced on him. Kicks to the ribs, and punches to the face, witnessing Calum get beaten to a pulp made my entire insides churn with ache. I couldn't see him like this and while it risks my life, I had to do something. So despite Calum's attempt to save me from this all, I was about to step back into the game.

But then Luke happened.

He jumped in out of nowhere, fighting off Fiora's men with such strength and fury. Luke came to Calum's aid, immersing himself in this battle despite their rough past. There was something different about him, something that was essentially Luke. It was that same element I saw when I first met him several months ago - selflessness and a tender heart.

Calum clutched onto his stomach, wriggling around in pain on the ground as Luke held his fists up. Bruised jaws and bloody lips didn't faze my dear friend as he continued to protect the love of my life. But it wasn't long till things were going to change drastically.

Fiora, despite his wounded leg, was able to find himself to stand. He loomed above Calum with a cynical grin plastered on his face and with his right arm he raised it towards Calum. Fiora let out a simple, deep chuckle brimming with heinousness. The moonlight casted an eerie illumination across the right side of his body and that's when I saw it.

"Oh my God," I gasped with a slightly agaped mouth and wide eyes.

In his right hand, Fiora grasped onto a gun and had it pointed straight to Calum's head. From several yards away and several feet up in the air, I not could only see Calum's reaction but feel it too. There was no fear that relished in his eyes, nor surrender clouding his soul. There was only bravery, the type that causes flames to dance when you're ready for combat; ready to protect. But it was that confidence that only instigated an evil spark inside of Fiora. With one last chuckle, the trigger was pulled.

BANG.

//

And just like that we are two chapters away from the end of RUN BABY RUN. It has been an incredible ride and I thank all of you for being a part of this story. There aren't enough thank you's in the world to let you know how much I appreciate you for reading, for voting, and for commenting!! Much love, Audrey <333