Chapter 43
Anthony falls all the way down to the floor and I stoop over to him. Blood is everywhere, on his clothes, on the floor, and on his hands, but I don’t know what to do to stop it from coming. He grits his teeth as his face tenses in pain.
Tears stream down my face and I collapse over him, sobbing uncontrollably because I know how much pain he’s in, remembering that just a short while ago I was shot. “Why didn’t you shoot Maureen?”
“I couldn’t shoot my own mother, Sonia, even though...” He reaches his arm up and strokes my cheek.
Even thought he knows how evil she is. “It’s because you’re so good.”
“No, it’s because you’re so stupid,” Maureen interjects. “Olaf, be ready to depart through the Portal of Blufire with Sonia.” Maureen undoes Olaf’s hands and ties a piece of fabric around his wounded leg to stop the bleeding.
“I’d rather kill myself first than come with you,” I say.
Anthony coughs, blood sputtering from his mouth, and I cup my hand over my mouth to stifle a cry. Glancing up, I see that we’re only a few feet away from the door. Do I dare try and open it to let the others in? Maureen might shoot me if I do, but it’s the only chance we have at surviving. I arise abruptly, run to the door and unlock it. Skuld, Mani and my mom are right there, their weapons immediately aimed toward Maureen and Olaf. Maureen shoots at my mom, but misses. Then she grabs Olaf’s hand, and right as Mani’s and Skuld’s weapons go off, Maureen and Olaf disappear, their bodies disbursing into thin air.
“Anthony’s been shot!” I yell, taking my mom’s hand, dragging her with me. I kneel down beside him and take his hand in mine. “Anthony, I love you, do you hear me? I love you!” I know he doesn’t have much time, and I need to get the words out before it’s too late.
The sides of Anthony’s lips curve softly upward at the edges and he looks at me with tears in his eyes. “I love you, too,” he says.
“You should have stayed away,” I say. “You shouldn’t have come for me.” Convulsions take over his body and I sob.
“I’d rather die than lose you. Don’t you know that by now?” Sweat runs down his face and his muscles tense, quivering uncontrollably.
“Your gift—you must receive it,” Anthony says, his voice straining as he gasps for air. “Just remember, all has not yet been said and done, Sonia.”
I’m not sure what he means, but I intend to save his life before he loses it. “Mom, there must be something you can do!” I look at her.
My mom doesn’t say anything, but her eyes expose her thoughts; She’s at a loss for words, for what does one say when someone is dying?
I refuse to accept this fact, but at the same time wildly hang onto the few minutes—seconds—mere heartbeats—we might have together. Gazing into Anthony’s eyes, I stroke his brow. I just want to see his face for as long as I can, for now it hits me like a mountain from the sky, that I’ll never see his face again. “I love you,” I whisper again and again, as I brush the tears away from my eyes every few seconds. Every tear, every second, another last moment gone—forever.
Anthony takes my hand in his, brings it to his lips, and kisses it as he closes his eyes. He exhales one last time and then he is gone.