The Arctic Wolf (Part II)

Part II: Thunder and Lightning1

(STEFAN) 2

There! He spotted her, carrying her bags out of the sliding exit doors only yards away. He had to make it to her before she got to her car. Now was his only chance. He started through crowds of alarmed customers, and pushed his way through a couple in the aisle closest to the door. He was right on her heels. It was getting dark outside, and a car turning towards the store blinded him with its bright headlights. 3

“Damn it all to hell!” He cursed aloud, trying to find which way she went, as he exited the doors. 4

Suddenly, a young man ran past him, panting heavily and running with all the speed his tiring legs could grant him. There was a look of terror on his face as he ran, distracting Stefan, who had to step backwards to avoid a collision. The man paid him no attention, running as if the devil himself were on his heels. There! He spotted Emily, down the sidewalk, having to stumble sideways to avoid crashing into the running man. She dropped one of her bags in the process, and swept her hair to the side before picking up the bag once more to cross to get to her parked pickup truck.5

Stefan breathed a sigh of relief as he spotted her, starting off toward her as she picked up her bag. Now or never. Suddenly, he heard squealing tires and a revving engine that sounded as if it were right on top of him. He turned his head to see a blue Cadillac veering down the lane at breakneck speed, the rap music on the speakers pounding out an ominous rhythm. What the hell? 6

(EMILY) 7

Emily strode down the sidewalk, bearing her groceries, and shuffling them about in her hands, as the plastic dug into her slender fingers, cutting off the circulation. She hesitated for a moment, blinded by the lamplights in the growing darkness and the headlights of a car. As she paused, she dropped one of her bags and sat the others down to gather it up and continue on her way.8

“Damn it. Stupid bags.” 9

(STEFAN) 10

He’d had only a moment to think and act. It seemed it took him ages to drop to the ground as the sound of gunfire exploded from the vehicle. Breathless and heart pounding erratically, he could hear the bullets flying above his head. Shit! What the hell? He heard a man cry out and fall. The one that was running. He knew they were after him and he led them here to people? Idiot! A woman screamed and someone hit the pavement. He knew who it was before he looked up, and there were already tears in his eyes, choking him. His heart nearly exploded in his chest, and his mind screamed in pain and fury. Emily! No!11

The Cadillac turned in a semi-circle and sped off, nearly careening off of the road into a line of parked cars, before veering off quickly onto the main road, disappearing into sight with the speakers playing the same foreboding song. In one swift movement, Stefan vaulted himself off of his stomach onto his feet and shot a look over to where Emily had been. Her groceries and purse were strewn on the sidewalk, change spilling haphazardly onto the curb. She was down on her knees, staring blankly straight ahead, her eyes were locked on some invisible target, her lips parted slightly. Her right hand clasped her chest and her left grasped the curb so hard her knuckles were white. Her face was pale as death, and a trickle of blood escaped the left corner of her lips. 12

“Emily!” He cried out to her and bounded toward her with his long legs stretching, eating up the ground. He threw himself to his knees beside her, just in time to catch her as a rattling breath escaped her lungs and she collapsed precariously backwards, her eyes rolling back into her head, and her hands falling to her sides. He caught her up in his arms, resting her limp head to his chest and cradling her fragile body to the warm protection of his own. His hair fell about his face and shoulders and tears welled in his icy eyes. He gazed down at her pale face and swept the fiery auburn tendrils out of her eyes. He dropped his gaze to where her right hand had been clasping at her chest, and his breath caught in his throat. He clenched his eyes shut against the sight, letting the tears roll unchecked down the contours of his face.13

This cannot be happening! His entire being screamed in denial, but he could not escape the reality that lay in his arms. 14

Her breathing was light and very labored, and her heartbeat was hardly there. He gritted his teeth and caressed her cool cheek. Blood had soaked her silver blouse all the way through and he was already covered in it. Behind him he could hear horrified voices-someone calling an ambulance. The man who had been running was dead. There was no hope for him, but he could not let this woman die. 15

“Emily…” He cried between clenched teeth. “Don’t leave me…” He shuddered. She was already getting so cold. Still cradling her, he shuffled out of his blazer, and wrapped it around her. He pried open the buttons of her blouse, revealing a ghastly gaping bullet wound in the middle of her chest. It was bleeding profusely, her precious life draining out of her so fast he barely had time to think of what to do and how to save her. Dear god, her heart! No one can survive this! He ignored the tears dripping off his jaw and kissed her forehead.16

“Emily, please hold on.” He held her tight and caressed her cheek with a trembling hand. Her eyelids fluttered for a moment, and he startled as they slowly and drowsily lifted, and she stared up at him, her eyes glazed with pain. 17

(EMILY)18

Emily tried to move, but realized she could not when every nerve ending in her body screamed in excruciating agony. She flinched and shuddered. She was so cold, so terribly cold. What happened? Where am I? What’s going on? Why am I cold? Why do I hurt all over? She winced and grimaced, gritting her teeth against the flood of sensations that had taken over her body. Damn it! She opened her eyes and would have jumped nearly out of her skin, had she the strength to do so. It all came back to her. The man who looked like he could have been running from demons, and the blue Cadillac flashed through her memory. The gunshots and a voice echoed through her mind. A man’s voice. Stefan! 19

Stefan was bent over her, cradling her to his chest, holding her in strong muscular arms. His head was bent, the hair falling into his face, and a tear trickled off of his jaw. She shivered.20

“Stefan?” She choked in disbelief at how weak and soft her voice had become. 21

His head jerked up, startled. His eyes were full of tears, and their arctic depths appeared to ripple with sorrow. He looked so tortured, and her heart instantly melted. He placed a finger over her lips.22

“Shhh…darling, don’t speak, you’re hurt. Save your energy.” He tried to manage a smile.23

“I’m…so sorry, Stefan, so very sorry. I was so angry, so bitter, and I didn’t want to give in.” She had to pause, gasping for breath between each painful sentence. “I didn’t want to let go of that…I was just so hurt... Please, forgive me. I beg of you!” She gasped and choked, and it sprayed his shirt with blood. She threw her hand up to her mouth, and tried to fight the coughing.24

So many things were flying through her mind. How could she have been so stupid to believe that she could deny him, betray him, and push him away and it not hurt her at all? So foolish of me! What was I thinking? I can’t believe I almost let him go! Her eyes welled with tears. She had just had so long to become so bitter and cynical about love, that she didn’t realize the effect he would have on her once he came back. She had thought of him nearly every day of her life since they parted ways. She couldn’t believe she’d let it end like that. But then, it was mostly his fault. He always had to have his way, she thought. Every memory of him only hurt her more to think about. She hadn’t been able to believe that after so many years he could just waltz casually back into her life and expect her forgiveness. But, damn it all to hell, he would have it. I can’t take this! If ever there’s a time to give up and call it what it is, now is it, she thought. He was the only one she’d ever loved, and she couldn’t deny that any more than she could deny her family, her friends, or her identity. I don’t care. Once in love, always in love, and I can’t live the rest of my life thinking about what could have been and not doing a damn thing to change it!25

(STEFAN)26

“No, Emily, don’t talk, not now. Now’s not the time. You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s all my fault. I should have never left you. I should have never hurt you. Oh god, I’m so sorry. Just be still, help’s on the way.” He paused a moment and held her tight, and she snuggled into his warmth for comfort. “Don’t leave me,” he begged, “Please!”27

Emily’s hands clung to his silk shirt, now drenched in her blood, and he cradled her head. Her strength was waning so fast. He could feel her blood draining from her, and he pressed his blazer into the wound to act as a tourniquet. He knew it would do little to stem the flow, but it couldn’t hurt. She flinched from the pressure, and he winced, unable to imagine how much pain she must be in. Why did I let her go? Why did I let her walk away from me? I could have stopped this from happening!28

“Emily, stay awake for me! Do you hear me? Stay awake. You have to stay with me.” He pleaded, knowing that if she became unconscious, he might panic, and he didn’t want to panic like an insecure child. I’ve got to keep her awake, he thought, she won’t make it if I don’t.29

(EMILY)30

She choked and gasped, and lifted her head using what little strength she had left to look up into his imploring face. The lines around his mouth had become etched with sorrow. He was heartbreaking to look at. Why has he always been able to melt me to puddles every time he looks at me? Her mind was full of all the things she wanted to say, but didn’t have the strength even to whisper. She knew she was in trouble. She knew she was dying, and her body wanted to just drift away-to fall away and sleep forever. She was so tired. Her eyelids were growing heavy, and she wanted to fight the urge to sleep so desperately, but it was overcoming her. 31

She blinked and tears ran unchecked down her pale cheeks. She shivered. It’s so cold. I’m just so cold. Inside her heart was breaking for him. He would have to live on after she was gone, with only these last few minutes of her life to hang on to as a precious memory. She couldn’t imagine what he must be going through. Not but minutes ago, she was so full of hate, thinking only of how if he was hurting, that he deserved every bit of torture that she could throw his way. Now, she struggled with herself, in utter disbelief of how wrong she had been to think that striking out at him would have made it all better. It only makes things worse, she thought. The cycle has to stop somewhere, and it stops now. Did I tell my parents I loved them? Did I kiss them goodbye when I left? She couldn’t help thinking of all the horrible things she had ever said or done to people that she loved and cherished. All those times she had thought that she had plenty of time to make things right, and she’d never get the chance. No one should have to die like this, and no one should have to watch it!32

She tried to manage a smile, but knew it must have looked terrible. Her mouth was full of blood and she choked on it and held her hand over her mouth. Of all those times in her life when she was at her lowest and most desperate, why of all days should death decide to knock on her door, just as she was given the chance to make everything right again, and to finally find the love she thought was lost? Why is it these things always came at the most inopportune moment? At least he’s here with me, in my final moments, she thought. At least I get to say goodbye. Always parting, never staying, she reminisced while she struggled for breath. 33

“Stefan,” she lifted her hand to gently caress his jaw and ran her fingers lightly over his lips, “I’m still sorry. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. I never thought I’d see you again, but now that I have…” She paused to cough up more sprays of red liquid. “At least you’re here with me now. Thank you, for finding me, and for giving me this…this moment. At least we have this one last... At least…I…get to say…goodbye.”34

She gasped and retched up blood into her hand, but most of it ended up spraying his shirt again. He didn’t seem to care that she’d ruined a perfectly good shirt and expensive blazer. Her heartbeat was becoming lighter with every ragged breath, and she was losing so much blood, she knew it wouldn’t be long before it would all be over, and whether she believed in god or not, she’d have to face some sort of end, come heaven, hell or oblivion. This is it. This is the end, she thought and she blinked back the tears.35

(STEFAN)36

Stefan just couldn’t let himself believe it. You can’t give up, Emily! She can’t give up, this isn’t the end! She can’t die, she just can’t! He shook his head. God, someone, help me be strong for her. Help her! Where the hell is that ambulance?37

He saw her try to smile. It was a good attempt, and he loved her even more for it. Trying to be strong even through all she’s been through, he thought to himself. She spoke his name through a cough and lifted a hand to his face, and it brought more tears to his eyes. So gentle, so loving, my sweet Emily. God, don’t you leave me here!38

She spoke through rasping breaths, trying hard to say what was on her mind, and only managing broken sentences. He took it all in; he absorbed every last word into his heart and soul, and knew he couldn’t manage life if she died. 39

“At least you’re here with me now.” He was thankful that he had found her, true, but he had never imagined something so terrible as this to occur. I’d give anything to be with you, forever, Emily. Why this?40

“Thank you, for finding me, and for giving me this…this moment. At least we have this one last... At least…I…get to say…goodbye.” She gave up trying to talk and gasped, spraying blood all over him.41

(End of Part Two)42