4 Chapter 13 Chapter 13 For a moment , my hearing vanished the world plunged into absolute silence .
It felt as if a searing giant hand had slammed me into the ground .
I coughed up blood , my organs seeming to shift from the impact .
Thick smoke filled the air , obscuring everything .
Something warm trickled down my face .
When I touched it , my palm came away crimson .
The blast had thrown Joseph several feet away .
I tried to stand , but my legs wouldnt cooperate .
With trembling hands , I crawled toward him , knees scraping against the rough earth .
Reaching him , I checked for breath , praying desperately .
Thank God he was still alive .
Gunshots echoed again , faint but drawing closer .
Fighting back panic , I hoisted Joseph onto my back and struggled to my feet .
I stumbled forward , but armed men were everywhere , their shadows looming .
Forced to change direction , I plunged deeper into the forest .
I lost track of time as I ran .
My legs gradually went numb until I could no longer feel them .
Finally , my strength gave out , and I collapsed .
Joseph stirred then , struggling weakly to rise but finding himself unable to move .
His voice came faint but urgent .
Zoey … leave me .
Go ! Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed , shaking my head violently .
No ! We leave together ! Both of us ! He grabbed my ankle , his grip weak but insistent .
Go … get help .
You cant carry us both out of here .
I broke down completely , crying so hard my chest ached .
Joseph ! We made promises ! You cant lie to me ! If you die , Ill never forgive you ! A faint smile tugged at his lips , only to be interrupted by a coughing fit that brought blood to his mouth .
Im not lying … Liars … become puppies … Choking back tears , I forced myself up , helping him lean against a tree .
Even as I wiped my face , fresh tears kept falling .
He squeezed my hand gently , his gaze steady but pleading .
Go now … you wont let me die , right ? I nodded fiercely through blurred vision .
Wait for me ! Ill come back for you ! Youll be okay I promise ! He smiled weakly and waved me away .
Alright .
I turned to flee , but before I could take more than a few steps , a deafening gunshot split the air .

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A 17:43 Backup Girl No More : Adios To My V Card and My First Love 25.0 % Chapter 13 powerful impact knocked me to the ground .
Searing pain spread across my shoulder , leaving me gasping .
Id been shot .
Terrified , I turned my head to see Joseph collapsing onto me .
Blood poured from a massive wound in his chest , staining his white coat crimson .
My mind went blank .
Ignoring the burning pain in my shoulder , I rolled him over , pressing my shaking hands against his wound .
Joseph ! Joseph ! My cries grew desperate , tears unstoppable .
He weakly raised a hand to clasp mine , the simple action seeming to drain his remaining strength .
In a hoarse whisper , he said : Im sorry … I love you … In the next life … please be my little one again , okay ? His eyes held a kaleidoscope of emotions reluctance , tenderness , resignation all fading into stillness .
The light in them extinguished .
His hand slipped limply from mine .
I stared at him in disbelief as overwhelming terror and heartbreak consumed me .
It felt like my heart was being incinerated .
I coughed violently , blood spilling from my lips as my vision blurred .
Sweat drenched me as pain from my shoulder wound surged through my body .
Even so , I reached out , trying desperately to grasp him , to pull him back .
Joseph … I called weakly , voice trembling with fear and grief .
But my body had reached its limit .
Darkness closed in as I collapsed backward , consciousness slipping away .
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