Chapter
36
Hidden in the
shadows of a large tree nearby, Brian wrapped his arms around Katelyn and
kissed her passionately. She kissed him back with all her heart and held him
tight in her arms.
"I love
you, Kate," Brian said. His blue eyes were filled with emotion.
Katelyn
grinned. "I love you too, sweetheart," she said.
He caressed
her cheek gently. Suddenly, he stopped and listened.
"Bri?
What's wrong?" Katelyn asked. She turned around and followed his gaze to
some bushes along the wall of the hotel. She squinted in the darkness, but she
saw nothing. "Babe? What is it?" she asked, turning back to him.
"Nothing.
I just thought I heard something in those bushes," Brian said.
"Probably
just an animal," Katelyn said, wrapping her arms around him again. Brian
hugged her back, assuming the same thing.
But then, a
motion in the bushes caught his eye. He saw a figure emerge from the bushes and
step closer. He realized it was a young girl. She couldn't have been much older
than fourteen. Then he saw a glint of metal in her arms. As she raised the
object, he felt his blood run cold, as he realized what it was. It was a gun.
And it was pointed right for Katelyn.
Katelyn felt
his body stiffen. "Bri-" she started to say, but was interrupted by a
loud bang, like a gunshot. Immediately, Brian leapt in front of her, pushing
her back with his whole body. Katelyn screamed as she heard Brian scream and
saw him collapse to the ground. As the scrambled over to him, there was another
scream. Katelyn turned and saw a young girl standing behind her. She was
holding a gun in one hand. Her eyes were wide with terror, her mouth dropped open
in shock.
"Oh, my
God!" she cried, beginning to sob. She stared at Brian, crumpled on the
ground in a heap. "What have I done?" she wept.
Katelyn shook
herself out of her stupor and hurried over to Brian.
"Bri?"
she cried, her eyes filling with tears. He was sprawled out on his back, his
hand over his chest. His breathing was labored and shallow.
"Kate!"
he gasped.
Suddenly,
there was another gunshot. Katelyn gasped and spun around, thinking she was
going to be shot. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the pain to hit her.
But nothing happened. When she opened her eyes, she saw the teenage girl lying
on the ground. She had shot herself.
Katelyn choked
back a sob and turned back to Brian. "I'll go get help!" she cried.
She started to jump up, but he reached up and caught her arm.
"No,
don't go!" he pleaded. "Please, don't leave me alone."
Beginning to
cry again, she nodded and sat back down beside him. Her eyes drifted to where
his hand was resting on his chest. She could see blood already beginning to
seep though his fingers.
She pressed
her own hands over the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. She didn't care
about the blood that stained her white gloves.
"Katelyn
Littrell, I love you with all my heart," Brian whispered, gasping for air.
"I love
you too, Brian," Katelyn said, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Please,
watch over my family for me. And the rest of the guys," Brian said.
"Brian,
don’t say that!" she screamed. "You're gonna be fine. Don't say
that!"
Brian just
shook his head. "I'm afraid this is it, baby," he said. He placed his
other hand on top of hers, which was still resting on his chest. "I love
you."
"No!"
Katelyn cried. She saw his eyelids begin to flutter. "Brian, come on! Stay
with me!" She grabbed his shoulder and shook him gently. His eyes opened
again. They weren't their normal clear blue, but paler and more grayish. His
skin looked ashy and pale as well.
Suddenly,
Katelyn heard voices. She saw two people walking towards them.
"Help!"
she cried. "Call an ambulance quick!" One person ran back inside. The
other ran towards them. It was Howie. "Howie!" Katelyn cried. Howie's
eyes widened when he saw Brian.
"Oh, my
God, Brian," he gasped, his brown eyes filling with tears. He knelt beside
him.
"Hey,
D," Brian said weakly. He coughed, struggling for breath. Suddenly, his
own eyes filled with tears. "I love you, man," he said to Howie.
"I love
you too, Rok," Howie said.
"Kate, my
love, I'm sorry this had to happen. I'm going to miss spending my whole life
with you. But, don't worry, I'll be waiting for you in Heaven," Brian
choked out.
"No,
Brian," Katelyn moaned. Suddenly, his eyes closed again.
"Brian!" she screamed. His eyes fluttered open again. "I love
you!" she cried. He managed to offer her a sort of half smile. Then his
blue eyes closed for a final time. His chest stopped heaving. Katelyn cried out
and threw herself over his body, hugging him to her tightly. "Brian!
Brian!" she cried.
"Get
back, Kate!" Howie said, moving her off of him. He grabbed Brian's wrist,
checking for a pulse. He leaned over Brian and began mouth to mouth. Katelyn
hung back and watched, sobbing uncontrollably.
***
