Backup Girl No More: Adios To My V-Card and My First Love
Chapter 33

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 replaceing 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 .

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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