Lara flopped face down on the bed, thinking of her friend. Suddenly she felt a pair of strong hands on her shoulders, moving softly, giving her a comforting massage. The person leaned down and kissed her cheek before lying next to her.
"You okay?" Kevin asked, holding her hand.
"Yeah I guess. I am so glad Lynn and Howie are engaged. I knew they would," she smiled at the thought.
"Yeah, me too," Kevin agreed. "Plus it kinda takes everyone’s
mind off of all the recent events."
"Yeah…that…" Lara sighed.
"Lara, don’t worry. I’m with you, nothing can happen to you. I love you."
"Kevin, I know you mean well, but somewhere, way deep in the back of my mind, I’ll know that the killer is still out there plotting to get me. I just can’t feel safe. I love you too, but I just don’t…I just don’t know anymore," Lara said in a frustrated tone.
"It’s okay. Everything will be okay. I won’t let that bitch get you. I swear on my life and my father’s grave," Kevin said, softly kissing Lara’s fingertips.
"I love you Kevy."
"You too Lara."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Bri, do you think AJ will be okay?" Nick asked in a small voice from his bed.
"I don’t know. AJ is tough on the outside, but on the inside, he’s a softy. He’ll hold in his emotions, he won’t show us that he’s hurting. He’ll be okay…in a few years or so…" Brian sighed.
"Ugh! This absolutely sucks! All my best friends are getting hurt!"
"Nick! Calm down bro. It’ll be okay. It’s got to."
"I hope so Frick."
"Me too Frack."
Nick sighed again and lay down on his stomach, trying to clear his head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Baby, I’ll be right back. I’m gonna bring D his clothes and stuff okay?" Kevin asked, kissing Lara’s cheek.
"Okay," Lara smiled.
"Will you be okay?"
"Yeah, you’re barley five minutes away. You’ll be right back."
"Okay," Kevin smiled, kissing her forehead and getting up.
Lara got up as well and walked her boyfriend to the door.
"I’ll be right back," Kevin smiled, leaning down and kissing her softly.
"Alright, I’ll be waiting," Lara smiled back as Kevin walked out the door.
Lara watched him get into the elevator and watched the door’s close. She smiled, thankful that she had such an amazing guy and started to close the door. She closed it and suddenly felt a hand over her mouth, pulling her to the bedroom as she tried to scream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nick shot up from his resting and felt a wave of worry flow over his body.
"What’s the matter Nick?" Brian asked with concern in his voice.
"I…I dunno. Something’s not right. I can feel it. Gimme the phone," Nick pleaded.
Brian tossed Nick his cell phone and Nick called Lynn’s hospital room.
"Hello?" Howie answered.
"Hey D, how’s everything?" Nick asked.
"Fine, Kev just brought my stuff and we’re all talking."
"Just Kev?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, how’s Lynn?"
"She’s doing okay."
"That’s good. Well later D."
"Bye Nick."
Nick hung up the phone and ran his hand through his hair.
"Lynn’s okay, D’s with her, AJ’s in his room asleep, Kev’s there with D.
what could be wrong?" Nick asked himself in thought, when suddenly he came to a realization. "Lara!" he shouted in his head and he jumped of his bed and ran to Lara’s room.
Nick burst into Lara’s room and looked around. He listened and heard yelling, shrieks and crying coming from the bedroom. Nick ran to the door and pushed it open. Lara was lying on the bed, with the murder on top of her and Nick saw blood saturating the sheets from the long slashes on Lara’s arms, sides and legs. The murder was punching Lara and choking her as Nick ran over and threw the killer off of her. The person glared at Nick and started at him with her knife. Nick jumped and the killer slashed his back as he fell and then ran out of the room. Nick got up slowly and felt the deep cut on his back, as the blood dripped down his back, but ignored the pain as he ran to Lara.
"Nick!" Brian shouted, "I saw the murderer is La…." Brian stopped when he saw Lara unconscious and bleeding in Nick’s arms.
"Oh god…no!" Brian ran to the phone and called for an ambulance before running to Nick’s side. "Is she…"
"No, I don’t think so," Nick replied, hearing the door opening.
"Oh god….NO!!" Kevin shrieked running into the room, "please no!"
"Kevin, calm down. Just calm down!" Brian directed as he hugged his cousin.
"Is she…Is she…" Kevin started and then burst into tears as he rushed over to Lara and tried to feel for a pulse.
"Kevin, don’t touch her. The ambulance is on its way. Don’t move her, you could kill her," Brian warned as he pulled his cousin for Lara’s body.
Kevin nodded slowly and turned away from Lara as he felt a sick feeling in his stomach. Suddenly they all heard the door open again and a sharp gasp come from the person entering. They all looked and saw A.J with his mouth falling to the floor in shock.
"Oh god…" A.J turned and ran out of the room.
"Shit," Brian sighed, getting up and running out after him.
Brian ran after A.J but didn’t get too far. The ambulance and paramedics showed up and Brian collided with a paramedic.
"Oh thank God you’re here!" Brian exclaimed and forgot about A.J as he led the E.M.T.’s to Lara.
The E.M.T.s loaded Lara into the ambulance and took all the guys to the hospital with Lara. They admitted Lara to the ER while Nick took off to tell
Lynn and Howie what had happened. Brian went to the police that were stationed around the hospital and told them the description of the killer.
"Are you sure that this is the description?" the policeman asked Brian.
"Yeah and I know her name too. It’s Amanda Latona," Brian told the police.
"Thanks kid, you’ve been a lot of help. We’ll get back to you as soon as we’ve got something," the man said and led Brian back to the hospital.