Chapter 8

When I picked up the newspapers before school the next day, the headlines were just as I thought. Big capital letters, staring out at me as if making it absolute and final. "Mysterious Deaths for Students at Local School." Mysterious? These deaths and these accidents were anything but mysterious when looked at from a normal person's perspective. To anyone, they were just..... accidents. To me, they were agonizing.

"Lisa Young, 14, a student of Redstone High, was killed by Brett Mason, 17, when he and his senior friends beat her up in the school playground during recess and left her for dead. "

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to block the image of Lisa, forcing myself to block out the memory of the horrible day that started the horrible week.

"Two days later, Amanda Jones was run over and killed outside the local library. The Year 7 girl also went to Redstone High, which is renowned for it's turbulent and haunting history. "

Turbulent? Haunting? What was this journalist talking about?! Redstone was a fairly new school, only started around 5 years ago. Whta kind of history would it have if it was only opened 5 years ago?

"Just 2 days ago, Thmoas Jansen and Chloe Fern, both 16 and both Redstone High seniors, were killed when an out-of-control driver flipped 5 times before finally crashing into the window of Jessel's ice-cream parlour, crushing the couple to death. The driver managed to escape with minor injuries."

The driver escaped. With minor injuries. Thomas and Chloe were dead because of him and he was walking around. Breathing. Alive.

"Just yesterday, 14 year old Ivan Lee died while defending two of his friends from a drunken, gun-welding man and demanding for their money. The girls, Victoria Fisher and Mikayla Harrison, both 14, escaped shaken but unscathed."

Yes. It was true. Ivan was dead. Dead while saving Kay and I. He was the scarificial lamb. The lamb who was the lion.

*

We were at the park, and I was still lying curled up on the ground while Kay sat slumped against the slide, stupefied. I had known her for a long time, and I could tell that although she looked blank and her face was devoid of any emotion, she was terrified. She couldn't believe that she was going to die. But I didn't tell her that in my vision, it was me who caused her to trip and fall to her death. That was my horrible secret to keep. Suddenly, I heard Kay whimper. And then she screamed my name. I sat up and stared.

We weren't alone.

A man had his arm around Kay's neck, strangling her. He held an empty bottle in his left hand and he smelled strongly of booze. He was grinning at my lopsidedly. But none of those things really mattered to me at that moment. What grabbed my attention from the moment I saw him was the gun he held in his right hand.

The gun he held pointed at Kay's head.

"Your cash, hon. And hurry up, or yer friend here gets it," he barked, and he pushed the gun against Kay's temple. I saw that he was serious. If I didn't act fast, he would blow Kay's brains out of this world. I hurriedly pulled out my wallet with shaking hands. I was broke.

"I don't have any cash!! Look, I'm serious!" I said frantically, showing him my empty wallet while looking around for anyone who could help us at a scream. Noone. I cursed myself for taking us to a deserted playground. The drunk looked confused; his eyes lost focus. "Look, why don't you let her go so she can get out her money?" I suggested desperately, hoping he was stupid. His look brightened. He let go of Kay and pushed her towards me. I caught her and felt her gasping for air. "Kay, give me your money. Then grab it back and run-" A rough hand jerked me back.

"Ya think I'm that dumb, missy?" demanded the drunk, shaking me like a rag doll. I could hardly breath. He was choking me so hard. I felt the barrel of the gun press against my stomach. "I'm gunna blow yer guts out," he said, leering.

"Vic! Duck!" I heard someone yell. I ducked down as a boy with wild, messy brown hair leaped out of nowhere and kicked out at the drunk. He crumpled to the ground as Ivan Lee pulled me to my feet.

"Wow, Ivan, where'd you learn to do that?" I asked as Kay jumped up squealing and ran at Ivan, huggin him tightly. We all turned and stared at the feebly stirring drunk.

"Karate classes every Saturday and Sunday. You should try them," replied Ivan, blushing slightly as Kay released him. "Are you guys okay? I saw the gun. He didn't shoot you, did he?"

"No, we're fine," said Kay, smiling at him. "What should we do now?" she enquired.

"Call the cops," I said immediatly. She nodded and pulled out her cell, punching in numbers. Ivan grinned at me and I smiled back.

"What are you guys doing out here anyway? You should be at home, doing the 100-page homework we got for Maths," said Ivan, laughing. "Sometimes I crack myself up. You know,there was this time when-"

A loud bang cut him off. A gunshot rang out and echoed around the park. I looked at Ivan. And he stared back. We both looked down at the crimson patch rapidly seeping across his white school shirt, where his stomach was. Once again, his eyes met mine, and I could see the terror in mine reflected in his. He took a shaky step towards me, like a toddler learning how to walk, and before I could reach out and grab him, he collapsed backwards. Through the space where he stood just 15 seconds ago, I saw Kay kick the drunk in the face, her own face ashen. I dropped to my knees on Ivan's righ side. She collapsed to his left. She lifted up his head and placed it on her lap while I tried to stem the flow of blood with my school scarf. Ivan clasped our hands tightly, his palms sweaty.

"Don't, Ivan, don't," whispered Kay as she wiped his sweaty brow. "The cops aren't far now. They'll be here any minute. Hold on. Just hold on."

"Ivan. Ivan, don't close your eyes," I pleaded desperately. "Please don't. Listen to me. Ivan, listen to me!" My eyes welled up with tears. I blinked rapidly, letting them fall. His breath was coming out in rattling gasps. I clasped his hand in both of mine, and doggedly hung on. "Don't leave us, you saved us, you're not supposed to leave us!"

Vick.... Kay.... I can't tell you... how much I... wanted to be your... friend," Ivan'e voice came out in gasps. "A-and I'm... glad that I'll... die..... with you by... my s-side.." Kay shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't say that Ivan. You're not going to die," she said softly, pleadingly. Ivan smiled feebly. He softly tugged on my hand like a little kid asking for something. I leaned in close.

"Vicky... don't leave me. I.... really... like..... you," his voice shook, then faded. His hand brushed away my tears, patted my cheek. "Will... you ... remember.... me?" I nodded, sobbing. "He pulled Kay in close. "Kay...." he whispered. "Kay, I.... love you." He smiled one last time, his eyes closing, and then he fell back against Kay, his hand limp. I stared in disbelief. Kay started sobbing uncontrollably.

"Ivan!" I said, shaking him. "Ivan!" I screamed. I was desperate. "No, no, NO! You're not supposed to die! I didn't see you die! It's not your time! Ivan! Ivan, come back!" A police siren cut into our screams. Screams that Ivan couldn't hear, and would never hear again. They were too late.

"Oh my God, Simon! Get over here!" A woman's voice rang out. "Girls, it's ok. It's going to be alright. Come on, up you get." A strong arm pulled me up but Kay still clung to Ivan's lifeless body. The policewoman gently peeled her off him and a policeman carried Ivan's limp body to the car. "Let's go to the hospital. Where's your attacker?"

Kay pointed, her hand shaking. The woman hoisted up the drunk, handcuffing him. She pulled him over to the car, and I was grateful that there were two. "Get in, you," she said roughly, pushing him in. She turned to us. "Come on, to the ther car. I'll sit in the back with you. Everything's going to be ok. Trust me."

We both knew she was lying.

*

In the car, Kay couldn't stop weeping. She looked so bewildered. As they placed Ivan's body on a hopsital stretcher, she kissed him on the head.

"He loved me," she whispered. "He'll always be my lion."