Only Kyle Sequel: Only a Matter of Time

Part 4: Alone with no way out

"Marcus!" Melissa called, "what are we going to do with this one?" She nudged Zach in the back as he looked on helpless.

"Zach? Is that you?" Marcus asked, "long time no see buddy!"

"Fortunately," Zach muttered, causing Melissa to dig the blade of the knife deeper into his throat. I gasped as I watched him grit his teeth and try to push the pain away.

"Please!" I protested, "d-don't hurt him!"

"Wow, you are demanding," Marcus sighed, "first it's 'Let me go!' then, 'I need to go home!' and now it's 'Please! Don't hurt him!' Do you ever take a break?"

I felt the blood rise to my cheeks and I looked away briefly, still keeping Zach in the corner of my eye. What could I do to help him? Or even...save him? Zach had done too much for me, and I couldn't just stand back and watch him be killed by Melissa or Marcus.

"What use is it to you if you kill Zach?" Kyle asked, stepping in for me while I tried to gain some confidence back.

Melissa shrugged and turned herself and Zach to see us. "Nothing really. Blackmail I suppose."

"Blackmail?" I squeaked, watching the familiar smirk return to Melissa's lips.

"I'll take it from here!" Marcus called as he began to walk towards us slowly. He ruffled Zach's hair as he past him, much to Zach's annoyance.

"I have a little deal for you," Marcus said as Kyle and I eyed him suspiciously. "For Zach's freedom, one of you has to join this side. You win one you lose one."

My eyes widened, looking at the corner of my eye to see Kyle looking quite stunned also.

"No." Kyle answered. I looked at him wildly. What was he doing? He was just going to let Zach die?

"I'll do it." I said quickly, surprised by the voice that had just spoken those words. To my astonishment, it was mine.

Kyle pulled my forearm and turned our backs away from Marcus and the others.

"What are you thinking?" Kyle whispered, "have you gone insane?"

"We can't just let Zach die, Kyle," I replied, "he's done too much for me. For us."

Kyle's expression softened, and his blue eyes looked into mine deeply. He knew what I was talking about, and he somehow felt guilty for it.

"You'll be trapped here forever," he whispered, "and you're so young Jessica," he sighed, closing his eyes for a few seconds, "there's so much you haven't done yet."

"I just need to," I replied, "I can't let him die."

"Then let me do it," Kyle said, "I'll stay here."

"No," I shook my head quickly, "you have a job. You and Zach are both guardians...you can't lose that."

Kyle sighed, defeat in his eyes as he looked at me. "Don't do this," he pleaded, "for me. Don't be a martyr."

"Tick Tock love birds!" Marcus called, causing me to look away from Kyle for a brief second.

"Goodbye, Kyle." I said shakily as I made my way towards Marcus, leaving him behind me.

This was the only option left if we wanted to save Zach. I didn't want to be stuck here forever, I was absolutely terrified don't get me wrong, but maybe I could pay him back this way, to give back everything he did for me with Kyle.

"Decision made?" Marcus asked me as I looked back to Kyle, nodding my head.

"Melissa," Marcus instructed, signalling for Zach to be freed. She removed the knife from his neck and he stumbled slightly, Kyle steading him as he gained his balance.

"Well, we'll be seeing you around then," Marcus waved, "drop by if you will."

"They'll be no need," Zach said before he grabbed me out of Marcus's grasp, pulling me back to Kyle.

"Close your eyes tightly," Zach commanded, and I was in too much shock to do anything else than as he said. I closed my eyes tightly despite feeling more venerable with no sight, and I felt another had hold onto me, more gently this time.

"Hold on," I heard Kyle whisper, before I felt a strange pull of gravity being pushed towards me. I almost felt a restriction on my chest, and my blood going to my head. What was happening? Where was Marcus? What was Zach thinking?

I felt the gravity return to me after the next few seconds, and I was able to feel everything around me more steadily. I was definitely on the ground, but I was still too scared to pull my eyelids open, almost not wanting to see where I was but instead holding onto Zach and Kyle safely.

"Open your eyes Jessica," I heard Kyle say to me. I took a deep breath and did as he said, before taking the air quickly back into my lungs with shock.

I looked around with wide eyes.

No...It...wasn't possible!