Chapter 22

Gianna was surrounded and had no way to dodge the stab. Her face turned pale as fear locked her in place. She squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for the pain. Time seemed to slow. Everything around her went quiet, so quiet that she could hear her own breathing. But the pain she expected never came. After a while, sudden screams erupted around her. "Call an ambulance!" "Move back! Give him some space to breathe!" "Gianna, Gianna! Are you hurt?" A familiar pair of arms pulled Gianna into a tight embrace. She quickly opened her eyes and touched her own face in a daze. Then, the metallic scent of blood hit her. Only then did she realize that someone had been injured, but it wasn't her. Suddenly, someone clutched the hem of her dress. Gianna looked down and saw Shane collapsed at her feet. Blood was pouring out from a deep stab wound in his abdomen. He used the last of his strength to look up at her, asking slowly and painfully, "Are you okay?" Shane had taken the stab for he