Chapter Ten

The gunshots continue for what feels like a lifetime, shouts and screams were also filling the air as people began to panic. Austin kept whispering in my ear that everything was going to be okay, he seemed calm though this whole ordeal which made me also calm down. My head didn't move from his chest as they continued, but in a single second they stopped. What followed was complete silence, the screaming or shouting that once was very evident was gone. With a scared expression, I look up at Austin who was looking down at me. Did we actually just survive that? "It's over, you're okay" he smiles hugging me slightly as I tried to calm down, I stare at the bedroom wall wondering what happened. One minute we were sat making dinner and joking around, the next complete chaos with Austin dragging me to my bedroom. "You saved my life" I say turning my head slowly to look up at Austin, while he shook his head with a smile. "I can't let anything happen to you can I?" He smiles looking me in the eyes, we stare at each other for a few seconds before loud knocks on the front door snap us out of the moment. "Wait here, okay?" He asks before rising to his feet and walking out of my bedroom, I didn't really want to be alone so I also get up and leave the room. As I reach my bedroom door, I see Austin open up the door where our neighbour from across the way was there. Out of breath asking if we were all okay. "We're fine, Payton is right through there" Austin turns to point at my bedroom, where he catches me slowly leaving the room and walking into the living room. "Roman is out of town for work, is anyone hurt?" Austin asks turning around to look at the man, while I walk up behind him so we were all now by the front door. "I'm doing my rounds now to make sure, but from what I can gather no one from this complex has been hurt. Now I know you're safe, I'll go check on everyone else" he smiles before turning around and walking down the steps to someone else's apartment. I take a look to Austin before walking past him and out our apartment, while he tells me to wait until he checked it was safe. As it was now around 11pm, the sun had gone down but the area was lit up with blue flashing lights. As I walk further into the cold night, I stop on the little balcony area we had before the steps. Outside were what could have been 50 police cars, all huddled around one area. In the middle of all those police cars, was a solo black car with all the windows smashed. Taking a look closer, I spot a young man laying on the floor near the open door of the car. Along with another man laying a few feet away, so people did end up getting hurt. Someone walking behind me placing a hand on my shoulder causes me to jump, Austin stood there sending me a synthetic smile before also looking out to the scene. "Come on Payton, you aren't going to want to see that" he says turning my body so I was facing away and to our house, I nod my head agreeing with him. He wraps his arm around my shoulders, leading me away from the scene and into our apartment. Once inside, he turns around locking the door with the lock while also putting the chain on. I smile thanking him before looking around our home, a place where I normally feel safe from all the horrors going on outside. But right now, I didn't feel safe at all. "I think it's better if we head to bed, it's getting late" Austin says from behind me, I don't speak but nod smiling before heading to my bedroom alone. I lay in bed for what feels like hours, I kept tossing and turning trying to get off to sleep but couldn't. Every time I would close my eyes, the image of the two men laying there would come to my mind. I turn to the side to take a look at the clock, where I discover it's 2am. I wish Roman was here, laying in bed all alone is just causing the fear to make an appearance. Maybe Austin is still awake, I'm not the only person that went through what just happened. I decide I couldn't just lay in bed not being able to fall asleep, so I get up and start making my way to my to Austin's room. In no time, I reach his bedroom door where I debate whether or not to knock. With a nod of the head, I bring my hand up and knock twice. "Come in" his voice says from inside, from the initial sound of his voice it didn't sound like he'd been asleep. I open up his door slowly, where I see him sat up in bed smiling at me. His eyes didn't look like he'd been sleeping either, maybe I was right. "Couldn't sleep either?" He asks with a little smile, I shake my head sighing a little where he lifts the blanket up go the other side of the bed. "Join me" he says in mystic type voice which makes me laugh, I smile walking over climbing into bed beside him. We don't talk for a few minutes, now I wasn't alone I felt much safer than I did before. I would take a look to Austin who would smile back at me, but soon turn away to look at the window. "You wanna know what's funny, if someone told me a month ago that you and I would be sitting in the same bed, I would have thought they were crazy, but look" he laughs looking over at me, I laugh nodding my head along with him. Never did I think Austin and I would be getting this close, let alone him saving my life back there. But if I'm being honest, never did I imagine being put in a situation like that. So much can change in a matter of weeks. "Lucky Roman isn't here" I smile while Austin rolls his eyes, but does end up smiling at my comment. "Thank you Austin" I smile leaning in for a hug to thank him, I don't think my thank you was enough last time. "Hey, I need to keep you in one piece, you'd be no use to me in pieces" he jokes but does hold me tightly in his arms, I smile where my eyes begin to drop. "You're important to me Payton, more than you think, you always have" he whispers but before my mind could comprehend what he said, I drop to sleep.