The street light above Rebecca burned with its usual intensity. Sounds around her began to fade, muffled at first, then drifting away as if on the wind. Even the darkness of the evening seemed to creep in on the sole source of light, hovering in the sky above her. What appeared to be twenty feet or so, might as well have been twenty miles.<br/><br/>No one around her came to her aid. No one cried out in shock or surprise. No voice screamed, 'Call 911!' like in the movies. No, the street was mostly deserted, and the few people nearby were involved in their own problems and issues, and had no idea that a woman lay dying on a street-corner not far away. A few cars passed, but in the darkness, no one saw her - and even if one did, would they dare stop in this neighborhood, after dark, to lend help to a stranger? Not likely.<br/><br/>But the streetlamp above her seemed to grow fuzzy for a moment, as if it were dimming. This might even cause Rebecca's heart to race quicker, thinking that possibly, the end was quickly growing nearer. But instead, as her eyes focused somewhat, she could see that it was a person - a man, standing beside her, looking down at her. He looked to be in his 20s, rouch-shaven with dark brown hair. Bright eyes looked down at her, and there seemed to be almost the hint of a smile on his lips. He wore a black trench-coat, his hands stuffed in his pockets out of sight. His eyes roamed down her unmoving body - and then back up, stopping at the hole in her chest where a rest stain slowly spreading, slowly growing across her shirt.<br/><br/>"Not long, now," he whispered, his voice sound almost sad. "Perhaps another minute... maybe two, and then... darkness," he said. He made no move to help her, no move to stop the blood flow or call for help.He stared at her for a long moment, seconds ticking by, each one a tick of her life draining away. It was as if he was... considering something. Maybe he was thinking of helping her, or going for help? Maybe he was thinking of robbing her while she was unable to resist? Or maybe he just had some sort of morbid fascination with watching her life-force ebb away?<br/><br/>"I can help you," he said, hoping that got her attention. "But to do so, you must swear to me, Rebecca... you must swear to me that you will -change-. That you will allow me to help you change. You can not continue on as you have so far in this wasted life of yours. Promise me you will change - and I will save you..." How did he know her name?<br/><br/>He finally moved, kneeling down now beside her on one knee, his arms folded on the knee that did not rest on the ground. "Or... remain silent, and open your arms to the sweet bliss of emptiness..."<br/><br/><img alt="[​IMG]" class="bbCodeImage LbImage" data-url="http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg481/indytims/Bradley_zpse5aab867.jpg" src="http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg481/indytims/Bradley_zpse5aab867.jpg" style=""/><div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>