“What do you mean he vanished?” asks Charlotte. “A person just doesn’t disappear. Something must have happened.”

“Yes, but—” starts Jaylen.

Bamb!

“Everyone put your hands up!” a man in a ski mask yells to everyone, holding up a semi-automatic rifle. Everyone does as the man says. Behind him are his other goons. All of them are dressed in all black. Each of them holds a type of gun. One of them holds rifles, six are holding pistols, and one of them is holding a submachine gun. “I demand to see the owner of this establishment. He has something of high value that we want. Bring him here or I’ll kill everyone here!”

“I’m scared!” cries a little girl holding a tiny brown bear. “Mommy!”

“Shut up, kid!” one of the guys holding a pistol says as he fires a warning shot at the girl. The girl quivers from the sound but stays quiet. Tears are streaming from her eyes.

What’s with all the crime happening lately? It was always peaceful here. So why has our peaceful town become a hangout for crime?

If I could only call the cops. These guys would be all rounded up and Charlotte wouldn’t have to deal with this.

“Jaylen, can you move a bit in front of me, I’m going to attempt to contact the police,” whispers Charlotte. Jaylen complies as Charlotte slowly takes out her phone and dials 911.

This is dangerous. If any of those thugs see Charlotte, they’re going to kill her. I feel so pathetic. As her brother, I can’t do anything for her. She lost her husband and I couldn’t comfort her. Now the restaurant is under siege and I can’t protect her.

“Hello, I need police to Sapori D’Italia,” whispers Charlotte. “There are some thugs with guns here. There are I think eight of them inside the building. Please—”

“Boss, that woman is calling the cops!” yells the guy with the rifle.

“****!” Jaylen swears.

“Drop the phone and move away from the man in the glasses,” demands the guy with the submachine gun. “NOW!” Charlotte complies.

“Leave my sister alone!” I yell at the thugs’ boss. I try to take off his ski mask, but of course, my hands can’t act with any matter outside of my own personal dimension.

“What should we do with her boss?” asks one of the thugs.

“Kill her,” he replies.

“Understood,” the thug with the submachine gun replies as he points his gun at Charlotte.

“NO!” both Jaylen and I say as we both block the path of the bullets that spiral out of the submachine gun which is going 300 rounds a minute.

The bullets pass through me and continue in Jaylen’s direction. Each one nails him in the back of his head, legs, neck, and back.

“NO!” cries Charlotte. Blood and flesh flies everywhere as Jaylen’s body is torn to bits.

With his last breath, Jaylen says, “I just wanted to let you know that I’ve always loved you.” Even with his spirit gone, Jaylen’s body still stands in front of Charlotte, protecting her.

EEOOEEOOEE! Sirens can be heard from outside. Red and blue light flash in through the glass. Before the thugs realize what was going on, they were completely surrounded by a squad of police with their guns raised. The thugs were swiftly taken into custody. With knowing that Charlotte is safe, Jaylen’s dead body finally falls to the floor in pieces.