Not Fade Away

Dante led me out on to the dance floor, the cape of his vampire costume sweeping against his legs. We daned for a while, while Missy and Pascal watched from a distance.
When we got back, Pascal was listening to the music. "Your band is very good," he said to Dante. "Have you ever thought about signing for a record deal?"
Dante snorted. "No, becase to do that we would have to be talented."
We laughed, and assured Dante that the band was amazing.
"I have to go out and check on something," he whispered in my ear. "I'll be back i a few minutes."
I watced him walk out, my face flushed with excitement.
But few minutes turned into fifteen minutes, and fifteen minutes turned into a half an hour. He still didnt return. I got up, planning to investigate. I walked out of the club, holding the skirts of my countes dress so as not to trip.
Dante wasnt out front with his Mustang. Nor was he out back. It was only when I heard the drunken laughter that I checked in the alleyway.
The men were familiar. They were all grinning, taking turns kicking the lifeless mound on the ground, their loud guffaws filling the air.
Memories rushed into me, memories of a bleeding neck, the wild look of Dante's eyes as he tried to protect me, a snarling Wolf, gunshots. The hard, glassy look in Dante's eyes as he fought to keep his pride while saving my life. Fear. Most of all fear.
It was the same thuggish guys. They reeked of beer and smoke.
The lifeless heap on the ground wasnt moving, but I could tell it had dark hair.
I dont really know when I began to scream, but I did. They guys turned their big ugly heads to me, swaying drunkenly. Running didnt even cross my mind; I knew Dante was hurt. I couldnt run. But the men were wobbling toward me, and one pulled out a knife. Ante and I had turned thepistols in, so there was no way of them having gotten the guns. But the knife was pretty scary, too.
The lead guy grabbed my wrist, saying, "Well, look at this! He still carting you around there, Baby?"
His grip on my arm was like iron. I felt so weak in his grasp, because no amount of pulling was giving way.
"Well, boys, whadda'ya say to getting what we wanted from her in the first plce?" the lead guy asked. The other ones cheered, roaring with delight. I tried feebily to pull away.
I coudnt help the tears steaming down my face. The guy's big, horrible face came close to mine, and he combined smell of alchahol and peppermint made me nautious. I mustered up some courage, and spat in his face. He slapped me.
I knew that I was going to die. And if Dante was already dead, maybe it was worth it. No amount of anti-sexist, politicaly correct garbage was going to fix it; I just wasnt strong enough for all four guys.
One held my arms, while the lead guy proceded to unlace my dress. I still faught, as hard as I could. I screamed, hoping that somebody inside the club would hear. But the music was loud. I had little hope.
I decided that I would think happy thoughts arounf the time the guy was ahlf-way through with de-lacing me. My thoughts were not of this dirty alley and scum-bag men, but of Dante and I's clearing in the forest. Of how we had chased eachother and swam and laughed, among other things. And of his voice, singing in his sharp accent, while those increadiby blue eyes glinted at me. Of our midnight walks, with Wolf padding along with us with no need of a leash. Of the time in the hospital room, when I had first kissed him, feeling more weightless and alive than ever.
Alive.
Dante had to be alive.
So I had to stay alive, too, to save him.
Comming out of my happy trance was hard, especialy when rough hands were just getting done with unlacing. I kicked out viciously, scoring his groin. In a blur, the guy that held me was on the ground, whimpering. I groped for the knife.
I heard voices. Frinedly, concerned voices. A group was comming out of the club, Missy and Pascal leading the way, along with Dante's band. Club security jumped into the fight, and the scummy guys were tied up withing minutes.
"Help," I gasped. "Dante... He's hurt..."
Missy already had her cell phone and was diling for 911.
A few minutes later, I was in an ambulance with Dante, who was on a gurny. The medical guy back there with us was on a radio, telling the hospital to save a place in the ER.
"Broken ribs. Possibly internal bleeding or puntered lung. Bleeding from the nose, mouth-"
"No," I said, "Thats fake. "We dresed up as vampires, you see..."
The man rolled his eyes. "Never mind that last bit, Karen..."
A pitiful voice came from the gurny. "Cass..."
"Dante! Oh, God..."
"Are you okay? Those guys saw me, and..."
"They tried to get at me Dante, but their gone now. I'm fine, but we're taking you to the emergency room."
"Cass?" he said in the barest of whispers.
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
Damn, I thought. "Dont start that. No goodbyes. You'll be fine."
His blue eyes blinked innocently up at me. "I love you, Cassandra Suton. Do you love me?"
I gulped, tears flooding from my eyes. "Yes. I love you, Dante Doyle, with all my heart. Dont leave me. Dont fade away on me."
Dante chuckled breathlessly. "I'll be okay. I'll be okay. I love you so much, Cass..."
He kept mumbling as the lighst and siren flashed,and we sped towards the hospital.