JAKE'S face was a mask of wanton anger.

It reminded Ríone of the psychopaths she and Derek sometimes saw in those slasher films. His eyes were wide like soup bowls and so red that she could not help but wonder if the capillaries in his eyes had burst. He looked haggard, gaunt. Sunken cheeks and dark circles graced his face.

His lips were a thin line that quivered like her heart. From her proximity, Ríone could see that he had torn bits of skin from his lips — an old childhood habit that he apparently had not let go of.

"Ja-ke," she said, her voice still hoarse, having vomited only moments ago. "What the hell are you doing? It's me, Ríone! Don't you recognise me?"

Tears welled in her eyes. She could not believe that it was her childhood best friend who stood in front of her. That it was the same man whom he had met only two days ago. What had changed in the last forty-eight hours to do this to him? Her mind was a muddle of such thoughts.

Her words had some impact on Jake. He dropped the rifle, the anger in his face swiftly changing into resignation. He walked away a few steps back from her and scratched his forehead, averting his gaze from her.

"Oh my goodness," he mumbled. "I can't believe I did that. I-I am so sorry. I thought you were someone else."

"Who did you think I was?" She straightened her posture. "What's wrong with you, Jake? You do not look fine to me. Are you sick?"

"No, no. Not that." He said, still not meeting her gaze.

"What is it? Something has happened for sure. Is that why you called me earlier?"

Jake's grip on his rifle tightened. He bit on his lips again, drawing blood in that process. When he looks back at Ríone, tears roll down his cheeks. His entire body trembled. 

"I don't wanna die, Río," his face is like that of a scared child. Begging, pleading. "I don't wanna die."

Ríone staggered towards her friend, putting her arms around his shoulder. "Hey, what are you speaking about? Who told you that you are going to die?"

"You do-n't understa-nd." He wept, hiding his face in her neck nook. "I am going to die, Río, I know it."

"You are not going to—"

Before Ríone could finish, Jake snapped out of the embrace. That frantic look was back on his face. He turned to his left and raised his rifle, shooting three bullets in that direction. The loud clang of gunshots reverberated in the forest. Then, silence. Everything stood still, as if holding their breath for something to happen. Ríone backed away from him, her mouth hanging open. What in the world was Jake doing?

"Go away!" He bellowed at the top of his voice. The veins in his throat throbbed like strings of an overused guitar. "You would not have me! Go away! Go away from me!"

Ríone turned to look in that direction. She could see nothing. There was no one there, nothing at all. Not even a stray pheasant. But Jake held his position, his body shaking non-stop. Her heart thudded in his chest. He was not okay. She could see that. She would need to get that rifle away from him. Now.

"Drop that off, Jake!" She tugged at his shirt. "At this rate, you are gonna hurt us both! Drop that now!"

"Can't you see it, Río? It's here! It's gonna kill me!"

"Drop that. Please, Jake. Please."

She sobbed. Salty tears danced down from her eyes. Her steps faltered as the cramps returned. She could feel something warm and sticky soaking the gauze and dripping onto her neck. A grimace took hold of her face.

But she was not at all prepared for what happened next.

Jake spasmed. The rifle fell from his faltering grip. His body contorted as if he were a mere puppet commanded by a master puppeteer. Wet gurgles escaped his lips. When he turned to face Ríone, she could not help but scream.

His lips were twisted at an awkward angle. Spit dribbled from a corner of his lips. His eyes flipped over, exposing the whites, which rolled within his sockets. He fumbled along the path like a mad leper trying to find his way into the darkness. Ríone moved farther away towards the tree where he earlier had cornered her.

"R-ío-ne," his words were garbled. He gasped for breath like a fish out of water. Watching with her eyes wide in horror, Ríone realised that something was choking him from within. "He-lp!"

Jake moved another step or two before falling face down on the ground. He made more of those nasty gurgling sounds, which made Ríone wince. For a moment or two, his fingers twitched. Once, twice. Then he went limp. No more sounds, no more twitches. He lay there still, his appearance akin to someone who had fallen asleep. Once more, silence reigned in the forests bordering Loutham.

"Jake?" Ríone called. "Jake?"

Getting no answer, she peered closer. He was too still. Was it some sort of seizure that he had? There was only one way to find out.

She took in deep breaths and walked towards him. Crouching on her toes, she shook him, first gently and then with more vigour. Still, she got no response. Elsewhere, her heart thudded even faster. Her chest heaved up and down as she struggled to breathe. Using all her strength, she tried to pull him towards her.

Jake's body rolled onto its back. His eyes had returned to normal, she noticed. But they gazed upwards in a sort of listless way. Her eyebrows tilted upwards. This was a gaze she was all too well familiar with. How many times had she gone to the supermarket and seen fish in the frozen meat section of the mart looking like that?

Ríone shook her head. No, it cannot be it. Fingers trembling, she took one of his arms in hers. Even as she did it, the limpness of his arm made her sweat. She pressed a finger against the corner of his hand.

Everything was still. No pulse that proved that he was still alive. The skin was still warm, but she could feel nothing beneath it. She pressed harder. Again, she met with failure.

"No, no, no!"

She cried out, placing her ear on his chest. Again, nothing. She placed her fingers on his neck. Nothing once more. More tears rolled down her cheeks. Ríone beat his chest with her fists, but even then she realised that what happened could not be overturned.

Jake was dead. He had left her. Gone forever. And somehow he knew it was going to happen. Perhaps that was why he had called her. To see her for one final time.

As her heart wrenching wails pierced the heart of the sky, Ríone Embers lost the last hope of her life.