Crystals by Theresa L. Henry Page A

seized the opportunity to swipe his legs from under him.
The sleek cobblestones mixed in with engine oil gave him no purchase in his
dress shoes. Before he could fully process what was happening, he was flat on
his back. About to scramble to his feet, Shane blinked once and remained
perfectly still.
    The knife was
hovering somewhere over his chest. He couldn’t see the face of the man who held
the knife as he wore a mask. He didn’t need to because his gaze held Shane’s
complete attention. He was looking into eyes that reflected fear and it scared
the shit out of him. This man was an amateur and that meant he was
unpredictable. He also appeared to be as high as a kite.
    His attacker was
wearing a tattered coat that smelled as though he hadn’t taken a bath in a
year. The hand holding the knife shook so much Shane ’s mind
screamed at him to attempt to defuse the situation before the junkie did
something stupid.
    “Do it!” Came a
disembodied voice from behind him.
    “Shut up! Just
shut up. I never agreed to cut no-one!”
    “If you want your
shit, you better do what I say.”
    “Don’t listen to
him,” Shane countered in a calm voice even as his heart pounded.
    The junkie
wavered, his eyes darting around as he used his free hand to swipe under his
nose. Shane saw his chance and took it. Raising his leg, he delivered a direct
kick to the man’s groin. As the stinking attacker fell back in agony, he
dropped his weapon.
    Shane lunged
towards the fallen knife. About to grab the handle of the blade, it remained
just out of his reach when a vice-like grip around his throat pulled him to his
feet. Since the beginning of his attack, adrenaline had been his constant
companion, now rage joined the fray.
    He had no idea
what this attack was about. From the condition of the man he’d been able to
see, and smell, he could only assume they were after money to feed their habit.
All he knew with a certainty was that if these pieces of shit thought they
could take what he had worked his arse off for, he was about to dissuade them.
    About to ram his
elbow into the gut of the man choking him, he felt something pass from his ear
towards his throat. By the time his mind fully processed what had happened, he
felt a searing pain followed by a gush of warmth that flowed down his neck. A
perfect stranger had just cut his throat.
    A feeling of
disembodiment washed over him and brought with it the sense that he was going
to die. His life was just beginning, and he would never have the chance to live
it.
    All his thoughts
were on Crystal. She was still angry with him, and now he had lost the
opportunity to explain about his family. He hoped she wouldn’t be too sad at
his passing. He didn’t want her life to be touched with sadness because of his
murder. All he wanted for his love was a life filled with happiness. That was
Shane’s final thought as darkness claimed him.
    ~~~
    Crystal awoke from
a fitful night’s sleep. The moment her eyes opened, thoughts of the previous
evening’s revelations rushed into her mind. Wanting nothing more than to bury
her head beneath her pillow and go back to sleep, she became aware of odd
sounds emanating from inside her house.
    Listening
carefully, she heard one loud voice that she identified as Dara’s and another
shushing her that sounded like Fern. Why her cousins thought it was acceptable
to invade her house whenever they liked, was something she had given up trying
to decipher years ago. Giving them a key to her home had been a big mistake
because they turned up whenever they had a mind to.
    Heaving a deep
sigh, she threw back the covers and got out of bed. In a T-shirt and bare feet,
she headed towards the sounds of their voices.
    “Why are you
people in my house?”
    “Oh, you’re
awake!” Dara, the youngest of the sisters, said.
    “How could she be
anything else with you running your mouth! ” Fern
taunted before turning to her cousin. “Are you okay, Crystal?”
    “We made