Chapter 3: Prayers for the Slayers Part III

The instant Jason heard that Chelsea's life was in danger he didn't hesitate to head for the roof. Nikolai followed, running right behind him. Jason's heart was beating fast, he was breathing hard as his body tried to propel himself forward, anyone who saw him running could tell he could have taken great leaps on his journey from the cafeteria to the rooftop.

Slater saw a group of civilians gathered around Chelsea who had climbed onto the roof of a small room that had generators on top of itself. Chelsea was a few steps away from jumping straight into the parking lot if she desired. Mia, who was present, touched her stomach and caressed it as she had a very strong pain on it.

On the other hand, Bryan and Markus implored her not to do it. Cindy who was on the scene asked Chelsea to come down, that they would talk about the situation and if there was anything to talk about because of what happened at the gun store they could all help.

—Get down from there, please! Don't do anything extreme, Chelsea! Suicide is not the option! —Jason stretched his arms up towards Chelsea as it was something his body was "commanding" him to do, even if it was an unconscious movement.

—There's nothing to do, Jason! We're all doomed! I know... I've been thinking all this time and... I know there's no hope. I can't live, Jason... I can't live like this! I'm so scared... I'm terrified! I'm so scared I don't know what to do... Everything is so confusing! My friends died... My boyfriend left me because I pushed him away myself... Damn it! I can't even look at my legs because a pig tore my skin open and branded his name with a knife! I feel so dirty, Jason! —Chelsea began to cry. With every civilian that approached she screamed at them and told them she was going to jump.

—You can't do this, Chelsea! Killing yourself would be like letting your attackers win! We've all suffered with what's happening! We feel so weak, so tiny and helpless... We're tired! But we try to do our best to deal with the situation.

—I feel so empty! I don't want to go on, Jason! This thing of being alive is not for me... I don't like it, I don't want it, and I don't want it for anyone else either. We're just delaying the inevitable! Life is meaningless now that we know that when we die we come back like them! There is no hope, Jason... there is no hope, just like there is no god and no "other side" either, we are just this... sacks of flesh and blood waiting to be opened by those bastards. If I want to die, I want to do it on my own! I want to know that I used what little courage I had left to leave with dignity. Let me go, Jason! Please, I want to go!

Jason bit his lips, helpless, for he could not believe that such a young life wanted to wither away so early.

—You dying now is a disgrace, Chelsea! You're young, you're beautiful, and you've survived so much that even I wouldn't be able to endure! Life is not a walk in the park! We know that, but to give up... to throw the towel like this... I'm not telling you that dying like this isn't dignified! Or that as a rule you should perish by being devoured by them... I'm just telling you not to give up like this! I know we barely know each other, I know this is barely working because we're constantly growing but don't give up, Chelsea!

—That's a big lie! It does me no good to be so young and so beautiful if I don't feel like one! I feel like a dirty whore. My family is probably dead! My boyfriend too. I have no one left... and you're strangers! You don't understand what I'm feeling! You have no idea how much I want to die!

—We may have no idea what you're feeling, but let us understand! Help us understand you! —Slater clasped his hands together and pleaded. —Let us help you, Chelsea!

—Help me by dying, Jason! Please! My body isn't mine anymore! I don't feel the same anymore... I don't want this anymore. All I feel is pain! Every time I go to the bathroom it burns to pee! I pee blood! Every time I look at my body I only see an object, I see a horrible, mutilated body that will never be the same again. I should have died with the other girls in the gun store! I don't want to live anymore! I don't want to... I don't want to do this anymore. I'm so tired... I haven't slept well these days because the voices are drilling in my head. I close my eyes and all I see are their yellowed teeth preceded by their sickly smiles! Understand me! I'm not good for this! I feel so left out, so desolate, I am comforted by the fact that once I die all the pain I feel will disappear! I've had enough of the sound of gunshots, I've had enough of these memories that torment me so much... I've had enough...

—Cindy, please say something to her! —Jason turned to Milford who, like him, was stunned,

—I've been through what you've been through and I'm FURIOUS that I never had a chance to defend myself! I'm a survivor like you too! You're so pretty and so young! It would be completely horrible for your life to disappear like this when of all people you're the one who deserves another chance to go on! Don't do this to us! —Cindy wanted to get a little closer but Chelsea took a step back and, as she turned around, she saw the parking lot.

It would be a big fall.

—Jason? —Chelsea looked at the leader of the group and gave him a big smile.

—What's wrong, Chelsea? Come down, please! Come on down and... let's talk, let's talk about this...

—Thank you so much for having me in your group! But my time has come... It doesn't matter if I live ten, twenty or thirty more years... nothing will change the fact that I am marked... It's selfish of you to keep me tied to life when I don't want to be here anymore! I know I could have contributed more... that maybe I could have been in conflict with myself and tried to get help... but this is not... this thing about living is not for me. I have seen women being tortured to death, I can still hear their screams, I can still see their faces looking at me in despair as they were raped and those bastards do things to them... That is why I have made the decision to leave! I have no family, no friends... they're all dead, and it's time for me to leave here too!

—Don't jump, please!

Jason ran forward, and by the time he climbed up the ladder leading to that section of the rooftop, he was too late.

By the time Jason climbed up, Chelsea held out her arms and gave him one last smile. Jason tried to run up to her but by then she propelled herself backwards. Jason remained kneeling on the ground as he heard the impact of a windshield and, how a car alarm began to sound.

Jason looked at the stone floor, looked at the regenerators, looked at his hands. His eyes began to sparkle and soon the tears descended. Jason bit his lips and clenched his fists. He felt his body warm, how his chest swelled and the act of breathing was difficult.

The leader began to get furious and, he had Nikolai next to him who put a hand on him and tried to comfort him by shaking his left shoulder. Jason hurt his right hand when he hit the ground and, soon after, got up.

Chelsea Blackwell is Dead.

## Next Chapter

Chapter 3: Prayers for the Slayers Part IV