Alex looked at her in fear. He didn’t want the only girl he loved to die. She was too innocent, too kind, too beautiful. But there was nothing he could do. He watched in horror as they brought a sword to her throat and she tensed in fear.

“Don’t!” Alex shouted. “I’ll take her place.”

“What!?” Taylor screamed.

“Alex, you'll die!” Tommy protested.

“Dude, what’s wrong with you?” Stuart asked frantically.

“I won’t sit here and watch her die.”

Alexander Matterson walked quietly over to the chair and held Taylor’s hands. They leaned in closer to each other and then kissed passionately. Alex knew that this would be the last time he would feel her warm embrace, or her soft lips, her delicate hands. But he also knew that if he let them kill her instead of him, that he’d never be able to live with himself/

“I just want you to know- one last time- that I love you Taylor Blakley. And I will always love you.” He whispered into her right ear.

“I’ll always love you too Alex.” She said in-between sobs.

Alex too her place in the chair and took a deep breath. He felt the cold blade of the sword against his neck. The rough commanding hands holding his head in place. He thought of his family, his friends, his home, and his final living thought, his girlfriend.

........................

And that was the last of Alexander James Matterson.