Julianna

Stop. Or I'll shoot.

I would recognize that voice in my sleep. It washed over me like boiling water on icy glass, sending cracks right through me.

Espinoza.

He was standing at the far end of the alleyway where I had come from, legs in a wide stance, gun pointed.

I knew how we looked; Roman gripping me too tightly, leaning in too closely, me beating at his chest. It looked like Roman was hurting me. It looked like I was trying to make him let go of me. Espo didn't know the truth that lay beneath us. He only saw what was on the surface. He only saw what his prejudice would allow him to see.

Everything slowed down to a sticky crawl, like the world was suddenly drowning underwater. My heartbeat thudded, low and muffled in my ears.

Several things happened at once. Espinoza cocked his gun, the black evil eye of it focused on Roman.

"No, wait!" I screamed as Roman shoved me behind him, trying to shield me with his body. His movements were too fast. You don't make fast movements in front of a cop with a gun.

Don't shoot!But before I could get these words out, the boom of Espo's gun was reverberating through the air in sticky waves, drowning out my scream.

Something collided with Roman's body from the side. Mercutio. Mercutio had thrown himself at Roman. They were both going down. Down towards the dirty black earth.