"Links to Death"

"Hey, Link, can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked, trying to sound casual despite the urgency in my voice. Link Neal looked at me curiously, but nodded and followed us to a nearby bench. "I've been seeing all these news articles about people named Link who have died in really nasty ways," I said, taking a deep breath. "I don't know if you're aware, but...it's getting really scary." Link Neal's expression changed from curious to concerned. "What do you mean? What's going on?" I took another deep breath and began to list the seven most notable people named Link who had passed away. "Okay, well, there's Chester Bennington, the lead singer of Linkin Park. He was found hanging in his studio with a belt around his neck. The police said it looked like he had taken his own life, but...it was just so tragic." Link Neal's eyes widened, but he nodded for me to continue. "Then there's Link from The Legend of Zelda. I know he's a fictional character, but...it was still really shocking to see him go. He was found stabbed in a dark alley, with a sword lodged in his chest." Link Neal's face was intent, but I could tell he was trying to process what I was saying. "Next was Link Hoffman, the artist. He was found burned beyond recognition in his studio, with paint splatters all over the walls. The police said it looked like a fire had started accidentally, but...it was just so gruesome." Link Neal's eyes were wide with concern now, but he still didn't seem to understand the full extent of what I was saying. "Then there's Link Nelson, the musician. He was found drowned in his bathtub, with his guitar still clutched in his hand. The police said it looked like he had been playing music right before he died." I took a deep breath and continued. "There's also Link Wray, the musician, who was found shot in the head with a bullet wound. The police said it looked like a robbery gone wrong, but...it was just so senseless." Link Neal's face was pale now, but he was still listening. "Next was Link Wray's son, also named Link, who was found electrocuted in his home, with a power cord still wrapped around his body. The police said it looked like an accident, but...it was just so tragic." Finally, I mentioned the last one. "And the most recent one was Link Lewis, the athlete, who was found crushed under a fallen tree, with a severe head injury. The police said it looked like a freak accident, but...it was just so devastating." As I finished listing the seven Links, Link Neal's face was ashen. He looked like he was in shock. But before he could respond, a car came speeding around the corner and slammed on its brakes, skidding on the pavement. Link Neal, still distracted, didn't notice the car and stepped off the curb into its path. Olivia and I screamed as the car hit Link Neal, sending him flying through the air. He landed with a thud, his body crumpling to the ground. I rushed to his side, tears streaming down my face. "Link! Oh no, Link!" I cried, holding his hand. Olivia was crying too, her body shaking with sobs. "This is all my fault! We should have warned him sooner!" But as we looked at Link Neal, we saw that he was still alive, although badly hurt. He was bleeding from his head and his leg was twisted at an awkward angle. As we waited for the ambulance to arrive, Link Neal looked up at us with a faint smile. "I...I think I'm okay," he whispered, wincing in pain. I stared at him in shock. He was the first Link to survive. What did it mean? Was he somehow immune to the curse? I didn't know, but I was determined to find out.