AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No no no no no NO NO!
Gunfire. Two shots ring out.
The pale beige walls of the foyer slowly come into focus. I’m panting, kneeling on the floor, facing – oh fuck – why am I facing the open door to Mark’s room?
Oh God no, please no! What have I done?
Did I shoot him?
No no no no no!
I hear distant voices. Lila. Tucker. And wailing. Someone is wailing. Not in the distance. Here. I drop my gun and cover my ears with my hands.
Make it stop! Make it stop!
“Charlie?” The voice is so far away. It sounds like Mark, but it can’t be.
It’s not Mark. It’s in my head again. He’s dead. He’s dead. I killed him. He’s dead.
I want to die. Just let me die.
“Charlie? You’re okay. You’re safe. We’re all safe.”
Lila’s voice. Soft hands touch my face. Her gentle voice is beside my ear.
“I shot him!”
The wailing noise is coming from me.
“No, Charlie. Mark’s fine. He’s safe. You didn’t shoot him. You shot the wall. You just shot the wall. Everyone’s okay.”
“I shot him.”
Lila’s fingers cup my face. “No one’s hurt. Tucker and I are here. Mark is fine. Everything’s fine. Open your eyes, Charlie. Mark’s fine.”
“I shot him.”
“No, Charlie. It’s okay. I promise. Everyone’s safe. Mark’s right here. Open your eyes.”
Please don’t be dead. Please don’t be dead. Please don’t be dead.
I open my eyes. Lila kneels beside me, her eyes anxious.
I look up. Mark’s there, leaning on his crutches. His light blue eyes zero in on me. He’s pale and shaken, but very much alive. Not bleeding. Not dead.
I didn’t shoot him.
Not this time.
Oh, fuck.
Not this time.
But what about next time?
Tucker appears and ushers Mark into his room, closing the door, and I fall apart. Lila wraps her arms around me and rides out the storm.
It’s a bad one.
