Page 135 of Forever Gone

“I know exactly what you think they did. You let four women make a decision for you, then spent months telling other women to do the same thing. When Andrew moved on, you needed someone else to carry the blame.”

Carol’s breathing quickened.

Selena saw the moment her words reached whatever remained beneath the certainty. The knife dipped by an inch.

“Put it down,” Selena said. “You can still choose what happens next.”

Carol stared at Deb.

“She was the worst.”

“Then let her live with knowing that.”

A broken sound came from Deb. “Carol...”

Carol froze.

Deb’s voice was barely audible beneath Selena. “I’m sorry you were hurt. But I didn’t choose for you.”

The knife trembled.

Selena felt Deb’s breath against her sleeve. Speaking had cost her what little strength remained, but the words had reached Carol in a way Selena’s argument had not.

For a second, grief replaced the anger.

Then Carol’s mouth hardened.

Deb shifted under Selena, a faint tremor passing through her.

Carol took another step.

The blade lifted above her shoulder.

Selena lowered her head over Deb’s.

“I’ll cut through you to make her pay!”

“Carol, drop the knife!” Kelly shouted.

Carol did not turn toward the stairs.

The knife remained raised. There was no going back for any of them.

Two shots rang out.

The first punched Carol forward. The second turned her sideways. The knife fell and clattered beneath the shelves.

Carol struck the concrete near the bottom step.

Selena heard Kelly descend, but the sound stretched and distorted. Her vision narrowed around the fallen flashlight and the pale strip it cast across the wall.

Kelly reached her and kicked the knife away.

“Selena, stay with me.”

Selena tried to answer.

No words came.