"Don't say my name like you know me."
"I do know you."
"No."
Charlie shakes her head. "You know the girl who helped you study. The girl who listened to you cry. The girl who made sure you got home safe. The girl who pretended she wasn't dying every time someone mentioned family." She points the gun at me. "You do not get to say you know me."
The sound of a car door slamming echoes through the lot.
Then another.
Then another.
Axel mutters one word. "Shit."
I don't have to turn around to know we’re surrounded now. And that it’s not by good guys with cheerful intentions. He wants the list and the only way out of this alive…is to hand it over.
Jude’s father's voice cuts through the night. His eyes drift toward Charlie. “Are you really gonna fucking shoot your father?”
"I should." She says through clenched teeth.
"You won't, you’re built more like your mother. Easy prey, weak, you aren’t a killer." He sneers. “You don’t have it in yourblood to be anything more than average at best, which is fine, forgettable but fine. Now hand over the gun.”
The bastard doesn’t know when to stop talking. He thinks he’s disarming her further, but he doesn’t know Charlie; he’s enraging her. This tactic only works on people who have something to lose, who are full of fear. But I can see the truth on her face. She has no regrets, no fear. Everything has led her to this moment.
His eyes flick toward Jude. "You're too much like your brother."
I feel sick.
Charlie laughs, but there's nothing funny in it. "I'm nothing like him."
"No?" Jude’s father takes one step forward.
"I got rid of you because your mother was inconvenient. I got rid of him becausehewas inconvenient. That is, until I needed him for a one small purpose.” He shrugs. “I truly fail to see the difference.”
I grip Jude’s arm. "What is he talking about?"
Charlie wipes angrily at her tears. "I'm talking about the fact that I'm done being everyone's secret."
She points the gun at Axel. "The list."
Axel doesn't move.
"The list, Axel!" she screams. “Give it to me now!”
"It won’t fix anything. Can’t you just trust me, Charlie? Trust that I would never hurt you, that this can’t hurt you or fix you."
"You owe me." It’s like she can’t even hear him.
"I know," he says.
"I have been chasing this thing for years!" Her voice cracks. "I need that list!"
Axel's hand tightens around the drive. "Charlie..."
She screams. "Don't you dare!"
In one motion, Axel lifts the drive toward his mouth. "I'll swallow it."
