All this time, he was hiding the truth. Maybe he didn’t lie, but he disguised it perfectly with his charm.
My knuckles are no longer white from how hard I was holding the shovel. I let his words sink in and seep into my openheart until it bleeds into my next decision. I want to believe him. I need to believe him. This situation is incredibly impossible.
Suddenly, a beam of light and orbs surround him, and I get this overwhelming sensation of peace. It’s the ghosts again, presenting themselves as bright glimmering lights, like a beacon of encouragement.
“It was real. What I feel for you is real, and you know it,” he says, his voice dripping with ease. His hand searches for mine, and I look at it, tempted to grab it.
“Gavin Ariksen is just like his father. Arrested for being the Copycat Sleepy Coldwater Serial Killer and escaped prison. He brought you here because he stalked you. Invited you. Reeled you in. Fed you lies. Like father,” Maya says with a twisted tone to her cold voice. “Like son.”
“No,” Gavin growls, baring his teeth with each vicious vowel. He continues to stand over Georgia’s lifeless body.
I narrow my gaze at him, blinking away more tears rooted in betrayal.
“Don’t listen to him, Coraline!” Maya urges me with a desperate bellow.
What the fuck do I do?
“Believe me. Coraline Rosa.”
He reaches for me again fearlessly.
Leaning forward, unsure of what to say in this dark moment, my hand slowly outstretched for his.
I replay everything. From Maya’s surprising arrival to Gavin admitting his obsession with me. That’s when the puzzle pieces I’ve been given are assembling, drawing me to another awful conclusion.
It’s not Gavin I should be afraid of.
He shakes his head. His lids are closing until I can barely see the blue orbs I’ve fallen addicted to.
“I don’t want to scare you. I don’t want you to fear me. I want to love you,” he reiterates.
Gavin’s fingers are on mine. I sob softly, unsure of what to do or what the right choice is, but I’m leading with my heart and the ghosts. As soon as I try to thread my fingers with his, he gets ready to pull me into him, but he gets thrown back by a loud boom.
A shot goes off, and it pierces Gavin in the chest. He loudly grunts as blood sprays my face, getting into my mouth and the tip of my tongue. With an iron taste in my mouth, I scream, reaching out to catch or fall with him, but I’m getting pulled back by my hair and away from Gavin.
CHAPTER 32
CORALINE
Ishriek as Maya continues to pull me back by my hair viciously. I drop the shovel, the loud clanging ringing in my ears as I’m dragged closer to her and away from helping him. My feet momentarily bump into the back of Georgia’s head amidst the chaos. That’s when I see something—a blip of life flutters when I spot Georgia’s blonde brows furrow, and her nose contorts.
She’s still alive.
My nails scrape Maya’s hand until I know I’ve cut her open, hoping it’s enough to let me go, but she doesn’t. I frantically search for Gavin, who has disappeared after hitting the kitchen counter.
She shot him. She really shot him.
Did she kill him?!
“Gavin!” I scream hoarsely. His name bounces off every corner of the house, echoing.
“Maya, what the hell are you doing!” I plant my feet and spring forward. I swing my elbow back until it hits her in the nose. She yelps for a heartbeat, then presses the gun into my neck and racks it back.
“Hit me again, and I’ll end you.” Her threat is a stab to my chest and a permanent end to our relationship.
“Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to kill them and me? How fucking could you?” I shout at Maya, but it only gets the pistol cocked into the back of my head. She hits me, determined to silence me. I shriek from the burning, throbbing pain, feeling completely helpless and betrayed.
“Shut the hell up!” she demands, her vision pinned on me. I see Gavin, who stands to his full height and glares daggers at Maya.
