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“No.” He digs his fingers into my arm. “We’ll go together.”
“I’ll meet you outside,” I murmur. “Once you get help, I’ll find you.”
“Elsa…” His expression is pained, and the plea in his voice almost makes me cry.
I don’t.
I have to be strong.
“Remember.” I grin. “You promised you’ll marry me.”
When he doesn’t move, I push him out and slam the door shut behind him.
My chest heaves, rising and falling so fast as I lean against the door. A bang comes from the other side, then another and another.
He’s trying to come back inside, but I won’t let him. I won’t let them monsters take him away.
I’ll protect him.
Ma frowns, fingering her gun. “What are you doing? Let’s follow your brother.”
“He’s not my brother, Ma. Eli went to heaven.”
Her face contorts, nostrils flaring. “I told you not to say his name.”
“Eli! Eli! Eli!” I scream. “His name is Eli, Ma! And I want to say his name. I want to talk about him. I want to —”
I hear the bang before I can feel it.
The pain goes through my body all of a sudden like fireworks. It’s burning me on the inside.
“M-Ma…”
She’s pointing the gun at me, her face filled with tears. They fall down her beautiful dress as I drop to the floor.
My bones feel like they’re crushing beneath me.
“Elsa… B-baby… I’m so sorry, Ma is s-so sorry. Oh, God! Oh, God! What have I done?” She crouches beside me. The gun hits the floor as she presses her hands over my chest.
Blood flows from between my lips and I taste metal as she becomes a blur.
The pain takes me over and seeps under my skin. It hurts, but maybe it’s fine now. Because them monsters are gone from Ma’s eyes. They disappeared, giving me back my ma.
She’s crying loudly as she fumbles over me, pressing her hands and tearing her dress to cover my chest.
“DAAA!” She screams, her voice hysterical. “It’s all because of you, Da. You made me like this. You killed me.”
“M-Ma…”
“Hush little baby, don’t you cry. Everything is going to be all right…” Still pressing a hand over my wound, she retrieves the gun and puts it under her chin. “Ma is coming, baby. Ma will make it all right, Eli.”
And then she pulls the trigger.
31
Aiden
Present
