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Somewhere deep in my chest, I feel a tightening sensation.
“I was given the option to resign, yes. So?”
“And then you took a job with my wife’s best friend.”
“It was a coincidence.”
“Everything’s a coincidence, isn’t it?” Declan sneers. “You didn’t start at the school until a year before the shooting. You were the one who convinced Liam to join the drama club, which you led.”
“He was a bright boy.”
My stomach clenches harder. Suddenly, I’m dizzy.What is Dec implying?
“You convinced him to do it, didn’t you? You helped him get the gun. We could never figure out where he got it… He was a good boy. Until you got to him.”
“Your son made his own choices that day,” Chris says softly. Then, for the final cut, he adds, “Just like you did.”
I know, without him saying the words, that he did it. That he somehow caused everything that happened. That he’s worked his way into every aspect of my life. That’s why he had the family photo from our house. That’s why he’s done all of this.
For me.
Losing Liam.
Losing Declan.
The two other children who died that day.
It’s all been because of me.
“Why?” Kassara asks, crying beside me.
“I love Mari like no one else can,” he says, turning his head toward me with an affectionate smile. “Like none of you can. I’m her biggest fan.”
“You don’t know her. You know her books. You don’t know who she is,” Declan argues.
“Oh, I think you’ll find we know each other quite well at this point…” He cackles, and my body begins to tremble.
The trembling doesn’t stop, and suddenly, I’m shaking harder.Something’s wrong, I want to tell them, but I can’t. I can’t say anything. My jaw is clenched, unmoving. I stare at Kassara in horror, hoping she’ll understand.
“Declan! Something’s wrong.” Kassara’s voice is garbled beside me, slow and underwater. My vision blurs as I feel Declan’s hands on me.
When I open my eyes, Chris has disappeared, but no one seems to have noticed. I want to warn them, but I can’t.
“Baby? Mari? Mari? Can you hear me? Mari?Jesus, where is the ambulance?”
CRACK.
A gunshot rings out, and Declan jumps away from me. “Fuck!”
“Chris, no!”Jenn screams.
CRACK.
Another.
Chris is back. He’s holding a long shotgun and shooting at Declan, who narrowly misses the bullet.
He’s going to kill us all.
