AllFreeNovel
Share Us
You’re in control, Kenz. It’s fine.
My gaze flits around, landing on the mangled front end of my brother’s car. Grief wells up inside me, and guilt slams into me with the force of a hurricane.
Pushing away from Chase, my hands go to my hair, tugging at the roots. Despair fills me.We destroyed the only thing I had left of Gavin.
I was so focused on making out with my foster brother that I forgot about wrecking Gavin’s vehicle. I forgot abouthim.
My gaze slides to Chase, my eyes narrowing. His plan to replace my brother is working. Chase is infiltrating my head—and my heart.
“You,” I rasp, my chest heaving as I shove my finger into Chase’s chest. “This is all your fault.”
“My fault?” He looks baffled as he attempts to grab my hand. But I yank it away before he can.
“Yes,you,” I hiss, the anger mounting, a volcano about to erupt and unleash pure chaos. “You shouldn’t have been allowed to drive Gavin’s vehicle in the first damn place.” My voice quivers. “Now look at whatyoudid. You wrecked it.” An impending storm of tears prickles my lids, and I bite my lip so hard I taste blood, trying to keep them from falling. “You destroyed the only thing I had left of my brother.”
The anger erupts, pouring out of my mouth like lava.“You wanted him gone from the start. To erase his memory.”
Chase’s mouth drops open. “What? Mackenzie…No! How can you think that?”
My voice drops as I point a shaky finger at him, my rage overshadowing reason. “Congrats. You’ve done it. Are you happy now?”
I know everything I’ve said to Chase is completely irrational, but I can’t stop myself. It’s like an out-of-body experience where I’m watching myself in shock and horror as I melt down in front of Chase.
I succumb to the irrationality of my thoughts, drifting back to the terrible wreck that changed my world. The wreckage floats through my head, the current state of Gavin’s vehicle indistinguishable from my mother’s mangled car. Gavin’s car was in the garage, so my mother allowed him to drive hers since he had football practice after school. I tagged along because he promised me ice cream afterward.
My mind races, like scenes from a movie trailer. My brother’s mangled body beside me, his lifeless eyes boring into me when I lifted his head. Even though I couldn’t move my legs, I blamed myself for not being able to save him. And help didn’t arrive in time.
Fuck!I can’t swallow over the huge lump in my throat, and my body is overheating despite the chilly October night. I want—noneed—to get out of here.
Whirling around, I have no damn idea where I’m going as I take off, my arms wrapped around myself like I’m going to combust and I’m trying to prevent my organs from exploding through my body. I hear Chase yelling my name, but I don’t stop.
Stumbling in my heels, briars scratch my skin and tear at my clothing as I walk. As the sobs break free, my tears blind me. I stumble and slip on rocks and roots. But I continue onward, feeling like a failure, ashamed of myself for my behavior.
I accused Chase of wrecking my brother’s car, but it was me. I destroyed the only piece of Gavin I had left.
The harsh reality slams into me, my loud sobs echoing through the forest.What have I done? Chase probably hates me. And I don’t blame him. After everything we just shared, I attacked him with baseless accusations that had no merit. I was angry at myself, and I lashed out at the one person who’s always been there for me, whether I wanted him to or not.
Slipping on a moss-covered rock, I grab a tree branch, which somehow keeps me upright. As soon as I get my balance, I dig my phone from my pocket, turning the flashlight on. I don’t remember putting it inside my pocket.Maybe he did it when I zoned out after seeing the wreckage?
Turning it on, I resume my trek through the woods, searching for a trail, feeling alone and worthless. I’m desperate to escape my own thoughts, so I’m physically running away from the car accident, from Chase, and from my own, miserable existence.
Yet the blame I keep heaping on my shoulders weighs me down, draining my energy and slowing my pace the further I go.
Finally, I look up, wiping the tears with my sleeve, and look around. I have no idea where the hell I am or how far I’ve gone. But on my right, I see the road through a clearing in the trees.
Chase screams my name as I step onto the pavement, but I don’t stop. I can’t. I hate myself right now. In an instant, I’ve ruined everything between us.
Clamping my hand over my trembling lips, tears course down my cheeks, blending in with the steady rain that’s falling. It soaks through my thin, low-cut top, making me shiver uncontrollably.
Through the shadows of the trees and the darkening sky, bright headlights draw my attention to the road ahead. A black car pops over the hill, slowing down as it approaches me.
Shit. I’m on the road.I start to veer off it before realizing I may be able to flag them down for help.
Unfolding my arms, I raise one hand while frantically wiping my face with the other. Hopefully, the occupants will think I’m a mess because of the rain and accident.
“Hey! Stop!” My voice is hoarse from sobbing.
Chase’s footsteps pound in the distance as he yells, “Mackenzie. Get off the damn road. What the hell are you doing?”
