Page 13 of Madness & Mayhem

Moving up the hill, I keep my gaze in the distance, watching for cars, the press, anyone that would get me running in the opposite direction.

Once I make it to the top of the hill, my eyes fall to the parking lot, and all I can see is a small dribble of blood which leads straight into Walgreens.

Which has a police car sitting in front of it.

Fuck.

I back up, stumbling slightly as I make my way back down the hill. I frown, my chest aching as I slide back into the woods.

I’m so close.

I can feel how close he is.

He’s within reach, yet I can’t get him.

Has he been caught? Or are the police following the trail just as I am?

Feeling mentally and physically depleted, and on barely any sleep, I walk back the way I came, letting leaf by leaf flutter from my arms.

I feel useless, like I can’t do a thing.

Is he even alive?

Does he miss me?

Will he forgive me for putting a knife in his stomach?

My throat swells, and I clear it as tears spring to my eyes. I don’t want him to hate me. I don’t want to be at the end of his wrath.

I want him.

But I also hate him.

And I don’t know if I can ever forgive him.

Yet I don’t know if I can live without him.

With my heart and head torn, I walk back to my car, feeling like my head is tucked between my legs.

With no other options on what to do, I realize, it’s time to go home.

Pulling up in front of my house, I know I’m about to deal with hell from the people closest to me.

My insides already clench with stress, and I’m worried about how they will react to me.

I wonder if they know who he is. Who it is that killed Creed.

With a deep breath, I turn off my car and slip out, making my way up our Halloween-decorated pathway, wishing Halloween would disappear altogether. This holiday has been ruined for life.

My foot presses against the wooden stair of the porch, and the moment the groan hits my ears of the aged wood, the front door swings open, and Posie stands there, looking angry, shocked, hurt, relieved.

All emotions. Every single one.

“Posie,” I whisper, my voice raspy. I don’t know when the last time was that I drank or ate. Too long.

She shakes her head at me, disappointment in her gaze.

“You should probably get inside. The town isn’t too happy with you right now,” she mumbles, stepping away from the door, giving me her back.