The One Who Lived

Chapter Eight - Vanderbilt's POV

There are certain things that have left eternal imprints on me. I remember the first game that my parents missed, and every game after. I remember my first touchdown and my first broken bone. I remember knowing I was losing Hawkins and Ada, and then actually losing them.

The thing is that no matter how much those moments have shaped me and stuck with me – none of them compare to that call that I received from Ada that night.

I can still hear that call in my head.

My phone rang only a few times before I rolled over to see Ada's number across my screen. For some reason, I read Anni instead of Ada and answered it. I wasn't expecting to hear Ada's voice, nor did I stop myself before snapping at her. I can still hear the shake in Ada's voice, and I can hear her pleading for Anni. I can hear Cami begging for Anni to come back while Ada pleads that someone still try to save her.

I don't remember getting dressed, getting into my car, nor the entirety of the drive there. I only remember the smaller things now. I remember how fast I was going — 92 MPH. I remember the song that my car started playing — Antidote by Travis Scott. I remember thinking that if a cop tried to pull me over then I would keep going and face the damages later. I remember praying so hard that Ada would be okay, because even though I was only ten minutes away, it was the longest ten minutes of both of our lives.

Those things are still kind of there and only a little fuzzy, but I think they are like that because of the things that are permanently imprinted.

I could give a play by play of the scene to anyone who asked because of how deeply engrained it is in me.

I pulled up to multiple flashing lights that belonged to what seemed to be every emergency vehicle in Camden County. I slammed my car into park so quickly that it jolted, but I didn't care because I couldn't get out of it fast enough. I saw Cami with her boyfriend in my search for Ada. I then passed multiple kids from school and wondered how the hell they got there, and how they knew what was happening.

But all those things don't stay in my head the way she did. Those faces and screams are disappearing but the one of Ada will never leave.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me to her before suddenly stopping as soon as she came into view. She was wearing black sweatpants, a pink tank top, and her favorite white crocs. She had blood on her hands and had smeared it on her face and clothes, but I don't think she even realized it.

Ada was quite literally standing there next to her dead sister covered in her blood and pleading for her back.

I said her name as loudly as I could in hopes that she could hear me over the sirens, and she must have because of how quickly she turned to meet my gaze. I remember the way she stumbled over to me and said three sentences — three sentences that will forever be imprinted in my head.

Anni is dead. Save her, Ander. Please, save her.

After Anni's death, Ada became this ghost. It was literally like I was watching her die slowly in front of me and she was dying from the inside out. I saw the light drain from her eyes. Her blue eyes that were as deep as the ocean suddenly became dull and I knew I had to save her.

I knew she needed help and that I was going to be the only one able to give it to her. I knew that I was going to have to put all our issues aside because they didn't matter anymore. We could die tomorrow, and I am not going to waste any more days being mad about some shit from middle school.

I remember the first day I talked to her, and she fell apart. I remember that night at the party and when I saw her kissing Clinton, I had to hold myself back from punching a dude that was like a brother to me. I remember hearing Kadence's words and knowing that I have never wanted to slap a girl in my entire life, but I did in that moment. I remember feeling true heartbreak when I saw all the weight she was losing, and how she no longer wore color like she always used to.