The Secret Billionaire

Chapter 35

ERIS

We stood outside as they rolled her away in a black body bag. I was clutching the picture of us so close to my chest I could feel my fingers starting to hurt. Another car screeched to a halt in front of the house, and Mathew ran out.
"What the fuck happened?" He asked, examining me, but I kept my eyes on the ambulance.
"Detective Henderson is saying it wasn't an accident," Nathan stated. The ambulance doors slammed shut, and I let out a sob. I looked at the picture in my hand and frowned.
"She didn't do anything wrong. She didn't deserve this," I whispered.
"Let's get you home and cleaned up," Nathan grabbed my hand, but I stepped away from him.
"What about her house? Her belongings? I have to call her parents," I looked around, and Nathan placed his hands on my shoulders.
"The house is a crime scene right now. Let them do their job to find out who did this. We can take care of the rest later," He pulled me away, and I looked back at the house.
The memories came flooding back, and I realized I would never see her again. I hadn't talked to her. I didn't call her. I haven't even seen her in days, and I dare call myself her best friend.
She went through this alone. She was probably terrified in her last moments. Why is everyone dying around me? It was better when I spent my days alone and had my work shifts with Stacy. I wonder how different it would've been if I hadn't lost my apartment. If Darius never came back into my life and I got a dog instead. Then I never would've met Nathan. I wouldn't know Alana and the kids. Hell, even Mathew. As much as I love the new people I met, I couldn't help but feel guilty about everything happening. I hadn't even noticed we were already home until Nathan waved his hand in front of my face.
"Put this on. I don't want you to catch anyone's attention," He handed me a sweater, and I put it on slowly. The cold, bloody shirt clung to my skin, and I shuddered.
I stepped out of the car, and he quickly came to my side. We passed by everyone in the lobby and went straight to the elevator. I was still clutching the picture of us tightly. I didn't want to let it go. It was one of the only pictures I had of us. I'm sure her mom will want to keep the rest of her belongings. Ding! The elevator opened, and Alana walked over to us.
"What happened? Mathew ran out of here and demanded me to stay here," she asked. I didn't meet her eyes, but I heard her gasp.
"I'll go clean up," I mumbled and walked away from them.
"Is she hurt?"
"Physically, no. I'll explain later. Can you check on her? I have to make a phone call,"
When I got to our restroom, I looked down at the picture and teared up again.
"I didn't even say goodbye," I sobbed.
"I know it hurts. Let it out," Alana walked in and hugged me. We stood like that for a couple of minutes before I finally had the courage to look up at her.
"She was alone," I sniffed. "I was never there for her,"
"It wasn't your fault. You know she wouldn't blame you," Alana wiped my face and smiled. "I met her a few times, I could tell she loved you so much, and I know you did too,"
She hugged me one last time before she said, "Come on, let's get you cleaned up,"
I stood up and carefully placed the picture on the counter. Alana turned on the water, and I took off the sweater. My lips quivered as I pulled the bloody shirt over my head. I took off my pants and stepped into the shower. The water under my feet began to turn pinkish. I took off my bra and underwear and let the water run down my body.
"Do you need my help?" Alana asked. I didn't reply, and she peeked through the curtain. "Eris?"
I shook my head, and she closed it again. I felt numb. With the bit of strength I had, I started washing off the blood on me. I scrubbed for so long, and I could still see a hint of red on my skin. No matter how hard or long I did, it wouldn't come off. First Chris, now Stacy. Is it going to be like this for the rest of my life? I started sobbing, and I heard someone running to the restroom.
"Is everything okay in there?" Alana called out. I stayed quiet. The curtain opened, and she turned off the water. I continued to scrub the blood off of me, but it wasn't going away.
"What are you doing?" She tried making me stop, but I couldn't.
"I need to wash the blood off myself," I mumbled.
"There is no blood. Eris, you have to stop this. You're hurting yourself," She grabbed my hands, and I sobbed.
"It's everywhere. Their blood is on my hands,"
She wrapped a towel around me and helped me out of the shower.
"There is nothing there. Eris, Your mind is playing tricks on you," She got me into clean clothes, and now I was sitting on the bed as she brushed out my hair.
"You can't be doing that. You're going to irritate your skin. Look at how red it is," She was using her mom voice on me. The one she used when Elijah left his toys scattered all over the room or when he won't sit down to eat his food.
"Blood, it's all blood," I kept mumbling.
She put the brush down and looked at me.
"It's not blood. You washed it off," She reassured.
I stayed quiet, and she sighed. "Come one, let's go get you some food,"