decisions (n.)
a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration.
CHECKMATE #4
"world-changing decisions are hard to make, but learning you have to sacrifice is even harder."
Life has gone back to normal in the Adelaide Woods five years after t...
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track #05 in eunice raina seyfield
twice // say something
CADENCE SPENDS the entire night cooped up in her room, while the rest of us stay in the living room and have dinner. It isn't happy, though. The usual liveliness and small chatter is gone; replaced with dead air, occasional slurping, and the only conversations we end up having are arguments."
When everyone finishes, I collect plates, head to the sink, and start washing up. "Are we really going to continue like this?" I snap to everyone, who then turn to me. "Are we just gonna let her die without any protests? Do none of you care about her anymore? Please. Ignoring me isn't going to do us any good."
"Is that what she'd want?" Gwyneth says, sighing. "We all know how stubborn Cadence can be, don't we? Talking to her won't help. It'll just make things worse. I suggest we wait it out until tomorrow, and find a way to charge at James or something. She can't die. No one else can. I can't handle knowing that someone died because of my actions again."
The room goes silent again as we ponder how to respond.
"James isn't playing this time," Zoey whispers. "Last time we didn't play by the rules, we were forced to watch three people – innocent people – get tortured in front of our eyes. The threats are just going to get more and more serious until it leads to the entire city in danger." She chokes, and leans into Kunboss' shoulder, and he hugs her as she cries.
Aiden looks up from his phone. "But isn't that exactly why we shouldn't follow what James tells us to do? We care about Cadence, do we not? We can't just let her die like this. James is only acting in control of everything. It doesn't make a difference," he says calmly, as if to assure himself that nothing will go wrong, and I nod in assent.
"I don't know what we can do. I feel so guilty that she thinks my death is completely out of the question," Laine mutters. "I don't belong in this house. Why doesn't she think it's appropriate for an outsider to die?"
I turn to her. "Neither of you can die," I say. "We'll find a way, I guess. Cadence's life isn't worth nothing – she's miserable, and there are so many things we could have done about it. I guess we just never bothered to pay attention."
"The self-harm," Tristan suddenly gasps. "She wanted to suicide anyway. As much as I don't want to let her sacrifice herself, if we choose Laine to die, she'll kill herself from the pressure. She's telling us to choose her so Laine can be spared."
Kunboss smiles, a rare occurrence since the big fight with Gwyneth. "Is there a way we can talk to her? I hope she realizes how much she means to us. Maybe no one needs to die after all and she won't suicide."
I sigh, flicking the sink off and watching the suds float into the drain. "We'll talk to her tomorrow. The choice isn't due till afternoon. Laine, you can sleep in the room upstairs next to Tristan's. He'll bring you there. Have you called home yet?" I ask, and she nods.
