Clouds of Violet

Chapter Eighteen

Wednesday, September 17th, 10:57

"I think I know who the killer is."

Aaron starts to say something else, but my brain doesn't register what it is. I can see his lips moving but it feels like he's talking to me from the end of an abyss. He runs a hand through his disheveled hair once again and starts shaking me. His hands are on my shoulders, shaking them vigorously as he says something that I can't hear.

All the weight that I'd been carrying, the weight I'd just gotten rid of, seems to slowly fall back in place. Aaron's face becomes a blur and so does everything around him. Green and blues hues mix together, distorting my vision. I feel my legs giving out, my back hitting the floor and Aaron sitting next to my body.

Everything's black, but I can still feel. I'm still aware of my surroundings, somehow. I can feel Aaron's hand on my shoulder. I can hear him yelling for my mom. I can hear Mom's footsteps, I can hear how they get more and more rapid as they get louder. I can hear her screaming, I can hear it all.

Nothing's okay. 

***

I hate my life.

I hate what my life has turned into.

I hate whoever did this to my life, who turned it upside down in just three weeks.

I miss my old life, I miss Dad. I miss having family dinners, I miss getting together with all of my friends every Saturday night. I miss feeling free, I miss not having to go through all these mood swings.

When I think that things might be getting better, something in my life slamdunks it to the grave. I just want this rollercoaster to be over so I don't ever have to deal with it ever again.

I'm lying on the couch, hand on my forehead because I can feel a fever coming on. Aaron's sitting on an armchair, his leg shaking as he chews at the skin around his nails.

"Who is it?" I ask. The silence hangs over us, like the ceiling fan that hums while Aaron says nothing. I close my eyes as if it'll stop me from hearing his answer. He drums his fingers on his knees, sighing before he speaks.

"Listen, Ezra's been acting really weird lately," he starts. "Like, really weird. He's been distant. He never joins me and Max to play basketball after school. He says he's probably not gonna try out for the team."

"Aaron, why would Ezra kill Camila?" I say. "And he seems normal, despite your basketball thing. He probably has something else going on."

"That's not the only thing, though," he says. "I slept over at his house. You know, after our parents picked us up. I found something strange, Sky. I...I found blood."

"What?" I say, breathlessly. Sitting up, I clutch my ribs because everything in my body tightens.

"Like, human blood," Aaron says. "All over his bathroom floor."