♤PACTS♤

Chapter 39 - Emo's commandments

Marci Wellington's POV

Shane carries me into a house full of worried relatives since my legs stopped working when I launched myself into his car.

My dad reaches for me, but Shane holds me away from him. Of course, my dad blows up, saying something about him holding his little girl.

Shane says, "If you wanted to protect her, you should have been honest with her from the start. You should have told her the truth."

With his back turned, Shane went toward the stairs. My head lulls to the side, and I see Abuelo and Abuela talking harshly to my dad, who frowns as his eyes never leave mine.

Shane turns into the corridor leading to my room, which forces me to break eye contact with my dad.

Opening my room, he ignores the light switch and moves to lay me on my bed. The cool sheets wrap around my frame. They remind me of how cold Aunt Valentiá's hands were when they were around my neck. The sensation makes goose flesh pebble my skin, and an unwelcome feeling crawls up my spine.

There is no way I can call her my aunt anymore. Family isn't supposed to kill each other.

Removing my shoes and opening my window, he sits at the edge of my bed and pushes my hair away from my neck. The frown that mars his face shows how badly my bruises piss him off.

I don't know how Shane remains calm, but it makes me wonder how my dad will react to seeing them.

"I killed her Shane. I'm a murderer." The first words to leave my mouth since I left my haven.

He frowns at my words. He says, "You're not. You did what you had to do to survive. It was you or her. And if you had died- fuck, I don't even want to think about it."

I sigh and turn away from him. "Seeing someone die and killing them are two different things. She was one of my favourite aunts. What did I ever do that she'd want me dead?"

"It's not what you did, Marci. It's who you are. You're everything she wanted and more. A girl with a family that loves her with high school problems. You never had to worry about the clothes on your back or food on the table." He chuckles at the last part. "Valentiá was many things, but forgiving wasn't one of them. She's been through many things to make her want revenge, so she tried taking it the best she could."

I knew she lost her biological family to the war, but what more could she have lost?

I turn to Shane with a confused look and voice out my thoughts.

He sighs. "I didn't want to be the one to tell you this, but Valentiá was Caleb's real mom."

I could have sworn I should already know this, but it felt like fresh news to me.

I killed Caleb's mom.

It took only a second for the thought to sink in, and I shot out of bed and started pacing around my room.

"I killed Caleb's mom. What kind of crazy sister am I? Fuck siblingship! He wouldn't want anything to do with me once he realises what I've done. For all the things to happen this year, this just has to-"

I walk around my room and lament about my actions. Shane scoffs and stands from my bed and blocks my path.

Holding my shoulders and giving me a good shake, he says. "Maleficent, snap out of it! Caleb already knows who she is, but wanted nothing to do with her."

"Why? Are you sure? Cause I know my brother well and he wants a family-"

Again, he cuts me off.

"Caleb wants a family, but he got what he bargained for. He has you and Gail, the Hispanics and your parents, Peyton and the gang. He got all of you, so Caleb's feelings should be the least of your problems."