Brutal Bonding

Chapter 9: Condolences

"To know Warner Hartfelt was to love Warner Hartfelt," the preacher said.

Under the open sky, a solemn gathering of students, faculty, and family had assembled to bid their final farewells. The burial ground was an expanse of greenery, dotted with gravestones that marked the resting places of those who had gone before. The sun hung low, casting a golden hue over the scene. A breeze rustled through the trees, carrying a sense of quiet misery.

A rectangular hole had been dug into the earth, the rich soil piled beside it. Mourners gathered around, their faces etched with grief as they watched the proceedings. The casket was lowered carefully into the open grave by pallbearers dressed in somber attire.

Wren joined the gathering to throw a handful of earth onto the casket, symbolizing their final connection to the departed. The sensation of her heart imploding sent waves of unease throughout her body. A week had gone by since Warner's death, yet Wren found herself unable to truly grasp the reality of his absence. In her mind's eye, a vivid flashback surfaced—Warner's lifeless and fractured body slumped against a tree, then dumped into the grand river where he had been hidden for a night.

Wren struggled with her conflicting emotions — she couldn't help but feel relieved knowing her abuser was no longer walking freely, unable to hurt anyone else. On the other hand, Wren was a murderer, and that moral dilemma poked at her guilty conscience. She feared that her mother was scowling from above the heavens.

She observed the large photograph propped up on the memorial stand. In the photo, Warner beamed on a sunlit beach, his golden brown hair wet and glistening. He looked alive, handsome, and entirely unaware that his life would be cut short by an enraged victim and his trusted friends.

Wren heard a loud sniffle to her left. Mina was in tears, her trembling fingers pressed against her lips as an attempt to stifle any audible sobs.

Standing beside Mina was Ariana, her silky blonde hair slicked into a mature ponytail. Her gaze was fixed on the ground as she bit her glossy lips, obviously trying to suppress tears of her own. Along with Ariana stood Kim, whose dark designer sunglasses hid any ounce of emotion while she stared straight ahead. Noemy extended her hand toward the woman, a gesture of sisterhood and companionship.

"How could this happen?" Mina whimpered. "My best friend is gone. I...I can't live without..."

Mina's weeping intensified and she began to shed tears of agony. The other leaders of the sisterhood then whispered that they'd return momentarily before escorting the heartbroken woman away from the scene.

The burial ended shortly after, and Wren could only assume the four women had gone home. After giving a final look at the casket, the tearful crowd began to pay their condolences to the Hartfelt family.

The mother and father engulfed each other with tear-stained cheeks. Their second son, Aaron Hartfelt, hovered beside the couple. His arms were folded, his dark hair smoothed away from his face. He glared at anyone who approached them. Understanding the hint, the crowd solemnly dispersed but still lingered.

The parents lightly nudged their son. When he did not acknowledge them, the couple sighed then headed away toward the parking lot, hand in hand, as the large crowd of mourners trailed behind them.

Nevertheless, Wren remained in place.

She observed the young man who was oblivious to her presence. To anyone else, it seemed like the whole ordeal was only a mere inconvenience to him. But Wren knew better.

Aaron stood alone, his demeanor icy and detached, his gaze distant and unfocused. He wore his grief like armor, a facade of stoicism shielding him from the onslaught of emotions. A faint scowl etched his features, a testament to the storm brewing beneath the surface.

Taking a deep breath, Wren approached him. She knew the risks, the weight of her secret like an anchor around her heart. She had killed his brother, an act born of anger and hurt. Guilt gnawed at her insides, but she was compelled to offer comfort.

"Aaron," she said softly, her voice tentative.

His eyes remained fixed nowhere in particular, lost in his own thoughts.

"I know what it's like to lose someone you love," she continued. She knew she'd have to choose her next words carefully. "If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."

The silence between them stretched like an unbridgeable abyss.

She let out a defeated sigh. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"I'm sure you are."

Wren froze, for his words hung in the air like a dagger ready to strike.

Aaron's eyes finally met hers, and the intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. "You're just like the rest of them, aren't you?" His words were laced with venom. "Taking advantage of his kindness, using him for your own gain."

'You've been fooled. Warner Hartfelt was not kind. He was a manipulative abuser who needed to be stopped.' Wren wanted to say. However, she knew that now was not the time. Aaron's heart was fragile and raw, and adding more weight to his already heavy burden would only deepen his pain. She couldn't disregard his feelings, even if it meant keeping silent about the disturbing truths about his brother.

"I saw you with Warner," he said lowly. "Throwing yourself all over him, desperate for attention. You barely knew him, yet you clung to him like a parasite. All for what? So that dumb sorority would accept you?

"Well, congratulations, Wren. You're finally part of the community you've always dreamed of. Tell me, what is it like getting everything you've wanted out of my brother?"

"I never meant to—"

"Save it," he snapped. "You're just another attention-seeker, latching onto anyone you can for your own validation. You've known him for what, a few weeks? And suddenly you're the caring, understanding friend? We've never spoken to each other until now. I don't need your false pity."

Wren felt the weight of his words like a heavy burden, her heart torn between the pain of his grief and the guilt she carried. She took a step back, her voice barely audible. "Aaron, I'm sorry."

"Sorry won't bring him back."

Wren swallowed her hurt. Although a part of her felt like a wrongful criminal, she refused to be bullied by yet another Hartfelt. She squared her shoulders, her voice steadier now. "I understand pain can make us react in ways we don't mean to, so I'll let your words slide for now because you're grieving. But don't ever speak to me like that again."

Aaron's defenses wavered as he absorbed her words. He looked away, his fists clenching at his sides as he seemed taken aback by her sudden directness.

Wren continued, her tone unwavering. "I get that you're hurting, and I'm willing to give you some space for your emotions. But please know that even though we don't know each other very well, I am here for you, Aaron. If you ever need company, remember that."

With those final words, she let him return to his solitude. As she walked away from the graveyard, she couldn't help but feel the weight of her actions and their consequences. She was desperate for redemption, yet only received scorn. The shadows of her past had haunted her, leaving her to grapple with the unspoken wounds that would never fully heal.

Author's Note
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