SPOTLIGHT (Colt Seavers) ✔︎

19 | Dip To Black

"Skye... Skye!"

I heard the voice before I completely came to. My head throbbed as I opened my eyes, my gaze falling on a blurry figure. I was disoriented, but I could tell that I was lying on the ground the dark sky above me. "What?" My voice was slow and groggy.

"What happened, Skye?" I blinked a few times, trying to clear the spots in my vision. The figure above me leaned closer, and I could see blonde hair falling down over my face. They shook me vigorously. "Skye!?"

Suddenly, my vision came back and I blinked in confusion. "Jody?"

"Oh, thank god." Jody helped me sit up and I glanced around us. We were still on the dock, though now Colt was no where to be seen. There was a layer of soot on the floor, as if there had been fire, but I didn't remember anything. "Let's go."

"Where's Colt?" Jody helped me to my feet and we made our way towards her car. Mine was parked next to it, but we'd come back for it later. Jody didn't respond. "Jody, where is he?"

"I'll tell you in the car." She opened the passenger door for me and helped me climb in. I was beginning to feel nervous. Why won't she tell me? She got into the driver's seat and started the car, pulling out onto the main road. We sat in silence for a few minutes, until Jody pulled off the road and to the opera house cul-de-sac. "Skye, I'm so sorry."

Jody passed me her phone, which was opened on the news app. I took it from her, confused. "What is this?" She just leaned over and pressed play, with no response.

"Police are investigating an explosion on Sydney Harbour, just outside the Opera House," the news reporter said. "Where it appears a boat has collided with..."

I handed the phone back to Jody, who just pushed it back to me. I could see tears welling in her eyes and bile began to rise in my throat. "Just watch."

"...and alleged suicide of Colt Seavers. the man responsible for the recent murder of Henry Herrera." The video of Ryder killing Henry popped up, with Colt's face clearly deep-faked over the top. I couldn't even feel angry; that's how emotionally numb I was at this point. "We have no news on Skye Coleman, who was last seen leaving the Pendleton Hotel with Seavers on the night Henry's body was found. Police believe she may have been on the boat with Seavers, but that is yet to be confirmed."

The brief newscast ended and I handed the phone back to Jody. She took it this time, without a word. We sat in silence for a good ten minutes, before either of us spoke.

"How did you find me?" I asked quietly, not looking up from my hands, which were shaking in my lap.

Jody sighed, looking over at me. "Colt called me." I lifted my eyes to meet hers, which were bloodshot; she had clearly already cried. "He called me right before..." She couldn't say it, but I appreciated it nonetheless. "He said something about Ryder killing Henry and that you were knocked out by one of Ryder's guys and I needed to come get you."

I nodded, drifting my gaze over to the opera house, smoke billowing up from the water behind it. "So, he's really dead?"

"I guess so." She put the car into drive. "Do you want me to drive you home? Or the hospital?"

I shook my head. "I don't think I can." Jody didn't seem to understand. "I guess I'm a fugitive now."

Jody let out a little chuckle, which made me smile. "I'll drive you home, if you're feeling okay." I nodded, and Jody pulled out of the carpark. "I'll ask Dan to pick up your car in the morning."

"Thanks, Jody." Jody reached over and took my hand, which was still quivering. "How are you going?"

"Not great," she admitted, squeezing my hand, eyes focussed on the road. "I mean, I've known Colt for ages." She swallowed heavily. "He may have broken my heart, but, you know..." she let out an unamused laugh. "I don't know."

"I get it," I replied, squeezing her hand back as I directed her where to go with my other hand. "I barely knew him and I..." I didn't know what to say. I couldn't diminish Jody's grief, given I had only known Colt for mere days. "I just don't know why this had to happen."

We pulled onto my street and I directed Jody all the way to the end. "So, Ryder killed Henry?" I nodded. "Jeez."

"He caused Colt's accident, too." Jody's eyes widened in surprise. "And now he's done this."

"We need to talk to the police." I nodded in agreement. We stopped in front of my building and I unbuckled my seatbelt. "You want a lift to set tomorrow?"

I looked at her in surprise. "You're going?" Jody nodded. "Surely Gail will call it off for a bit after this."

Jody shook her head. "Everyone thinks Colt killed Henry." I sighed defeatedly. "I doubt they have much sympathy for him, right now."

"Well, what about Ryder?" I asked.

"What about him?"

"Well, if Colt's... gone... do you think he'll show up to finish the movie?"

Jody thought about it for a moment. "Maybe." She let out a yawn. "Let's talk about this tomorrow." I nodded in agreement. "If you're up for it, I'll pick you up at eight."

I nodded. "Okay."

***

I'll be honest, I really struggled writing this chapter. The film literally gives you five seconds to think that Colt is dead and be sad about it, before they show that he's alive again. Obviously Jody (and Skye) don't know he's alive, but the film skims over it so briefly and comedically, that I don't know how to write in the grief.

Since it's so fresh, and neither of them actually saw the explosion I figured they would still be in a state of disbelief. So, forgive me; I need to practice writing first person grief more. It's not my strong suit.

Anyways, enough of that. Thank you guys so much for 4000 reads! That's insane! It's been just over a month since I started this book. I appreciate you all so much and thank you for reading and voting and commenting.

And one more thing. I have a Bullet Train fan fiction called Snakeskin which is completed, so if you like this book and you're interested, go check it out!