The Island is Gone

2

My breath catches. All those innocent people who were killed . . . they're nothing but ashes now.

Reeve takes my hands, "Paisley calm down. I talked to the police. They aren't gonna add more jail time."

I groan, "I totally forgot about the jail time. It isn't fair. If I didn't kill her we both would've died. I was pretty darn close anyways."

"Yea . . . this is really, REALLY bad timing but . . . the police are waiting outside. They're here to collect you." Collect me. Like I'm some item.

"I really am a murderer." I realize, "That's how people are gonna see me now. As a murderer. And I know what they're gonna say, they're gonna twist the story and say that investigating and posting online about murders messes with your head. Which isn't true at all! Ugh I can't believe—"

"Woah woah slow down there. You don't know that. And it's only a week in jail. Even the police don't think it's right to imprison you. But it isn't their call. And I'll visit you every day. And I'm sure your family will too."

"I guess you're right . . . but this makes me look like a bad person."

"But you aren't a bad person Paisley. You need to keep telling yourself that." I appreciate his comment but I've literally committed a murder, "I would love to chat more . . . but the police might break the door down if I don't let them in . . . I'll see you later Paisley." He gives me a sad smile before he opens the door.

The second he opened the door, the police rushed up to me and handcuffed my hands behind my back. I let out a scream as my arm cut into my side where the sword was.

"Quiet." one of the police officers warned. Seriously?! I bite my tongue to stop myself from screaming anymore. I accidentally groan and the police pull my arms tighter causing me to scream again. It felt like they were stabbing me with millions of needles and not removing them, letting them bury into my skin forever.

"Hey what are you doing?!" Reeve intervenes, "She just got out of surgery! She is in pain! What you're doing is torture!"
"I know. But the chief ordered us to go hard on her. I'm sorry. I wouldn't even imprison her if I had a choice." one of the officers declared. Why did the chief want them to be so hard on me?

Once I stepped out of the hospital room I saw my mom cover her mouth and turn away. I don't blame her if she's disappointed in me. I can't walk on my own so the officers are practically carrying me.

When we make it to the car they shove me into the back seat, and I fall over because I don't have the strength to sit up on my own. I can see a look of guilt and shame in the officer's eyes but he doesn't do anything about it. I start panicking because I can't move. Images of the island flash by at a million miles per hour. And it feels like something is squeezing my heart and lungs. I start breathing faster. Then came the tears. I start sobbing. I curl up into a ball and clutch my head.

"Quiet back there." the officer says

"I-I can't. Something is wrong." I start breathing faster and the squeezing multiplies. My heart pounds in my ears and every noise makes it worse. The tapping of the officer's fingers, the nearby traffic, even the AC makes it worse.

"STOP TAPPING YOUR FINGERS. PLEASE!" I snap. I didn't mean to snap. I couldn't help it. Something is wrong and the officer doesn't even care.

"Excuse— dang what is wrong with you?" he finally asks. About time.

"I-I don't know, please help." I start crying harder and the images in my mind flash by even faster. He pulls the car over and opens the door closest to me.

"Listen, I'm not supposed to be doing this. I'm not supposed to talk to you at all unless I'm giving you orders. What are you feeling?"

"T-there are images of the island flashing by really fast and it feels like my heart and lungs are about to burst." I start hyperventilating again.

"Deep breaths. Paisley you're having an anxiety attack." I do as he says and after the twenty seventh deep breath I finally calm down.

"I-I can't do this." the officer says, "Go. You don't deserve to be imprisoned." he takes off my hand cuffs and I release the breath I didn't know I was holding. How does he expect me to get home? I can't even sit up by myself.

"I'll leave you on the sidewalk. I'm sure someone will lend you their phone." Wow. How thoughtful.

He does exactly what he said he was gonna do. He legit left me on the side of the fricking road. How does someone do that?

"HELP!" I scream, hoping someone will help me. But no one does.

"PLEASE I CAN'T MOVE ON MY OWN!"

"Paisley?" an unfamiliar voice says. It's soft and high. Female.

She steps into my view and it's none other than Elliana. The same girl who was murdered on my road.