The Island is Gone

3

I say nothing. All I can do is stare. How the hell is she here? She died ten years ago! She helps me up and I continue to stare.

"What happened to you Paisley? You look awful!" she said as if it was just a normal Monday. Or whatever day of the week it is. I don't even know anymore.

"No no no what happened to you?! YOU LITERALLY DIED?"

"What? Who told you that?"

"Uh my parents?" What is she saying?

"Paisley, I moved away. I didn't die!"

"I-I d-HUH?" Was all I could say. This means my parents lied to me. Why would they lie about that? Elliana's death was the whole reason I got interested in murder stories.

"I don't even know what to say. I am so. confused." I tell her. Because it's true.

"I'm confused too . . . I moved away but my Dad did kill my mom. That much is true. But I was sent away to live with my aunt in Tennessee. I never died. Clearly. Do you need to borrow my phone?"

"Y-yes." How is she being so calm about this?! But I don't ask and instead I take her phone. I try mom first. No response. Then I tried dad. Again, no response. Finally I try Blaine. No response. And I don't know Reeve's number so I can't call him.

"They aren't responding." I tell Elliana. We seemed to have dropped the fake death issue for now.

"Not even Blaine?"

"No . . ."

"I'll walk you home then."

"Thanks Elliana. You have no idea how much I appreciate it." I'm finally able to walk on my own. I probably shouldn't be, but I am.

Once we reach my house I thank Elliana for all the help and she walks back to wherever her home is.

I step inside and I immediately start shaking.

My mom is on the couch with a dagger through her stomach, and my dad is collapsed on the kitchen floor with a slit in his throat.

"Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh." I don't know how to respond. I shove my fist into my mouth to stop from throwing up. I thought when I left the island I'de be safe. How did this happen?

"Blaine . . ." I mutter. I rush up the stairs and burst into his room. I'm blasted back by waves of fire. I let out a gritty scream. Because there was Blaine's parched body. The murderer shoved him into the fire.

I turned around not able to think about Blaine.

"Fire." my brain was screaming. How could the murderer have done this?

"FIRE!" it took me a second to realize it wasn't my mind this time. I'm snapped back into reality and I practically fling myself down the stairs. It takes me a second to recover but I'm back on my feet as fast as I fell. I sprint out the door without looking back. Tears pouring down my face as I run. I finally turn around once I make it to the other side of the street. But I wish I hadn't looked, because as soon as I did my house exploded.

"PAISLEY OH MY GOSH ARE YOU OK?" I spin around and see Reeve with a concerned look on his face. Before I could respond I tackle hug Reeve and let the sobs that have been building up free. Reeve just stood there being supportive.

"I'm sorry Reeve." I say through sobs, "I should be used to losing people by now."

"Paisley . . . no matter how many losses you've experienced, it doesn't make them any easier." he assured me, and I almost believed him.

"We need to go." Reeve grabbed my hand and pulled me along with him. He brought me to where he is staying. And I cover my mouth. He is living in an alley, and sleeping in a cardboard box.

"Reeve . . . why didn't you say something?"

"Because the entire time we've been here, you've been in surgery. Then taken away by the police. Why aren't you in jail anyway?"

I know he's just trying to change the subject but I still fill him in, "I um . . . I had an anxiety attack in the police car. And he felt bad so he left me on the side of the road. Where Elliana found me." his eyes bulged, "Yea the same Elliana I told you about. The same Elliana everyone believes to be dead. She helped me home and—" my voice just stops working.

"I— wow. Are you ok?"

A bitter laugh escapes my lips, "Oh of course. Everything is great."

"I'm serious Paisley."

I sigh, "No. I'm not ok Reeve. I just found out I have anxiety, and ever since I had the anxiety attack it isn't going away. Someone who I believed to be dead is alive, and once I got home I found both of my parents and my brother dead. So no. I'm not ok."

"Listen, I get it, ok? I really do. But you'll get past this."

"Yea . . . I just can't shake this feeling that Robert is here. Now. And that he killed my family."

"You'll be ok Paisley. I won't let anything happen to you."

"I know Reeve." I tell him. But that doesn't change the fact that everything I had is gone. Everyone I love is dead. Knowing that I'll be ok isn't enough. I want revenge. I want whoever did this to die. And I want it to be as painful as possible.