Suicide Tree || ✓

16. Target Practice

I had been in the hospital for a little over a week now. I could've left within a few days of me being there but my parents insisted that I remain here – being a doctor and the police chief, Brynn and Harold readily complied. Adri had been visiting, trying to keep me company and Lily had been trying as well, but either cowered away due to Adri being present, or only stayed for a short time before she said that she had to study. Study. I shook my head. It was Wednesday and it was the last week of school before it would close so that the students could be safer. So much for 'stopping' this before the school closes and so much for having a plan.

I was once again, lying on the bed, bored out of my mind. Adri had been bringing me the school assignments each day, much to my displeasure, and we were in the process of writing our essays. I had no problem keeping up because of my current state of immobility. Adri sighed, shutting her laptop and rubbed her eyes with the heels of her palms.

"Hasn't Jasper visited you yet?" Adri asked, her brows furrowed with annoyance. I shook my head, my brows furrowed as well, but with confusion. I didn't understand what was going through his mind. I knew that he was staying away partly because of the warning that Kyle delivered. I knew he felt guilty about that, even though he could not have done anything because Kyle would've found a time when I was alone sooner or later. But Jasper was too smart to let something as small as guilt affect him in such a way. I always thought that I was good at reading people but Jasper has proved to me time and time again how he was that one single exception.

"What the fuck is he doing, he's your boyfriend!" she exclaimed. I could barely stop myself from slapping my forehead – I had completely forgotten about our little show. I cursed under my breath at Jasper's pettiness. We hadn't even been 'dating' for a week and already we were failing miserably.

"No, sorry I thought you meant today," I said tiredly. Adri's small pink lips formed an O and I realised that she had been cursing Jasper's very existence. I chuckled, motioning her to sit on the bed with me.

"It wasn't me."

"What?" I asked with confusion from the sudden change in subject. Adri was suddenly very somber, her gaze locked on the mattress. Oh. I understood. This is what I had been waiting for. I would always wait for her to tell me herself why she would try because she hated when anybody questioned her actions. She felt caged and helpless when they did so. And this was something the killer knew. I pushed that thought to the back of my mind when I suddenly registered what she said.

"I-I didn't do it. I was there, just lying on my bed watching tv when he came. He closed my nose and shoved the pills in my mouth and wouldn't let me breathe unless I swallowed them. He never said a word. Just choked me until I had to down the pills. I knew I'd be dead if I didn't swallow the pills, but if I did...there would've still been a chance for me to survive."

I sucked a sharp breath before breathing out slowly through my nose in an attempt to calm myself. I looked at Adri's impassive face and immediately pulled her into a hug. I wasn't angry. I was absolutely furious. Kyle could try to kill me as much as he'd like but laying a hand on my best friend made my blood boil rage. I had wanted justice at first. I had wanted justice for Hailey and her family. Justice for Melinda. Justice for that nameless paramedic-in-training. I had wanted justice for the people who died a cruel and unforgiving death despite the secrets that they had harboured. But I did not want justice for Adri. No, I wanted revenge. I wanted to make Kyle feel the pain and fear that Adri has been feeling.

"We'll get that bitch, don't worry about it," I murmured and Adri let out a shaky laugh before pulling away. A knock sounded on the door and I looked at it curiously. The doctor had been here just a few minutes ago and my parents were working and Lily was in school. Adri went to open the door, revealing a very impassive, bruised looking Jasper. Without another word, she shot me a wink, grabbed her things, and left us alone. Now let the awkwardness ensue.