Take Me Away | ✓

» 40

K A D E N

After graduation, the days seemed to pass by quickly. I hardly remembered what happened on these days. The only time I did feel like I was truly awake was when I was at Joseph's house. It still confused me as to why I was there in the first place. I remembered talking to a few people but nothing that they said. I floated through the crowds until I saw her in the garden.

I felt it then. The surge of jealousy running through my veins as Phoenix leaned in towards Zach. I hadn't stayed to see what unfolded. Even now, my fingers couldn't help but twitch at the thought of it. How much I wanted to turn around and punch Zach senseless.

The ping of the coffee machine brought me back to reality. I was back in my own apartment for the time being, picking up some extra clothes to take back to my parent's house. A shiver had run down my spine when I crossed the spot I'd fallen. The gravel was clear of any blood that had spilled that day due to the rain. It was like it never happened at all.

But it had. No matter how much I tried, it would forever be ingrained in my memory. Most nights, the thought gnawed away at me along with Noah's voice telling me to do something. For so long, I'd remained still and I realised that maybe he was right. I had everything and nothing to lose.

So that's why I went to the police station. I was terrified the moment I'd stepped in. It brought back memories of my earlier years which I'd have liked to forget. When I went up to the front desk it was an even bigger challenge asking if I could speak to the detective. They'd told me to wait so I had, rigid until he'd arrived. One look at me and he told one of his colleagues to bring me a glass of water, though that didn't really do any good.

He'd taken me into one of the interrogation rooms and from then on was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Reliving everything that had happened on that night-- Dante tricking me, finding the dead body and then some. Reliving what had happened to Martin Bridges. To Zach. To me. It was like I was permanently stuck in my nightmares with no way of escape. My hands stayed fisted throughout the whole ordeal, right up until he pressed the stop button on the recorder.

"You've finally come around." He'd said after pocketing the recorder.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"A street camera caught you near Martin Bridges residence on the night he died." He paused but I was too stunned to speak. The detective had known all along. "I was waiting to hear your side of things."

"Why?" He could have brought me in for questioning weeks ago. The fact that he hadn't justified why he'd made so many house visits since the incident.

"I know what it's like to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I wanted to give you a chance." He explained. "You remind me of myself when I was your age." So his actions were more out of pity than anything else. "I hope this has proven to you that I'm on your side. You did the right thing coming here, Kaden."

I watched him silently.

"Your testimony could be the key to locking Dante away for good." He continued. "At least now you know you have a shot."

He didn't notice the irony of his words. I'd wanted to believe him but something told me I'd put myself in even deeper trouble. That it was only going to get worse from then on.

"Detective," I said as he was getting up. "You'll keep your end of the deal?"

"Dante's behind bars. You don't need to be afraid anymore."

"I don't care what happens to me." I sighed. "Can you promise me nothing will happen to my parents?"

"You and your family will be protected. I promise." He said it with so much certainty that I was almost convinced.