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chapter 2: terror

Ty flew to my side, his hands gripping my shoulders, his eyes wide and desperate. "I did not kill her. She's doing great. She's just fainted. Look at her." We both turned, slow motion for me. The soft twittering of birds were distant now—replaced with the fearful roar of my blood.

"She's not moving, Ty. I really do think you k—." Cold nailed my feet to the grass, my hands shook as I stared at her still form.

"Melissa," something in Ty's voice made me shiver, but I turned to meet his gaze, "don't tell anyone this happened. This was an accident, pure and simple." Somehow, I didn't like the way he spoke to me through his teeth, the clear focus deep in his gaze stole my breath. "It was an accident," he repeated slowly. "Say it, Melissa."

My lips quivered along with my breath. Bright splotches floated behind my eyes and my head spun. I opened my mouth, about to speak when Ty's voice dropped lower. I squeaked.

"It was an accident. Say it."

"It . . . was—," a sob stabbed my chest and I covered my mouth as hot tears flew down my cheek. My knees locked and I dropped to the ground. "You're scaring me."

"Say it!" Ty followed me.

I hiccupped and forced myself to gaze into his eyes. "An accident." As soon as I spoke the last word, sour heat prickled up my throat and I moaned. His fear was contagious. Soon I trembled, feeling light-headed and dizzy. The world around me buzzed and I needed to hide so that I could think.

"There, you said it." Ty jumped to his feet, pulling me up with him.

My pulse fluttered. "Wait!" I anchored myself to the ground, but he was too strong for me. "What about Jannie—Janica?"

"I'll call 911 when we get home, okay?"

"Why not now?" I whipped out my cellphone, but Ty snapped it shut.

"No, since I'm the one that did it, I need to be the one to call." He shifted from foot to foot, his round eyes darting everywhere. "Okay, just give me a second." He took a deep breath, his hands yanking his hair. After a few seconds, Ty gave me a steady gaze. His voice was softer, his eyes softer, his touch softer. "Will you be okay?"

"I, I don't know." I chewed my bottom lip, staring at Jannie's body.

"Melissa," Ty's hands clamped my shoulders as he turned me to face him, his beautiful face pleading, "I'll call 911 and everything will be okay, I promise."

"Hey!" A strong voice floated across the park. My heart struck out as Ty's hand tightened around mine and we both jumped. Fear gripped me and I wheezed.

"Hurry!" Ty gasped. I didn't know what made me do it, but Ty's terror became mine. I obeyed him as we darted as quickly as we could from Jannie.

Feeling jittery as if struck by power line, I went straight for the bathroom right after I got home. Warm water glided down my leg, leaving behind foamy bubbles. I pressed my pruny hand against the lather without blinking, unable to erase the horrid lump that sweltered deep in my gut. I swear I could taste bile behind my tongue.

My thoughts flew to the man that had yelled at us and how Ty and I ran. Did he see what had happened? The sick in my gut revolted, so I jumped from the tub to the toilet, making it just in time. After heaving up air, I sunk back into the lukewarm water unblinkingly.

Why was I so worried about it if it was Ty who did it, not me? Again, my stomach writhed, but this time, I missed the toilet. I stared in disgust the yellow brilliance that deflated the froth in my bathwater.

Once draining the tub and washing myself with the shower, I pressed the towel against my water-logged skin.

Was it really the right thing we did, leaving Janica like that? I mean, Ty did say he'd call 911. The deep breaths of humid air didn't soothe my nerves, so I headed to straight to bed.