Fate's Exchange (Twisted Fate, Book 1)

Chapter Forty-Five

Alyssa

On Friday morning I woke from the strangest dreams. I was with David, but he was looking back at me with another boy's face. His name, his features—everything about the boy I knew was wrong. But even though whoever he became was never clear, his eyes didn't alter, unchanging. It made less sense than what I'd witnessed of life after death, and I disregarded it as being exactly what it had been presented as: a dream.

Why sabotage the one thing that gave me a reason to breathe now that Tina was gone in exchange for something so intangible?

I forced myself out from under the covers and into the shower. It was a sucky day—D-Day—and I had no idea what would happen. The problem with not knowing, though, was that I wanted to make sure I didn't waste a single second. As sad as I was, and as confusing as the situation had become, I couldn't wait to get my butt in gear and see David. Even if I didn't survive, Death would have to work extra hard to get this girl.

Running down the stairs twenty minutes later, fully dressed and looking for food, my steps slowed as I neared the door to the kitchen. The television was blaring, and both my parents were quiet. When I peered around the corner, my dad sat with his cup of coffee halfway to his mouth and my mother sat with her mouth hanging open as they listened to the latest newscast.

"The two boys brought in from Elixir High School yesterday for questioning in relation to the attacks occurring in our communities after an anonymous call was made to Hidden Springs Police Services are now home and with their families. More after the break."

Tip-toeing across the kitchen, I quietly opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water and a container of cut-up cantaloupe. I turned my back to the room and opened both, and then twisted back so that my back rested on the counter as I ate and watched the rest of the broadcast as the commercials came to an end.

"While being questioned, another attack occurred early this morning in Border City. Of the three victims, two were critically injured and are undergoing surgery, while the third was pronounced dead at the scene. In light of these events, both suspects were released, and no charges were laid pertaining to these crimes. Names have not been provided to the public, and the search for those responsible is still being conducted. Tune in this evening for further updates."

The open bottle of water fell from my hands, splattering on the floor. Both my parents looked up, realizing I was there. Rushing to the sink, I grabbed the dishrag and fell to my knees, skidding across the two feet of floor to wipe up the puddle. Keeping my eyes averted so that I couldn't see the looks my parents must be sharing, I scrubbed in circles, pushing the water around rather than absorbing it into the cloth.

"I'm sorry," I said, feeling breathless. "I didn't mean to."

"Leave it," my mother said, and stood. She came over and knelt down, placing her hand on mine before taking the rag. "Here. Let me finish this while you get another water and head to school."

"Are you alright?" my father asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Fine." I nodded and stood, brushing invisible dirt from the knees of my jeans. "It's just..." I licked my lips and swallowed. "Somebody died in those attacks. It's really ah—awful."

More like incomprehensible.

Nobody died until they found me. The victory of telling Mrs. Haun about who was responsible for the attacks had prompted their arrest. I was as sure of that as I was of the fact that Christy instigated the attack in Border City to free Josh and Duke from the police. How was I supposed to feel about that?

If I had died and stayed dead, that person would still been alive.

I looked up to the container on the counter, and my stomach flipped. Gazing down to the floor, I mumbled that I had to go and fled, ignoring my parents as they called out to me. I grabbed my bag from the floor beside the front door and ran out of the house to my car, gasping, and dropped my keys.