𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥 | 𝗦𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲

Epilogue

Waverley's P.O.V

Not again!

I watched the life leave Aria's eyes, my heart skittering in my chest. I choked on a scream, my whole body aching with trembles. I didn't even feel the fiery burn on my arm anymore from when a bullet grazed me.

Dillon was on his knees, crying into his hands whereas Talin and Cornelius were simply staring in shock. Once I had enough strength to pull myself out of my grief, I'd strangle my stupid cousin.

I almost tore myself apart when I figured out my cousin and his friends were the school bullies, but I never thought that I would resolve to violence. It seemed as though the only thing Dillon understood was violence. I expected them to stop and apologise for all they'd done to innocent people. What I didn't expect was the reality that played on instead. They thought they could go behind my back and harm Aria without me knowing, but they were dead wrong...shooting Aria in front of me?

Violence was now the only conclusion on my mind.

Riley, the betrayer, was dead on the ground, although no one seemed to notice. Maybe he shot himself after realising what a big mistake he'd done.

The ringing that sung in my ears from the loud bangs earlier seemed to drown out the sound of the huge white van skidding to a stop a couple metres away. I didn't pay any attention, not the slightest bit worried if more men with guns came out shooting everywhere. My only true friend was dead. She died right in front of me. And my cousin shot her. Her stomach was covered with blood, the smell and sight making me sick, but it was nothing compared to her blown leg. It looked gruesome, but I would take her wounds any day to bring life to her eyes once again. I wanted to be the one to die.

After years of hesitation to just end my useless life, and plenty of free time to do it, I'd finally found a reason to live. Aria was my crutch, my friend, my happy place. Being in her presence would never be the same as being at her grave.

My vision blurred as hurried figures dashed around me, a young freckled teenager rushing to my side to clean my bloody graze. I wanted to push him away, to yell at him to let me bleed out, but I could barely keep my eyes open, let alone raise my head to speak.

Aria's body was dragged away from me and my breath hitched. I tried reaching out, achieving only a harder wave of exhaustion to barrel into me. The young freckled boy cladded in black gear finally jogged my memory, reminding me he was the one forcing me outside to witness this horrendous, bloody scene before me.

Internally, I was fuming, my heart lit aflame, my hands ready to wrap themselves around the closest neck I could get ahold of, but my brain was flooded, the surreal scene continuing on around me despite what I wanted. I collapsed into the arms of the freckled boy as he once again dragged me away.

This time, though, I was guided to the safety of a van with medics at the ready and then driven to a deserted location hidden at a base in some woods.

From so much loss of blood, I could no longer stand, my face losing colour and my fiery heart dimming to a dull roar of agony. Fuzzy shadows of all heights and weights closed in on me, circling me, trapping me in a claustrophobic ring of distant voices and cold hands.

Strong arms encircled me after a few seconds of black, gently carrying me to a warm room. Disastrous dyed black hair stuck up on top of the mans head and pale blue eyes filled with more dread than ever glanced down every few milliseconds as if to check if I was still with him. Layers of rugs settled over me and finally sleep weighed my eyes down.