How to Kill a Man in Thirty Seconds

Chapter 48: Aftermath

The first sound I heard was a distant beep, beep as I regained consciousness. My body ached. It throbbed all over like I'd been hit with a fifty tonne truck, and I wondered for a second if could move. Then my eyes opened and I blinked against harsh white lights.

It all came back to me with a start.

I registered my mother sitting by my hospital bed, one hand clutching mine as she sniffled. Someone was seated on the floor beside the far wall, knees pulled up against his chest. Adrian's gaze was on the floor, his face morose, and his body unmoving. There was a bruise on his right cheek.

"Charley?" I heard my mother's voice. Her grip on my hand tightened and her voice cracked, "You're awake."

The sound of my name made Adrian's gaze dart up. He was by my side in an instant.

"Charley?" he said, and a breath of relief seemed to escape him, "How are you feeling?"

I extracted my hand from my mother's and ignored my aching body as I pulled myself into a sitting position. Their gazes watched my every move as if they were afraid I would crumple any second.

"I'm fine," I replied, but the exhaustion in my voice gave me away, "How long was I asleep?"

My stomach ached when I breathed.

"A couple of hours," Adrian answered, "Eleven." I noticed his gaze flicker all over my face, as if he couldn't believe I was awake and communicating. There was worry clouding his emerald eyes when his hand reached out to touch my arm gently, "Are you really feeling okay?"

I nodded, "What about Mason?"

Adrian's jaw locked upon mention of the boy's name. His voice turned cold, and my gaze hovered on the purple bruise lining his cheek. "He had to be taken to the hospital," Adrian replied.

"Good."

Both his gaze and my mother's darted me in shock.

"Charley," my mother said tentatively, "What happened? Who started the fight?"

I sensed the fear in her voice, struggled to feel a sense of guilt and failed, "I did."

I saw the light drain out of my mother's eyes, "Why?" Her voice cracked once more.

"Because he insulted dad."

Tears sprung in her eyes and I could sense the disappointment, "Charley, please tell me you regret it. Please tell me you know you were wrong."

"I'm not."

The air rushed out of her, "Charley, do you realize you're in a hospital right now? With bruises all over your body. And someone else was sent to the hospital because of you. He has a broken nose from where you punched him repeatedly, claw marks all over one hand, and the other bleeding because you bit him. You bit him," her voice cracked, "You're lucky you're not in jail. You'll most definitely be expelled."

She inhaled sharply, "Charley, you were my only hope in the middle of all this... shit." Tears began slipping down her face, "Everything you've worked for until now... everything. You're going to lose it all. You can't do this to yourself. Not again."

"Does it matter?"

She blinked, but anger surged in me, "I've spent the last four years of my life playing good. Always doing the right thing. But guess what?! It doesn't get you anywhere. Being good doesn't get you what you want. It doesn't give you justice. No one gives a damn about justice. So I'm sorry, but I'd rather give Mason what he truly deserves, than wait for another saving angel that never comes! Wake up, mum. No one cares about us, except us."