Afterlight ✔️

chapter twenty-eight

— Jay Bieber

It hit me.

It all could've been solved with just one action.

I may sound fucking crazy, but if I murdered Chloe earlier enough, before I starting to care about her, no one would be out to get me. Selfish? I knew, but no one ever ceased to leave me the hell alone. I was at a point where I'd be willing to do anything to get everyone from being out to get me. However, I was glad I didn't kill her. Chloe meant a lot to me – so much that I'd go through any kind of pain just to see her happy and well. As of this point, she was a huge part of my heart, and had grown to be a part of me. She had been on my mind for the bulk of the time, I couldn't let go of her. I couldn't at all.

I never knew that I'd ever be in the position to ever let one of my victims off the hook, just because I caught major feelings for them, or for anyone as matter of fact. I cared about Chloe with everything I had, and at this point, I couldn't do anything about it but keep her around me, safe and sound.

Chloe belonged to me, she was mine and I was hers.

I stood motionless against the wall, as I watched Chloe answer the door for her brother. I tried my best to look humble, however I couldn't help but shoot deathly expressions at Brad. He pissed me the fuck off on the phone earlier, it was going to take me awhile to grow fond of him.

His tall body towered over her petite frame. She glared back at me, then back over to him. Nervously, she held her left arm with her right hand, rubbing it softly. My poor girl. She did so much shit behind Brad's back, just to get herself caught slipping in the end.

"H-hi Brad." Chloe stuttered. Brad glared at her as if she was crazy as hell. "Brad?"

I licked my lips, keeping myself from invading the whole situation. I wanted to tell Brad to chill the hell down and at least greet his sister the correct way. I already had a brother who treated me like shit, I knew what she was going through as I went through the same thing everyday. To see someone go through the same thing as me pissed me even more off, I didn't want her to be going through the same thing.

"You're just casually walking around the house dressed like this?" He eyed her body up and down as if she were a piece of trash off the streets. She had on some shorts and my t-shirt, it was something that had made her comfortable on a day to day basis. I surely didn't have a problem with it, I liked seeing her wear my clothes but I was guessing he thought it was inappropriate. Simply lame, in my opinion.

"Dressed like what?" She questioned cluelessly, bowing her head down. She stood slumped over, rubbing at her arm. She took her rubbing hand, placed her bangs behind her ear, then went back to rubbing her arm.

"Chloe, don't play stupid. What the fuck are you wearing?" Brad asked, gruffly. Chloe didn't answer. "So, you two were fucking behind my back, as well?"

I clenched my fists. A sense of burning fury shot up my body, I wanted to beat the fuck out of this man. I didn't do shit to his sister, I did everything I possibly could to keep her from getting killed and he wanted to accuse the both of us of fucking each other? I wanted to know when we'd ever get out of these types of situations, there was always someone trying to harass us.

"No, we are not. Stop assuming things, Brad." She sniffled, slowly glaring up at him. "The least you could do is give me a proper greeting."

Silence filled the air, all I could hear were the crickets chirping under the dark night sky. I glared over to Brad, making eye contact with him. I let out a deep sigh, peering down to mind my own damn business. I knew it was going to be hard to deal with him, especially since he had been the one in control in Chloe's life. I had no way to win him over, I knew I had ruined it with that phone call a few hours ago.