Raine Walker

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Raine POV

        I don't know what I'm doing it or how I'm managing to keep my strength to do such a thing. I wouldn't have imagined myself in this position. Ever. Apart of me wishes that I wasn't in this. I wish I was back to a time when it was the fun times with Holland and I, spending the night and annoying her little shit of a brother. I wish that I was back to being locked in my bedroom, in front of my laptop, watching YouTube videos simply because I had nothing else better to do. 

        But then I remember something that altered my life. I can't forget it...nor for even two seconds. Not even if I really wanted to. If I would go back to that life, I'd be living in a lie. Why not live for now and live for the truth? Why not fight? Why not stand up for myself and my dignity? Why not try to be strong and stand up to the lies and defeat?

        Be strong.

        The gun shakes in my hand as my whole arm is trembling. I'm staring directly at the lies. I can pretty much see right through them. I can almost see the barrier that used to exist...but not anymore. She doesn't have those to protect her. I know what's the truth, no matter what happens.

        "Stop. Just stop," I say, through a now clenched jaw.

        "Raine...what are you-" Lacey looks at me shocked. She should.

       "You've lied to me for thirteen years."

        "I wasn't lying-" Lacey was trying to fill my head with lies again, but I wouldn't let it happen.

        "No matter what you say, I know the truth. The truth is that you kidnapped me when I was only five years old. You told me to call you mom. I'm not who I thought I was. I'm not a shy, lonely girl that you always thought I was. I'm not a girl that lets people walk over me like it's no big deal. Because now it is. You're a liar. You're not my mother. You never were. You know what? I'm not your daughter. I'm not a Walker. I'm not even Raine..."

        The words spilled out of my mouth as I held the gun to her. Lacey looks mortified as I spoke, but that's the look I wanted. I quickly glance at Scott as he looks up at me. He's on his hands and knees, studying me. He holds the back of his head with one hand, an expression on his face that he was shocked...but not surprised. I glance above him, seeing Dean.

        His eyes are darker. His expression is meaningless. He holds a gun in his hand, pointed at me, without conviction. He looks like he doesn't even know what he's doing. He looks as clueless as a young boy. He is. 

       He's only in it for the money, obviously.

        I take my glance back to Lacey, her jaw clenched. "You stop this right now."

        "You think you still have control over who I am," I respond, clenching onto the gun a little tighter. There was no intention within me to pull the trigger, but the anger inside me was starting to do the talking. "This...This is over. You lied. You still think I can just waltz back into the lie and expect nothing to be off. Well, that's never going to happen. EVER."

        Lacey looks like I just shot her, and for a second, I thought I did. I glance down at her abdomen, expecting a bullet hole to be visible. She clutches her stomach, her knees shaking. In a matter of seconds, she drops to her knees, looking up at me with tears falling from her eyes without even blinking. 

        My eyes are stuck on hers as flashing red, blue, and white lights become apparent. I take my glance away from her, looking back at Dean. He stumbles back, looking beyond me. I take a moment, looking back, and realizing why he was so freaked out. The police are here.

        "Put your hands up!" I hear Detective Wilson yell. 

        I look down to see Lacey pinned to the ground with two cops hand cuffing her. I feel myself sigh in relief. Hands gently touch my shoulder. I glance over quickly, seeing Detective Lauren. She looks a little less put together as I remembered her to be. Her hand grasps my gun slightly, giving me the notion that I should release the gun from my grip. And I did...and I couldn't be more relieved.

        I quickly change my glance to Scott, falling into his arms even though he's on the ground. He embraces me, pulling me closer to him. I feel his hands run though my hair, as if he was glad that I was in his arms. I dig my nails slightly into his back, grasping what happened. He sighs in relief.

        "It's over," he says. His voice soothes me, letting me breathe a little more better than just a few moments ago. I let out a long breath.

        "It's over," I echo, feeling his face being buried further into the crevice of my neck. I feel him cringe within my grasp. I pull back, looking at the pained expression on his face. "Are you alright?"

        His hand shoots up to his head, scuffing his hair a bit. "Just a killer headache," he responds, looking at me. "Besides...I should be asking you that question."

        That's a really good question by the way. And I was totally okay with him asking it. Before, I would get really upset with the fact that somebody will input an ironic statement to test my mental capability. Now, I was the one who asked the question. So hearing somebody ask me that question felt okay to me. I was more or less relieved that somebody cares. That he cared.

        "I'm okay," I respond, not adding too much detail because he should just know I'm holding up. He looks into my eyes as the police do their thing around us - taking Dean away in hand cuffs as well as Lacey and throwing them into the squad car.

        Scott simply nods, pressing his forehead to mine. I close my eyes, feeling a wave of either relief or security sweep over me like a gust of wind. 

        "Hey..." I hear a voice, small yet concerned, echo behind me. I pull away from Scott, glancing up to see Adam. He looks unharmed, which is greatly relieving. I stand up, smiling as I put my arms around Adam's strong shoulders. "I'm glad you're okay."

        "Me too," I mumble into his shoulder. "To you I mean. I'm glad you're okay, too," I say as I take a step back. There was this glazed look in his eyes that seemed like he was about to cry. As he studied me, I understood why he was about to cry.

        The storm has passed. And I'm still here. Adam has his sister back...and she's not in a shadow anymore of her past. Apart of me smiles as I see his expression, not because I enjoy the pain. His expression was the opposite of pain. It was of joy. Pure and utter joy.

        "Let me help you with that," a male EMT states to Scott. I turn my glance back to the EMT situating Scott to his feet. I help, letting him drape his arm over my shoulder as we head towards the ambulance. A light show of flashing lights fills my eyes as we head towards the front of the house.

        I stare at the departing vehicle, knowing that Lacey and Dean were to be imprisoned. I pause for a moment, feeling Scott and the EMT go on without me. I stand there, watching as the tail-lights disappear around the bend. I feel like I can breathe again. I feel myself standing on my own two feet. 

        It's an exhilarating feeling.