Till The Count Of Five ✓

Chapter 53

Chapter 53

I'm a demon, we all are. Because that's the only way you could live. It's either living or winning.

Nolan

16th May 2019, Thursday
14:15

I leaned back in the seat and turned on the AC, rolling up the windows. Max had disappeared inside the school to bring the new fee booklet. A bus passed the car, then another. As much as I wanted to, I did not search for Kiara. Vicky was missing from the school for obvious reasons and it was everything they all talked about. I was frustrated by the end of the day and ready to get done with this.

Finally, Max came and handed me the booklet. "Are you sure about this?"

I nodded. His face was set in an unusual frown.

"Everything okay?" I asked. It felt weird asking this question because, well, nothing was close to okay.

"Did you know?"

"Know what?"

He turned the ignition on and pulled away the car from the side, sliding into the rows of slow moving cars that paused every ten seconds to honk at the one that was in the front.

"What is it, Max?" My mind began to conjure up different possibilities, from another call by 'Miss Adams' to something worse. Miss Adams. I scowled. She still hadn't changed her surname after two years.

After a left turn, the path cleared and Max slid back in a more comfortable position. I stared at him.

"They're saying Hardik is critical," he said and glanced at me.

I looked outside the window, remembering the push I had given him, how I had tried to simply give a little shove to keep him away from reaching her. As we drove past a car, I remembered how his eyes hadn't even got the time to register what was happening. He had fallen. He had been pushed.

I shut my eyes and hated myself for the small flame of relief that was swaying in my chest. I was safe from the eyes of the world but I'd never be safe from the scrutiny of my own eyes. I had known that last night when I had stepped out of my house. I hated myself. I hated what I had become.

'All because of you, all because of you.'

"What is she doing here?" Max said.

I looked up as he began to slow down. Kiara stood in front of one of the houses next to Roy. "Does she know?" I asked.

"I think," Max said.

My hands tightened around the dashboard. Her lips moved and Roy's face fell, the frown manifesting into shock and disappointment. Max hadn't stopped, so we drove past them. I assured myself that she wasn't telling him the truth, if she did she'd have to tell her side too. Then, it hit me that there was probably a great chance that she'd admit, especially when Hardik was Vicky's best friend.