Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"i couldn't let him hurt you"
y'all are gonna hate me for this one but next chapter will make up for it i promise lmao
Kenzie just knew it had to be him, why else would she have this weird feeling and who else would be sneaking around Ryan's funeral?
She looked around at everyone there. Liv's eulogy had been over for awhile, people had done readings. The mass was literally almost over and Kenzie was out of it for most of it. The second she saw the person, she froze. She couldn't speak or move if she wanted to.
She snapped out of her thoughts when people stared getting up from their seats. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as she felt Luis stand up next to her too. She watched as people started to form some type of line near the casket.
It's already over. She thought to herself. They're paying their respects.
She stood up and stepped out of the row, her legs trembling with fear as she moved to the side for everyone to exit the row. She felt a hand rest on her back and she nearly jumped at their touch. She turned to see Luis' eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he stared down at her.
"Everything alright?" He asked, his voice was stern and serious. She knew he sensed her fear but she didn't want to make a big deal out of it. It could have been someone else or maybe if it was him, he was already gone. It had been a while since she had seen the mystery person.
"Yeah," She said with a soft nod. "I just have to pee."
He looked at her like he didn't believe her but nodded it off anyway. Em was listening to the whole conversation and butted in.
"I'll go with her," She said to Luis before turning to smile at her cousin. "It's not safe being alone anymore."
Luis looked satisfied that she wouldn't be alone and nodded his head. Yet Kenzie looked terrified, if he really was there she didn't want to drag her cousin into it. Before Kenzie could protest, Em was dragging her down the isle.
"Are you okay?" She asked as soon as they were out of the church and in the small hallway. "You look pale. You feeling alright?"
Kenzie shook her head and tried to explain but she was cut off by a laugh. A laugh that made both girls shiver. They turned around and saw him, standing at the end of the hallway where no one but priest should be. He smiled evilly as he stood there watching them.
"You have balls showing up to the funeral of the kid you murdered," Kenzie spat out. She wasn't thinking straight, she was angry. Angry that this man was the one who nearly killed her brother and friend, the man who was going to kill her own mother, and the man who is trying to take her best friend away to live a life that he doesn't deserve.
"Feisty, huh?" He asked with a small laugh. "Ryan told me you were like this. Never could keep your mouth shut, that's what got you in trouble."
Nate was far from tall, him being only a few inches taller than Kenzie who was very short, but his dad was a different story. Most people towered over her but he was something else. He was probably even taller than Luis or her brother. He took a step toward them, he intimated them and they didn't know how to not show it.
"You're not going to get away with what you did," He said as he inched closer to them. "Taking away my son like that right after I lost my wife. How awful does that sound?"
"Yeah, take him away from your bullshit," She said back with anger as she stepped in front of her cousin and closer to him. "Did you really think that we were going to let him live with you after everything you did? You just wanted him around because your wife was no longer around for you to hit!"
Her words earned her a punch in the face, sending her flying back into her cousin's body. His fist collided with her nose and she could feel the warm liquid dripping down from her nose, she could taste it. She glared up at him and felt even more angry when she saw him smirking at her. She swung her arm quickly as she stood on her tip toes and hit him right across the cheek.
Kenzie was a short girl who had a serious attitude problem but she never allowed people to talk about her or put their hands on her, even Nate's dad.
He stumbled back a bit before he rubbed his cheek violently and glared at her with anger. She gulped when she saw the fire in his eyes, he was dangerous and she knew it in that moment. He was unpredictable, neither of the girls knew what he would do next but they both feared it.
In one swift movement, he had pushed Kenzie to the side and grabbed ahold of Em. She went to scream but he covered her mouth harshly. Kenzie tried to scream for help but immediately shut her mouth when she saw the huge blade of a knife pushed up against her cousin's neck.
"Another thing Ryan told me," He said with a groan as he tried to get Em to stay still. "He told me that I could torture you all I want and you wouldn't give a shit but the second I try anything on someone you love, you'll break."
Kenzie cursed at Ryan in her head, wanting nothing more than to punch the stupid boy for knowing so much about her. He laughed at her when she stayed silent, knowing he was completely right. She wished for someone to come out here and to put a stop to this. For someone to come and scare him away or maybe even for a police officer to walk through the doors.
She knew no one was coming, she knew it was just going to be the three of them in that small hallway for awhile. She also knew someone was going to die, and she was not going to allow it to be her cousin. She would kill him if she had to and even die if that meant her cousin could walk away unharmed.
"Let her go!" She screamed at him as she rushed forward and grabbed onto his hand, pulling it away from Em's neck. Em fell to the floor as Nate's dad grabbed Kenzie and pinned her against the wall. She struggled in his tight grip but she tried, she tried to get him off of her and to get away.
She kicked him and swung her arms but he was too strong for her. She knew it but she refused to give up. She could feel Em trying everything to pull him off of her but it was no use. Even two of them weren't strong enough to fight him off.
Kenzie's arm got loose and she swing her arm, her fist colliding with his eye. He let out a frustrated yell before he jerked his arm back and then jerked it forward.
Kenzie gasped as she felt something sharp pierce her stomach. Em screamed in horror as Kenzie slid down the wall, clutching her side where a knife stuck out. Nate's dad simply laughed before he turned on his feet and walked out of the door.
"Oh my god, Kenz," Em said through sobs as she collapsed to the floor beside her cousin. Kenzie looked up at her with tears spilling from her eyes. Em wrapped her arms around her and held her tight as she screamed out for help.
"I couldn't let him hurt you," Kenzie choked out as Em rubbed her face and tried to get her to stop talking. "Please tell Luis that I love him, I really do. I know we haven't said it yet but I love him, so much."
"Kenzie stop don't say that," She said in a whisper as she sobbed loudly. "You're gonna be okay, you'll be fine. I'm not going to let you die."
Kenzie looked down at the bloodstained black dress she wore, her right hand covered completely with her own blood. She let out a weak cry as the pain consumed her body again.
"I love you, Em," She whispered to her cousin as she grabbed a hold of her hand, squeezing it tightly. "I'm sorry, I couldn't let you die."
"And I can't let you die either," Em whispered back as she leaned down and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. "I love you, Kenz. You're not leaving me now, you're not going to die."
Kenzie felt her eyelids getting heavier and heavier until she couldn't fight the urge to keep them open. She felt her eyes shut as Em yelled at her to stay awake but she couldn't. She heard footsteps and lots of screaming before darkness completely consumed her body.
