Apex

part two | anthropocene

JULY 10

ALLIX

The so-called point of no return wasn't always viable. There was no line in the sand or flashing light to give a warning sign. It was all subjective.

In my case specifically, I believed there had been more than one point of no return. The first had been at Cape Blue on May 16th, the second in Conrad Kane's trailer, and the third when I'd found splattered blood on the rotting floorboards in the boathouse. Every action in between had still propelled me forward, shoving me past those points with no regard for the consequences. I could've turned back - maybe I should've - but I hadn't. I was all in now, and not being alone in this was cold comfort.

The four of us stood in the headlights of my Subaru, our shadows dancing with fear. Syd kept his distance from Brenna while Nicki remained closer to my side.

Minutes earlier, Syd and Brenna had arrived on this secluded side-street with a disjointed explanation that made me feel like I was seconds away from throwing up. Nicki had dutifully reported that the police went to the boathouse, responding to our 911 call. As it turned out, Mr. Nakumura had already called to report Maud as missing, and on a small island, drama traveled at the speed of light.

With my jaw threatening to wire itself shut, I focused on taming my erratic heartbeat and sorting facts from fiction. I'd surprised myself by categorizing Brenna's apology as the former.

"I have no idea who could have done this," Brenna said, snapping me out of the haze of my shock, and prompting Syd to scoff. "I was with Zachary Healy an hour ago, and now he's probably dead."

Beside me, Nicki's chest heaved as he took an uneven breath. "Someone shot Zachary and left him in the sea to die."

"Dakota might've been able to save him," Syd said, looking down into his hands that trembled with dried blood. "Or maybe the paramedics got there in time to help."

As if on cue, an approaching siren screamed along in the breeze. I gritted my teeth as I bit back a shiver, thinking of Dakota down at the cove. I understood why they'd left him, but he was alone and attempting to save the same guy who probably hurt Maud. There was also no doubt in my mind that the circus of emergency vehicles was attracting a crowd of curious onlookers. I honestly thought they were more like parasites.

"We need to leave," Brenna blurted out, her blue eyes flashing in the bright headlights.

"Are you planning on making a run for it?" Syd sneered.

A sob escaped Brenna's throat, cutting through the air like a knife. When Nicki's eyes darted over to me, I processed his silent plea to intervene. I took a hesitant step forward and placed a hand on Brenna's shoulder.

"There's a sweatshirt in the backseat of my car that you're welcome to borrow," I said, mustering up a little smile. "Use the water bottle in the center console to clean up."

Nodding, Brenna started to move towards the car door, but Syd blocked her path. "She's covered in Maud's blood, Allix. That's the only evidence we have to prove that she's to blame."

"I will not go down for this," Brenna snapped. "I didn't hurt Maud. That wasn't me."

"She's probably dead too," Nicki blurted out, his composure disintegrating. A tear blizted down his tan cheek.

My breath snagged in my throat. "Nicki, we don't know-"

"Whoever killed Zachary wanted to get rid of him," Nicki interrupted, raking a hand through his mess of blond hair. "They didn't want any loose ends. I know you're thinking the same thing."