Family Ties (Heathers Reader Insert)

EIGHT

I enter the house. I was over at the bridge earlier. I just wanted to be alone. First the rumors. Then Jason and I got our asses handed to us. What's horrible about it was that I could see how angry he was, how determined he was to do it for Veronica. I should have seen it before he had gotten hurt. I could have stopped him from rushing into that fight. That's what I'm supposed to do. I'm his sister.

I stop in my tracks as I see Jason and Veronica in the living room.

"Oh. You're here." My voice falters as I see the box in Jason's hand. I recognize that box. "Guns, huh?" I ask. He nods. He opens the door and Veronica leaves first.

"Want to come?" He asks. I hesitate. Veronica is out of the earshot.

"Are you going to... Kill them?" I say quietly. He shrugs. "I... I don't know." He puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Why don't you come? They deserve it. Besides, we're using 'Ich Luge' bullets. Tranqs. The ones granddad got in World War Two," he explains as he sees my confusion. I swallow.

"No killing?" He opens the box, handing a gun to me, the handle pointed at me. I hesitate.

"Promise." I bite my lip. What I don't need right now is another dead peer on my hands. But Jason doesn't lie to me. At least... I don't think he does. I finally take the gun, tucking it into my waistband. The three of us reach the cemetery, climbing over the fence. Jason and I hide while Veronica goes to greet Kurt and Ram. Veronica hides a gun behind her back. I crouch with my back to a gravestone and listen to them talk. I hear a countdown from the three of them.

"One." I take a deep breath, cocking my gun. "Two..." Jason appears from his hiding place, and so do I. I aim the gun at Ram's chest, a smile on my face. They don't notice.

"Three."

I feel goosebumps all over my skin as I hear three gunshots. One from my gun, and the other two from Jason's and Veronica's. Two bullets hit Ram. Bullseye. Veronica's bullet narrowly misses Kurt, instead scaring him away.

"Holy crap!" He screams, running in the other direction.

"Y/n. Let's get him," Jason says calmly. He chases after Kurt. I run after him. I see him slowly raise the gun, aiming at Kurt, who's trying to climb the fence. I point the gun at him too. "Get off the damn fence!"

"Yeah, come on, Kurt!" I taunt.

"I don't understand!" Kurt cries out. Jason's face melts into a smile.

"We're the asteroid that's overdue," Jason says. Kurt sinks down beside the fence.

"I-I don't understand!" He cries. I tilt my head, grinning. Now. I fire, silencing the jock and splattering blood over me and my brother. I recoil slightly in disgust. Kurt falls to the ground. I smile in glee. We got them. I notice Veronica trying to wake Ram, but he doesn't stir... My heart stops.

Wait.

No. No, no, no... I surge towards Kurt, then crumple to my knees beside him. The gun falls from my hand, the muzzle still smoking.

"Hey... Kurt?" I ask softly, turning him around to face me. His eyes are blank. It's like a slap to the face. It's like what Heather looked like. "Kurt, you're okay, right? Right?" I put a hand to his chest. I don't feel a pulse. I shake him. "Kurt? Wake up! Kurt!" I scream, growing more frantic. He's... I turn to my brother. "He's dead!"

"What the fuck have you done?" Veronica asks, looking at us in horror.

"No, no, no, no..." I put a hand to my face. "I didn't know... You... You lied to me!" I scream at Jason. Tears run down my face, cutting streaks into the blood. "You said no killing!" He starts towards me. I turn away, resisting the urge to scream as I head to the gate before remembering that it's closed. I scramble up the fence, dropping down to the ground. My head pounds as I run down the street recklessly, tripping as I go.

I need to get away. I'm home. But I don't know how I got back. I stumble to the bathroom, washing off my face and hands. I watch the pink water swirl down the drain as I catch my breath. I know that it will never truly be gone. I feel a wave of nausea, then rush to the toilet, emptying my stomach. My vision swims, and I close my eyes, trying to orient myself.

I just killed two people. I killed them. Shot right at them and struck them. I run into my room and slam the door, ripping off the bloodstained clothes.

One.

First, a cup of sky blue liquid.

Two.

Two bullets, buried deep in his chest.

Three.

Bang.

I bury my head in my pillow to block out the voices of Kurt and Ram, joining that of Heather. When will this end? I feel tears. I'm tired of wiping them away. Choking them back so I remain the emotionless slab that everyone thinks I am. Ever since my mom died.

A low, painful sob rips from my chest, my heart pounding, my breathing ragged and uneven. I'm a murderer. I should have known better. I should have done something. I should have saved them. Tears soak into my pillow. I hug it tighter.

How could I do this?

The next day I hear of Ram Sweeney and Kurt Kelly committing suicide on a pact. They were gay lovers. But I know better.