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“I loved your sister, Emma. I just loved Lake more. When your sister kept doing more drugs, I chose Lake. I never wanted her to hurt. It’s why I started taking them, to ease the pain.”
“Why did you sell her those drugs?” I blurt out, watching his pale face close off in pain.
“She would have gone anywhere to get them, done anything to get her next fix. When I ran out, I didn’t want her to get in trouble by going elsewhere. There are dickheads around who would have used her. I got some from another dealer, so she wouldn’t have to. I didn’t know they were laced with poison. I swear, I didn’t.” He starts choking again, and I feel like I can’t breathe, watching him turn paler by the second.
“Please don’t die. Please.”
“I’m so sorry,” he cries, tears falling down his cheeks.
“I’msorry,” I cry, trying to stop the bleeding. “What were you doing here, anyway.”
“That day at the university, I saw someone hiding behind the bushes after you left. They didn’t think I noticed, but I did. I saw him go into the university, so I waited for the class to finish before following him to an old farm house. When nothing happened, I left.” He starts coughing, clutching his stomach. “You didn’t want to see me again, and I understood, so I never did anything. I didn’t even think any more of it until I saw his face in the paper. I knew it was you he attacked. I’ve gone back to the farmhouse every night for the past two weeks, and then yesterday morning, he left, following you guys up here. I’ve been watching him watch you. I wanted to come out and warn you, but I didn’t want to get in a fight.”
“So, you decided to save me instead?”
“You didn’t deserve what happened to you, Emma. What I did to you, and then what he did. I was a messed-up kid. So yes, I helped you.” He wheezes, clutching his chest. When blood starts pouring from the corner of his mouth, I begin to panic.
“Somebody, please, help me,” I scream, my voice echoing off the trees.
“Emma?”
“Tom, I’m over here,” I scream, before looking down at Darren. “Hold on, Darren, help is here.”
“I’m sorry,” he gasps, his eyes rolling to the back of his head.
“No, Darren, stay awake,” I cry.
“Emma!”
“Sorry,” Darren whispers. “I’m so sorry.”
“I forgive you. Darren, can you hear me? I forgive you.”
His eyes barely open, a small smile playing on his lips, before his entire body just collapses, one last breath expelling from his lungs before… nothing. He just lies there, not moving a muscle.
“Darren, no!” I wail, pressing down on his chest. I shake him, but his head just flops to the side, lifeless.
I scream, sobs racking through my chest, clutching what is left of his shirt in my hands. I place a hand on his cheek, stroking him softly. “Please, wake up. Please. I forgive you,” I shout, crying harder.
Footsteps come bursting through the bushes, but I can’t look away from Darren, my head falling against his chest.
“What the fuck? Emma?” Tom yells, rushing over to me, lifting me off Darren. I can feel his blood all over me as I look helplessly at Tom.
“What the fuck happened?” Connor shouts, looking around at the two dead bodies. “Oh, fuck. Isn’t that the English teacher?”
Tom shakes me, and I look up at him, feeling numb. “Emma, where’s Banner?”
“Mr. Flint hit him, and he fell into the river,” I choke out, feeling my chest tighten with pain.
“Oh, fuck,” Connor hisses, placing his hands on his head. “It’s fucking freezing.”
Tears gather behind Tom’s eyes. “Was he alive?”
Fat tears slide down my cheeks as I look down at Darren. “He said Banner was just down by the river bank. He pulled him out. He saved him,” I whisper.
“Go look, Connor,” Tom yells, pulling out his phone. I listen to him call for an ambulance, just as more people come through the trees. “Guys, stay back. Don’t let any of the girls here.”
“What’s going on?” Rafner asks, and I feel him move closer. “Holy fucking shit.”