Page 62 of Restitution

Kyle took Chris’s body and buried him in the middle of the forest before going home.

My brother did give me a cuddle before he left and begged me not to be a stranger. Told me that whenever I need him, he’s only a phone call away. He apologised for everything, and promised he’ll make sure no trouble comes to us from Chris.

Tobias didn’t shake his hand when he held it out to him, but my brother understood. Kyle lived in the same house as me foryears and knew his brother was obsessed with me. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t catch on tohowobsessed he was. But Tobias sees it differently.

Losing my daughter was the beginning of the end. And it was all because of Chris.

I always wonder what life would’ve been like for me and Kade if I’d given birth. If we had our daughter, Milo and Hopper, and the house he said he wanted to build for us.

We were so close to having it all.

But then I think of his current state, and my heart shatters piece by piece.

He’s been sweating. A lot. And he’s got aches everywhere. He won’t eat and keeps being sick – is barely drinking water. Aria said that if he makes no improvement today, she’ll either get her doctor friends to the lodge or take him to a hospital.

But that also comes with a risk.

When I woke earlier, he freaked out and covered his eyes, repeatedly telling himself to snap out of it. He only calmed when I sat on the opposite side of the room and played music from Tobias’s phone.

Chris took mine, and I’ve no idea where it is. Kade broke his to stop Bernadette from hearing him apologising to me. Barry got us burners, but I haven’t used mine much.

I was able to speak to Tylar briefly earlier – she and Dez are still travelling. Her parents had an open day for one of their designs in Rome. She’s happy, and she and Dez are having a blast. I have no reason to tell her what’s happening at home and ruin the bubble she’s in.

However, she did say Dez has been trying to reach out to hisfriends, but since he’s not getting any replies, he assumes they’re also living their lives the way he is and can’t wait to see them when they arrive back in Scotland in three months.

Kade’s asleep right now. He did come out of his room, but Tobias had to tackle him to the ground, because he thought he was being held against his will.

Hallucinations. They’re destroying Kade.

Tobias has removed anything dangerous from his room, just in case he tries to kill himself, and we’ve been taking turns sitting outside his door when he breaks down and wrecks the place.

Once Tobias and I cross one of the wider streams, soaking our shoes, we open the bag and grab another two cameras. “I’m not climbing that,” I say, looking up at the tree. “It’s your turn to risk your life.”

He sighs. “You’re very dramatic.”

I want to slap him.

Barry calls Tobias and asks if all the cameras are in place yet so he can program them all to his laptop. They bicker then eventually hang up, and Tobias looks at me. “Why are you smiling?”

“You said goodbye without following up with an insult. That’s progress for your two’s future bromance.”

“Fuck off.”

I laugh. “Are you going to climb it or are you going to make me?”

He folds his arms. “For your attitude, you can do it.”

“Why do I waste my time with you?”

“Because your dad is dead and I’m the replacement?”

Rolling my eyes, I grab a camera and start climbing.

We walk towards the lodge once we’re finished. “What time does Luciella get here?”

Tobias smiles, his entire expression changing. “She lands at seven. Barry suggested the driver bring her here instead of me picking her up.” He shakes his head. “Asshole.”

“He doesn’t want you getting caught. I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long, to be honest. You aren’t worried you’ll get caught?”