Ikneltbesideher,myheartpounding.Mom,talktome.
Shedidntreactimmediately,onlytighteninghergriponthephoto.Thesilencestretchedbetweenus,thickandsuffocating.Then,finally,inavoicesoquietitbarelyreachedme,shewhispered,Theytookeverythingfromus.
Confusionknittedmybrows.Who?Iasked,searchingherfaceforanswers.
Shedidntreply.Instead,herhandmoved,slowlyreachingforsomethingbeneaththe foldsofherdress.Iwatchedingrowingdreadasshepulledoutacold,metallicobject.ThemomentIrealizedwhatitwas,mybreathcaughtinmythroat.
Agun.
Ijerkedback,mybodytensing.Mom?Myvoicebarelycameout.Whatareyoudoingwiththat? Shestaredattheweaponinherhandsasifmesmerized,herfingerstracingoverthebarrel.Herbreathscameoutshaky,uneven.
HowcouldIeverrecoverfromthis?shemurmuredtoherselfasifIwerenteventhere.I…Icant.
Panicsurgedthroughme.Myhandsclenchedatmysides,mymindracingforawaytostopthis.
Whyareyoutalkinglikethis,Mom?Putthegundownsowecantalk,okay?Ikeptmyvoiceascalmaspossible,eventhoughmyheartfeltlikeitwasgoingtoripthroughmychest.
Butshedidntseemtohearme.Sheflickedoffthesafety,andthesoftclicksentajoltofterrorthroughmyspine.
Jack!Iyelled,myvoicedesperate.Ineededourbutler,anyone,tocomeandhelp.Mymother liftedthegun,pressingthecoldbarrelagainsthertemple.
Iswallowed,forcingmybodytomovetowardher.Mom,ifthisissomekindofjoke,itsnotfunny,Isaid,tryingtomaskmyfear.
Atlast,shelookedatme.Hereyes,usuallysofullofwarmth,weredrowninginsorrow,Tearsstreameddownherface,butshesmiledasmall,brokensmilethatshattered Ahorrifyingrealizationhitme.Shewasntcomingbackfromthis.
Mom,wai… BANG.
Thegunshotechoedintheroom,deafening.Thesoundslammedintomelikeaphysicalblow,andmywholebodyfroze.
Foramoment,everythingstopped.Mycarsrang.Mymind refusedtoprocesswhathadjusthappened.
Iwatched,paralyzed,asthegunslippedfromherfingers,clatteringtothefloor.Herbodyslumped,herheadtiltinglifelesslytotheside.
Astrangledbreathleftmylips.
Thiswasntreal.Itcouldntbereal..
Mymothermyonlyfamilywasgone.
Mom?MyvoicecrackedasIreachedforher,grabbinghercold,lifelesshands.Theydidntsqueezeback.
Istared intohernowemptyeyes,thewarmthdrainingfromthemasbloodseeped in fromthewoherhead.
No,no,no,Iwhispered,shakinghergently.Mom,wakeup.
Shedidntmove.
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Mychestfeltlikeitwascavingin.Mythroatburned,butnosound cameoutexceptraggedgasps.Tearsblurredmyvision,butIcouldnttearmygazeawayfrom herface.
Footstepsthundereddownthehall,andthedoorburstopen.
Madam!Jack,ourbutler,rushedin,hisfacepale.Hiseyesflickeredtothegunonthefloor,thentomytremblinghandsstillholdingmymother..
Thenhelookedatme.
Whatdidyoudo?hewhispered,horrorflashinginhiseyes.
Iwhippedmyheadtowardhim,ragesurgingthroughmyveins.WhatdidIdo?Myvoicewassharpanddangerous.Icalledforyou!Iyelledforyoutocomehelp,butyouwerentthere! Realizationdawnedinhiseyes.Hislipspartedslightlyashetookacautiousstepforward.Sir,I…Iswear,thiswasntmyfault.Yourmotherdismissedallofustoday.Shesentusaway.Wewereonlyfollowingherorders.
Hiswordsbarelyregistered.Icouldntprocessanythingbeyondthelifelessbodyinfrontofme.
Why?Myvoicewasbarelyawhispernow.Whywould shedothistome? Jackdidnthaveananswer.
20 CHAPTER026 Hishandsfumbledforhisphone,andhequicklydialedforemergencyservices.Butwhatcouldtheydo?Whatcouldanyonedo?Itwasalreadytoolate.
Minutespassedinablur.Thesoundof sirensfilledtheair,followedbyhurried.footsteps.EMTsrushedintotheroom.Ibarelynoticedthem.Myhandswerestillclutchingmymothersastheytriedtopullmeaway.
Sir,please… Letmego!Istruggled,myheartpoundingerratically.
Astronggripheldmebackastheyreachedformymother.Mymusclestensed,butIwaspowerlessagainstthem.Icouldonlywatchastheyplacedherinacadaverpouch.
Thezipperclosed.
Justlikethat,shewasgone.
Mylegsbuckled,andIsank tothefloor,myfingersdiggingintothe carpet.Asuffocatingemptinessswallowedmewholeastearsfloodeddownmycheeks.
Thenafamiliarvoicecutthroughthehaze.
Adrian.
Iliftedmyheadslowly.Standingbeforemewasourfamilys privateinvestigator.Hisexpressionwasgrim,hispresencesolidandunwavering.
Hecrouchedbesideme,placingafirmhandonmyshoulder.
Imsorryforyourloss,hesaidquietly.
Thewordsdidntfeelreal.Nothingdid, Hehesitatedbeforespeakingagain.
Imgoingtodomybesttofindoutwhathappened…whatmadeherdothis.
Hisvoiceheldcertainty.Apromise, Iswallowedthelumpinmythroat,usingthebackofmyhandstocleanoffthetears.Somethinghaddrivenhertothis.Somethinghadshatteredmymothersocompletelythatshe sawnowayout.
AndIneededtoknowwhatitwas.
!!!
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