I’m terrified as I watch Logan’s body, waiting for any sign he wasn’t harmed.
As soon as my fingers touch Logan’s back, his entire body expands, contracting with a breath. I gasp, relieved he’s okay. He sits up and rolls off Abby’s body. The gun falls from his hand and he falls back onto the floor. He’s crying, tears streaming down his flushed face. His cheeks are red, but his eyes are dilated and vacant. Fear overtaking him.
I cover my mouth when my eyes meet Abby’s. She’s laying on the floor, her hand over her stomach, her other arm splayed out beside her. Her violet eyes are spread wide open as if she’s staring at the ceiling and her silver hair is fanned out around her. Her eyes are empty, a shell of the life that used to dwell inside them. I swallow the lump in my throat, knowing she’s no longer alive. A large red pool of liquid seeps out from underneath her, soaking into the old matted carpet. It smells metallic and the scent combined with the musty air makes my stomach twist.
“Abby.” I move toward her and reach out, sliding my hand across her cheek but Logan reaches out and stops me. He wraps his arm around my chest and pulls me back.
He pulls me against his chest and rocks me back and forth. I didn’t realize until his body was steadying mine, that I was sobbing uncontrollably. I shake my head and close my eyes, the image of Abby still burning in my mind. I’d lost my best friend even if our friendship wasn’t real from the start. She pretended to be my friend as a way to grow closer to me, convinced we could be more than best friends.
Despite the deceit of Abby’s friendship, I feel a sharp twist in my chest. As far as I was concerned, Abby was the closest person I had to a best friend. Everything I had believed the past four years has been wrong.
Logan holds me against his chest, his forearm wrapped around my shoulders. He presses his face to the side of my head and places his lips against me. “I’m so sorry, Lena,” he whispers. “I’m sorry.” His tears fall onto my hair, soaking into the blood matted to the side of my head. I cry, leaning forward. I’m falling and Logan’s arm is outstretched, ready to catch me.
The sight of Abby blurs as I sob against Logan’s arm. A few seconds pass before he slides his arm away from me and crawls to a stand. He walks over to Natalie and unties the knots still keeping her tied to the chair. Once she’s free, Logan walks back over to me and crouches down.
I cover my mouth to mute my sobs. I’m staring at Abby’s hand. I study every chip in her black nail polish. How could I have been so blinded to not see how she was in love with me?
Sirens wail in the background, growing louder as they get closer to Abby’s office. I wasn’t sure how they knew to come here. Maybe Natalie had called or maybe someone had heard the gunshot go off, killing Abby.
Another hand lands against my back. I look up through my tear-stained eyes to see Natalie. Her chin quivers and her eyes are turned down in sadness. “Are you okay?” she asks me.
I nod. “Are you?”
“I’m fine.” She swallows.
Logan grabs on to my hand and pulls me to a stand. I reach up and finally touch the wound on the side of my head. Blood is clinging to my hair and I wince when I touch the open flesh with my fingertips.
The three of us walk out of the building, leaving Abby on the floor. Beside her is the article Abby had shown me about Julian not even being in Seattle. As far as I knew, he’d taken my advice and started his own life. A piece of me fractures at the thought. Abby had deceived me from the beginning. All the way back to the day we’d met in college. She used every means possible to ruin my relationships and my life.
Once we make it outside, heavy rain blankets us in sheets. Water falls onto my shoulders and hair, blending in with the constant stream of tears running down my face. The rain mixes with the blood caked onto my body, pooling at my feet in rivers of faded crimson.
Logan keeps his hold on me as the police begin to surround the building.. Ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars form a barrier to the street. I look up and feel the rain splash across my face, injecting new breath into my lungs. The cool air makes its way down my throat and inflates my chest. Its cleansing yet heavy all at the same time.
One of the police officers walks up to me and Logan. She points behind us. “Is there anyone else still inside?”
I nod, pressing my lips together.
She nods once then glances over her shoulder, waving one of the paramedics over to work on me and Logan. Once the medics begin inspecting my wound, the police officer walks into the building. Another paramedic ushers Natalie into one of the ambulances. Logan stays with me as we head to the back of a different ambulance.
Once I’m inside the safety of the ambulance, I realize I’m no longer crying. The moisture on my cheeks were the warm raindrops falling from the clouds. Logan stands in front of me, his hands on my knees. He’s standing outside the ambulance as the paramedic finishes wrapping a bandage around the top of
