Page 53 of Embers Glow After the Fire

“Matty, your neck.” Dennis flashes his light on the deep red spots forming down his trachea.

“I’m fine—he was definitely trying to kill me.”

Brendon clutches his head and folds down into a crouch, tucking his face between his knees.

“Brendon—I’m sorry.” Robbie staggers to his feet.

“Don’t be.” Brendon meets his eyes. “You haven't done anything wrong. I never should have left him—I never should have come here.” He rises and throws his arms out at his sides. “Look what I’ve done to all of you.” He turns from the group. “I’m fucking poison.”

Sirens blare in the distance.

“Go back to the cabin!” Brendon commands. “Can you cut through the woods here?” He points. “Get back before the cops arrive. I’m the only one getting in trouble here.” His own words wake fear in him as his future slips away.

“I’m not going anywhere.” Matthew bites. “He fell on his own—Got it?” He brackets Brendon’s face in his hands and forces him to look back into his eyes. “No one is in trouble.”

Dennis nods and wraps an arm around Robbie’s shoulders.

Brendon’s eyes drop and he leans on Matthew’s shoulder.

The siren’s reach the cabin and flashing lights flood the sky.

***

Brendon feels frozen as the trio of officers question the group in a lineup as EMT’s work to retrieve Christian’s body from the woods.

Matthew tells them about the scuffle. Detailing the entire story they agreed upon during the moments they had to plan before the officers reached their location.

Jamie and Nathan stand off to the side, after having led the rescue crew down the trails.

It takes four EMTs—three men and a woman—to lug the stretcher holding the black zip-up body bag up the hill.

The fall had broken Christian’s neck and back, killing him instantly. There would have been no pain, according to the police Captain.

They questioned the injuries on both Brendon and Matthew but accepted that the attacker had lost his footing and fell to his own death.

“Accidents like this happens all the time.” The Captain assured. “We’ll call if we need anything more.”

Brendon barely had to speak. Matthew, Robbie and Dennis took care of him. He owes them the rest of his life.

Jamie and Nathan lead the EMT crew back through the trails along the lake and the officers follow Brendon, Matthew, Dennis, and Robbie, not far behind. It's a quiet hike, except for mundane chatter between the police.

Brendon is struck by intense sadness confused with an elated sense of relief. He’s free but had never dreamed this would be the way he’d break those shackles. Christian had been a monster more times than not but most monsters are made, not born.

They get back to the cabin and the flashing lights dim as the sirens fade away. Everyone is sat around the patio table, dazed and silent.

Dennis holds Robbie’s hand.

Brendon’s cheeks flush with shame that heats his entire body. He can’t cry, or speak. He wants to disappear.

“Sorry, Brendon,” Phoenix whispers.

He bites his lip to quell the quiver. He can’t look at anyone or he’ll burst.

“We should go to bed.” Dennis’ voice is soft.

They all rise from their chairs and slink away in different directions.

Brendon doesn’t move. Nor does Matthew.

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