Page 152 of Dare To Fall

“Detective Parker.” He moves closer to the bed. “How about I remove those?” He flicks a finger against one of the cuffs around my wrist.

“Please.”

“Your name is Eli Travers, right? I’ve been informed that Kellan Fraser was your closest friend. Would that be correct?” He removes the handcuffs and clips them to his belt.

My heart falters in my chest, and a heavy wave of nausea rolls through me. “Yeah.”

“Can you talk me through what happened?”

“He texted me to meet him. I … When I got there … he … I …” I squeeze my eyes closed. “I’m sorry, I can’t,” I whisper.

“That’s alright. It’s okay, Son. If you’re not ready, we can talk another day.”

“I’m taking him home. You are more than welcome to come and see him in a couple of days.”

“Dad?” I hate the way my voice breaks at the sound of his voice. “Dad, I tried to save him. But I was too late. I couldn’t bring him back. I couldn’t—”

“It’s okay.” Arms envelop me, and I breathe in the familiar scent of my dad’s cologne. “Let’s get you out of here. The car is outside. Elena and Arabella are waiting.”

Something churns in my stomach. “Ari … Is she okay?”

“Shook up. Upset. Let’s just get you guys home, okay?”

“I need to go back to my room. There’s something I have to get.”

“They’ve locked down the school.”

“I’m going to my room.” I twist around and place my feet on the ground, then stand.

Another wave of nausea threatens. The image of Kellan lying on the altar flashes through my mind, and I sway, pressing a hand to my mouth.

“Eli?”

My dad calling my name is the last thing I hear before I lurch for the bathroom and throw up.

Chapter 102

Arabella

“Are you okay?”

Looking toward the front of the car, I meet my mother’s gaze. I rest my cheek against the cold glass of the door window.

“I’m fine.”

“It’s okay not to be.”

I want to scream and shout. I want to tear the school apart, find Evan and demand to know why he’s done all these things.

Why did he kill Kellan? Why did he take one of my friends away?

My bottom lip quivers. “How am I supposed to feel? One of my friends is dead.”

“Angry, confused, sad.”

I screw my eyes shut and sigh. “Guilty?”

She shifts on the front passenger seat, making the leather creak. “This was not your fault.”

---