Page 66 of Shattered Echoes

My breath ceases as my body stiffens at the sight of the gun being pointed at me.

“Ricardo…” I call out. “Please put the gun down.”

“It's over for me, Colette, I'm done!”

“Please, let's talk about this.” I set the knife aside, raising my hands in surrender.

“I can’t go to jail — I won't go to jail!” He holds on tighter to the gun. “You will live out the rest of your days in misery, Colette. I promise you that.”

I don’t understand what he means, given that I am the one who has a gun pointed at her.

He reveals an evil smirk and aims the gun at his temple.

“What are you doing?”

“Killing myself will haunt you forever! It's the punishment you deserve!”

“You're not making any sense. You're drunk. Put the gun down, and let's talk,” I plead with him.

I thought I wanted him dead, but now, seeing that he was about to take his own life as a way of punishing me, just makes me sick to my stomach.

“Don't do this, Ricardo. It's not worth it.”

“It is, because I know that you'll suffer.”

I can see in his eyes he is ready to die.

“See you in hell, Colette.”

“No!”

He pulls the trigger at the same time as there is a thunderclap outside.

I gasp as my mind returns to the present.the demons leave me as though they have served their purpose.

My thoughts turn to Antonio, and I wonder where he is and how he must be feeling right now. Antonio needs me, and I have to find him. With trembling hands, I pick up my phone and dial Henry’s number. The ringing seems to stretch on forever, each second amplifying my anxiety. Henry’s voice comes through.

22

Antonio

What now?

The engine hums as I sit in the car where I parked outside the mansion, staring at the steering wheel. I can't seem to shake off the fog of confusion and guilt that's settled over me since I read the articles and found out Cassie killed herself.

I need a new phone.

I remind myself that since I already know this much, it can’t hurt to learn more. I take a deep breath and start the drive to the nearest electronics store, my mind drifting.

The drive feels interminable, each passing street blending into the next as my mind races. I pull into the parking lot and turn off the engine, taking another deep breath. Get in, get the phone, get out.

Simple enough, right?

Inside the store, everything feels distant. The bright lights and bustling shoppers are just a blur as I make my way to the phone section. I pick one at random and an internet MiFi, the whole transaction hazy. The cashier's cheerful chatter registers as I pay and head back to the car.

Sitting back in the car, I tear open the packaging and set up the phone. Logging into my Google account, I retrieve my stored contacts. My fingers hover over the screen.

Do I want to do this?

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