Page 109 of Collateral Damage

~BANG~

White nose clasps at my ears as metal penetrates my back, squeezing her tightly with shock before I begin to lose grip. My hearing muffles, listening to only the beating of my shallow heart against the shriek that escapes her mouth, fading fast as I fall into her weak arms that struggle to hold me, both of us collapsing to the floor. Her echoed screams haunt me as her delicate fingers cradle my wounded skin and I hope she hauntsme in my after life, so at least I get to see her once more. I let my tears run into the void with a sense of calming relief, drowning out my name on her tongue, hearing my mom in the whispers as my hearing dissipates, calling to me as the stench of gun powder invading my fading senses.Blood. Theres so much blood.

“HAYDEN!!!”

I take in myangelone last time feeling her squeeze my hand.

Mylight.

Myhome.

“Please, please don’t leave me! Stay with me! Hayden!”

She’s speaking to me but I can’t hear anything. I can’t make out her words. I can’t feel anything.

“Get her out of here.”

“WHY ISN’T SHE MOVING!”

Numb. I’m so numb.

“Help her! Please! Someone help her!”

I never wanted this, this is not how we were supposed to end. But karma finally caught up to me, I know I deserve it. I deserve this.

I can’t see her anymore. I can’t see anything.

“You’re ok, you’re ok! stay with me Hayden!”

Peace…That’s all I feel as delicate fingers graze the abuse etched into my face.

“DON’T FUCKING TOUCH HER! GET OFF ME!”

In this moment, death is mysalvation.

She was always going to be myend.

Mypurpose.

My Freedom.

And my death was merely,Collateral Damage.

46 HOURS LATER…

C H A P T E R 62

BLUE

Puppet

Play ‘hurts Like Hell - Fleurie’

“Miss Blackthorne. Were you aware that Miss Moore was planning to transport you to a different state?”I stare blankly into the nothingness as their questions drill into the side of my head like a mind-numbing headache, hugging the itchy blanket wrapped around my trembling frame, still shivering and I can’t see properly, with tears still breaking down my face no matter how hard I try to fight them back in. We’ve been at this for hours but I’m not cooperating. They think switching officers will make me give them a different answer. Anger and sadness are breaking my empty shell, glaring at the thick glass window disguised as a mirror casing the dull room, grey concrete walls closing me in as I refuse to look at the officer, feeling eyes on me like an animal in a cage. I dread to think how Shep feels right now. I screamed for him as I watched them take him away and shove him in the back of a van. All I’ve been told is that he is ok and he’s been put in a kennel not far from here, I will get him back, even if it kills me. I made it very fucking clear that if they touch a hair on his head that I would find a way to sue them all in my stage of infuriated anger. It’s highly unlikely in my state but they seemed to comply and tried to comfort me on the matter.I sob harder, knowing he's scared and alone, trapped in a room, on his own just like me right now and all I want to do is hold him and tell him everything is going to be ok.

“No.” I murmur.Lying. I don’t know why I'm lying. She’s no longer alive to protect but I lie anyway, thinking about her dead corpse in my arms. How I watched her life fade away as her blood coated my hands trying to stop the bleeding and I can’t get the image out of my head, feeling the front of my skull pulsate as I tense my jaw trying to contain more sobs as I remember her using the last of her energy to squeeze my hand until she stopped moving.She told me forever. She promised me we’d have more time. I grip the blanket harder, huddling my knees into my chest on the uncomfortable chair.

“Did Miss Moore harm you in any way?” He pushes, tapping the paper against the desk as he hangs over my anticipated words.

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