Page 166 of Please Save Me

The warmth of the hospital did little to chase away the chill clinging to my bones. Still, I was a man on a mission. I needed to get to Mason’s room… but the closer I got to her, the louder the paparazzo’s words echoed in my mind.

I killed Mason Albright.

That truth was easy enough to ignore when it was just Lucian saying it. But now, it had gotten to the media. What none of them knew was how often I’d laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, wishing she and I could trade places.

My steps faltered as I finally reached the elevator.

I needed to go see Mason. I needed to tell her goodbye. But, right now, the idea of seeing her was almost too much to bear. Not only would it be the last time I ever laid eyes on her, but I didn’t think I’d be able to shake the looming guilt.

The walls started to close in, and my breathing shallowed as I turned around and headed in the other direction. It didn’t matter where I went just as long as it bought me more time.

It seemed like I had ventured through an entire labyrinth by the time my arms started to feel the strain of my crutches. It was clear I wouldn’t be able to go on much longer without taking a break, so I scanned the area, looking for a bench or something I could rest my useless fucking body on, and that’s when I found something different.

Tucked away at the end of the hall was a set of wooden double doors; beside it was a placard that read chapel.

For a moment, I stood, unable to do anything more than stare at the doors. Churches were never good places; this sentiment held doubly true forHartwood… but I also figured it’d be the last place anyone would look for me, and I knew Cam wouldn’t let Lucian pull the plug on Mason without me in the room.

With a deep breath, I headed toward the doors before pushing my way inside.

The chapel was dimly lit with what seemed to be a hundred candles that flickered along the walls. For a moment, I considered just how impractical that was, but I didn’t care. I just needed a place to wait out the nagging voices in the back of my head.

Long, ethereal shadows danced along the walls, making the sanctuary appear haunted. Rows of wooden pews stretched on as far as the eye could see, leading to an altar adorned with dead flowers near the front.

I hobbled up the center row, scanning the space to make sure it was empty, before collapsing on a pew near the front. My crutches clattered to the floor beside me as I hurried my face in my hands.

My body ached, but my mind was far worse than the physical pain could ever be. That’s when I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that today would be my last day on earth.

A life was a terrible thing to squander…. But I knew I’d never be able to move past this guilt.

Tears streamed down my face as I suffocated under the weight of my grief, hoping that somehow I’d die of a broken heart just so I wasn’t forced to live in a world without Mason.

The sound of soft steps drew my attention, pulling me from my self-pity. Part of me hoped it was Cameron, I’d grown to enjoy his company, but of course, I had to be wrong. When I looked back, I came face to face with a set of toxic green eyes and disgustingly yellow teeth.

Dale Cole. Dread knotted in my stomach

“Sebastian, I haven’t seen you at church in a while,” he drawled.

My jaw tensed as I breathed him in. Somehow, his presence didn’t shock me. Still, that didn’t make his company enjoyable.

“I’ve been on vacation,” I said, irritation creeping into my tone.

There was a strange snake-like quality to Dale’s expression as his all-too-smug grin widened like he was going to swallow me whole.

“Vacation, huh?” He chuckled before filling the space beside me. “Every news outlet’s been saying you crashed into a tree with Mason Albright in the car.”

I pressed my tongue against my lower lip as I nodded. “So, you’re here to tell me I killed her too.”

“Now, why would I do that?”

The smoothness of his drawl caused goosebumps to rise on the back of my neck.

“Because it’s the truth?” I challenged.

Literally everyone in the world knew that. No matter where I went, I’d never be able to get past the allegations that I killed Mason Albright. Thankfully, after her life ended, mine wouldsoon follow. Still, I was desperate for anything to allow that to not be the case.

Not only did I want more time with Mason, but I wanted more time with Cameron as well. I was fully prepared to sellmy soul to the devilif it meant I could have so much as one more year to bask in Mason’s glow.

“Truth can be a complicated thing,” Dale mused, leaning in slightly closer. “But, lying is a surefire way to eternal damnation.”

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