Page 43 of Sever
Chapter Twenty
Megan
Heavy footsteps followed by the click of heels sound on the wooden floor, echoing through the quiet house. I hold my breath.
They’re home.
Tim stands off to the side, out of eyesight of anyone walking into the room, the gun trained on the doorway. I open my mouth but his eyes come to me and he holds a finger to his lips, nodding his head to the gun.
“Megan? What in the world are you doing here?”
Mom walks into the room, pulling off her coat and hanging it over the back of the chair. My father comes in behind her, his eye widening when he sees me.
“Mom, I—”
The click of Timmy cocking the gun makes them both turn.
“What is going on here?” My father moves deeper into the room, closer to Timmy.
“What's wrong? Don't recognize me? That's okay, Megan didn't, either.” Tim laughs a maniacal breathy laugh that leaves me cold. My lower lip trembles and a lone tear falls down my cheek. “Just one of the reasons why you were such shitty parents. That's okay, though. I told you the day you kicked me out I’d be back.”
Timmy looks over to me with such hate in his eyes. “Unlike you, sister”—the word drips with distain—“I keep my promises.”
He turns back to my parents and with two quick shots, drops them both to the floor, their bodies landing with a hollow thud.
Neither of them make a sound.
My hand covers my mouth. I try to scream but I’m frozen, paralyzed by what I’ve seen and the thought that I’m next.
“Don’t cry for them. They were horrible people. You lived here, you knew that. They don’t deserve your sympathy.” He walks closer to me. “You know who deserves your sympathy? Me! The boy you left in this hell hole without so much as a second glance.”
His face drops to mine and the acrid smell of his breath makes my stomach turn.
“You were the only person I ever loved. You pushed and pushed and made me trust you. Then you abandoned me.”
He raises the gun and I close my eyes and take a deep breath through my nose.
The sound of the door crashing against the wall startles me. I open my eyes and see Ryder standing in the doorway, his eyes ablaze.
“Look who’s here. The asshole who ruined it all.”
Timmy keeps the gun trained on me but his eyes are on Ryder as he steps into the room. “Make one more move and I’ll put a bullet in her head.”
Ryder freezes. “What’s going on?” His eyes move to the bodies on the floor.
“This isn’t Connor, this is Timmy. My foster brother,” I whisper.
Ryder’s face is blank for a minute but I see the moment it clicks because his face hardens.
“The kid whose life you fucked up when you came and took away the only person who ever loved me.” Timmy’s eyes are so big, it looks as if they might burst out of his head.
“Why don’t we just put the gun down and talk about this?” Ryder’s gaze trails over me and I can tell he is trying to see if I’m okay. I give the smallest nod of my head, not wanting to do anything to upset Timmy.
“Fuck you.” Timmy turns, training the gun on Ryder and squeezing the trigger.
My heart stops. Time slows.
I jump to my feet and bolt to Ryder, not caring if I’m next.
