Page 50 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

“Please stay awake. Promise me, Tristan,” I ran my blood-caked thumb over his cheekbone.

He nodded, holding my hand against his cheek.

“I need to help Morris. I’ll be quick. Don’t close your eyes, please.”

I stood up and ran to the kitchen. I grabbed another towel and went on my knees next to Morris.

My hands wouldn’t stop shaking as I searched for where the bleeding was coming from. He wasn’t shot. Something had hit his head. I cried deeply, not knowing what to do. I heard sirens, and hope sprang through my body.

I stood up and ran back to the dining room. Tristan was holding Kayden’s hand, but his eyes were closed. I checked his pulse again. I sighed in relief when I felt something.

Paramedics ran in with stretchers and first aid kits. One of them took Kayden out quickly to check if he was fine. I showed them the other body in the kitchen. I saw the cops putting the yellow tape around as one of the paramedics led me outside to the ambulance.

I felt dizzy all of a sudden. I tried to shake it off, but it didn’t work. Black dots filled my vision, and soon, I was falling.

***

The sound of a clock ticking from a distance filled my ears as I opened my eyes. I blinked several times at the white ceiling before looking around in the hospital room.

My eyes stopped moving when it landed on the last person I expected to see when I opened my eyes.

“Mom?” My throat felt so dry.

“Chloe!” she exclaimed, standing up from her seat.

I gave her a dark look as she approached me. She stopped when she got the message.

“What are you doing here?” I asked harshly.

“I saw the news. I had to see you. I was so worried. I know you hate me, but please just give me another chance. I’m still your mother.”

“I don’t need your fake parental love. Just leave.”

“I’m sorry for the way we treated you. I know what we did was wrong. Please forgive us. We are your family.” She started crying.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

“I have not been able to forgive myself. I should have listened to you, and I should have been there for you.”

I recalled that day. I tried to fight off the rage as the memories resurfaced.

“You don’t even know me, Mom! All you care about is perfection and the family’s reputation. You kicked me out when I needed you the most,” I said, holding my tears back.

“I’m so sorry. None of this would have happened if I’d believed you. You wouldn’t be in a hospital bed or hiding your child from the world.”

“Kayden!” I sat up, recalling what had happened last night. “Where is he?” I asked with a clenched jaw, ready to torture the answer out of her.

“The Sanchesters took him.”

My heart sank.The Sanchesters took him? No, no, no.

“Where is he?” I mumbled, trying to get down from the bed, but she moved quickly and stopped me.

“Don’t touch me,” I snapped, and she moved back, nodding at my request.

“He is fine. They took him with them to give him a bath and feed him,” she said softly. Her face was wet from her tears.

I wanted to forgive her and wipe her tears away, but I was still blinded by the past.

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