Pool

thing. My face remained impassive, a blank canvas reflecting none of the turmoil churning inside me. The cancer had stripped away my ca

frustrate her more than any outburst. She stamped her foot impatiently. "Mrs. Davis!" she snapped, turning to the

My heart hammered against my ribs. Was Gabriela actually g

ox tied with a satin ribbon. My mother's wedding dress. My breath caug

y onto the polished mahogany table, the ribbon untying, the lid coming slightly ajar. "See, Blake?"

ate silver locket. My mother's locket. The one Brandt had been holding earlier. The one with a tiny

o me. Said it was time it went to someone who truly appreciated

t... it was the last thing Mom had given me before she died. A symbol

nd her smile widened, a true, venomous grin. "Oh, Blake," she cooed, h

day. She held it up, displaying it for a moment, before deliberately, painstakingly, she brought her thumb down on the miniature image,

n any kick. My mother's face, now scarred and ruined. My chil

clumsy of me. Just like everything else you touch, Blake. Alway

w, tearing from my throat. It was an i

, always so... easily broken." Her eyes, now blazing with triumph, met mine. "She was weak, Blake. Just like you. And you kno

ursed my mother. And wished death upon me, the very fate that was already closing in. A searing pain erupted

surge of rage. My hand connected with her face, a

her face. Then, it morphed into something else, something terrifyingly cunning. She let out a piercing shriek, a sound designed to draw

her pale skin. Then, with a dramatic gasp and a wide, terrified stare, she crumpled to the floor, her eyes rolling back

a mask of horror. He saw Gabriela on the floor, the blood, and then me, standing over her, my h

ening thud. "You psychotic bitch!" he snarled, his words laced with v

erno. I tried to speak, to explain, but the words were lodged i

y. "Corey... she... she just went crazy... I only wanted to show her the dress..." she whispered, her voice weak, tearful, entirely con

ctive fury. He looked at me, his gaze dripping with disgust.

ad uttered three years ago. The pain in my stomach now radiated through my entire

heir faces etched with shock and anger as they took in the tableau: Gabriela, pale and

ow growl, devoid of any paternal warmth. His

hen my trembling hands, my pale face. His jaw tightened. "She's st

companion for years. "I knew this was a mistake. I knew inviting you back would only bring chaos." He shook h

hey had always blamed me. Always. For Mom's death, for my rebellious phase, for Gabriela's manufac

he last shred of hope, the desperate, unspoken wish that they mig

through my chest, forcing me to double over. A searing pain erupted in my stomach, a tidal wave of agony that stole my bre

ing down my chin, dripping onto the pristine marble floor. A torrent of it. My body convulsed, an

s face, usually so composed, went slack with shock. Brandt's

as a choked whisper, a ra

ey stammered, his eyes dart

stood there, an uncompre

, the pain a screaming inferno. My clothes were soaked, sticky with my own l

, thick and viscous. "Always. For everything." My voice was barely a whisper, ragg

forgotten, replaced by genuine terror. Then back to Corey, his face pale, his arms s

sion, a last desperate attempt at truth. My breath was coming in

r, the flicker of doubt in their eyes.

er cough wracking my body, more blood spil

focus. The faces of my father, my brother, Corey, blurred into

e ceiling, searching for an escape. "I'm the scapegoat." A bitter, broken laugh escap

elf falling, falling into a profound, suffocating darkness,