Epiphany

Chapter 36 Part 1~Everything

I hadn’t realized that I mentioned my mother to her and now that it was too late to take it back, I was starting to regret bringing her into the conversation.

“They were supposed to kidnap her instead.” I gave a short answer. One that wouldn’t explain to her much about the situation and at the same time would answer her question.

Her lips were parted, and her brow creased in a frown as she sat with her shoulders squared.

I licked my upper lip, not looking forward to seeing the reaction she would give.

“But don’t worry, we’re getting out of here,” I repeated for the hundredth time as I started to feel my forehead turning damp from the sweat. I should have talked slowly, thinking before speaking.

I thought she would’ve started bursting out in tears but she only tipped her upper body forward and clutched her kneecap in a tight grip.

“Julia?” I stepped forward, reaching a hand for her.

She murmured something under her breath but I couldn’t hear it.

When I inched closer, I heard her mumble, “Don’t touch me.”

I dropped my hand.

“So it’s all on you then?”

What?

“No, Jul—"

“I thought that this was all my fault. After all, I'm the one who forced you to join me the night of the festival.” She then gave a snort, still facing her knees. “Wow. I feel bad for blaming myself now.”

She lifted her head, giving me the permission to see inside her eyes that were now set ablaze. “This was all planned to get you!”

I almost flinched from her sudden outburst.

I couldn't believe it. Me?

“Julia, wait—”

“They wanted you not me! Why am I here then?!” She sat upright again and her burning eyes were now shimmering under the amber light. She was on the brink of tears. I wasn’t sure whether it was from anger or sadness though.

I hadn’t realized she’d asked a question until silence fell upon us.

What did she want me to say? Because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time? This was true and we both knew it, but I couldn’t tell her that.

“Answer me!” She covered her forehead with her palms, knuckles turning white.

“I—I don’t know,” I maffled.

Her hands fell on her knees and her face muscles froze, appearing like a statue for a split second.

“Julia?”

“Why did you save me?”

Instead of blood, pain flowed through my heart.

But then what she said next sliced my heart into two. The amount of affliction that followed her statement would surely leave a scar there.

“I hate you.” Her face was solemn as she spoke.

Her mouth opened wide to say, “If you thought that you were a hero, then I’m here telling you that you aren’t. You didn’t save me. You’re torturing me, that’s what you’re doing.”

Her eyes leaked all color inside and left it empty like the emptiness of a vacuum, and her lips relaxed to its normal shape.

“I regret talking to you when we first met.”