BOOK II.
Four months have passed since Ashton and Ria's relationship fell into ruins. He's convinced that she hates him and she believes he never loved her. Giving up on each other, they attempt to mend their loneliness in the arms of their past; Ch...
do not read this chapter until you are emotionally stable...
❝You have to stay with me.❞
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BLOOD. Ria's never seen so much blood in her entire life. It consumes her vision. Taints her skin. Taints his skin. Leaks from his body and onto Ashton without any signs of stopping.
She can't move. Can't think. Breathless.
Vincent is gone but he's imprinted himself in their lives forever. Their worst memories will forever belong to him.
"Ria," Ashton cries her name. How long has he been doing that?
Her eyes move shakily to his face but she still can't move. It's like someone has killed the part of her brain that connects to the rest of her body.
"Please, you have to call for help. I-I can save him," he's saying as he desperately presses the fabric of his shirt against Daniel's throat. "Ria! Please, call someone! We can save him. We have to save him. We have to save him, Ria."
How can he not see?
Daniel is dead.
The struggle of him trying to breathe against his own blood is forever burned into her memory. The moment it stopped haunts her.
She's never seen a dead person before. Now one sits mere feet away from her.
"Ria," Ashton sobs and bows his head over Daniel's body, "please do something."
Can't move.
Can't.
Can't do anything.
"Daniel, stick in there with me, okay? We're going to get you help." Ashton cradles his head and brushes back his raven hair. "Come on man. You have to stay with me. Ria! Please, help me!"
The sound of her husband's desperate cries snaps something in her. She shifts realizing tears have been swimming in her unblinking eyes. Her muscles cry as she shakily grabs her phone from her pocket. Her fingers slip across the screen. Blood. Jared's blood is all over her hands.
She chokes out a sob and falls to her knees.
What is going on?
Why is this happening?
Why did this happen?
"We have to save him." Ashton runs his fingers through his pale hair, staining it with Daniel's blood. Like crimson dripped over snow. "C-call the ambulance, quick."
With fumbling hands, Ria unlocks her phone and holds it to her ear as the operator picks up and asks her what her emergency is. "H-he's dead," she croaks as if they know who he is.
