Chapter 17 - Murder...? (2)

CALISTA

“M-Mihail?” My teeth clattered as I stared at the body far away from us. “Y-you hit her. She's not moving!”

“H-hey, hey.” He ran over to me as my legs gave way beneath me. He caught me before I could hit the floor and covered my eyes with his hand, pressing my head to his chest. “S-she's not dead.”

My body shook violently as coldness seeped into me. H-he hit her.

Is she dead?

Dread crawled through me at the thought of witnessing a murder scene. Why would he do that?

“Let me go.” I lifted my hand to push him away, but it fell to the floor. I struggled to lift it again, but it fell limp beside me.

Mikhail hugged me tightly, his heart beating heavily against my ear. “It's okay.” His muffled voice followed.

My teeth sank into my flesh, and just as I was about to speak, a voice echoed from the parking lot.

“Calista…huh? What happened here?” Footsteps approached us, and I didn't know where the strength came from, because one minute I was wrapped in Mikhail's embrace and the next, I had pushed him away.

I stumbled backward before regaining my balance, my legs shaking profusely as I got up.

“Kat,” I called, seeing her walking toward Sera's body. I ran to check if she was still breathing.

Kat knelt beside her and extended her hand under Sera's nose. Slowly, her eyes widened, fear registering in them, and for some reason, that did not settle well in my heart.

“Kat. What's wrong?” I finally reached her and pulled Sera onto her back, only to look down and see the blood on her nose and panic in her eyes.

“Cal…” Kat's voice shook, and I looked at her. “S-she's not breathing.”

No.

No, no, no. God, please!

I placed my finger under her nose, and God! She truly was not breathing!

“Let's go.” His voice sounded behind me, and my hands clenched tightly.

“No.” I gritted my teeth in anger. “You should leave instead.”

“Cal, come with me.” He said as though this was not his doing, and that twisted whatever patience I had left.

“I said no!” I screamed, turning to face him. “Mikhail! Leave! You caused this! I could have taken care of it myself, but no, you got over yourself! All of this is because of you! God, I fucking hate you!”

I got to my feet and shoved him away. “You disgust me!”

At that moment, the driver's car door opened and someone else stepped out. My eyes widened in shock when I saw Dimitri standing there with a guilty expression on his face.

I moved my head from him to Mikhail, and all the words I wanted to say flew out of the window.

God, what's happening?

I grabbed my head, falling to my knees as my eyes shook violently. Mikhail's feet came into view, followed by a grunt as his hands reached forward and held my shoulders.

Softly, almost gently, he said, “Let's go.”

Tears blurred my vision, my lips trembling. At the same time, footsteps rushed toward us, and everything around me seemed to slow.

Mikhail held me up, forcing me to look at him, but my mind was too distorted to receive any comfort. I watched his lips move slowly, but whatever he was saying did not reach me.

I turned my head to where Sera was and saw Mikhail's men carrying her to one of their cars. Kat looked just as terrified as I was, and thankfully, someone led her away.

Mikhail's rough palm covered my face to shield me from seeing more.

I did not know what came over me. My vision dimmed slightly before the world spun around me, and…

“Cal!”

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.

.

.

.

“Is she going to be okay?” Eleanor's voice was the first thing I heard as I slowly regained consciousness. My eyes opened slowly but I squinted at the touchlight being pointed at me.

“She's awake.” The voice echoed in my head as the man kept moving the light from my left eye to the right.

“Mom.” My own voice sounded distant in my hearing, but somehow, Eleanor heard me. She ran over, fear written all over her face, and held my hand.

“I'm right here, dear.” She said, lifting my hand to her lips. She pressed a soft kiss to my palm before saying, “You're safe.”

“W-…” My eyes were heavy, making it impossible to stay awake. I tried to ask how Sera was, but my tongue failed me.

“Eren! What's wrong?!” Eleanor's panicked voice echoed in my ears before everything went blank again.

.

.

.

How long has it been?

My eyes opened slowly again, and this time I was lying in my room with the windows open and the curtains pinned to the side. I turned my head and saw the finished drip, pulling the injection and throwing it away.

“Ugh, my head.” I groaned, struggling to sit upright. “Sera.”

My feet found the floor, and I got up immediately, running for the door, but my legs wobbled. Feeling lightheaded, I crashed to the floor.

Pain shot through me, and I groaned, rolling onto my back and staring at the ceiling. I lay there for some time before giving up the urge to get up.

She's dead.

I killed her.

Just like I killed him.

Mark.

“God, why is this happening to me!” I cried, covering my face. I fucking hate this!

Sharp pain came from my finger and I lifted my right hand to look at the spot.

The door swung open in the middle of my grief, and light footsteps walked in.

“How did you end up like this?” Eleanor's voice sounded in my ears. I removed my hand from my face, revealing her legs a few inches from my head.

I looked up to see her looking down at me. “Get up, child. Your friend is waiting out there.”

My eyes blinked rapidly, and I sat upright, turning to her. “She's alive?”