When we turn onto their street, I see the lights…red and blue flashing against the trees. First responders. Uniforms. Tape going up. My parents’ house is lit up like a crime scene.
The front door is wide open.
I’m out of the car before Tony can stop me.
“Londyn, wait!” he calls, grabbing for my arm.
I rip away from him. “Don’t. Don’t you dare.”
I take off.
Two uniforms step into my path near the tape. “Ma’am, you can’t go…”
I shove past them shoulder first. “Move!”
Another officer tries to block the porch. “Detective, you need to wait for…”
I don’t hear the rest. I’m already pushing through, my boots hitting the steps hard.
The smell overtakes me the second I step inside. Blood, gun powder, death… it clings to the back of my throat, thick and choking.
Then I see them.
Mom. Dad. Tyrique.
Tied to the same chairs I used to climb on, mouths sealed with tape. Their heads hang forward, and there’s blood everywhere… walls, floor, their clothes. It’s soaked so deep into the carpet it looks like the house itself is bleeding. Their faces are swollen, beaten, smeared with so much blood they’re almost unrecognizable. Whoever did this didn’t just kill them. They tortured them.
“No… no, no, no…” My knees hit the floor hard, but I don’t feel it. Crawling to Ty, I grab his arm, his shoulder, his face. “Ty, baby, wake up. Please. Please, just open your eyes.”
I shake him. Harder. “Come on, Ty. You’re okay. You’re okay. Just wake up. Please.” Maybe if I repeat the lie often enough, it’ll become the truth. But in my heart, I already know the truth…he’ll never see another sunrise. Never get the chance to beat his addiction. Never… just never anything again.
His head lolls, his skin still warm, and that’s what breaks me because warmth shouldn’t exist without life. Pressing my fingers to his neck, I desperately feel for a pulse. I count. I wait.
Nothing.
I reach for Mom next. Her hand is stiff in mine. Folding over it, I rest my forehead against her knuckles as the sobs finally rip free.
“Please, Mom. Please. I need you. I need you.”
She doesn’t answer.She never will again… answer.
Dad’s slumped sideways, eyes open but empty. It’s hard to look at him, yet, I can’t look away.
I can’t breathe. Every time I try, my chest clamps down, my lungs refusing to expand.
Tony’s behind me now. “Londyn. Come on. You can’t be in here.”
I scream at him. “Get the fuck away from me!”
I turn back to Ty, and cradle his face in both hands. “You were safe. I said you were safe. I promised… oh, God…”
My voice breaks. I’m crying so hard I can’t see. My whole body’s shaking uncontrollably. Slumping against him, I press my forehead to his chest, begging.
“Please. Please, Ty. Just breathe. Just one breath. Please, just give me something.”
There’s nothing.
Just silence.
