Just blood.
Just me.
I stay there sobbing, whispering his name like it might pull him back. My voice is shredded, my throat burning. I can’t stop shaking. This… this is the kind of grief I see when I have to make a notification. The kind that guts a person from the inside out.Pain so sharp it feels like someone’s ripping your heart straight out of your chest.
Once again, Tony’s voice cuts through the static. “Londyn, come on. You need to get out of here.”
I don’t move.
He steps closer. “Londyn.”
I scream again, louder than before. “Don’t fucking touch me!”
Clutching Ty’s shirt, my fingers curl into the fabric like I can hold him here.
“I should’ve stayed. I should’ve… stayed”
My body buckles, folding in on itself like it’s trying to disappear. Each breath comes faster, shallower, until I’m gasping, mouth open, lungs refusing to fill. The air feels thick, like I’m drowning.
Sound warps. Tony’s voice is somewhere behind me, but it’s muffled, distant, like I’m drowning. Even the sirens outside fade into a low, pulsing hum.
The room tilts as my vision smears at the edges. The floor sways beneath me, and I can’t tell if I’m falling or floating.
Reaching for Ty one last time, my fingertips brush his cheek, desperate to memorize the shape of his face.
Then everything goes dark.
Nightmare
It’s late-afternoonwhen we roll up to Londyn’s place. The street’s quiet, nothing moving. No car in the drive. No sign of her or Ty.
Steel nods at me and we cut around back. The yard’s empty, blinds drawn. Pulling a pick from his vest, he works the lock. It only takes a few minutes before the bolt gives way.
Stepping inside, the kitchen’s dimly lit. Counters clean, no dishes, nothing indicating that they’re here. I move through fast, checking every inch of the house. Living room, hall, bedroom, and upstairs. Empty.
Steel shakes his head. “Nobody’s here.”
I take one last look around. No shoes by the door, no jackets on the hook. Feels like no one’s been here all day. Relief settles in my chest. She must’ve gotten my message and cleared out.
Stepping back out, we head to our bikes. Engines rumble low as the others wait. I’m about to mount up when Turbo’s voice cracks through the comms.
“Got another address. Parents’ place. Sending it now.”
I glance at Steel. He just nods.
“Alright,” Mav says. “Let’s roll out.”
It only takes us fifteen minutes to get there, but as soon as we turn on the block, we see the lights. The street is in total chaos. Parking along a curb, we take in the scene.
Cops are everywhere. Crime scene tape is strung around the perimeter of the house. Neighbors are standing around, hugging and crying. A couple of them are pointing at the house.
Three body bags are being wheeled out the front door.
My heart pounds in my chest, bile rising in my throat. An ambulance is parked at the curb, back doors open. Londyn’s inside, surrounded by paramedics. I can’t tell if she’s hurt, but they’re not rushing to get out of here.
There’s too much going on for anyone to notice us, so I move in a little closer.
Mav’s voice cuts in through the helmet. “Double back. Now. Clubhouse.”
