39
CAMERON
Em’s staringat me with the biggest tears I’ve ever seen.
I blink a few times, focusing on my hands wrapped tightly around her throat. Blood trickles from a bite wound just below my grasp.
Dismay and shock make my fingers unlock, sending Emery to the floor, choking for breath. My throat squeezes tightly as the wave of realization hits me. I was just trying to kill her… A small pressure exists a little below the nape of my neck.
“Cameron,” she cries, shaking her head. “I couldn’t do it.”
My eyes widen a fraction. I cast a glance at an old, shattered mirror that’s been overgrown with plants climbing the frame of it. In the reflection I can see the tip of a blade barely piercing my back.
I let out a choked laugh before the itch and darkness start to ebb back into my mind. If I don’t do something, then I don’t know what I’ll do to her. A part of my heart dies at the thought, but it must be done.
“Don’t watch… I love you, Emery,” I rasp as I take out my last shot of morphine and stick it straight into my heart. With all the drugs already in my system, this will push it over the edge.
She starts screaming, tears racing down her cheeks as I collapse to my knees. It’s a strange sensation that spreads through my entire chest. I clench my hand over my heart and topple to my side.
Emery is over me in a second, saying things that I want to hear, but can’t. She’s touching my face, I think. Everything is getting cold, and I’m tired.
So tired.
My eyes trace her features one last time. She’s the only light that found me in life. She chased away all my shadows.
I can’t fight the burdensome weight of my eyelids for a second longer.
I will never hurt you again.
A smile weakly crosses my lips, and it’s the last thing I feel.
40
EMERY
Cameron?”I whisper through tears. His eyes just closed as if he’s sleeping but…
But his body is still.
I pull his head into my lap and remove his helmet. Cam’s pale blond hair is covered in red. I try to wipe the stains from his forehead, but it’s already sticky.
“No.No. You’re okay, come on Cameron. I’m here. Do you need a pill to help you wake up?” My voice trembles as badly as my hands do. I take his pill bottle from his side pocket on his vest and shake three into my bloody palm.
I pinch one between my thumb and forefinger and try nudging it between his lips. They don’t open. My throat thickens as I whisper, “Cam, open up.” I push harder, but it only puts the pill between his lips and shoves his head to the side, making it fall limply.
My bones go cold.
“Cam,”I whisper. Tears dot his jacket.
My jaw trembles and I lean down, pulling him as close as I can.
“Please, no. I can’t… I can’t…” I choke on my staggered cries. “Why did you do that?” I wail, the sound getting lost in the dust of this forgotten place. Cameron’s blood. My blood.
This is the end for me.
I won’t go on without him.
“Emery.”
