“I guess he wants me with someone as perfect as Hendrix.”
She guffaws and I laugh.
There was more to our conversation, and by the end of it, she told me she believed me and Dash would make it.
And not moments later, my sister’s happiness and life were stolen. And mine was left abandoned in shambles scattered on the side of the road as both of us lost our identities and our voices.
I grab both shirts in my hands and bury my face in them and scream.
From the depths of my soul, I scream in anger, in pain, and in shame. I scream until my voice cracks, and my throat is raw.
No one comes near me, though I feel their presence behind me. My mom, Hendrix, and Dad.
These tears are so hot, they sear into my skin. I’m angry. At this damn stalker, at Dash, at my dad, and most of all at myself.
Logically, I know there’s no way I could have known what was going to happen, but I had the notes. I knew I was being stalked. I thought I had it under control. But my reckless, careless decisions have destroyed everything.
The danger was mine; it shouldn’t have touched her!
I stand, gripping both shirts in my fist before turning to face the three sets of eyes staring at me in this room.
My dad steps forward and I point a finger at him. “Don’t. Don’t come near me.” I glance at my mom and Hendrix who stare with wide, shocked eyes at my outburst.
“Stay away from me. All of you. Don’t call me and don’t try to follow me,” I say in a voice that sounds calm but, in reality, is anything but.
“We can’t, Lennon, you’re still in danger,” Hendrix says.
“That might be true. But it belongs to me. I’m the reason…” I trail off unable to say the words as my chin trembles and Hendrix’s eyes flood with his own tears.
“You’re not the reason any of this happened, Lennon. You can’t control the actions of others,” my mom says.
“Maybe not, but I can control mine and I’m going to do whatever it takes to stop this madness. I’m going to stop him,” I tell them.
“Lennon—” my dad tries again but I cut him off.
“Drive fast, heart steady, live free,” I tell him before leaving them all in my old bedroom.
29
DASH
“She’s gone, Dash.”
I sit up in my bed and flip the covers off.
“What do you mean she’s gone, Hendrix? You were supposed to be with her,” I say in a heated tone.
I’m out of bed and shoving my legs into my jeans as quick as I can.
He lets out a defeated sigh. “She remembered something, and it shifted her off her axis, Dash. There was no talking her down or reeling her back in. I couldn’t see her face when she remembered whatever she did, but she screamed like she was on fire. And once she stopped and finally faced us, she had this look in her eye like she was…” He falls silent.
“Like she was what, Hendrix? Spit it out!”
“It was like she was telling us goodbye. Like she was heading into a war she knew she’d never survive but was going to fight anyway. She’s going after him, Dash, and I don’t think she expects to still be standing after she does. And none of us can find her,” he says.
“Shit,” I say as I grip my hair and pull hard. I should’ve known my Valkyrie would do something crazy. She’s fearless when it comes to those she loves.
I try to refocus because me losing my cool now isn’t going to save her.
