LUKE
Josh leaned back against the counter, his jaw tight and his expression grim. “What are we going to do about Sarah?”
I didn’t answer right away. The air between us felt heavy, every unsaid word adding to the weight pressing down on my chest. Finally, I spoke, my voice sharp. “First, what the hell did you do with the gun?”
Josh’s gaze didn’t waver, but his tone came out clipped.
“Nothing. Left it right where I found it. But I unloaded it and took the bullets.”
My fists clenched at my sides as I stared at him. “You didn’t think that was worth telling me earlier? Jesus, Josh, we’re sitting on a goddamn time bomb here!”
Before he could reply, a scream tore through the house, sharp and raw, cutting through the tension like a knife.
Both of us froze.
“Did you hear that?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
Josh’s face drained of color. “Yeah.”
We bolted out of the room, moving on instinct. The sound had come from my house. Adrenaline surged through me, every nerve in my body on edge.
CRAZY
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath as we sprinted through the front door. “If someone else fucking fell and broke something…”
We didn’t bother with caution; we didn’t have the time. Josh peeled off towards the kitchen, and I headed upstairs, taking the steps two at a time.
“Jess! Babe! Are you okay? Jess!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the empty halls. No answer. The silence only made my pulse thunder harder in my ears.
I shoved open the bedroom doors, one after the other, but each room was empty. The house felt wrong–off. Eerily still, like it was holding its breath.
“Laura! Honey!” Josh’s voice carried from below, tight with panic.
I bounded back down the stairs, nearly slipping in my rush. “Josh! Did you find them?”
No reply. My stomach twisted.
I turned the corner into the kitchen and skidded to a halt. Jess was there, standing next to Laura. Relief flooded me, but something in their faces froze me in place.
Jess’s eyes darted to mine, wide and full of unspoken warning. Laura stood stiff beside her, her hands gripping the counter behind her like it was the only thing keeping her upright.
“Babe,” I said, stepping closer. “There you are. Are you okay?”
Jess didn’t answer. She just shook her head, her gaze flickering behind me.
I glanced between her and Laura, my confusion mounting. “What’s going on?” I turned to Josh, who had come into the room behind me. He was as still as a statue, his expression unreadable.
“Josh,” I demanded. “Why isn’t anyone answering me? What the hell-”
The sharp, unmistakable click of a gun cocking stopped me mid–sentence.
Every muscle in my body locked up as I spun on my heel.
Sarah stood at the back door, her face streaked with tears, her eyes swollen and red. But it wasn’t just her appearance that sent a chill through me–it was the gun in her hand, aimed squarely at the floor but trembling enough to send a clear warning.
“Sarah,” I said slowly, my hands instinctively raising, palms out. “What’s going on? Why are you holding a gun?
She let out a soft, hollow laugh that sent a shiver down my spine. “Don’t act like you don’t know, Luke,” she said, her voice. cracking on my name. “You know. I know you do. You all do.”
I took a cautious step forward. “Sarah, put the gun down, okay? We can talk this out.”
Her laugh grew louder, more hysterical, as she wiped her face with her free hand, smearing her makeup. “Talk this out?” she echoed, her tone mocking. “Like you haven’t already decided, Luke? Like you haven’t already picked her over me?” Her eyes darted to Jess, her gaze darkening.
I felt Jess stiffen behind me, but didn’t dare look at her.
“Sarah, nobody’s picking anyone,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the dread coiling in my stomach. “Whatever you‘ re thinking, this isn’t the way. Let’s figure it out together.”
Her hand trembled, but the gun stayed firmly in her grip. “Don’t patronize me,” she hissed.
