No more words register as I scream in agony, wrapping my arms around my body. I try to block out the pain, but it's too much. It hurts worse than any physical wound. Worse than when I had surgery, worse than my car accident.
No. Not Kaylee. Not my best friend.
"Kaylee!" I cry as her picture flashes across the tv, probably taken from the yearbook.
So happy. So full of life. A life cut short.
My best friend…was murdered. Her blonde hair with a purple underlayer sticks out along with her runway worthy makeup. Blue eyes. A sun-kissed tan.
No more. Kaylee is dead.
"No, no, no. Please!" I yell to the heavens as I clutch the pearls around my neck, my birthday gift from Kaylee.
I didn't say goodbye when she left. She was drunk…and Kai got her drunk.
Kai.
The gasp that leaves my lips is a struggle as my mind swirls.
It's not possible. Why the fuck would Kai kill Kaylee? I didn't break the rules and there are four people on the list above her.
You did break the rules. You spent half the night talking to the guys, eating whatever you want, and you kissed the guys before they left.
Kai gave me a rule-free night except…I didn't hold up my end of the bargain.
I was supposed to let him go down on me. That was the deal, but I was too emotionally raw to think straight.
No. No. No. This can't be happening. I broke the rules and Kai did everything for my birthday to distract me. He's killing everyone on my list of loved ones.
"Please!" I sob as I think of the guys.
Rowe with his beautiful blue eyes and brooding ways. Knox with his goofy sense of humor and looks that would put Brian Bloom to shame. Dax with all his pain and love and perfect brown skin. Nico with his mad baking skills, caring nature, and sublime hugs.
They can't be dead, but they must be. If Kaylee is dead, so are the rest of them.
Who's next on the list? The men I love, Knox, Rowe, Dax, and Nico. Then it was friends and…family. My dad…he's next.
I stumble to my feet and run down the hall as fast as my feet can carry me. I can save him. Kai won't kill me…or will he? We can run away…but what if my dad is already dead? I can't think like that. I have to do something.
I sprint across the house and run out the back door, an alarm sounding.
Maybe if Kai knows I escaped, he'll come look for me and it will give me time to get to a phone and call my dad. So what if Kai kills me? As long as my dad is safe.
I sprint straight into the tree line, not caring that my feet are bare. I push branches out of my way and dodge low limbs as I run as far and as fast as I can.
There has to be another house around here somewhere, right?
What if it's nothing but empty land?
I can't think like that. My dad needs me. I can't let Kai kill him, too.
"Help!" I scream as I keep running, my legs scraping against vines and bark, but I keep pushing through.
The noise of the forest is constant, always a bird chirping or an animal scurrying. It keeps my pace steady and my brain focused.
Dad.
Kai.
