ARI
I wondered countless times if what happened could have been avoided somehow—if that day might never have existed, or if it had always been destined to come and finish off what was left of my life. No matter how much I tried to change things or turn back time, maybe it was something inevitable I would have to endure at only seventeen years old.
I remember losing my mind when I spoke to Officer Garcia after a year. The events that marked a before and after that day became the greatest battle of my life. He told me things I didn't know—things that made me realize everything I believed had been a lie.
Because he knew he was achieving exactly what he planned: surrounding me with fear so I wouldn't trust anyone.
And the worst part was that it worked.
It was impossible not to fall into his lies, because he had planned every single moment for his own benefit.
Wasn't that right?
I looked at Ámbar as she was about to close her eyes and screamed with all my strength.
"Ámbar! Don't leave me!" I shouted, even when my body shouldn't have allowed it, because my abdomen was losing too much blood.
I felt hands trying to stop the bleeding. My vision blurred, on the verge of losing consciousness, and then suddenly it cleared, and I saw Jeff's face. He was crying, tearing at his shirt to rip it apart and wrap it around my waist, covering the bullet wound.
"Are you stupid? Why did you step in front of it?" he said after making sure the bleeding was slowing. "Damn it."
He looked around at Ámbar, then at Erick, who rushed over to his sister. Blood was running down his leg, but he didn't seem to care.
He wouldn't be able to carry her out of the building before he came back to finish the hell he had started.
"Jeff," I said, the pain in my abdomen growing worse and worse. He leaned closer so he could hear me.
"Help Erick," I began to cough.
He lifted my head even though I was lying on the floor, unable to move, then turned me slightly so the blood could spill from my mouth.
"Take Ámbar with you! You have to save her."
"I'm not leaving you!" he answered immediately, shaking his head, and I pushed his hands away, forcing him back.
"He wants me, and I'll give him what he wants most," I said, struggling more and more to breathe. "Please don't let her die. No one else can die."
"You think I'm just going to leave you?" he asked, but I could see pure fear in his eyes. "You're badly hurt."
He came closer with incredible care, afraid of hurting me.
"You'll come back, right?" he whispered in my ear.
I let out a sigh.
I shook my head, and he lowered his head to kiss my forehead.
"I'm sorry, Jeff."