Chapter 13- 3:34 AM

(ahhhhhh!!! this is the last chapter!! buckle up for a bumpy ride!!)

******

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO,

AUGUST 12th, 2008.

2:34 PM.

My mother brushes my hair as we sit at the fireplace, and I look up at her.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, Daisy?"

"What did you want to be when you grew up?"

"Well, honey...I had big dreams to become an astronaut. Or a tourist. I wanted to travel the world, whether it be inside it or outside."

"What happened to that?!"

"Dimitri. I got pregnant with him when I was sixteen, Daisy. It wasn't good. But I couldn't bring myself to get rid of him...I just couldn't! So I kept him. And my parents disowned me. They were disappointed that their perfect little Christian daughter didn't wait until marriage. They kicked me out as soon as they heard I wasn't going to abort him."

"That's horrible, mommy."

"I know. And to this day they still try to get me to forgive them. I can't bring myself to do it. They should've excepted my little boy from the start."

Dimitri smiles at my mom from his phone.

"I'm not that little mom. I'm 16."

"Yeah, yeah. You're still my little boy. Along with Dallas. You two are my little boys."

She looks back at me.

"What do you want to be when you grow up, Daisy?"

"I don't really know."

I frown.

"What about me? Am I not your little boy?"

Dimitri and my mom start laughing.

My eyebrows furrow.

"What?!"

"Silly goose! You're a girl."

"Oopsy daises."

She kisses my head.

"You're my adorable little girl. But of course, if you felt you were a boy, I'd except you."

"No, mommy! I'm a lady!"

I do a little hair flip, and she shakes her head softly.

"You're a little goofball."

My mom jumps slightly at the sound of our front door hitting the wall, snapping her head around.

"Oh no..."

I hear her mumble as my dad comes through the door, wobbling on his feet.

He takes a drag from some sort of stick, a stick that I hear my mother call a cigar.

"Darren!"

She sets me down on the chair, running towards my father.

"What happened to you?!"

Dimitri rolls his eyes.

"Of course the old man comes back drunk again."

"Drunk?"

I move my eyes to Dimitri, and his eyes widen.

"Pretend I didn't say anything...you're too young."

"Are not!"

"You're seven."

"Ah whatever."

I watch my mom curiously, and she rips the cigar from my dad's hand.

"I told you to stop this, Darren! It's so unhealthy for both you and the kids! That's how secondhand cancer—"

"Will you shut up for once, woman?! Let a man relax for a night?"

My mom pauses mid sentence, frowning.

"But—"

"Why don't you go do the dishes or some shit?! Make dinner?! Do something women are meant to do instead of bothering your husband."

He pushes past her and my mom stumbles back, a shocked look on her face.

Dimitri frowns when she starts crying.

He sets his phone down, running over before wrapping his arms around my mom in a hug.

I sit still, confused to say the least.

"I just don't understand how he can say things like that! I try, I really do for you guys, Dimitri! But I just don't think he's trying at all."

"It's okay, mom. You know him when he's drunk."

"But he shouldn't be drunk! He has three children to look after! I can't be doing all the work, all the cleaning, and all the taking care of you guys while he does absolutely nothing besides waste all of my hard owned money on drugs, drinking, and gambling!"

I pick up Dallas and go to my room.

I don't want to listen to mommy cry anymore.

I now know what I want to be when I grow up.

I want to be a person who can help people like my mommy.

I want to be a hero.

******

PRESENT DAY,

FEBRUARY 27th, 2021.

12:56 AM.

My eyes are wide as two full moons, and I let out a small gasp.

"Z-Zane?! What're you—"

His hands curl around my neck, lifting me higher off the ground with an icy glare on his face that then morphs into a warped grin.

"I don't see a reason to let you live, baby."

"W-What?! Let me go!"

"Why don't you beg for me, babes?"

Zane drops me suddenly, grabbing my jaw tightly in his hand.

"My little whore, you decided to run away on a little field trip with your friends, while me and everyone else panicked that you were dead."

"Zane...Zane I'm so sorry, you don't—"

"Don't understand?! I don't think you understand, babycakes. You can't just disappear for like eight months and think I won't fucking do something! And news flash, babes. Shane's in the hospital at the moment because his heart stopped beating. He's on life support. Dylan's anxiety and depression skyrocketed when you left. People were effected. While daisy decided to fuck around with Lucinda and Silas. Don't think I didn't find out my little flower was scheming with Silas! Honey, I found that out ages ago!"

I stare wide eyed at him, and Zane shakes his head with a small smile.

"Nothing. Of course. And I thought you'd at least show a bit of remorse, I mean holy shit!"

Zane's smile drops, and he loads his gun.

"Have fun in hell, bitch. Tell the devil I said hi."

When he points the gun at me I panic, shaking my head rapidly.

"Don't! Please!"

Zane drops his hand, a bored expression on his face.

"What the fuck is it?! You're ruining my moment."

"P-Please, don't shoot! I-I don't want to have to hurt you!"

"Hurt me?! Child, that's bullshit—"

Zane stops, eyes widening.

They slowly move down to the knife that shot straight through his stomach, then back at me.

The knife gets ripped out and Zane falls forward onto his knees, blood soaking through the gaps between his fingers.

He starts lowly laughing, wheezing in between.

"You...bitch...you'll...pay for this..."

He passes out, and I stand there in shock before jumping down, grabbing his face.

"Hey! Zane?! Zane, listen to me, I'll—"

Someone yanks me up, pulling me towards them.

"I saw that he was going to shoot you—and—and—"

My eyes snap on Max, and she looks extremely panicked.

Tears stream down my face.

"Is he...is he dead Max?! He can't be. Please tell me he isn't."

Max bends down, grabbing his wrist.

"Is there a pulse?!"

"Y-Yes...slow...but it's there."

"We have to get him help."

I grab Max's arm, pulling her away from the body.

"Come on."

We run away from Zane, his body laying inert in the pouring rain.

As Max and I run towards the commotion, I suddenly get a panicked feeling.

Something in my gut is telling me to turn back around and stay at Zane's body until help comes.

Dread.

Overwhelming dread.

Something isn't right.

I halt, and Max snaps her head around.

"Come on, Daisy!"

"No...Zane...something is wrong. You go get help! I have to see if he's okay!"

"Okay! Lucinda told me to meet her near the bunkers anyways. I have to see what she wants."

"Alright. Please stay safe."

Max nods, running faster in the opposite direction as I take a turn, sprinting back down to the pier where Zane should be.

And he is still there.

Which sends a shockwave of relief through me until I see someone else.

Oh no.

I make a run for it down the dock, coming up from behind her and knocking her forwards, both of us tumbling g sideways and off the side, landing with a splash in the frigid waters.

I stick my head up from the surface, just as a hand latches onto my hair, dragging me backwards.

I become eye to eye with an angry pale blue, and I gasp for breath.

"You little bitch! What the hell was that?!"

I cough before responding.

"I should be asking you, Lucinda!"

I seethe, glaring at her.

"What were you planning to do to him?!"

"Wasn't it obvious, sweetheart?! Kill the damn boy! The little rat has been in my fucking way since day one!"

My eyes expand with fear, and I slowly shake my head.

"You...you were gonna kill him..."

A slow and menacing smile of realization crosses her face.

"You still love him."

"What?!"

"You still love the boy. Oh, after three months of blindsiding you I'd think you'd get over him! I guess not! You still fucking love him. Well let me tell you a little something. If him sucking faces with Jayden, or hooking up with anyone with big boobs didn't say anything to you?! I think you're fucking naive. You let the damn boy take advantage of you and your big squishy heart! I'm telling you, child, you have to listen to me! If you don't you might as well drown in here! You'll die without me, you here it? Die."

I did the only thing I could think of in the moment.

I grab the side of her face, kissing her.

Lucinda's eyes widen, but she doesn't resist.

She soon pulls away, wiping the lipstick from her mouth.

"Daisy—what the hell?! What was that?!"

I blink a few times, before staring her straight in the eyes.

"Does that prove I don't love him anymore?! Does that prove anything to you?!"

A wave of emotions hit me like a train.

What am I doing?!

Lucinda grabs my arm, tightly.

"You're coming with me. Get out."

She heaves herself back up onto the dock, pulling me back up with her.

I shiver in the cold rain, and she grabs my hand in her icy one, placing a eight-inch-long knife in it.

"Kill him."

"What?!"

"Finish him off. If you didn't live him anymore you'd do that. And if you do that, sweetie, if you do that, I won't kill you."

"Huh?!"

"If you don't kill him I'll kill you, honey. I can't have a weak little bitch on my team. You may have weaved your way into many things with your cute little face and soft lips, but that doesn't work on me, honey pie."

Oh no.

I can't.

I couldn't.

The more I stare at his body the more I imagine him alive, in my arms.

The more I imagine us together, like normal people.

The more I wish...the more I wish it'll just be over.

I won't be able to kill him.

I couldn't live with myself if I killed him.

I couldn't.

Through everything, it's still him.

It'll always be him, no matter how fucking cringy I sound.

And that's why...that's why I'm going to die today.

"No."

I look Lucinda right in the eyes.

She doesn't look surprised.

"I didn't think so, honeybun. I never thought you'd be the one to live in situations like this anyways."

Lucinda grins wickedly. "You're always the first to go."

"Not for long, shithead."

I hear a gunshot, and Lucinda gasps, blood dripping down the front of her head.

"You...motherfucker...you're going to die..."

She falls forward into the water, going in bubbles.

Bloody bubbles.

She's dead.

Then who—

I feel a suffocating grasp around me, and hear the faint sobbing of someone.

"Daisy...Daisy I thought you were gone! Don't ever do that to me again, Dais. Ever!"

"Dylan?"

I pull back, and she smiles.

"Oh, don't do this to me! I feel like one of those...one of those forty year old moms who sob when their child comes back from the military."

I release a small laugh.

"I missed you."

"So did I. But enough of that! I really think he's dying."

Her eyes snap on Zane, who's still completely motionless.

Seeing him there reminds me of—

Oh no.

"Max."

*****

"Daisy?! Daisy what's wrong!"

"Max! She...she said Lucinda told her to meet her...but...but you just killed Lucinda. She's in trouble!"

"Okay. I have to make sure he doesn't die. Please be okay, Daisy. I can't lose you again."

I smile at her for a split second.

"You never did, Dylan."

******

(DYLAN'S POV)

I turn back to Zane, bending over him.

Mouth to mouth.

That's what I learned in nurse club...right? Right.

Totally.

Maybe.

I can't doubt myself now! It isn't the time. Here I go.

I place my mouth awkwardly over his, before pulling back.

I'm definitely not doing that right.

I mean...it's like making out...right?

Hopefully.

Okay...let's go again.

I bend back down, pressing on his chest while doing mouth to mouth.

I jump back when he coughs, almost stumbling off the edge of the pier.

"Zane...?"

I edge closer again, looking over him.

Zane gives me a weird look.

"Dylan?! Is that you staring at me?!"

"Yes...? You're alive?!"

"Very much."

He winces when he tries to sit up.

"In pain, but alive."

He makes a face.

"Where's the daffodil?!"

"Daisy? Oh. She's looking for Max."

"The bitch who stabbed me?! Nice to know she's still got my back."

He coughs again, recoiling.

"Ow."

I remove my jacket, handing it over to him.

"Would that help?! Maybe?! Maybe not?"

"Maybe it'll help stop the bleeding." Another cough. "How do I look? Sexy as always?! Or pale as a ghost?"

"Pale as a ghost. No need to boost your huge ego even more when you look like my shriveled up old grandma who's about to have another heart attack."

Zane glares at me.

"I do not look that bad."

I hear a horrifying screech and immediately turn my attention away from Zane with a fearful look.

Roxie.

"Roxie?! Roxie!"

I jump up, turning my head to him one last time before running.

"I have to see if she's okay! You! Please be okay!"

"Not a problem, Dylan."

A small smirk spreads across his face when I speed off in Roxie's direction.

******

(DAISY'S POV)

No, no, no.

Where is she?!

"Max?!"

I call out again, my heart thumping louder and louder in my chest.

I round a corner, now heading into a forest.

This is creepy.

Really creepy.

I hear a branch snap and turn around instantly, letting out a blood-curdling scream.

"No! Max!"

I run forward, seeing her hanging from a tree branch, with a gash on her collarbone.

Blood pouring out.

"I think I'm going to be sick..."

I dry heave in the leaves, coughing before shakily reaching up, grabbing my switchblade and chopping the rope.

She weakly falls into my arms, and I cut the rope from her neck as well.

"Oh no, no...Max! Answer me, please!"

I feel a deep breath go into her lungs, and Max's eyes shoot open, a terrified look crossing her face.

"No...he...he tried to kill me!"

Blood soaks onto her chest when I hear another high-pitched scream that sounds a whole lot like Roxie.

"Oh no! Roxie! Max, I have to go. Will you be okay?!"

She coughs out blood, tearing her shirt before pressing it harshly against her chest.

"Lucinda...I need her...where is she?"

My heart stops when I realize Lucinda was the only one Max had left.

"S-She's dead."

Max looks up from her bloody hands to my face with a look of disbelief.

"She isn't. She can't be dead, no!"

Max starts sobbing, and I fight the urge to break down sobbing with her.

It hurts to see the people you love in pain.

"Take care of yourself, Max, please, I'm going to come back. I won't leave you, ever. Just...just stay put, okay?! Or if you can, get back to the car. Someone should be there with supplies."

Max nods silently, choked sobs escaping her mouth.

I run forwards, disappearing out of the forest.

******

(MAX'S POV)

I stand up, feeling extremely light headed.

I'm gonna go with it anyways.

I stumble my way out of the forest, scrambling towards the cars.

My head hurts.

My chest hurts.

I'm hurting.

Lucinda can't be gone.

She...she was like a mom I've never had. A sister I've never had. A friend I've never had. Lucinda was everything to me...and now that's she's gone...I...I don't see any reason to continue living besides Daisy. I stay only for her now.

I approach the car, not before I hear a low snicker.

"I thought I killed you, no?"

"Silas."

*****

(DYLAN'S POV)

I run towards the bunkers, seeing a flash of bright red and yellow.

Roxie.

"Roxie?! Roxie!"

"Dylan! Shh!"

I feel a hand on my wrist, dragging me behind a wall.

"They're out there."

"Who?!"

"Silas. The others. They...they tried to kill me...they said that Zane—"

My face pales.

"What?!"

"You're not injured or anything, are you?"

"No."

She makes a confused face and I start to panic.

"Zane. Oh fuck! I left him. He's probably dead. I have to go. Stay here."

I stand up, speeding towards the pier.

I almost slip and die on my way, but once I make it I actually do die inside.

What the fuck?!

This can't be real...he...he was just fucking there!

Oh no, no, no.

I run forwards, seeing a giant blood stain and nothing else.

Nothing.

He's gone.

I lost hun.

He's gone.

Fuck.

I should've stayed...I should've have left. He's gone.

Zane's gone.

I hear a gun being loaded, and freeze in my place.

"I wouldn't move a muscle if I were you, Dylan Harlow."

******

(MAX'S POV)

"Silas, please don't hurt me—"

"Until you tell me where your little friends are hiding I won't hesitate to shove my blade down your fucking throat, you hear me, bitch?!"

I stare in fear at the huge blade in his hand, to his haunting green eyes.

He's going to kill me.

I know he is.

But maybe—

My heart starts beating faster at police sirens, and Silas drops the knife with a smirk.

It just misses my foot.

"Looks like you're in luck, Vanderbilt. Next time you will die."

He runs off, and I'm left shaking out of fear when a female cop approaches me and red and blue lights blind my vision.

Daisy called the police.

******

(DAISY'S POV)

As soon as I reach the bunkers, I frown.

There's no one here.

I catch sight of charcoal, black and blue.

Salem, Jaylen and Jayden.

I run over to them, crouching down.

"What happened?!"

Jaylen and Salem snap their attention on me.

"Jayden was shot."

Jaylen rushes out, tears streaming down her face.

"She isn't responding...we think she's dead."

Salem adds, and I look over their shoulders at Jayden on the floor, blood collecting in a pool around her rapidly paling body.

She's motionless and seemingly lifeless.

I shake my head in disbelief.

"I can't...I have to call 911."

"But—"

"Yes...we'll probably get sent to jail...but Zane, Jayden, we can't just let them die."

I pull out my phone, and they both frown.

"You're right."

Salem says as he stands up.

"Please, you two watch over her. And Daisy, call 911 immediately. I'm going to get Roxie and then find Dylan. Is there anyone else?!"

"Max. She's by the cars."

Salem pauses.

"I saw someone in a black mask go over there."

"What?! When?!"

"I don't know exactly...I don't know if she's okay."

"Well fuck."

Salem releases a breath.

"Once I find Dylan and Roxie I'll have them go find Zane while I get Max, okay?!"

"Okay."

******

(SALEM'S POV)

I run towards the wall I saw Roxie slide behind, rounding the corner to see her still there, frozen out of fear.

"Roxie."

She jumps, her eyes snapping on me before they fill with relief.

"Oh my god...it's just you. Thank goodness. Is everything okay?! You're not looking too good."

"Nothing's okay at all. We're afraid Max is in serious danger, we're almost 100% sure Jayden is dead, and Zane's seriously injured."

Roxie jumps up.

"I'm coming to help. Did Dyl ever come back to you?!"

I shake my head.

"She never came to us in the first place...?"

"Fuck. I got a text from her phone that she told you guys everything is okay with her and Zane. Come on! She went to the pier!"

******

Roxie and I sprint towards the pier, and she lets out a bone-chilling scream before I can even react.

First of all, there's no sign of Zane, and second of all...

I almost throw up.

Dylan is sprawled out on the pier with a monstrous gash in her stomach, blood and parts of her body that shouldn't be out spilling out of her.

She has a carved smile on her face, and in her left hand lays her phone, her thumb hovering over the button to send that reads this exactly:

Help!! He's going to kill me!! He has a knife to my—

And that was it.

I hear Roxie's cries over my own disbelief.

She's really gone...

I drop down, grabbing onto her lifeless hand as tears of my own fall down my cheeks.

How do I tell the rest of them...how do I tell them that Dylan's dead?! That Dylan's gone forever?!

******

(ZANE'S POV)

As soon as the police sirens hit my ears I know everything worked out.

And I know you're tired of me saying I have these master plans, but this one did work out in my favor.

I'll spare you the details, but I'm sure my little pink haired monster will come soon enough, and then we'll make another grand return in five years.

Perfect.

******

(DAISY'S POV)

They're here.

The police are here.

Jayden's dead. I'm sure of it.

Max is gone.

Zane is gone.

Where did everything go wrong?!

"Everyone hands in the air! Drop the weapons and come out where we can see you!"

Me and Jaylen share a look before standing up, coming into the bright light of the policemen's heavy duty flashlights in the darkness of midnight.

Paramedics rush past us to Jayden, lifting her onto the carrier before performing emergency CPR.

Her breaths come back slow, and relief washes over me.

She's alive.

"You two! Get out from the shadows!"

I see Salem and Roxie emerge from the darkness, blood soaking both of them.

A loud gasp escapes my lips.

Dylan.

She's in Salem's arms, with a horrendous and gruesome wound on her stomach.

She's bleeding out.

And she certainly looks dead.

"Hand over the body!"

Two men run up to Salem, taking Dylan's limp body from them before loading her into the ambulance.

Tears start streaming faster down my face when I see Max getting loaded into the back of a police car with a guilty look on her face.

Emerson gets shoved in a second car, and a bunch more police officers appear from the shadows, securing cuffs around me, Salem, Roxie, and Jaylen's wrists.

As they shove us all into cars I feel numb.

They're dead.

Is this the end?!

I hear a buzz in my pocket, and when the police aren't looking I drag out my phone to the beat of my ability, gasping when I see the notification.

A text message.

My blood runs cold.

From...Zane?

See you on the flip side, babes.

XOXO, Zane.

******

Time of death: 3:34 AM.

The End.