Chapter 40: Collateral

My breath was stuck in my throat, and before I knew it, I was down on my knees, hyperventilating for any source of air. The Creatine had Aubrey—they took her when I wasn’t here and there was no one to protect her. How did I let it happen? I was so concerned with my own safety, thinking that if I was away from her, I could protect her…but I was wrong. So terribly wrong.

I felt numb; I couldn’t even cry. There was nothing coming up, except when I gasped occasionally to catch fragments of oxygen. Tyler rushed to my side, bending down and setting his hand on my shoulder.

“Olivia? Olivia, I know what this looks like, but—”

“W-what this looks like?” I gasped out. “My best friend was taken by…by your organization. The glove is still in your hand, Tyler! I-I don’t know what else it could possibly be.”

“You’re right,” he said calmly.