Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
I just shot Arthur.
He staggers back a step.
I fucking shot him.
My mind is a slow-chugging machine. He was hurting Micah. He was hurting Princess. He was going to kill them.
I shot him.
It smells in here, like…like minerals and fire.
Micah. Is he okay? I bend down to check on him, and he looks at me with the same fear I always feel. Only I don’t feel it now. I feel some sort of odd…ringing. Why don’t I feel fear? I should definitely feel fear. Micah’s skin is all red.
”Mads? Are you okay?” Micah cups my face, searching my eyes. How did he get up?
There’s a wet cough, and we both glance at the source of the sound. Arthur has slumped against the doorway, a wide-eyed look in his eyes. It’s not a scared look or an angry look. It’s a blank look, and that makes my stomach flip. I feel like something just happened that I can’t reverse. Ever.
“Maddox? It’ll be okay.”
Wait. Where’s Princess? I scan the room, but don’t see him.
”Maddox? Look at me.”
Slowly, my gaze moves to Micah. He smiles like he’s approaching a wild animal. “Can I have the gun?”
Gun? I glance down, only now remembering it’s in my hand. I stare at it until Micah takes it. At least, he tries, but my hand won’t let go.
“It’s okay.” Gently, Micah pries my fingers off. Why won’t they let go?
Then I remember the threat and turn to Arthur, and we just stare.
What do we do? I blink. Oh my god, what do we do? I shot him?
The ringing is interrupted by a deep wave of something cold and dreadful in my gut. Oh my god, I shot someone. He’s going to die.
I need to call 911.
Like I’m running on autopilot, I pull my phone out of my pocket.
Micah’s voice sounds like it’s coming from another room. “Maddox!”
I blink. He’s going to die.
Then my phone is being ripped from my hands.
“No, my love! No.”
My breathing picks up, and I can’t stop it. I scramble for that ringing numbness again. This can’t be happening. This has to be a bad dream. This can’t be happening.