32. Madelyn #2
I can feel myself getting defensive, but I can’t do anything to risk Miles' life when he has a blade held to his throat. I take a steady breath and think about what I’m going to say next.
“You’re right, Austin, and I’m sorry. I should have never left you.” My eyes quickly flash to Miles and I can see the pain in his eyes from my words, but I need to say whatever I can to save him.
I take a step towards the stage, holding my hands up so Austin knows I mean him no harm. Kaitlin’s body grows stiff and I know my words are getting to her, too.
“I should have just stayed with you that night at graduation when you told me you loved me.” I take another step towards the stage and he doesn’t move.
“I love you too, Austin. So much.”
“You’re just saying that!” he screams, holding the blade firm up to Miles' throat and I stop when I see a bead of blood drip from where the blade sits, still holding my hands up in front of me hoping he’ll see that I’m serious.
“No, I’m not! I mean it. If you’ll just let me show you…that I do.”
He looks back at Kaitlin, who shakes her head at him, but he doesn’t listen. He looks back over at me and nods his head, and then motions for me to go up the stairs to my left.
I slowly and carefully make my way over to them, never breaking eye contact with Austin. I walk closer to the three of them, trying not to look down at Miles, but I can’t help it.
His feet are bloody because he’s missing toenails. A set of bloody pliers are on the floor next to him, telling me everything I need to know. I close my eyes and cringe away at the sight, trying so hard to keep the bile from coming up my throat.
His body is covered in little cuts that are slowly still bleeding. And his face. Oh my god, his poor, beautiful face. His cheek on the right side of his face has been skinned, the left side completely beaten in, and his eye is swollen shut.
He looks like this because of me.
I try to hold back the tears that are threatening to escape, but I can’t help it. They fall freely and I put my hand over my mouth to try and contain a sob. I look back up at Austin, who stares at me intently.
“Why would you do this to him?” I ask softly, trying not to sound like it hurts me even though it does.
“I did this because of you, Maddie. You fucking left me! Everything that I ever did was for you. I even killed your father, for you.”
I stare at him with complete shock as my heart sinks deep into the pit of my stomach. He didn’t kill my father, I did. How does he know about that?
“W-what? What are you talking about?”
He lets go of Miles and walks over to me. I take a step back, scared of what he might do to me, but that angers him. His face says it all. I try to stand still as he walks closer to me and then brings his hand up to my face, slowly caressing my cheek.
It feels like acid on my skin and I close my eyes, trying not to show the emotions that I’m feeling. I don’t want him touching me. I don’t want him anywhere near me.
I open my eyes and they quickly flicker over to Miles, who's watching everything. When my eyes flick back over to Austin, he gives me a look filled with pure venom. My body is shaking and I know he feels it.
Kaitlin walks over to us and grabs Austin's hand that’s on my cheek, causing him to pull back. He looks at her with so much anger on his face, I’m afraid of what he might do. She takes a step back, and he takes another step into her. He grabs her violently by her jaw and brings her closer to him.
“Do not touch me like that again. Do you understand me? Know your fucking place,” he spits, pushing her away by the hand that held her jaw.
She falls backwards onto the floor, and I can’t help the gasp that falls from my lips.
She looks up at me and I quickly cover my mouth with my hands.
Her gaze shifts over to Austin and with just as much anger and fury as he gives her, she stares at him until she stands up and begins to walk off the stage.
“And where the fuck do you think you’re going, Kaitlin?”
She turns around and scoffs at him.
“Away from you! You don’t want me! You never wanted me. You were just using me to get to her.” She points at me and I cringe backwards. This is probably the most frightening and awkward situation I’ve ever had to be a part of.
“So, I’m done Austin. I don’t want to have any part of it anymore.”
She walks down the aisle of the theater, making her way towards the exit as Austin shouts at her.
“Fine! If that’s your choice.”
And then he pulls a gun out from the back of his jeans, and he shoots her in the back.
I scream and crouch down on the floor, trying to shield myself from the man I once thought I knew, as if my arms will protect me from him. I can hear Miles struggling, trying desperately to escape the ties that hold him back just to get to me.
“Shut up! Both of you shut up! Before I put a bullet through both of your heads!”
Miles listens, but I can see in his eyes that he’s absolutely broken.
He wants to protect me so badly, but he can’t.
He can’t get to me. I hold my hands over my mouth, trying to keep myself from making any noises as I sob into them.
Kaitlin's body is laying on the floor of the theater aisle bleeding out, and there’s nothing any of us can do about it.