“I need you to close your eyes for a second, stingray,” my voice is sweet sounding and calm. My breath is flowing and light like a feather. And I hope it’s enough for her to listen to me.
I see the determination in her eyes. She wants to keep her eyes open, now that she’s found something to hold onto. But she can’t. She needs to close them so I can get rid of Milo.
I’m not even sure she realizes he’s dead yet.
Slowly, she closes her eyes.
And then I ease Milo’s body off of her. She winces when he’s free of her.
All I see is blood.
Hers.
His.
It all mixes together covering both of their naked bodies.
This image will haunt me forever.
I failed.
Again.
And I don’t know if our relationship will ever recover from this—from me failing her. From the pain she endured. I don’t know if even time can heal this.
I quickly remove my shirt.
“Stingray, can I put a shirt on you?”
She nods and sits up, putting her arms up over her head.
Whatever is going on inside her head, at least she can hear me. She still trusts me enough to help her.
I carefully slip the shirt over her body, even though I want to wipe her clean of the blood first. I don’
t touch her skin, as much as I want to. I won’t be selfish, not with her.
I won’t hurt her.
“Keep your eyes closed for a few more seconds,” I tell her.
She nods.
And then I wave to Langston.
We both stand over Milo’s lifeless, mutilated body.
“Jesus,” Langston curses as he looks from Kai to Milo. “What do you want me to do?”
“Bury his body. And then take care of the team and Liesel. I need to...” But I don’t know what to do. I just know Kai needs me.
Langston nods as he goes to Milo and grabs his feet. He begins dragging him through the woods.
And as much as Milo got what he deserved, I have a strange sense of loss at seeing him go. Something I can’t explain. But I won’t focus on it. I have someone more important to focus on.
I kneel in front of Kai. “Okay, you can open your eyes.”
Her eyes blink open as soon as I speak.