Chapter 4

"What do you mean?" I glared at him, my anger barely contained.

Edmund's face turned cold, shadows flickering in his eyes as he stared at me. "If you can't handle the rumors, then don't go acting self-righteous and taking the blame for someone else."

I lowered my head, clutching the sand in my fists. Tears, mixed with blood, splattered onto the ground.

Choking back a sob, I said, "You don't know anything. What right do you have to judge me?"

He let out a sneer. "All I know is you took the blame for Charlotte, and now everyone wants you dead. You've had it worse than anyone, but you still won't come out and tell the truth. Look what it got you. Didn't you bring it on yourself?"

Why was everyone pointing fingers at me, calling me names? What did I ever do to deserve this?

Did I ever have a choice when I took the fall for Charlotte?

When I was getting dragged online, was it like I didn't even try to explain myself?

They only saw what they wanted to see. Even when the faces in those videos and photos were obviously photoshopped, they just pretended not to notice.

The truth never mattered to them. All they cared about was venting their anger and acting all high and mighty.

Even if the truth came out one day, they'd still say I deserved it, just like Edmund did. They'd say I never explained myself, that I was cowardly and powerless, too afraid to fight back.

My fists started shaking uncontrollably, and I was completely overwhelmed by grief and despair.

All the sadness I'd bottled up for so long finally burst out, and the shaky fortress I'd built around myself came crashing down all at once.

I really wasn't as tough as Lucas always thought.

These past seven years, I'd been retreating into my shell like a turtle, doing my best to please him. But now, someone smashed that shell into pieces, and I just couldn't pretend anymore.

It felt like a knife was driven into my chest and twisted, ripping out my flesh and blood.

Was my very existence just a mistake?

All those memories flashed before my eyes like a movie, but I never want to see any of them again.

A man's voice echoed in my ears, urgent and full of worry, telling me to hold on.

I grabbed his hand, my vision swimming, and gave him a shaky smile. "Lucas, I don't owe you anymore."

The man muttered a curse under his breath, then said something else, but I passed out before I could catch his words.

A steady beeping echoed in my ears.

When I opened my eyes, I saw the moonlight outside the window.

The hospital room was dark and quiet, as if I was the only one there. All I could hear was the sound of the machines working.

I raised my hand, wanting to feel the moonlight, but my fingers brushed against something soft and furry instead.

I felt it, curious, when a man suddenly spoke up, "Does it feel good?"

Startled, I jerked my hand back, my eyes fixed warily on where the voice had come from.

A shadowy figure sat up from beside the bed, his face hidden in the moonlight.

Why was the light off in here?

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice shaky.

He let out a low chuckle. "Your savior."

I hesitated, then ventured, "Edmund?"

"Yeah," he replied.

Vague memories of me being brought to the hospital that day started to surface.

A man had been holding my hand, telling me, "Maya, you can't die yet."

I thought it was Lucas, but it turned out to be someone I'd only just met.

When Edmund chewed me out that day, I thought he was just there to laugh at my misery. I never imagined he'd be the one to save me.

"How long have I been out?" I asked.

"Three days," he replied.

I stared at his shadowy figure in the darkness, surprised. "Was it really that serious?"

"What's there to be afraid of? You're not dying," Edmund said.

He got up and walked over to the window, his back to me. He pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, and with a click, the small flame from the lighter briefly lit up his face.

"Thank you for saving me," I said.

He glanced back at me, then turned away again. "Why did you cover for Charlotte?"

I replied calmly, "Cover? Am I right to guess that you believe I'm not the one who did it?"

"Heh, you fool." He chuckled softly.

When the tide of rumors threatened to drown me, Edmund was like a raft in the flood, pulling me back to shore.

I was desperate to spill all the frustration and pain bottled up inside me, and right now, he was the only one I could finally open up to.

"It's a long story. Want to hear it?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Not like I've got anything better to do. Go ahead."

After I finished telling Edmund everything I'd been through, he fell silent for a long time.

He let out a heavy sigh, then walked over and looked down at me. "Remember what you said?"

"What?" I looked at him, confused.

"I saved your life. So, how are you going to pay me back?" Edmund asked.

Back then, I'd said, "Whatever you say."

And now, my answer was still the same. "Yeah, I do. Whatever you say."

"Remember what you just said. Once you're better, I'll come to collect my debt," he said.

With that, he turned and walked out of the room, flicking on the light as he left.

I closed my eyes for a bit, letting them get used to the light. When I opened them again, I just sat there, dazed for quite a while.

That whole conversation with Edmund felt so unreal, like I'd just dreamed it.

If it weren't for the lingering smell of his cigarette in the air, I probably would've thought it was all just a dream.