Page 51 of Relentless Queen
“Adriana!” I scream, panic setting in. “You there?” My grip on the phone tightens.
“Yeah, sorry. I just thought I heard someone coming.” Her voice sounds strained.
“Okay, well, I’ll see you shortly.” I whisper..
“I love you so much, Kha. Never question that.” She hangs up.
Why is she being weird? Maybe I should go over there. Fuck! It’s probably nothing. She will kick my ass if I risk everything by going to her house. We are so close to leaving this place behind. I can taste and smell the freedom. I won’t risk it even though deep down in my bones, everything is telling me to go to her. I stand in our spot, under the tree, as I wait for her. Looking down at my watch, I see she is late. Pulling out my phone, I send her a text.
Me: Everything okay?
After fifteen minutes. I check her location. It says she is still home. Fuck! Did she get caught? I move through the park, heading toward her house. Reaching the street, I walk, looking around, making sure I have time to hide in a yard if I see someone. Just as I turn the corner, I see cops, ambulances, and chaos in the crowd formed in the street. I walk over, blending into the masses.
“What happened?” Someone asks the officer standing there.
Just then, a stretcher carrying a body is brought down the steps.
Please don’t be her. My eyes scanning around, looking for any trace of the girl who I was waiting for, the girl that I was supposed to get out of this town with. Tonight. Please don’t fucking let it be her.
All the phones beep with an alert. Looking down at my screen ,
Mutilated Body Found In Home Identified.
My gut sinks, my heart beats erratically. Pounding in my ears. Sweat is forming on my face. My hands are clammy. I scan through the post until I reach the name.
“Adriana Rodriguez." My heart drops, No, no, no. I was just on the phone with her. How could this fucking happen? I can't breathe. I need to get the fuck out of here.
Taking off back towards the park, I reach our spot. Falling to my knees; I scream, letting out all the pain. I still don’t understand how this could have happened. I lean back against the tree letting the bark press into my back. I wrap my arms around my knees and cry. Cry for the girl I lost. Cry for it all. It feels like I’ve been here for hours when I finally get up to move. My phone beeps, letting me know I have a text.
?: You shouldn’t have touched what wasn’t yours
?: Her blood is on your hands
?: Her tears tasted so sweet as I watched the light fade from her eyes.
That’s why I stay hidden, under the radar, and faceless to those around me. Only two people know my face, but I trust them as much as a person like me can. I’m still staring down at her picture in my hands. I vowed to hold the ones responsible for her death accountable. She was my everything, my world, my light in this dark world. Thinking back on that day, I grip the picture tighter. Why didn’t I listen to my gut?
Beep.
Tate: Someone asked me to look into one of those names.
Me: Who?
Tate: A girl. Aluxis Vega. Goes by Lux.
Me: What did she say?
Tate: I don’t know.
Me: What the fuck do you mean.
Tate: Another officer intercepted our meeting.
Me: I want a name.
Tate: Kristopher Dean.
Tate: There’s more.
