Toxic ✔️

26 | i should've stayed in bed

chapter twenty-six: i should've stayed in bed

I feel sick.

I'm terrified, and I'm worried, and I feel sick down to the bone. Kellan's facing Markus alone, and I don't know what they'll do to him, but I'm scared.

And all of that, caused me to be in the place I am now. Listening in on Kellan's conversation, despite that probably being the worst mistake of my entire life. He doesn't know I'm here, but dear God, please don't let him say anything stupid.

"What do I have to do for you to leave us alone?" I hear Kellan ask.

"Apologise. To my father," Markus says.

I can almost feel the rage and anger radiating from Kellan despite being about ten metres away from each other. "He murdered my parents."

"Well, if it's not going to be about you, think about the girl," Markus says, referring to me. There's a long pause. He's thinking about it. Personally, I don't know how he feels, so I'm in no position to decide what he should do, but whatever it is, I hope he make the right decision.

"...okay."

I'm not sure what to do, but about two minutes pass and nothing happens. Until suddenly, the floor creaks. I peer round the corner carefully and a man in a wheelchair looks up at Kellan. "Kellan," He says, voice slightly croaky. "You're back, after you did this to me?" He says it in such a lighthearted, grandpa way, but it's obvious there's a lot more hatred behind all that.

"Grandfather," Kellan says with obvious difficulty, almost dramatically, because who the hell calls their grandparents by the actual proper term? How are you?"

"Ehh," The man says. "Could be better. If I could walk, I mean, but hey, no harm done in shooting your grandpa in the spine," he waves his hand. Kellan gives him a forced smile.

"I'm sorry," he mumbles. The man cups his ear, a smile on his face.

"What?" He says, waiting for Kellan to say it louder. He knows what he's said, but just wants to hear it louder.

"I'm sorry, Luca," Kellan says, clearer this time, but coughs right after that. The man, Luca, smiles, leaning back in the chair, satisfied.

For a while, I think Kellan is actually safe. But just for a while. Because right after that, Luca speaks again. "Now, if you were really sorry, you'd be okay with getting shot as well. You know, just some revenge," his lips curls into a smirk as he stares at Kellan.

"You kill my parents, and now you want to shoot me?" Kellan's tone is incredulous, and honestly, I probably would be too. But then again, he was raised by them, so I wouldn't actually know what to do.

"Why yes, I do," Luca simply says. "Even if you're against it..." he cocks the gun and points it at me. "I'm going to do it anyway," Suddenly, I'm running into the room, waving my hands frantically like a madman. Kellan's eyes widen in shock.

"Astrid, what are you doing here? I told you to stay at home. This isn't safe—" he starts, but I quickly cut him off with another sentence.

"Hey, hey, come on, we don't have to this," I say, turning to Luca as I attempt to give him a friendly smile. "I mean, he was young, and dumb, and he really regrets it—" I hear Kellan cough violently beside me and he says something along the lines of 'no, I don't'. Quickly, I whack his arm and turn back to Luca. "But hey, you can be the bigger person Doesn't that sound so much better?"

Luca thinks about it, but I'm pretty sure he's already made up his mind before he smiles an evil grin again. Kellan sighs beside me and I instantly know I've made a mistake coming here. I'm such an idiot. "Pick, Kellan. It's either you or her."