Author's note: Exams are right around the corner and I can't wait for school to be done soon. Just a warning...only a few chapters left of this story! I know a lot of people didn't like that Truth Comes Second was half the size of Family Comes First, but Family Comes First was like a beast. It was 80 chapters. If I did that with this book I would be rambling about nothing and it would be really boring. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy!
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"Leah," Jared said taking a step closer to the bed. "You had our baby."
She looked down at the baby with her puffy eyes and nodded her head before curling her in closer to her body. Jared was studying her face. He didn't want to ask the question that was hanging in the air. Leah let out a sniffle, and I could hear him sigh.
He knew the answer.
"Give her to me," he said taking another step toward the bed.
"No," she said.
Mom turned her body so that she was facing Jared. She pushed herself to the edge of the bed. She looked like she was ready to pounce at any moment.
"You know we can't keep her, honey," he said, inching his way closer to the bed. "Don't make me look like the bad guy."
I heard another cry, but it didn't come from Leah or Mom.
Blair had jumped up onto Jared's back. Her dark hair was tousled in front of her face, and she had her legs around his waist. She had her nails deep into Jared's face. She clawed at him, and blood began to bubble to the surface.
"Don't touch her!" Blair screamed.
Jared shook his body from side-to-side to shake Blair off of him. Mom jumped off of the bed and ran over to the bathroom connected to the room. She closed the door for a moment before running back into the room.
"Leah, you have to get up," Mom said.
Leah grimaced in pain as she slid herself to the edge of the bed. I put my arm around her as I helped her onto her feet. She was shuffling her feet and I wanted to pull her to maker her walk faster, but I didn't want her to trip. Especially with the baby in her arms.
As soon as Leah got into the bathroom, Mom pushed herself and I out. She stuck her head into the bathroom.
"Lock this door," she said. "And don't leave until we come to get you."
She slammed the door shut and spun around. Jared grabbed Blair's back. He threw her over his shoulder and onto the floor. She tried to scramble onto her feet. Jared raised his foot, and stomped down onto her face. There was a scream and a loud crack.
My guess was that it was her nose.
Blair rolled onto her side and brought her hands up to her nose. The blood had already dripped off of her face and onto the floor.
Mom somehow made it to the other side of the room without me noticing. She was over at the dresser, and she peeled back half of the stack of towels that she brought in earlier. She had the kitchen knife hidden between the towels.
She grabbed the knife and let out a deep breath. She started walking toward Jared, and he heard this. He turned and saw her with the knife. His eyes went wide, and Mom started to run. She lifted the knife, and he raised his hand in defense.
I never expected an ear shattering scream like that to come from Jared. I squeezed my eyes shut, and felt my whole body clench. When I opened my eyes, Jared was on his knees with his hand held high. The end of the knife was sticking out of the back of his hand.
Mom tried to yank the knife free, but Jared screamed and his hand moved toward her. Mom put her foot on Jared's leg, and tried to yank the knife free again. Jared snatched her ankle, and pulled her toward him. Mom tumbled back, and pulled the knife out of Jared's hand at the same time. When her elbow hit the ground, the knife slid away from her. She rolled onto her stomach, and tried to crawl toward it. Jared still had a grip on her ankle, and pulled him closer to her. He flipped her onto her back and pinned her down. He shoved his bloody hand on her face. She closed her eyes and mouth, and turned her head to the side.
"I let you into my house, and this is how you repay me?" he asked.
Mom grabbed his wrist, and tried to pull his hand back. The blood was running down her skin.
I brought my hand down to my side, and I felt the pocketknife Dad gave me. He told me to keep it on me after he made me cut Ava that one night.
You never know when you're going to need it.
I pulled it out of my pocket. In one swift motion, I flicked the blade out. I took off running, and jumped over Blair's crumpled body.
Jared had his good hand around Mom's throat. She had slipped her fingers down into the wound on his hand. He hallowed in pain and took his bloody hand off of her face.
He didn't see me coming. I swung my arm down and plunged the knife into his neck. He tried to yell but it was garbled by the blood rushing into his throat. I pulled the blade out, and the blood sprayed out of his neck. I felt the warm blood splatter across my face and arms. Jared's hands flew up to his neck. His eyes looked like they rolled into the back of his head. He fell to the side, and Mom opened up her eyes. She pushed herself out from under his body.
She got up onto her feet, and looked down at Jared. Her face was covered in his blood. Her hair was falling out of her braid, and the blood had caused strands of her hair to clump together.
"He's dead," she said.
I glanced over at Jared. His body was crumpled on the ground. On the other side of us was Blair. Her hands were cupping her face, and she was curled up into a ball. I kneeled down next to her. I touched her arm and she flinched.
"It hurts," she said, her hands muffling her voice.
"We'll get you to the hospital, Blair," Mom said.
She lowered her hands, and I could see the blood rushing out of her nose.
"We're going to the hospital?" she asked.
"Yes, we will soon," Mom said. "Hunter, bring her to the bathroom with Leah."
Blair struggled to get up onto her feet with her hands up at her face. I slid my arm around her, and supported her as I pulled her over to the bathroom. I knocked on the door. Leah opened it a crack, and peered out.
"Blair is going to wait in here with you," I told him.
She nodded her head, and opened the door up wider. Blair slipped into the bathroom, and Leah looked around the room. I looked over my shoulder to see Jared's body was hidden by the bed.
"What happened to Jared?" she asked.
"He's dead," I said.
Leah looked down at her baby and nodded.
"It's for the best," she said.
The back door downstairs closed, and the sound echoed through the house.
"Lock the door," Mom said. "Now."
Leah slammed the door shut, and I could hear the click of the lock. Mom grabbed my shoulders, and she turned me around. I could see that she had the kitchen knife in her hand. She let go of me with one hand and touched the blood on her face. She smeared it across the blood that was already splattered across my face.
"Hunter, you need to lie on the floor," she said. "I don't want you to move. When I get your father far away from this room I want you to take Jared's key."
The floor creaked as Dad walked down the hallway. Mom pushed me down onto the floor. I tried to sprawl out on my side so that I resembled Jared's lifeless body. Mom tucked the knife into the waistband of her jeans. I watched her run out of the room.
"Julie," I heard Dad say. He must have been shocked at the sight of Mom covered in blood. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
"No, it's not my blood," Mom said. She made her voice waver so that she sounded like she was about to cry. "It was that girl you brought here."
"Blair? What happened?"
"She attacked Hunter and Jared." I could hear Mom fake tears. "She killed them! She murdered them. We need to get out of here."
"She has to be in this house somewhere."
"Let's just get out of here."
There was a moment of silence, and there was a bang on the wall. Mom let out a scream.
"What are you trying to pull Julie?" Dad's voice boomed through the house. "Whose blood is that?"
"Jared and Hunter's," Mom cried. "Please, we need to get out of here. Let go of me, Jimmy. You're hurting me."
I listened as a pair of footsteps hurried into the room. I had to convince myself not to open my eyes. Mom let out a groan, and I assumed her had pushed her down on the floor next to me.
Dad's footsteps circled me. I felt his boot press over my hand. He slowly pressed his boots down, and crushed my fingers. I tried my best not to flinch, but when he put most of his weight onto my fingers I couldn't stand it anymore. My eyes flew open and I yelled out in pain.
Dad shook his head, and I slowly sat up.
"You two have made quite a mess," he said.