Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Ben was distracted, and Vicky surged to her feet, throwing her head backwards.
Thunk!
Cluck, cluck, CLUCKCLUCKCLUCKUCKCUCK! All the hens were in an uproar. They didn’t like bodies suddenly almost landing on them.
She got him, and both were dazed for a moment, but it was enough.
I lunged over the couch where they had landed, and grabbed Ben’s wrist, yanking the knife away. He didn’t have a strong enough grip and as it came free, he paled.
I twisted it in my hand, moved my body so I went away from him and as I did, I tucked the knife under my side and it sunk in. I threw my body to the side, still gripping that knife. It was all engineered into one motion where I’d use my body’s momentum to drag the knife across his stomach.
He howled, jerking forward. He clutched his stomach.
As that happened, I grabbed Vicky and dragged her across the floor.
She was yelling through the tape but raised her wrist up. I used the knife to cut her free.
“No!” Ben started for us, but he was bleeding too much.
I quickly stood in front of her, and I held the knife up, testing it in my hand. “Ben, I’ve taken lessons on Arsin knife fighting. I’m not the best, but I know enough—”
He stood, his chest heaving, the blood quickly pooling around his feet, but he was still steady and he exhaled a deep breath. “You should know better considering our childhood.” He bent down, and pulled out a gun that was in a hidden ankle holster.
I couldn’t do anything.
If he’d been a lesser fighter, I could’ve thrown the knife at him. Maybe.
Ben was too good. I’d recognized it when I fought him, and he raised the gun toward me, a flicker in his eyes before he aimed it at Vicky. The safety was turned off, and his finger went to the trigger.
I couldn’t—no. Not again. I lunged toward him, and at the same time—BANG!
I was in front of him.
Time slowed down, and I looked up, my eyes meeting his. His were alarmed, but mine—I didn’t know what mine looked like, but I wasn’t just seeing Ben anymore.
Images flashed in my mind, coming at breakneck speed.
Brett telling me he loved me.
Us kissing.
Me crying.
As we held onto each other on the picnic table in Roussou.
Talking to Stevie on the couch.
At the football game, laughing with Lo and Roger.
Travis grinning at us.
Brett sacking the Orcas’ quarterback.
Then they sped up even more…
The first time I slept at Brett’s.
The first time he slept at my place.
The day Lo and I walked and talked on the driveway.
Luna crashing her bike into the fence, on purpose.
Brett coming for Sunday night dinner.
Jack’s BBQ with Brett.
The alley with Brett.
The street where Brett protected me from teenagers.
When I stumbled and Brett caught me on the show.
When I walked past and saw Brett for the first time.
Coffee with Vicky, with Miss Sylvia Rivera in my arms.
When I first met Miss Sylvia Rivera.
When I got my first graphic design client.
Moving into the guesthouse.
Meeting Deandra and Martell for the first time.
Getting my high school diploma with Vicky, Howard, and Lo there to celebrate.
Laughing with Lo in her car as she drove us to the movies.
The first time I met Vicky and Howard.
Sleeping over at Jojo’s and sneaking out into a fort we’d made in the backyard.
Laughing with little Ben.
My mom kissing me.
My mom holding me.
Christmas with Ben and my mom.
Ice cream with my mom and Ben.
Holding baby Ben.
When Ben was born.
My mom tucking me into bed.
My mom kissing me on the forehead.
My mom telling me she loved me.
Then the last one, which should’ve been my first happy memory, but it wasn’t.
I went back in time, to the one and only time my father showed that he loved me.
And I gasped, coming out on the other side, because movement shot past me and I watched as Brett ran past me, so fast. The bang had been him kicking open the front door behind me.
My brother couldn’t react in time.
The gun was knocked away, and Brett grabbed my brother around his chest, taking him with him, his momentum sending both of them out of the house through the back door. Brett rolled once with him before he launched my brother clear from the house.
I gasped, shoving to my feet. At some point I had fallen. My arm gave out and I fell down again, so I rolled, needing to see what happened.
Brett stood, standing between my brother and us, and even though Brett filled the doorway, there was a small opening where I could see my brother getting back up.
He started for Brett, and then bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullet after bullet hit Ben’s chest, his body jerking from the force. Whoever was shooting stopped, but Ben remained on his feet. His eyes were wild.
I already knew, having heard him, but there was no humanity left in him.