Prologue
“I never even touched her!” The boy snarled, his voice sharp with desperation. His blood-red eyes glared with a fire that made the doctor flinch, his latex-gloved hands trembling slightly.
The inspector stepped forward, his tone filled with impatience. “Ashton, if you're innocent, then prove it. Cooperate. Let us collect your samples and end this now.”
“I said no! Get away!” Ashton roared, his teeth clenching together. “I’m not responsible for any of this!”
In a sudden burst of rage, he shoved the inspector back with surprising strength. The older man stumbled, nearly falling.
“Grab him!” the inspector shouted.
Two officers lunged forward, seizing the boy by the arms. But he twisted violently and flung them aside. They crashed into the walls, groaning as they fell.
Before anyone could react, Ashton bolted. The hallway erupted in chaos. The inspector sprinted after him, barking orders. “Don’t let him get away! Stop that kid!”
But Ashton was already flying down the stairs, feet barely touching the steps. Officers dove at him, but he weaved between them with unnatural speed.
A shoulder here. A dodge there. And suddenly he was outside. Cold air hit his face as he burst through the station’s front doors. Sirens howled behind him. He didn’t look back.
He tore down a narrow side street, his breath ragged, heart pounding. When the cops reached the turn, there was nothing but an empty alley.
Ashton had vanished.
**
"Tomorrow is your 18th birthday. James, I need to tell you something." Mrs Pearson said, grabbing the remote to turn off the TV.
"I hope they shoot him dead," Her grandson muttered through clenched teeth.
"What?" Mrs Pearson turned to him, brows drawn together. His eyes were locked on the news footage flickering across the TV screen.
"I'm sure he is the one," James snapped, jabbing a finger at the screen. "Look at him bolting out of the police station like some monster. He killed her!"
His sudden outburst made his grandmother flinch. She stared at his red eyes, stunned by the rage etched into his face and the rawness in his voice. A slow, dreadful realization crept into her expression.
"You locked yourself in your room all day yesterday... Was she the one?" she asked gently, dropping the remote beside her on the couch.
James didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. His silence and clenched jaw said enough.
"Oh... Oh my God," Mrs Pearson whispered. "She was the girl you had a crush on. The one that that rich kid asked out? Is he this boy?"
Still, James said nothing. He just turned away and walked down the hall.
"James," she called after him, rising from the couch. Her voice shook now, afraid of what he might be bottling up. She hurried after him and caught his arm just as he reached his bedroom door.
He turned slowly. And then the tears came, hard and fast. He collapsed into her arms, sobbing like a child.
"Why did he do that to her, Grandma?" he choked out between cries. "I-I loved her. I never got the chance to tell her, and now she's gone."
She wrapped him tightly in her arms, rocking him gently. "I know, sweetheart. I know. I'm so sorry."
"He ran. He just ran! How can someone who did that just escape like that? He ruined her... and now she’s dead... and he gets to run away?"
"They’ll catch him," she whispered. "He won’t get away forever. He’ll pay for what he’s done."
"But she won’t come back, Grandma. She’s gone."
"I know, Jamie. I know." Her voice broke with grief. "But some things... some heartbreaks come with no answers. All we can do now is hold on, sweetheart...even when it hurts."
"Just like my Dad and Mom..." James choked out through his sobs. "Why does everyone I love keep leaving me?"
Mrs. Pearson’s heart shattered. Words felt useless. She held him tighter, gently rubbing his back as she whispered sweet nothings into his ear, anything to remind him he wasn’t alone.