Chapter 61 Chester Rooftop

Chapter 61 Chester Rooftop
LAURA
I froze in shock the memories coming back. My chest felt tight, and I felt my knees wobble. It was Blade…Blade had hurt me, and I had foolishly trusted him. The room around me spun and I felt chills. "Laura…" Julian called his voice faint. He was calling me, reaching for me as he tried to stand up. His hand trembled as it stretched out, but his face was pale and his eyes were struggling to focus. "Julian?" I whispered, my voice cracking. What did I do? My heart raced as I stood there, frozen, panicking as I watched him sway slightly, his body unsteady. I reached for my phone, my fingers trembling so hard it was nearly impossible to unlock it. I tried to steady myself, taking a shaky breath. Mack… I typed with shaking hands. Mack, help!! I couldn’t finish the message when the phone slipped from my hand and clattered to the ground. “No, no, no!” I gasped, bending down to grab it, but before I could, the screen lit up. She was already calling me. I snatched the phone and pressed it to my ear. “Mack!” I called trembling and fighting a sob. “Julian… Poison… Help!” I checked out unable to form a sentence. “Laura, calm down! Where are you? What’s going on?” Mackenzie aske her voice was sharp. I choked out the words. “Ch…Chester rooftop,” I said. “What?! Stay there! I’m coming. Just hold on!” Before I could respond, I heard a noise, a soft gasp. My head whipped around, and my stomach dropped. Julian was swaying backward, his legs giving out beneath him. “Julian!” I screamed, dropping the phone and running to him. I caught him just in time before he hit the ground. His body was heavy, his head lolling as I gently lowered him to the floor. His head rested on my lap, and I cradled him fighting tears. “What have I done?” I whispered over and over, rocking slightly as I held him feeling guilty. “Julian…” I called, brushing his hair back from his sweaty forehead. “I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry…” I felt guilty. How different was I from Julian if he died because of me? I had let my pain blind me and without asking questions I trusted the wrong person. Right now I was committing the same mistakes I hated him for. I looked down at him and saw his lips move, but the words were faint so I leaned closer, my ear near his mouth. “Laura… listen…” I held my breath as his weak voice continued, slurring but full of emotion. “I… I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “For everything… I… love you.” My heart clenched, and the tears came now. His face was pale and damp with sweat. His breathing was shallow, each exhale weaker than the last. My hands trembled as I cradled him, one hand brushing his hair back, the other shaking as I tried to figure out what to do. “Julian, don’t talk,” I said, my voice trembling. “Save your strength. Help is coming.” But he didn’t listen. His lips moved, forming words even though they seemed to cost him everything. “Laura…” he whispered, his voice slurred and weak. “I… I’m.” My throat tightened. “Don’t, Julian. It’s okay. Just rest. Don’t push yourself.” “No I need to… You have to know. Please.” I stared at him, helpless. “Julian, please,” I begged, my heart breaking with every word he struggled to say. “I regret it,” he said, his hand barely lifting before falling weakly back to his side. “Everything I did… I regret it all.” I shook my head, holding back a sob. “It doesn’t matter now. Just stop talking.” His eyes found mine, glassy and full of pain. “You were the best thing… I ever had, Laura. And I ruined it. I ruined us.” I bit my lip, trying to hold myself together. He kept going, his voice breaking. “I wish… I wish our baby didn’t die. I wish she was still here, with us. You… you should’ve been her mother.” The words hit me like a punch to the gut and my heart clenched in agony. My breath caught, and I couldn’t stop the tears; Why was he talking about it now. “Julian… stop” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I was a coward,” he said, his head lolling slightly but his eyes still on me. “I didn’t know how to love you the way you deserved. And I’m sorry, Laura. I’m so sorry.” I stroked his hair, unable to stop crying. “It’s okay,” I whispered. “It’s okay, Julian. Don’t talk anymore.” His lips curved into the faintest smile, though it was full of sadness. “You… always… cared…” He shook his head weakly, his eyes barely open. “I Wanted… to make it right… with you… always.” He was getting colder and I placed my forehead against his, hoping to share some warmth with him. His breathing was shallow, and I could feel the warmth of his skin fading. “Mack, please,” I whispered to no one, praying she would get here soon. Julian’s fingers lightly brushed against my arm, and his voice came again, soft and trembling. “I’m sorry… love you…” I nodded quickly, my tears falling onto his face. “Please stay with me. Please…” I begged desperate as his breath became even more shallow. His lips moved again, but no sound came out. I heard footsteps. “Please let it be Mack," I prayed silently. I turned sharply to see Mackenzie rushing toward us, her face pale with worry. “Laura! What happened?” she shouted, dropping to her knees beside us. “Mack,” I choked out, my voice trembling. “It’s Julian. He’s been poisoned. I don’t know what to do.” Mackenzie cursed under her breath “what do you mean poisoned? Did he take something?” I swallowed hard, looking away. “I..” I couldn’t look her in the eyes. “I poisoned him.” Mack froze for a second in shock. “You what?” she hissed, her voice low “I didn’t mean to!” I said, my voice cracking. Tears streamed down my face as I stared at Julian, his pale face resting limply on my lap. “I’ll explain everything later, Mack. Please, we have to save him first.” She bent down and grabbed Julian by the torso. “Help me here.” She said. I nodded, moving to his legs. He felt heavier than he should’ve, his body limp as we struggled to lift him. “Hurry,” Mack muttered, her breath coming in sharp gasps as we moved toward the rooftop’s back door. The elevator was thankfully empty. I kept glancing at Julian, his head lolling to the side, his breaths shallow. I should be happy he was suffering after all he did but all I felt was sadness. Mack jabbed the elevator button impatiently, her jaw clenched. “We’re almost there,” she said, more to herself than to me. The elevator doors finally opened, and we shuffled out, trying to avoid drawing attention. The lobby was quiet and we moved him to the parking lot without anyone noticing. When we reached Mack’s car she threw open the back door. “Get him in,” she ordered. We maneuvered Julian into the back seat, Mack pushing from one side while I pulled from the other. Once he was in, I scrambled into the passenger seat, my hands shaking as I buckled myself in. Mack jumped behind the wheel, starting the car and peeling out of the parking lot. The tires screeched as she turned onto the main road, her face tense. “What the hell, Laura?” Mack said, her knuckles white as she gripped the steering wheel. “How did you poison him? What did you do?” “I don’t know!” I cried, my voice breaking. “I don’t even know how this happened. I didn’t mean for this” I stopped, unable to explain what I didn’t fully understand myself. “It’s complicated, Mack. I’ll tell you everything later when I figure it out. Please, just trust me right now.” Mack shook her head, her lips pressed into a tight line. “Was it Blade?” She asked. I flinched at the name, refusing to talk and looking away in guilt. “Fine,” Mack snapped. “But if he dies, Laura” “Don’t say that!” I shouted, cutting her off. “Please, Moon Goddess, don’t let him die,” I whispered the prayer under my breath, clutching my hands together. The hospital came into view, its bright lights glowing against the dark sky. Mack drove straight to the emergency entrance, skidding to a stop. “Get help!” Mack barked, jumping out of the car. I ran inside, my voice breaking as I screamed for help. Nurses and doctors rushed out with a stretcher, and Mack and I worked together to lift Julian onto it. My hands shook as I watched them wheel him away. The doors to the emergency room slammed shut, and I was left standing there, gasping for breath, my heart hammering in my chest. My phone buzzed in my pocket. For a moment, I couldn’t even think about answering it, but the screen lit up with a name that made my blood run cold. Blade. I hesitated, then swiped to answer, “What are you doing, Laura?” Blade barked angrily. “It’s been over an hour. You’re wasting time!” I clenched the phone tighter, my other hand trembling at my side. “Blade,” I called coldly, “on the day of my accident… who hit me?” The line went silent. My heart pounded as I waited, dread curling in my stomach. “Answer me,” I demanded, my voice shaking in desperation. “Who hit me?” Blade’s breath crackled over the line, but he said nothing. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he scoffed. “You’re such a stupid girl,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “Always asking the wrong questions. You think you’re clever, don’t you? Digging up unnecessary stuff when you should be focusing on what matters now.” I tightened my grip on the phone, my nails biting into my palm. “Blade, tell me the truth,” I said, my voice firmer now. “WHO. HIT. ME?” “You don’t get it, do you?” he snapped. “I’ve been trying to help you, Laura but you’re too stupid to see it.” My breath hitched, and I felt my knees weaken. “What are you talking about?” “You’re a loyal dog, just like your father, So predictable. So pathetic. You’ll die just like he did; stupid and blind.” My heart stopped as his words hit me like a slap, and the line went dead.