Shedding Strength pt. 2

Dazed, Zaeri immediately rubbed a sandy palm against her jaw. What was that for?! As if she wasn’t in enough pain already. When she looked up, Kaia desperately scrambled away from her and onto the grassy area inland. She stumbled to her feet while scanning the bodies in a panic. In a heartbeat her eyes went from fear to rage. Does she know what happened to us or…? Zaeri glanced back at the bodies. Maybe Kaia’s blow helped clear her mind because now Zaeri could focus better on the people sprawled in the sand. How did she miss it before? I know them. She quickly peered at each body. I know each of ’em!

“You killed all of ’em?!” Kaia shouted.

What?! There was no way! She wouldn’t hurt any of her friends! Well… maybe she’d give them a slap if they deserved it, but she wouldn’t kill any of them! “What are you talking about?” were the words she tried to force through her lips. The burning in her throat intensified and caused the hacking cough to re-emerge instead. As the bitter taste of blood washed over her tongue once more, she dropped her head into the sand and wept uncontrollably. This had to be a nightmare!

“We ain’t dead…”

Zaeri knew that grumble. Her head shot up and gazed hopefully at one of the bodies to her right. Sluggishly, the light-skinned boy she once had the hugest crush on propped himself up on all fours. He groaned loudly when he put pressure on his left arm and quickly shifted his weight to avoid it. A relieved smile crept across Zaeri’s face. She had been his sweetheart for nearly three years now. If anybody understood her, it was him. Cole! Tell this stupid ass I didn’t do anything!

Kaia rushed to Cole’s side and helped him sit upright. “You okay, baby?”

A streak of anger flashed through Zaeri, but only for an instant. Then it was replaced with complete confusion. She was certain Kaia had just slapped her again… harder. Baby?

“Yeah,” Cole answered. “No thanks to her.” When he nodded toward her, Zaeri witnessed a coldness in his eyes she never thought capable. He genuinely hated her. He really believed she harmed him and the others. How?

Zaeri’s eyes drifted aimlessly as she pieced together the last memories that made sense. Two days before her high school graduation, she and a dozen of her friends had planned a getaway only they knew about. She had easily convinced Cole and her friend Johnny—though he acted more like a big brother at times—to drive them to her great uncle’s lodge near Lake Harmony. Although she hadn’t been to the place in years, she remembered clearly how much fun she’d had there as a child, playing in the wooded area around the lodge with her cousins and naming every furry creature that scurried about. Since her uncle had given her the place as an early graduation gift, she’d decided to share it with her closest friends, knowing that there was a chance she’d never see some of them again after graduation.

Zaeri remembered waking up that morning and meeting her friends at the school. They had packed their things into the two SUVs and hit the road, but… Everything’s fuzzy after that. I can barely remember leaving campus. Why can’t I remember how we got here? Or where “here” is? The more she tried to recall the events, the more her head throbbed. Starting to grow dizzy, she slumped over. I better quit. Something’s seriously screwin’ with my head, and I need to worry about gettin’ better first… starting with my damn throat! I can’t take this anymore!

Shedding Strength pt. 3  (13+) Soon-to-be high school graduates wake up in a strange place... #2057982 by Kadiro