Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Neither Jace nor Steve said a word. They just stared of me.

I lifted my head slowly and asked in a daze, "You don't know?"

I tried to sit up. "Then I'll go find him."

"Rea." Steve pressed me back down. His eyes were red.

I blinked. "What's wrong?"

Jace's voice soft. "Hayden's already gone."

I nodded, "I know..." I forced a weak smile. "I know he's gone... that's why I need to go be with him."

Steve's grip on my hand tightened-hard, almost painful. I looked at him. "You're hurting me."

"Rea..." His voice was rough. "You won't see him again,

I stared at him, something inside me twisting, clawing, breaking. But I shoved it back down. "I can. Just let me go.

"Rea," Steve said again, his voice desperate.

But I couldn't stop. I pushed harder against his grip. "Let me go."

need bubbled over, burning in my chest. I had to see him. If I

suddenly. He hesitated, then added,

I froze.

and closing, struggling to make sense of

hand tightened on my shoulder. "Rea, you...

with him. "What he said isn't... isn't

filled with sorrow. "Rea, if you need to cry... just

cry. If I cried, it

widened. Without thinking, I

all

and run, but Steve grabbed me again, his grip unrelenting. I thrashed, fought, clawed at him, but

I lashed out, punching him, but it didn't matter. He

desperate move, I bit

didn't even flinch. He

out of strength. My teeth loosened,

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still clutching his arm. "Please don't be so cruel...

have to accept

could I accept

breath warm on my skin, his heartbeat pounding in my ears-how could he just be gone?