[|]

"Jackie?!" He said my name out loud and moved away from the window, probably to come down.

He was with a gun and Tony was laying on the ground, dead with blood spilling around him. Axel had shot Tony and for what reason? Could it be that Axel had been the one behind the assault incident?

So many things were going through my head at what I had just seen and the fear that I once felt before, came back tenfold. When I looked back at the building, I rushed to my feet and backed away, afraid of Axel harming me for finding out the truth.

I felt heartbroken, I was weak and stunned. What did I ever do to Axel for him to do this to me? At that moment, I started to think back to what Lucas had said about his brother and I began to believe him.

I saw a blur of his clothes from a window and I turned around and ran out of the compound. I had to escape from him. He could kill me too. I ran as fast as possible away from the site and stopped behind a parked car on the side of the road. I slid to the ground, hiding from him in case he ran out to the road.

With shaky hands, I took out my phone. Tears were beginning to blur my vision and my body went cold. I dialed 911 and pressed the phone to my ear.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"H-hi, I can't speak for too long but I just experienced a murder-r. Y-you have to send someone and an ambulance down to the new Xsin construction s-site."

"Jackie?!"

I gasped. "P-please hurry. The killer knows I'm here."

"Alright. We will send the closest officers to your location now."

I ended the call and pressed my body against the car, tears becoming more full in my eyes. I felt like passing out from the amount of fear in me. It was almost as if I could see death if I made a single move. My body stiffened when I heard hurried footsteps.

"Where could she be?!"

I clamped my mouth shut at the sound of Axel and felt like peeing in my pants. One single sound and I'd be dead. I hope the cops come down here on time.

As if on cue, I heard the loud sounds of sirens and I exhaled in relief. I looked to the side and smiled when I saw three police cars driving toward us.

"Shit!"

I heard Axel's feet and furrowed my eyebrows, he was going to escape. I could not let him escape. I took a deep breath and rose from my hiding spot and met him almost turning away but he paused and stared at me with wide eyes.

"There's nowhere to run."

"You called the police?" He was looking shocked.

"Yes! You'll rot in jail for killing someone and for harassing me in high school."

A scowl appeared on Axel's face and when I saw him slightly raise the hand that held the gun, I stepped back but sighed in relief when the police cars parked behind me. Officers got out of the cars and pointed their guns at him.

"Put the weapon down and get on your knees! Now!" One of them said in a loud voice.

I backed away until I stopped beside one of the officers.

"Are you okay, ma'am?" She asked and I nodded, eyes still focused on Axel who was now kneeling on the ground with his hands behind his head.

[|]

I was sitting in the lobby of the police station when I heard hurried footsteps. I raised my head when I saw Lucas, looking worried. He ran to me and I stood up, wrapping my arms around his body.

"Thank you for coming. I was so scared, Lucas," I said in his chest.

"Why didn't you call me to go with you?" He asked.

"I'm sorry for not telling you. I was not thinking well," I replied and he ran his hands up and down my back.

Lucas pulled away and cupped my cheeks. My lips wobbled and my heart raced fast. I was still shocked at what I had seen.

"I can't believe Axel would do this to me. What have I ever done to him? I didn't even know him like that and he tried to harm me, Lucas. Why?" I asked, hot tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Baby, it's okay. Don't stress yourself. The most important thing right now is that he's been caught and will be locked behind bars," Lucas said, trying to calm me down but it wasn't helping.

"No, it's not that easy for me. All this time, I've been hanging out and trusting someone who hurt me. Why is life so cruel to me? Why are people around me so messed up? First, my stepfather harassed me, and my mother doesn't care about me."

"Your stepfather harassed you? Jackie, why haven't you exposed him?" Lucas sounded angry.

"I couldn't, okay? I just wanted to move on with my new life. I didn't want to get involved with so many problems. I just moved on without looking back even though what he does crosses my mind," I explained and he kissed my forehead.

"I am so sorry you went through this," Lucas whispered against my forehead and I nodded.

A knock made us pull apart and I moved to the side. An officer was standing with his folded hand on the wall, probably where he had knocked on. I smiled at him and he stepped closer.

"Good morning," He said, shaking hands with Lucas.

"Good morning, officer," Lucas responded, smiling at the older man.

"Miss Garner, we've recorded your statement and every other information you gave to us. Right now, we have not started interrogating Mr. Hamilton but once we do, we'll keep you updated. Why don't you go home and rest?"

I looked from the officer to Lucas before nodding my head. Lucas took my hand and pulled me closer to his body.

"Thank you, officer. We'll do just that," Lucas said and the man gave a curt nod before walking away.

"Let's go home."

I hummed at his words and wrapped my arm around his.

[|]

I woke up with a scream, sweating and feeling breathless. I looked around the dark room and flinched when the side of the bed rustled. I flinched again when I felt a hand on my back then glanced sideways and relaxed when I saw it was Lucas.

"What happened?" He asked, turning on the bedside lamp.

"I had a nightmare. That same night at your party but it was Axel's face I saw. Lucas, I'm scared and feel guilty too."

Lucas turned my head with his hand so I was looking at him.

"Guilty about what?"

"It's my fault that Tony is dead. I should have listened to him when he tried to explain things to me. I am so stupid. Do you think I'm stupid?"

I was shaking from the idea that someone was dead because of me. If I had just let him speak, he could have been alive right now, on his way to wherever he wanted to go.

"No, you are not stupid. You were just doing the best thing anyone in your shoes would've done. You didn't trust Tony and I'm sure he would have understood. What's important now is that we've found the person behind all of these. Also, remember that I am here with you."

Lucas pulled me into his arms and I felt calm a little. I inhaled his scent and clutched his shirt in my hand while he rubbed my scalp with the pads of his fingers.

"I'm here for you, Jackie. Don't be scared," Lucas whispered and I closed my eyes.