THIRTY.

“ACE!”

I jolt awake, covered in sweat, feeling like the weight of the world is pressing down on my shoulders, causing the air in the room to thin out; making it difficult for me to catch my next breath.

Sitting upright in the bed, I close my eyes as I try to focus on my breathing and not the miserable life I’ve been handed.

Rubbing my palm over my aching chest, I slowly swing my legs over the edge of the bed and pull myself up.

The sound of the SUV rolling and the gunshot that claimed Volkovs’ life still rings loudly in my ears.

Every time I close my eyes, the images of Volkov, Alana and the other henchmen lost in the crash burn my eyes and when I open them… The images begin to fade, but they don’t fade quickly enough to allow me to forget about them.

My throat still feels raw and after the friendly chat I had with Ele and Theodore, I purposefully slept through dinner, doing my best to avoid them both. It’s like, no matter where I go, I always find myself trapped in someone else's