Chapter 76 | Stronger

Violet

My heartbeat is thundering so loud, so violently inside of me that it makes my ears hurt. I stand in front of my dad, this ghost of a man from what I remember.

Everything hurts right now, the roaring in my head, the sob building up inside of me, the guilt eating me alive knowing that this is what he has turned into and… it’s because of me.

I said his name out of shock, “Dad?”

He stares at me, emotions swirling in his eyes as he tries to figure out if I’m truly who I said I am. Suddenly, it seemed to hit him and his voice is panicked and he looks around the room, scared something will jump out and ruin everything. He asks, “What are you doing here? You have to get out of here! Our sacrifice, it can’t be for nothing.”

I blink back the tears, forcing myself to be the steady one right now. I put a hand on his arm and force myself not to shake even though right now, all I truly want to do is crumble. I tell him, “Dad, calm down. I’m here. I’m here to save you and mom.”

He frowns, I