What do you do after you help kill six people? You act like everything is normal, that's what.

After a long two hours of waiting for the last car, Nico called Ben, but he didn't answer. Eli texted Ben, instructing him to turn around, but Ben never responded. We had no idea if Ben's supposed car full of people would even show at all.

The sun was rising behind the trees as the birds chirped and sang to the brand new day. It would have been a beautiful day if we weren't preparing to kill more people at any minute.

"What're we going to do?" I asked, pacing in front of the cabin.

"We wait and hope they won't show. And if they show, we hope they're not on Hype." Eli let out a deep breath as he pulled some remaining bags from the Charger's trunk.

"I'm tired." I folded my arms, leaning back against the cabin.

"I'm tired too," Eli walked up the steps to take the bags inside. "Nico, you tired?"

"I don't know what the hell I am, Dude." Nico leaned on the Charger, glaring down at the ground.

We were all trying our best to process the night's events, and at this moment Nico seemed to be taking it the hardest. I was too exhausted to reflect on much at this point.

"You and Lilly should get some sleep, and I'll stay up to wait for Ben's group. If they show, I'll wake you up." Nico spoke to the ground. "Don't worry. I'll kill them if they're on Hype."

"You sure?" Eli's brow knitted, pausing at the door of the cabin.

Nico's jaw worked. "Yeah, I need some thinking time anyway. I don't know what the hell to do with myself, and there's no way I can sleep. Maybe we'll get lucky and Ben won't show."

Eli nodded, carrying the bags inside as I slowly approached Nico. I was alive, and I needed to thank both of them for their help.

"Nico?" I whispered.

Nico didn't look up.

"Thank you." I kicked at the gravel.

Nico's head lifted, eyes wide. "What?"

I searched the ground, trying to find the right words. "I know it doesn't mean much, but thank you for protecting me and keeping me alive. I mean, you didn't have to, and I want you to know I'm grateful."

Nico scoffed as his forehead wrinkled. "Don't thank me. I'm the asshole that helped start this. I would've given you Hype last night if you wanted some."

"You never have to worry about that. Lilly never does drugs." Eli walked down the stairs.

My eyebrows lowered. "How do you know that?"

"Because I know." Eli was wearing his hoodie with his hat pulled low.

What the hell? Did I tell Eli my entire life story that night? How did he know so much about me?

Eli examined Nico. "You can't torture yourself like this. You need to keep a straight head if we're gonna make it through this. You never would've messed with Hype if you knew the truth. Everyone knows drugs are a gamble, and you know that better than anyone."

Nico's fists clenched at his sides. "Don't go there, Dude."

Eli didn't waver under Nico's rage. "I'm just saying shit happens. You're not a killer, Bro. You're nothing like your dad."

Nico glared daggers as he stood to his full height, matching Eli inch for inch. "Last night tells a different story, doesn't it? I'm just like him now."

Nico biceps pulsed as his fists tightened. He could be scary when he wanted to. The laid back playboy was all part of Nico's facade. Nico could turn his charm on and off at the flip of a switch, and now I was seeing a whole new side of him.

"What?" Eli threw his hands out, cocking his head to the side. "You want to fight?"

"Hey!" I stepped in between them pushing their chests back. "No one is to blame for this. Nico, if you hadn't sold it, then someone else would've. You heard what Cassie said. Jeremy got it from a dealer up in Kansas. That means Hype is everywhere. Chill out, both of you."

Nico's stormy expression softened a bit before he spun to face the barn.

We were all on edge, and their anger wasn't helping.

Eli pulled his vibrating phone out. Eli frowned, raising the phone to his ear.

"I told you not to call me anymore." Eli made his way to my side, sliding his hand down my arm to lace his fingers through mine. He stared at our intertwined fingers as he listened to what sounded like a high-pitched voice. "No, Lizzy. Turn around and go home."

What the fuck? Did he say Lizzy?

Curiosity suffocated Nico's fury as he came closer. "The hell?"

"I said no! Tell them to turn around." Eli yelled into the phone, dropping my hand.

Lizzy whined something back, and Eli hung up on her.

"Fuck!" Eli hollered at the sky. He was so loud a flock of nearby birds took flight.

Nico threw me an apologetic glance. "What's going on, Dude?"

"Who fucking told Lizzy we came out here?" Eli aimed his rage at Nico.

"Not me." Nico raised his hands, shaking his head.

My phone dinged, and I read a text.

Jess: Going to the cabin with Mark

I didn't know what to text back. It was six in the morning, and Jessica was texting like she was normal.

I cleared my throat. "Um... does your roommate know of another cabin? Because supposedly he and Jessica are headed to some cabin."

Nico snatched the phone out of my hand, reading Jessica's text. "I don't think Mark knows of another cabin."

"Does he know where this cabin is?" I asked.

"Yeah. He came out here with us to go hog hunting last summer." Eli ripped off his hat, raking a hand through his hair.

"Let's see what's going on." Nico dialed his roommate, switching his phone to speaker.

The phone rang three times before Mark answered. "Nico, my man."

"Hey, Dude. You good?" Nico gripped the back of his neck.

"Yeah, so get this, some nationwide broadcast is saying people up north caught some crazy virus and now people are trying to kill each other, but I'm so high that I'm not even sure if what we heard was real. We're on our way out to Eli's cabin to hole up for a few days. Is Eli with you?"

Mark was talking so fast I could barely understand him, but it was official, they had broadcast the virus over the news.

"Turn around, Mark. Go somewhere else. Eli's cabin isn't an option. Plus, it's small as hell. Go to a hotel or something. How many people are with you?" Nico's voice was strong, but he sent Eli a worried look.

"Uh... like eight or twenty, I'm not sure. You can't expect me to count right now." Mark laughed. "We have like three or four cars. Oh, and that Lizzy chick that's in love with Eli is coming and some other people I don't know."

Oh my God.

Eli snatched the phone from Nico. "If you come here, I will shoot everyone who comes on my property."

"Quit screwing around, Eli. It's me, Mark, your roommate. You know who this is, right?" Mark laughed like a hyena. "Fuck. I don't even know how I'm driving right now. So anyway, we'll be there in like one or five hours or something."

"Go to a hotel!" Eli hollered.

"Dude, you're hurting my eardrums. Oh, hey, this Jessica chick wants to say hi." The phone clicked and scratched as Mark handed it to someone else.

"Eli?" Jessica laughed. "This is the craziest thing ever, right? People are sick and hurting each other like all over the world right this second. The news said so, and it's so sad. Have you seen Lilly? She was with me last night, but now I can't find her. You better not have said anything to her because she hates you and now she hates me. She's gone, and it's all my fault."

Eli gave me a pained look as he whispered. "They're not listening. We have to get ready."

I was going to have to kill Jessica. My best friend.

My head started to spin as my stomach tied itself in knots. I let out a long breath as my vision blurred. I walked to the tree line. Placing my palm against the bark of a tree, my stomach convulsed as I bent to throw up.

Eli continued arguing with them to find another place to stay, but they weren't listening.

My stomach heaved again. Tears filled my eyes as I sucked in a ragged breath.

Nico was suddenly at my side, rubbing my back. "I'm so sorry, Lilly. This is all my fault."

Nico was right. This was all his fault.

Fury pulsed through my veins. Balling up my fists, I faced Nico and pounded my rage against his chest. "You're right. This is all your fault. You're the reason Jessica is going to die. I hate your guts, you piece of shit!"

Nico just took it. By the time I was done, Nico was holding me to his chest.

Sobbing, I pushed away from Nico, plopping to my knees. I was crying so hard I could barely breathe.

Strong hands lifted me up, cradling me to a warm chest. "I'm here, Lil. Pull it together."

I didn't want to pull it together. I wanted to scream. Every person who cared about me either left or died. I had no one. Jessica wasn't the most considerate person in the world, but she'd been a good friend when I had no one.

"Don't touch me!" I wiggled and fought the arms that held me until I escaped. "Don't you ever fucking lay a hand on me again! I don't need you! I don't need anybody!"

Without wiping the tears from my swollen eyes, I charged into the trees. I had to leave. I couldn't be here anymore.

After a minute my sadness took over, and I crumbled to my knees.

My mother was dead because of me. Every person I had ever trusted had either betrayed me or turned on me.

My father was the spawn of hell. I'd been used and abused for the larger part of my life.

Now Jessica would die because of me too. My whole life was one big lie, and I was completely alone.

"No, you're not." A low voice pulled me back to reality.

I twisted to find Eli. Had I said that out loud?

Ignoring him, I stood and continued walking away.

Eli's hand squeezed my shoulder. "You're not alone."

I jerked my shoulder away from his touch as I began to sob again.

"Lilly?" Eli said in a gentle voice. "I'll take care of you. I'll never leave you. I won't betray you. You have me now."

Somehow, Eli's words found their way into my crushed spirit, reminding me that Eli was my guardian angel. He cared for me and would always protect me.

Still an emotional mess, I turned, clinging to Eli as I worked to control my emotions. "I... I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too," Eli whispered in my ear. "Please don't leave."

"I won't." I wiped my face, struggling to find the courage to look at him.

Eli's knuckle nudged my chin up, forcing me to make eye contact with him. His warm brown gaze was full of adoration as he gave me a soft smile.

Gazing at Eli was like watching a waterfall. He sucked me in every time, and I never wanted to look away.

"There's my girl," Eli's smile grew.

I grinned as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, leading me back to the cabin.

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