Chapter 16
Avidya
“Avidya?” asked a voice. A voice that I knew and hadn’t heard for many months. Although he repeated my name at least three times, I couldn’t get my eyes to move away from the two dead bodies.
Oh God.
Taylor was dead.
He was dead.
He couldn’t be.
No.
Please. No.
“Avidya, honey,” the voice spoke again. He moved, blocking my view of the bodies. I’d never get the view of them, the view of the blood, from my memory. How much more did I have to witness in my life?
I blinked my eyes, making his face come into focus.
Before me kneeled my brother. His eyes, dark with lack of sleep and worry, met mine. He looked at me as though he was afraid I’d fall apart.
I felt like I could.
My body was rocking slightly back and forth as panic consumed me. Or was it shock? Shocked panic, maybe?
“There you are,” he smiled sadly. “Are you okay?”
Was I okay?
I had no idea. How could I be after everything I’ve been through?
A sharp pain along my stomach caused me to groan out, folding over as the shooting pain took my breath away.
“Avidya?” Travis’s voice reached me. He was worried, and rightfully so.
“I’m okay,” I mumbled out as the pain passed.
“No, you aren’t,” Travis said as he stood. “I think you need to get checked out.”
I shook my head as I sat fully back up. I was okay.
“We are at least going to go outside. I’ll give you thirty minutes to prove me wrong, then,” Travis stated, holding his hand out for me.
Slowly, I let him help me up. I was numb to everything; it was the only way I knew how to deal right now. After everything that had happened, I just didn’t want to deal anymore.
Travis led me outside and helped me sit on the porch. He took a seat next to me, not saying anything. Was there anything that could be said?
I didn’t think there was.
“Avidya?” Krissy came running across the yard to me. Her voice frantic. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“Pretty sure she’s in shock,” Travis answered for me.
“I heard gunshots. Are you okay? Where’s Mr. Shantez?” Krissy fired off.
“He’s . . . .” I was unable to finish as my tears fell.
“Oh, honey,” Krissy said, instantly wrapping her arms around me. At the simple comforting touch, I burst into sobs. The kind that wracked my body with each passing second.
“I’ll leave you two for a moment. Don’t go anywhere,” Travis said, standing up and making his way back into the house.
I don’t know how long I cried against Krissy, but by the time I was able to get my emotions under control, a dull ache made itself known in my stomach once more. Pulling back, I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.
“Sorry,” I muttered.
“Don’t you worry about that,” Krissy said. “You okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”
“I’m okay, I think,” I sniffed.
“How far along is she?” Travis asked, appearing back as quickly as he had left.
“Just about seven months,” Krissy answered for me with a frown. “You would be?”
“Travis,” he answered.
“Not the baby’s father?” she asked.
“No,” I answered right before another pang of pain grabbed ahold of me.
“I think she needs to be seen by the doctor,” Travis said, watching as I fought against the pain.
“I agree,” Krissy said. “But what about the police? Shouldn’t they be here by now?”
“Eh, don’t worry about that,” Travis said, running a hand over his hair. “I got that covered. My buddies in there called it in.”
“This is one of those things you don’t want to know about,” I gritted out as the pain lessoned.
She knew that there were a few things in my life that I couldn’t talk about.
“Gotcha,” Krissy said. “I’ll take her to the ER to be checked over.”
“She aint going anywhere without me,” Travis said, easily taking the demanding role he was known well for.
“Don’t tell Zach,” I said, begging him.
“As long as you go get checked out,” Travis said, giving me a look that said to not push him.
“Okay. Thank you,” I sighed. I’d do as they wanted, even though I was sure it would be for nothing.
For now, I’d let them have their way so I could forget about what sort of mess lay inside my home.