433 I Can Breathe

“Anyway, that box… the note. It’s his version of a love letter,” Alice sighed, turning the computer to face the others. “He sent me the security footage of him giving Holden a dose of Bitter Night and then instructing him to blow himself up.”

Bell turned her eyes down, but Ashleigh, Caleb, and Galen all watched in horror as the scene played out.

After taking a moment, Ashleigh looked at Alice.

“What about you?” she asked. “Have you never felt anything… for him?”

Axel growled.

“Hush,” Alice whispered, petting him gently. “The question is reasonable.”

Axel sighed and rested his chin on her shoulder.

Alice turned to Ashleigh.

“I felt plenty for him— disgust, anger, resentment, fear. But no, I never had romantic feelings for him. Friendship, maybe, when we were children and I was alone. But the only memory that stayed with me was the sense of danger around him.”

“I’m sorry,” Ashleigh said.

Alice smiled.

“You shouldn’t apologize for things that are not your fault.”