Page 19 of The Sweetest Revenge

"Zaiden, I didn't kill your sister." My voice cracked on the last word, betraying me. I swallowed hard. "She was my best friend."

His shadow fell across my face, darkening with each passing second. When he spoke, his voice was terrifyingly calm.

"You're the one who should be six feet under. Not her."

The words landed like a physical blow. I couldn't breathe for a moment.

I pushed up on my elbows, dirt embedding under my nails. Defiance rose in me, a dangerous warmth.

"You don't think I wish it were me?" Each word was heavy. "Every. Single. Day."

His face remained impassive, carved from stone.

"You don't think I would trade spots with her if I could?" My voice strengthened. "Tell me what I could have done, Zaiden."

I shifted to get up—a mistake.

He moved with predatory speed, dropping his chest and flattening his palms against my shoulders. The force drove me back to the ground, pinned beneath his weight.

My heart jumped. Fear, yes. But something else, too. Rage. Pure, clarifying rage.

Fuck.

This situation was going from bad to worse.

"Why don't you tell me what you did?" My brows pulled together. "Tell me why my sister left that night. Tell me what you did, and I'll take you home."

He was going to leave me here alone in the dark. Panic rose in my throat at his words. "Zaiden, I didn't do anything."

His nostrils flared as he leaned down, wrapping his strong hands around my arms. I had no idea why he was so angry. I had no idea why he thought I was responsible for Kacie's death or what he thought I did, but what I did know was that if I didn't get out of this situation quickly, it was going to end badly for me.

He jerked me, and I raised my knee at the same time, shoving it hard into his balls. He grunted, releasing me as his hands flew to his groin.

I bolted into the darkness. Tombstones loomed, and branches clawed at my face. My lungs burned, but I pushed harder, faster.

Footsteps behind me. Gaining. Even injured, he was faster.

No. I wasn't going down without a fight.

Strong arms locked around my waist. My feet left the ground as he yanked me backward, my spine colliding with his chest.

"Let me go," I screamed, kicking, scratching, and hitting.

"Sure," he whispered against my ear. The evil in his tone sent chills racing up my spine. "Right where you belong."

His arms vanished. A push.

I stumbled backward, arms windmilling against nothing. One step, two, then my heel met empty space.

Time slowed. My body tilted backward, a heartbeat suspended in the air.

Then gravity claimed me.

I plummeted through the darkness, a silent scream locked in my throat. My back slammed against cold, wet earth, a dull, sickening thud. The impact forced air from my lungs in a harsh gasp.

Six feet of vertical darkness surrounded me. The stars above, impossibly distant, framed Zaiden's silhouette.

I was lying in an empty grave.

---