Chapter 5 - The breaking point
The wail of the sirens grew louder, tearing through the quiet suburban neighborhood.
Someone at the party had secretly called 911 during the chaos.
Uncle Richard’s eyes darted wildly around the yard, realizing he was completely trapped.
“I’m not going to prison for this!” he shouted over the noise of the approaching police cars.
He tightened his grip on Chloe’s neck, dragging her backward toward the heavy wooden gate that led to the alleyway.
Chloe was sobbing uncontrollably now, her hands desperately clawing at his thick arm.
“Maya, help me!” she choked out, looking at me with eyes full of desperate regret.
In that single, terrifying moment, twelve years of resentment vanished from my heart.
She was vain, she was cruel, and she had tormented me for years without knowing the truth.
But she was my sister, and I loved her.
I sprinted across the wet patio stones, ignoring my father’s desperate scream for me to stay back.
I didn't have a weapon, and I didn't have a plan.
I just needed to put myself between the bullet and my sister.
Richard saw me charging at him and panicked.
He forcefully shoved Chloe away from him, sending her crashing into a stack of heavy metal deck chairs.
He swung the gun toward me just as I closed the distance between us.
I slammed my body into his chest, grabbing his wrist with both of my heavily scarred hands.
He was much stronger than me, but the sheer force of my momentum pushed him backward against the wooden gate.
“Get off me, you freak!” he roared, trying to wrench his arm free.
My father was running toward us, his face twisted in a roar of fury.
But he was too far away.
Richard shoved his knee into my stomach, knocking the wind out of me.
My grip slipped on his wrist just as the heavy wooden gate swung open behind him.
He leveled the gun directly at my chest.
I closed my eyes, accepting that my final act would be doing exactly what I had done twelve years ago.
Saving Chloe.
The gunshot exploded like a cannon in the small backyard.
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A blinding, searing pain ripped through my shoulder, throwing me backward onto the hard concrete.
I heard my father scream my name, followed by the terrifying sound of heavy footsteps rushing into the yard.
