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one more second.
    Just one more breath.
    But instead … there’s nothing.
    ~*~

Chapter Seventeen
     
    Noah~
    I met with Dad and Uncle Garrett close to the cabin. We decided it would be better for me to go in alone. They will follow by a few seconds, so Brad won’t see them coming. We left their car on the side of the road and Dad and Uncle Garrett are hiding in the back seat, keeping a low profile.
    We have the element of surprise on our side.
    When I park the car, I take in a deep breath. “This is it,” I whisper.
    “We’re right behind you son,” Dad whispers back.
    I get out and my legs feel like they’re being weighed down with concrete. I don’t bother knocking, that would make it obvious that I’m out of my element. I open the front door and listen. When I hear nothing, I call out, “Brad!”
    Only silence greets me. My hearts starts to hammer hard in my chest, making my whole body vibrate with adrenaline. I rush into the cabin, frantically looking into every room.
    I race up the stairs and I slam open the first door. My heart sputters to a halt. I can’t take it all in. The scene in front of me is horrific! At first my focus is on the bed where a bloodied body lies face down. My mind tells me to move, that it’s Amy, but my whole being repels against what I’m seeing.
    “I killed her,” I hear Brad murmur and only then do I see him standing in the shadows on the other side of the room. His words register and they sink to the deepest, darkest part of me.
    “W-what?” I ask dumbstruck. Before he can get another word out, I’m shoved hard from behind.
    Everything explodes into action around me. I watch as Dad and Uncle Garrett grab hold of Brad. I stand and watch as they start to slam their fists into him.
    I watch their faces. Pure hatred radiate from them. Anger has drawn their features tight. They are working perfectly together to take Brad down.
    No … to kill him? Fuck, they’re killing him!
    I take a step closer to them, not exactly sure what I’m supposed to do. Dad’s eyes meet mine for a second and he snaps, “Check on Amy!” He turns his attention back on beating the shit out of Brad.
    Life returns to my body and I rush to the bed. The stench and sight is horrendous. I can’t believe Brad, the man I thought was my best friend did this to Amy.
    I’m just about to reach for her when Uncle Garrett shoves me out of the way.
    “Amy!” He roars as he grabs her. He yanks so hard at the bonds holding her down, they snap under his strength.
    The heart I thought had stopped at the sight of Amy, breaks as I watch Uncle Garrett roar with agony. He turns her onto her back and starts CPR. I hear dad talking, calling 911.
    I hear but I can’t take in any words or sounds, they bounce right off me.
    All I can do is stare at the man I admired, the man I thought was unbreakable – break – wailing for his daughter whom he left in my protection.
    ~*~
    I followed the ambulance to the hospital. Uncle Garrett rode with Amy, while Dad stayed behind waiting for the police.
    I don’t know how I managed to drive. I’m sitting in the waiting room, my eyes glued to the floor. I can’t find the courage to look at Uncle Garrett. Aunt Kris got here a few minutes ago, and she’s sitting huddled against Uncle Garrett.
    They look broken.
    I did that, by not listening to Amy when she came to me for help.
    Time just fades away in the shadows surrounding us. I don’t even notice the doctor until I hear Aunt Kris start to cry. It’s the saddest sound I’ve heard in my entire life. I’ll never forget the sound of a mother’s heart breaking.
    I stare at the doctor’s mouth, seeing the words, but only hearing some of them. “She’s in a coma … No telling when she’ll wake up … Don’t know the extent of her injuries as we’re not sure how long she was without oxygen … brain damage…”
    Each word is a nail into my heart.
    ~*~
    Dad and Uncle Garrett beat Brad so bad, he’s been brought to the same