Invisible

Invisible Chapter 34

Chapter 34

The Line

(Mason)

Exhaustion fills my body. My mind stirs, telling me to wake up, but my body has no intention of doing as it says. Underneath my exhaustion is a sense of satisfaction, of rightness. Something feels different, like I have discovered something important. I can’t pinpoint what it is, though, and my thoughts transfer to something more concrete. To Olivia.

The memory of her pressing herself against me in a desperate, apologetic hug before she left tonight stirs more memories. I remember Hayden then, and her leaving with him…her asking me to wait for her. The delight that request brings to mind is shoved away as images of what happened next assaults me.

Sitting with Evie on the couch, watching a movie, I should have known the volume was too loud to let me hear anyone approaching. We were too absorbed in the show to notice the quiet shuffle of his steps. I saw the butt of the gun too late to do anything to stop it.

Instinct I am not proud of sent me jumping away from her, protecting myself from being discovered instead of catching her as she slumped sideways to the cushions of the couch. I did no better in preventing Olivia from being hurt. The curtains were closed, opening one to signal her would have revealed myself to the Sentinel. Pain wells up inside my chest, tightening it nearly to the point of breaking as I relive my selfish actions.

“Olivia! I think he’s waking up!” Evie yells.

I feel hands press on my face and arms, but I don’t want to open my eyes. I don’t know how to face them after failing them so blatantly.

“Mason,” Olivia whispers, “please wake up. Please wake up.”

It’s her sob that finally pulls my eyes open. The pain in her eyes is overwhelming as she hovers over me. She is all I can see, all I can feel as her fingertips press gently against my cheek.

“Are you okay?”

I just stare up at her. No. My chest constricts as I bring my failure to the surface. “I didn’t protect you,” I say through the pain. “I’m so sorry, Olivia.”

Her face scrunches as if she’s confused about something. “What are you talking about? You saved me and Evie. We would be dead if it wasn’t for you.”

My head starts shaking back and forth. No, I let them both get hurt. I wasn’t careful enough and he snuck up on Evie. I wasn’t selfless enough to warn Olivia. I stood by and watched them both be attacked. My eyes dart over to Evie and see the evidence of my betrayal, a trail of blood running own the side of her neck. I push myself up to sitting and shove Olivia’s hands away from me.

“I should have stopped him from hurting you, but I protected myself instead,” I argue.

Evie and Olivia share a look. They both shake their heads. Evie turns to look at me and asks, “Don’t you remember what happened?”

“He snuck up on us and hit you, and then …”

“No,” Evie interrupts, “after all that. After we woke up and he cut Olivia.”

“What?” I demand.

Olivia turns away from me, just slightly. She speaks before I can do anything. “Mason, you attacked the Sentinel.”

“I did?”

Evie nods. “Yeah. He’s over there if you don’t believe us.”

I turn, not sure what I expect to see. The body of the Sentinel lies on the floor of the hallway. The dull sheen in his eyes makes it clear that he’s dead. Confusion sets in as I scour his body for signs of what happened. There are no bruises or cuts on his exposed skin, no blood pooling under his body.