Lucky Damnation (6 page)

Chapter Fifteen

“I didn’t think you’d agree to meet me.” Michael whispered.

Marisela looked at how his eyes twinkled in the moonlight. There was something different about him. Something that seemed off.

“I trust you.” Marisela replied. “So what’s going on, Michael? Why did you ask me out into the middle of nowhere?”

“There’s someone out here.” Michael began. “Someone who has been killing people. The people you love the most.”

“Right.” Marisela responded nervously. “You have a point I hope?”

“I can only imagine how painful it must be to see the people you love, die.” Michael paused. “To know that you’re directly related to their deaths. How does a person cope with that?”

“I think I need to go.” Marisela replied.

Backing up a few steps, she let out a scream when his hand grabbed her wrist.

“No.” Michael replied. “You can’t go. Not now. This needs to happen.”

“It’s you.” Marisela whispered. “It was always you.”

“Well, I appreciate the flattery.” Michael sighed. “But I don’t get what you mean.”

“You’re not Michael.” Marisela sobbed. “I should have seen through it all. You didn’t want to get to know me. You just wanted to be near me. I should have seen through all of this.”

“No.” Michael shook his head. “Every word I said to you was true.”

“Then why did you kill them?” Marisela demanded. “You brought me out here to kill me.”

Michael sighed and pulled a gun from his belt. Marisela’s eyes grew wide and she fell to her knees and howled.

“I could have loved you.” Marisela cried. “We could have been everything good and right. You didn’t have to kill people to get close to me. I know your father talked about your revenge. But I told people you raped me to get out of taking a test. I didn’t think it would go beyond Mr. Harrison’s class. I didn’t realize it would destroy your life, Nathan.”

Michael looked at Marisela with confusion.

“I came to teach you how to use a gun.” Michael replied slowly. “Who is Nathan and what’s going on?”

A gunshot in the darkness sounded. Marisela watched in horror as it ripped through Michael’s head and sprayed her with blood and brain matter.

She pressed her body hard against the ground. Her heart beating uncontrollably in her chest. Confusion went through her mind. Had someone come to save her?

“Get up bitch.” A man’s voice growled.

Marisela looked up. While some time had passed, she saw the unmistakable eyes of the man whose life she destroyed, looking back at her.

“Nathan.” Marisela pleaded. “I swear if I had only known.”

“It doesn’t take common sense to figure out what was going to happen.” Nathan spat. “You did this to me. You’re the reason why my life is ruined, and the hell if I’ll let you live. It’s over.”

Marisela watched as Nathan raised the gun and aimed it at her head. The white glow of the moonlight glistened off the edge of the barrel.
It was mocking her. Signaling her impending doom.

“I’m sorry.” Marisela whispered. “Please, forgive me.”

“I’m not going to forgive you.” Nathan replied.

With that, he pulled the trigger. The loud explosion of sound echoed in the darkness. Marisela sat there and cried. Her eyes closed, she embraced the darkness. Found solace in it. Then thanked God that death wasn’t painful.

A few moments later, she realized she was still chilled but there was no pain. She opened her eyes to find Nathan on the ground. His hands were badly singed there was blood dripping from his face.

She realized the gun had backfired in his hands. Counting her blessings, Marisela pulled out her cell phone and called for help. All in the flash of a moment, when she had half expected to die, she realized her luck hadn’t quite run out yet.

Chapter Sixteen

Marisela watched as the ambulance drove off into the darkness. The nightmare was finally over. She never expected that a lie from her past could do so much damage.

Not only had it destroyed the life of Nathan and sent him over the edge, but it had claimed the lives of so many of her friends. She looked around at the sea of police cars and their flashing red and blue lights.

When she noticed the medical examiner loading the body of Michael into their vehicle, tears began to trickle from her eyes and she realized that he truly wanted to protect her and likely did genuinely care for her.

His death was just another one she was responsible for.

“Marisela?” A familiar voice called.

Looking up, Marisela was relieved to see Frances rushing up to her and hugged her hard. As she closed her eyes, it was the first time this evening she truly felt safe.

“Can we go?” Marisela asked.

“Of course.” Frances replied.

“I wanted to say I am sorry.” Marisela said. “I just want you to know that.”

“You’re forgiven.” Frances sighed. “Whatever it is, you’re forgiven. It’s best to not live in the past. Otherwise, the anger and hatred will dominate your life.”

Marisela realized those words were true. With a sense of relief, she looked up to the full moon and was thankful she was lucky enough to have survived.

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