CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE: Incapable

No matter how much I despise him, I can't bring myself to kill him!

Carter is stunned, staring at me. I fired the shot, but it went past him, hitting the wall behind him. And I hate myself for leaving him unscathed when I already had the chance to end it all for good!

I collapse to the floor, tears streaming down my face.

The thought of Sammy flashes in my mind. If I don't have him, I may have taken my own life to escape this torment instead!

Carter slowly kneels down beside me, his expression softening. He then gently takes the gun from my trembling hands.

I flinch at his touch but am too drained to even resist.

Then Carter wraps his arms around me, whispering in my ear, "Thank you, and I'm sorry."

Though he sounds genuine, his words are meaningless if he continues to keep me and Sammy as his prisoners.

Carter scoops me into his arms and carries me upstairs to my bedroom.

"I need some time alone. Leave," I say, not looking him in the eyes.

Without argument, he leaves.

I curl up