Fifteen - No Going Back

No Going Back

The bus doors swung open with a low hiss, and Carrie stepped off, her boots making a soft thud as they hit the pavement. It had been three months since she had left, three months of being under Marcel's watchful eye. She had learned to walk in the shadows, to move with silent grace, and most importantly, to master the hunger that gnawed at her from within.

Now, she was back, and with every ounce of that newfound power coursing through her veins, she was ready for the next step in her journey. Revenge. She smiled, the thrill of it already igniting a fire deep inside her. The thought of confronting those who had wronged her, of making them feel even a fraction of the pain she had endured, was all too satisfying.

But there had been one obstacle standing in her way—Marcel.

Marcel had kept her close, ensuring that she was under his control, guiding her training as though she were nothing more than a prized pupil. At first, it had seemed like an opportunity—an invitation to learn, to become stronger. But Carrie quickly realized that Marcel had his own agenda, one that didn't include her freedom. He had thought he could tame her, mold her into something he could use.

She wasn't going to let that happen.

That night, when Marcel was distracted by a lavish party—one of his regular indulgences in the city—Carrie saw her opportunity. He had grown confident, assuming she wouldn't dare defy him, believing she was loyal to the cause he'd created for her. But Carrie had learned quickly how to read him, how to gauge his actions, and how to use that to her advantage.

While he reveled in the festivities, surrounded by his trusted allies and a web of distractions, Carrie made her move. She had prepared for this moment for weeks, gathering the strength and determination she needed to break free. The house was quiet at this hour, save for the muffled sounds of music and laughter that filtered in from the nearby venue where the party was being held. She moved through the mansion with the precision of someone who knew exactly where she was going. She didn't take anything with her. She didn't need to. All she had was the desire for freedom, the hunger for revenge, and the promise she'd made to herself to never be controlled again.

In one swift motion, she slipped out of the back door, her form disappearing into the night. She didn't look back.

She moved like a shadow, invisible to the eyes of those who might have been keeping watch. Using the speed Marcel had taught her, she ran through the quiet streets, her heart pounding not from fear, but from anticipation. Her path was clear.

It had been too easy, almost too satisfying.

And now, as she stood in front of the house, she realized that the past few months, the months spent under Marcel's thumb, had only made her stronger. The anger, the hunger, the thirst for vengeance—it all burned inside her. Marcel had underestimated her. And now, she was back, and no one was going to stand in her way.

Carrie approached the door with purpose, her knock soft but deliberate. Moments later, it creaked open, revealing her mother in a worn nightgown, surprise and confusion painting her face.

"Hello, mom, can I come in?" Carrie's voice was calm, yet held an unmistakable edge.

Her mother's shock was evident. "Carrie? Where have you been? I've been worried sick. Please, come inside," she exclaimed, opening the door wider.

Carrie stepped inside, the familiar scent of the house mixing with the cold air, but she was no longer the same. "I've been where I needed to be," she said coolly, her eyes sweeping the room. "But I'm here now, for unfinished business."

Her mother opened her mouth to ask, but Carrie silenced her with a sharp look. "Don't worry," she said, her voice low and commanding. "Everything's fine. Stop worrying."

Carrie's presence alone was enough to twist her mother's thoughts, compelling her into silence. Her mother blinked, the tension fading into calm. "Everything's fine," she murmured, her voice distant.

Carrie's smirk deepened as she saw the effect take hold. "Good," she said, her tone almost predatory. "Relax. It's all taken care of."

The woman nodded, her mind no longer her own. Carrie turned away, the weight of her purpose clear. "I've got work to do," she whispered.

Abbie awoke with a start, her breath shallow, heart racing, and a cold sweat clinging to her skin. She had been having the same nightmare again, the third time this month. Each time it played out with eerie consistency, as though it were a warning, an omen. The dream always began the same way: she was standing in the center of an opulent, empty ballroom, the echoes of soft classical music filling the vast, cold space. She and Kai, dressed in formal attire, were dancing the Waltz in perfect synchrony, their movements fluid and graceful, as if time itself had slowed for them.

Then, without warning, everything shifted. The music faltered, and the dance came to an abrupt halt. A sharp pain seared through her back, and Abbie gasped, instinctively turning toward the source of the injury. There, standing behind her, was a young girl—her face unfamiliar, yet hauntingly familiar at the same time. She was the one who had stabbed her. The girl's expression was cold, devoid of any emotion, and as Abbie's vision blurred with the rush of blood, she turned to Kai for help. But to her shock, Kai simply looked at her—his face unreadable, distant. He didn't move. He didn't reach out. Instead, he turned his back on her, walking away as she crumpled to the floor, bleeding out. The desperation in her chest squeezed tighter, but no help came. Just the sound of her own heartbeat fading.

Abbie jolted upright in her bed, her head spinning as the remnants of the nightmare lingered like a dark cloud. She could still feel the coldness of the ballroom, the weight of the betrayal, the chill of the knife in her back. The memory was fresh, too fresh, and it gnawed at her. She sat still for a moment, trying to steady her breathing, her mind racing with questions. What did it all mean? The dream felt too vivid to be just a figment of her imagination. She had no answers, just a feeling—an overwhelming sense of dread, as if something, or someone, was pulling her toward an unavoidable fate.

Shaking off the remnants of the nightmare, Abbie swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet landing on the cold floor. She rubbed her face, trying to shake off the heavy feeling that lingered in her chest. It wasn't the first time she'd had unsettling dreams about Kai, but this one... this one felt different. She wasn't sure how, but she knew it meant something—something far more significant than the fragmented images it left behind.

She stood, gathering herself, and began the routine of her morning. The steady motion of getting dressed, brushing her teeth, and eating breakfast did little to clear the unease that clung to her. She felt the weight of the dream pressing on her as she walked out the door, the crisp morning air doing little to shake the chill that had settled inside her. Abbie wasn't sure what the dream was trying to tell her, but one thing was certain: she couldn't ignore it. And as much as she wanted to push the feeling away, a small part of her knew that whatever it meant, it was only a matter of time before it came to a head.

At school, Harmony was already waiting for Abbie at their usual spot by the lockers. The tension that had lingered between them was gone now, ever since they'd reconciled two months ago. Harmony had apologized for her behavior, admitting she was probably too drunk. Abbie had agreed to make up—on one condition: Harmony could no longer speak ill of Kai. Harmony, to her credit, had kept that promise.

As soon as she saw Abbie approach, Harmony gave her a soft, sympathetic smile. "Didn't sleep again last night?" she asked, her voice low, knowing exactly where Abbie was coming from.

Abbie sighed, rubbing her temples. "Yeah," she muttered, still trying to shake off the remnants of the dream. "Same one. Every time."

Abbie opened her locker, her fingers automatically reaching for her physics book. "I wonder if it means anything," she said, her voice distant as she pulled the book from the shelf. The question had been gnawing at her for days, and it hadn't gone away even after she'd tried to focus on the mundane aspects of life, like school and her friends.

Harmony bit her lip, her gaze flickering to the ground. She had her own theories about the dream, but they were complicated, ones that involved Kai and Abbie's complicated relationship with him. She had long since learned that expressing such thoughts only brought tension, so she held her tongue. "Maybe," she murmured. "Yeah, I don't know."

The silence hung between them for a moment before Harmony shifted the topic. "I forgot to ask—how was your birthday last week?" she asked, her voice sincere as she looked back up at Abbie. "I'm still sorry I couldn't come, but I already had my trip planned to Italy for the holidays."

Abbie smiled at the thought. "It was fun," she said, the memory bringing a warmth to her chest. "I went to the arcade with Kai, and then Jo and I went mall shopping." Her eyes twinkled at the thought of their spontaneous day together, the simple joy of being with her two best friends.

Then, as if Jo heard her name, she appeared, her face serious, her expression focused. Without greeting them, she cut straight to the point. "Did you guys hear what happened?"

Both Abbie and Harmony looked at her, their curiosity piqued. "What happened?" Abbie asked, her stomach turning slightly, as if expecting bad news.

Jo's gaze flickered around briefly before locking onto Abbie's and Harmony's. "Carrie's back," she said in a hushed voice, making sure no one else overheard. "She showed up on her parents' porch last night."

The news hit Abbie like a punch to the gut. She had heard nothing about Carrie for months—since the night she'd vanished. The entire town had been consumed by rumors and conspiracy theories ever since. First, people speculated she was dead, but then the whispers had shifted, claiming that someone was picking off her family one by one, that maybe Carrie had uncovered the truth about Brian's death, and the killer had silenced her too.

Now, hearing that Carrie had returned, the flood of uncertainty and unease came rushing back. "Do you know what happened to her?" Abbie asked, her voice tight with concern.

Jo shook her head. "Nope, not yet. But I'm going to ask some of her closest friends later. Maybe they know what's going on." She sighed, her voice heavy with frustration. "Everyone's been talking about it—people have been saying everything from 'she's back from the dead' to 'she's the one who knows who killed Brian.' Honestly, no one knows what to believe anymore."

Abbie nodded slowly, the weight of the news sinking in. "Thanks for telling me," Abbie said softly, her gaze turning toward the classroom. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens."

Jo nodded, her eyes dark with the same uncertainty that Abbie felt. "Yeah. But don't worry, I'll find out. Maybe she'll even explain everything."

As Abbie and Harmony made their way toward their next class, the uneasy feeling in her gut didn't subside. Carrie's return had only stirred the pot of unanswered questions that had been brewing for far too long. What had happened to her during all this time? And what would she say when she finally spoke?

Abbie settled into her seat next to Kai, the cool morning air still lingering in the classroom despite the warmth of the overhead lights. She shot him a small smile. "Hey, Kai."

"Hey," he replied without looking up, already pulling his books out of his bag and setting them down on the desk. They both got to work organizing their things, the sound of paper shifting and pens clicking filling the brief silence between them.

Then, after a moment, Abbie glanced over at him, her voice quieter than usual. "Did you hear about Carrie?"

Kai didn't immediately respond, instead flipping open his physics book with a deliberate slowness. "Yeah," he finally said, not bothering to look at her. "She's back. Jo told me this morning."

Abbie's stomach twisted at the mention of Carrie. "Do you think she'll tell anyone what happened?" she asked, her eyes darting around the room to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

Kai shrugged, still not meeting her gaze. "Maybe. Not sure. But if she does..." He trailed off, his fingers flipping through the pages of his book with a casual disinterest, before he added almost nonchalantly, "We'll just go to her sometime and scare her into silence."

Abbie frowned at his tone, the suggestion hanging between them like an uncomfortable weight. But then, as if to clarify, Kai muttered, "Or, you know, kill her."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. For a second, Abbie couldn't even process what he'd said. Her mind raced, and her pulse quickened as her eyes widened in disbelief. She shook her head, almost in a daze. "We can't do that," she whispered fiercely, looking nervously around the classroom again. The idea of it—the thought that they would actually go that far—felt like a betrayal of everything she'd tried to convince herself was right.

"Look, we have to do something," Kai persisted, his voice lowering, but the annoyance was evident in his tone. His jaw was set, his eyes fixed on a spot on the wall, distant and intense. "Then how else do you think we'll control her? She's got the power to ruin everything for us if she talks."

Abbie felt the weight of his words but couldn't let herself sink into the same cold logic that Kai was embracing. She took a slow, steadying breath. "Maybe," she said cautiously, "I should just fess up."

The idea hung in the air between them, but Kai's response was swift and sharp, a smirk twisting at the corner of his lips. "And then what?" he asked, his voice laced with mockery. "You're going to turn into a wolf every full moon locked in a cell?"

Abbie winced at the thought, but before she could respond, their teacher's voice broke through the tension in the air. He clapped his hands, the sound echoing off the walls, signaling the start of the dreaded physics lesson. The class went silent as everyone scrambled to get their notebooks open.

Abbie tried to focus, but her mind kept drifting back to the conversation. Kai was right about one thing—if Carrie talked, it could all come crashing down. Abbie couldn't afford that. But the thought of admitting everything, of coming clean, was equally terrifying. It wasn't just about her anymore. It was about everyone around her. The more she thought about it, the clearer it became. If she confessed, the secret they had worked so hard to protect would be out, and with it, the danger it posed to so many innocent people.

And yet, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she was caught in a web she had spun herself. Whatever decision she made would have consequences, some far more dangerous than others. The fear of what would happen if Carrie told the truth gnawed at her. The risk of everything unraveling was too great, but the alternative felt just as dark.

Kai's smirk from earlier replayed in her mind as she stared blankly at the blackboard. He was right about one thing—they couldn't let Carrie talk. But the cost of keeping her quiet felt too high. The balance between secrecy and truth had never felt more fragile.

Abbie clenched her fists under the table, her thoughts a whirlwind of possibilities. She couldn't go to prison. She couldn't risk dragging everyone else down with her, no matter how much she wanted to protect them all. The secret they shared was fragile, held together by thin threads of fear and guilt, and the weight of that knowledge pressed harder than any lesson her physics teacher could teach.

After school, Abbie and Kai walked side by side out of the school building, their footsteps slow and intentional. The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over everything, but there was an unsettling tension between them. They had to wait for Jo to arrive to drive them to Kai's house, a necessary pit stop on their way to another night of secrets and half-baked plans.

Leaning against the cool metal of Jo's car, Abbie glanced at Kai, who was idly tapping his fingers on the side of the vehicle, looking lost in thought. "So, your mom's four months pregnant now?" Abbie asked, breaking the silence with the mundane question, but her tone betrayed an underlying curiosity.

Kai sighed, pushing a hand through his messy hair. "Yeah. Four months too many," he muttered bitterly. "I told my parents yesterday that there was no need for more kids. They didn't exactly agree with me."

Abbie nodded sympathetically, though she couldn't fully relate. Being an only child, she couldn't imagine the chaos of a large family, but she understood his frustration. She was about to say something, but her words were abruptly cut off by a voice that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Well, well, well."

Abbie turned sharply, her heart skipping a beat. There, standing just a few feet away, was Carrie. She looked... different. Something about her posture, her eyes—they were colder, sharper.

Carrie's presence seemed to chill the air around them as she took a slow step forward, her smile wide and unsettling. "I have something important to tell you two," she said, her voice low and almost teasing. "You should follow me."

Kai's eyes narrowed, his lips pressing into a tight line. "Hell no," he said, his tone fierce, a protective edge to his words. He wasn't trusting this. Abbie could feel the tension in his body, could see the subtle way his hands flexed at his sides, ready to react.

But Abbie, despite the warning signs flashing in her mind, was curious. She had to know what Carrie wanted. There was something too strange, too dangerous, about this situation to let it pass. She met Kai's gaze with a soft, pleading look. "Come on," she said, her voice quiet but insistent. "I wanna hear what she has to say. What's the worst that can happen?"

Carrie's grin only widened at Abbie's words, her expression predatory, as if she had been waiting for this moment. Kai hesitated, his gaze flicking between Abbie and Carrie, but with a reluctant grunt, he nodded, his eyes dark with distrust.

Without another word, the three of them began walking toward the edge of the school grounds, where the woods loomed ominously, their tall, shadowed trees standing like silent sentinels. Abbie could feel the atmosphere shift around them as they ventured deeper, the trees casting long, twisted shadows on the ground. Every step they took made the air grow heavier, colder. A creeping sense of unease settled in her chest. She glanced over at Kai, but his face was unreadable, his jaw clenched, clearly on edge.

The path behind the school was quiet, too quiet. Abbie's heartbeat quickened as the forest surrounded them, the sounds of the schoolyard fading into the distance. She could almost taste the tension in the air. Did she make the wrong choice? Was it a mistake to follow Carrie into this unknown, eerie place?

Carrie, walking ahead of them with a deliberate slowness, suddenly stopped and turned toward them. A chilling smile spread across her face, her eyes gleaming with something far more dangerous than any playful prank.

Abbie's breath caught in her throat when Carrie bared her fangs, her grin now feral. "What's the worst that can happen, right?" she mocked, her voice dripping with dark amusement.

Before Abbie could react, Carrie lunged at her, moving with an inhuman speed. The force of the attack knocked Abbie off balance, sending her crashing to the ground. Everything happened so fast. Abbie's vision blurred as she struggled to get back up, but the world seemed to tilt and spin. Carrie was on top of her now, her hands gripping Abbie's shoulders as she pinned her down with surprising strength. The last thing Abbie saw before darkness took over was Carrie's grin, twisted and malicious.

Kai was quicker to react, trying to fight back, but it didn't take long for Carrie to overpower him, too. Abbie's mind was foggy, her thoughts scattered, but she heard the sound of struggle, of grunts and the dull thud of bodies hitting the ground. She tried to call out to Kai, but her voice barely made it past her lips.

Everything faded into blackness.

Abbie's eyes fluttered open, her head throbbing and her body aching. As the fog in her mind began to clear, she realized she was bound to a tree—her wrists raw from the tight ropes cutting into her skin. She could feel the rough bark of the tree against her back, the cold seeping into her bones. Her breath quickened as panic surged in her chest, but then her gaze flickered to Kai.

He was sitting across from her, his head hanging low, eyes closed, but still very much alive. His own ropes were wound tightly around his wrists and ankles, the same as hers. Abbie felt a rush of relief that he was awake, that he was still there. They had been through so much already, and she couldn't imagine facing whatever came next without him by her side.

"Kai?" she whispered, her voice hoarse and shaky. Her throat felt dry, but she didn't care—she just needed him to acknowledge her, to assure her that they weren't completely lost.

Kai's eyes snapped open, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. He turned his head toward her, his expression a mixture of frustration and concern. "Yes?" he asked quietly, his voice rough from being bound in silence for so long.

Abbie's gaze shifted to their surroundings, the shadows of the woods pressing in on them from all sides. She swallowed hard before asking, "Is she here?"

Kai looked around, his eyes scanning the trees, his sharp instincts alert. "I don't know. But if she is a vampire, she could be anywhere. Watching. Listening." He lowered his voice even more. "If she is, she's probably already heard us."

Abbie shivered at the thought, the eerie quiet of the forest amplifying her unease. It was too still, too quiet. Every rustle of leaves made her jump. The only sound was the wind softly whistling through the trees, but Abbie had the unsettling feeling that something—someone—was lurking nearby, waiting for the right moment to strike.

She pulled at her ropes in frustration, but they didn't give. Kai, always the one to act first, was already shifting his position, trying to find a way to loosen his restraints. He seemed to be testing different angles, gritting his teeth against the discomfort, his brow furrowing in concentration. His movements were fluid, almost too quick to track, as if he had done this before.

"What are you doing?" Abbie asked, her voice a little louder this time, though she couldn't help the confusion that crept in.

"Trust me," Kai said, his eyes flicking back to her, his tone steady despite the situation. His voice carried a note of certainty that Abbie couldn't ignore, even though everything inside her screamed to be cautious.

"But Kai—" she started, but he cut her off, his sharp gaze silencing her.

"Trust me," he repeated, more firmly this time. His voice left little room for argument, and despite her reservations, Abbie did as he asked, staying still as he worked with the ropes around his wrists. She watched in awe as his fingers moved in a blur of practiced efficiency.

Abbie's mind raced as she wondered just what Kai was doing, but before she could ask again, she felt a sudden warmth in her leg. It wasn't painful, but it was strange—a warmth that seemed to pulse under her skin. Her leg glowed faintly in the dim light, a red hue that pulsed with every beat of her heart.

Abbie gasped, her breath catching. "What... What are you doing?" she whispered, her voice shaking with confusion.

Kai glanced at her briefly, his face focused. "Ssssh-," he said simply, though the effort was evident in his tone. "We need to get out of these ropes before she comes back."

Before Abbie could respond, the red glow intensified, and her body felt charged with energy like a buzz under her skin. She wasn't sure if she should be afraid or relieved, but the next moment, Kai whispered something under his breath. The ropes around his wrists fell away, as if they had been cut, and he moved quickly, swinging his arms to free himself from the rest of his bonds.

Abbie watched in stunned silence as Kai stepped toward her, his movements fluid and confident. Without warning, he reached down and yanked the ropes from around her wrists, setting her free in a single motion. She blinked in disbelief. The ropes that had once held her captive now lay limp on the ground, useless.

Abbie jumped to her feet, her heart racing in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her veins. The moment of freedom was short-lived, however, as a familiar voice pierced the air.

"Already going so soon?" a cold, mocking voice called out, sending a chill down Abbie's spine.

Abbie froze, her heart lurching in her chest. She turned slowly to see Carrie standing a few feet away, a wicked grin stretched across her face. Her eyes glinted with malice, her fangs visible as she spoke, her voice dripping with venom.

"I haven't even told you my master plan yet!" Carrie added, her words taunting and cruel.

Kai's expression shifted instantly, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. He grinned, though there was no humor in it. "Funny, Carrie. But you're just a baby vampire. You think you can take us on?" His voice dripped with mockery, but there was no mistaking the edge of threat in his words.

Carrie's eyes narrowed, her fangs gleaming as she took a step forward, preparing to strike. "I'm not afraid of you," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. Before Abbie could react, Carrie darted forward, faster than Abbie could track, aiming to take Kai by surprise.

Abbie's breath hitched as she watched Kai move almost lazily, his hand sweeping through the air in a fluid motion. The force of his action was sudden, and in the blink of an eye, Carrie's neck snapped with a sickening crack. She crumpled to the ground, her body unmoving.

Abbie gasped in horror. "Is she... dead?" she whispered, her voice shaking. The sight of Carrie crumpled on the ground, lifeless for now, sent a chill through her.

Kai shook his head, his face hardening. "No. She's not dead," he replied grimly. "But she'll be out for a while." He didn't seem particularly concerned with the fact that they had just killed someone—or something—else. His focus was already on the next move. "We need to go," he added urgently.

Kai grabbed Abbie's arm, his grip firm and urgent. "Let's move," he muttered, his voice low with a sense of impending danger. Without waiting for a response, he tugged her forward, and they plunged deeper into the woods, their footsteps echoing in the silence of the darkening forest.

Abbie's mind was spinning, still reeling from the chaotic events. Her heart pounded in her chest, not just from the physical exertion, but from the raw, unfiltered power she had witnessed Kai wield. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. The way he had moved, the effortless precision in which he dispatched Carrie—it was almost too much to process. And it left her with a gnawing question: who exactly was Kai?

The trees around them grew taller, the underbrush denser, as they continued their sprint through the wilderness. The light was quickly fading, the forest swallowing them whole. Abbie's breath was coming in sharp gasps, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The woods felt alive, but not in a comforting way. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig beneath their feet seemed to carry a deeper meaning, as though something was watching them—something waiting to strike.

Abbie kept glancing over her shoulder, the sense of being followed gnawing at the back of her mind. Her pulse quickened each time she thought she saw movement behind them, but when she looked again, the path was empty. Still, she couldn't shake the dread that clung to her like a second skin. Carrie might not be dead, and she would be coming for them.

But the woods seemed endless, and time felt like it had warped. What felt like hours could have been mere minutes, yet the deeper they ran, the farther away they seemed from any kind of safety. Her muscles burned from the effort, her legs threatening to give out, but she forced herself to push forward. There was no turning back. Not now. Not when Carrie, or whatever else might be lurking in the dark, was still out there.

Abbie's breath hitched when she heard a faint rustle from behind them. She whirled around, eyes wide, but saw nothing—just the shadows of the trees stretching long and dark across the path. She swallowed hard, trying to convince herself that it was nothing, just the wind. But the uneasy feeling lingered. It wasn't just the fear of being followed; it was the unsettling sense that the forest itself was alive with hidden dangers.

Finally, they broke through the trees, emerging into an unexpected clearing behind the school. The transition from the dense, oppressive woods to the wide, open space felt surreal. Abbie blinked, her eyes adjusting to the stark contrast. The school's car park stretched out before them, empty and silent, save for a single car parked at the far end—presumably the principal's. It stood there, lonely and out of place, surrounded by an eerie stillness that made the space feel abandoned.

Abbie's head spun, the weight of the day's events pressing down on her. The forest, the encounter with Carrie, the bizarre and terrifying power Kai had shown—it all felt like a blur, as though she had been trapped in a nightmare that she couldn't escape. Her feet felt numb, as if the ground beneath her was shifting with every step.

She couldn't quite shake the sense of unease that clung to her. "How long were we gone?" she asked quietly, her voice distant, as though the words were foreign to her own ears.

Kai glanced around the deserted car park, his gaze sharp but distant, as if he were measuring the time against the strange quiet that enveloped them. "Maybe three hours," he said, his tone casual, but there was a flicker of something darker in his eyes. The faintest hint of worry, masked beneath a veneer of nonchalance.

As they walked toward Kai's house, the air between them was thick with unspoken tension. Abbie's mind raced, replaying the chaos of the past few hours. She had been dragged into a conflict that was far beyond her understanding, a war between vampires—and worse, a war that she couldn't escape. She hadn't asked for this, and yet it felt like there was no way out.

Finally, the silence was broken by Abbie's quiet voice. "So, what do we do about Carrie?" The question seemed small in comparison to the storm swirling around them, but it carried the weight of everything they had just been through. It hung between them, thick with consequence.

Kai stopped abruptly, his body stiffening as he turned to face her. His eyes darkened, and for the first time, Abbie saw the full weight of the situation in them. His jaw tightened, a muscle twitching with barely contained frustration. "I know you're not a fan of murder," he said, his voice low and measured, though there was no mistaking the gravity behind it. "But we'll have to kill Carrie."

Abbie's breath caught in her throat, her chest tightening. Her mind screamed against it—against the cold, hard truth of what he was saying—but deep down, she knew. Carrie wouldn't stop. Not now. Not after everything that had happened.

A chill settled over her as the reality of the situation sank in. She felt a knot form in her stomach, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She had hoped for another way, any way to avoid this. But there was no denying it.

"I know," Abbie whispered, her voice barely audible. Her heart felt heavy, the sadness in her words an echo of her resignation. "Sadly, I think you're right."

She wanted to argue. To tell him there had to be another option, but deep down, she knew it was too late. Carrie had crossed a line, and now it was a matter of survival.

The air between them felt colder now, the silence stretching out in the wake of their words. The future seemed darker than ever, and Abbie couldn't shake the feeling that there was no turning back from what was about to happen.