That Killed Us 9

Chapter9 

Sienna Quinn’s hand slid where she wanted, pressing and stroking with a satisfied sigh. 

Whether by accident or design, her touch jolted Chase Rylan hard enough that the steering wheel jerked in his grip. 

The car veered, crashed through the guardrail–and plunged straight into the Merriton River. 

Boom! 

Icy water surged into the cabin. 

Lydia Rivers’s head spun from the impact, but instinct clawed her back. She snatched up the emergency hammer, smashing at the window until glass gave way. Water poured in as she forced herself through the opening–only to remember, with rising terror, that she 

couldn’t swim. 

“Help Chase! Help-” She choked on river water, flailing helplessly. 

Chase surfaced nearby, gasping. His gaze locked on Lydia thrashing in the current. He lunged toward her—until a scream ripped the air from the other side. 

“Chase! Save me! I can’t swim–I’m drowning! Please!” Sienna shrieked, her voice piercing. 

He froze. His eyes darted from Lydia sinking deeper, to Sienna’s panicked sobs. Conflict twisted in his face. 

Then, with a brutal clench of his jaw, he turned away from Lydia and swam for Sienna. 

Lydia saw the moment his back turned. The last ember of hope drowned with her. 

When she woke again, it was in her own bed. 

Chase sat beside her, hair damp, skin pale, eyes red–rimmed from exhaustion and fear. 

The instant her lashes fluttered, he grabbed her hand. 

“Lydia! You’re awake–you scared me half to death. I’m sorry… I saved Sienna first because she couldn’t swim at all. You looked like you were still hanging on, and she was about to go under. I had no choice… She once helped me, and I owed her. I called rescue immediately–I went back for you right after…” 

Lydia stared past him at the ceiling. His words washed over her, meaningless. 

When pain reached the point of breaking, it numbed into nothing. 

His phone rang. He glanced at the 

screen, torn. 

“Chase? Where are you? I’m scared… I don’t feel well… Can you come?” Sienna’s fragile voice bled through. 

Chase looked down at Lydia, guilt writ clear. “Lydia, I…” 

“Go.” Her eyes slid shut. 

He hesitated, then muttered, “I’ll be back soon. Rest,” and hurried out. 

Days passed. He never returned. 

Sometimes Lydia opened Instagram and saw Sienna’s Close Friends Only posts. 

X 

Chase asleep at her bedside, 

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Their fingers entwined. 

X 

X 

Him slicing a Honeycrisp apple, the curve of his shoulders caught in warm light. 

四 

e was a knife turned in. 

Lydia felt nothing anymore, only dull emptiness. 

When graduation photos came in, she returned to campus. Walking the tree–lined path, she heard a sharp, pitiful cry–a cat’s scream 

-from the Old Hall’s fourth–floor balcony. 

She climbed quickly and found Sienna tormenting a terrified kitten, its tiny body shaking, cries desperate. 

“Stop!” Lydia shoved her away, reaching for the cat. 

But Sienna clutched its leg, refusing to let go. They struggled–and then Sienna’s lips curved in a strange smile. In the next heartbeat, she let herself fall backward off the balcony. 

Lydia gasped, instinctively reachin 

caught only the edge of Sienna’s sleeve before it slipped away. 

At that split second, a figure sprinted below. Chase. He dove under Sienna’s falling body, catching her with the full force of her weight. They tumbled hard to the ground, but he held 

tight, shielding her. 

“Are you okay? What happened?” he asked frantically, checking her face. 

Sienna clung to his shirt, tears spilling instantly. 

“Chase… Lydia–she… she pushed me. Maybe she’s still angry you saved me first in the river. She wanted to get back at me…” 

Lydia had just reached the bottom steps when she heard it. Rage shook her voice. 

“You’re lying! I didn’t push you–you were hurting that kitten! I tried to stop you, 

Sienna’s sobs rose louder, her tone fragile as glass. 

and you 

“She’s framing me. Everyone knows I love animals. Why would I ever hurt one?” 

Chase’s face hardened. His gaze sliced to Lydia. 

“I saw you, Lydia. You were standing right there when she fell! You already shoved her once at the hospital, and now you escalate— pushing her from a balcony? Do you realize if I hadn’t caught her, she could’ve been crippled for life?” 

“I didn’t! She jumped–don’t you believe me?” 

“I saw it with my own eyes!” Chase’s voice was ice. “I’ve been helping her, saving her, only to repay a debt. That’s all! But why can’t you accept her? Why do you keep targeting her, over and over?” 

Chapter9