Love in the Eye of the Storm

Chapter 4

"Buddy!" Panic surged through me. My legs felt like jelly, but I stumbled down the stairs to the living room, barely able to keep my balance. The last few steps I took in a frantic tumble, landing hard on the floor.

And there he was, my Buddy, curled up in a pool of blood, his golden fur soaked and matted. His eyes locked with mine, filled with sorrow, tears shimmering in them. But then, he lay still, unable to close his eyes for the last time.

Buddy had never hurt anyone. He was always gentle, always loyal. Just sitting quietly in the hallway, he didn't deserve this kind of brutal fate.

"B-Buddy, wake up! Please, just wake up!"

I ignored the blood covering him and cradled Buddy in my arms, my voice desperate, pleading. But he didn't respond. He was gone. His breath no longer there. His eyes, forever closed.

Buddy had been a stray I took in years ago, a tiny, starving pup when I first found him. I'd tossed him a few scraps, but he'd saved my brother and me from a gang once. He'd jumped in front of us, taking the hit himself, and I couldn't just walk away from him after that.

I named him Buddy, hoping he'd stay by my side forever. But now... he was gone. The thought of the monster who had taken him from me twisted something deep inside, and the anger that rose up in me was too much to contain.

I spun around, eyes locked on Chelsea, who had followed me downstairs. Without thinking, I shoved her hard to the ground.

"Ah!" she screamed, but I didn't care.

I pounced on her, grappling with her in a blind fury. My hands were shaking, but I needed to hurt her, to make her feel the pain she'd caused. My eyes darted around the room until they landed on a teacup on the coffee table. I grabbed it, smashing it, and picked up a shard of glass.

I stabbed at her, my body wild with rage, and barely felt the cut on my palm as it began to bleed. All I could think about was Buddy. I needed to avenge him.

"Alexander, help! Madeline's gone crazy! She's trying to kill me!"

But I couldn't finish what I'd started. My energy was drained, and my body was so weak. I managed only to scratch her shoulder before Alexander was there, pulling me off her, wrapping his arms protectively around Chelsea.

His eyes, usually so warm and filled with love, were now full of concern and, worse, disappointment.

"Madeline, what are you doing? Chelsea's sick! You can't just attack her like this! Apologize!" he demanded, his voice frantic as he held her close.

I barely lifted my gaze to meet his. I felt numb, like I wasn't even in my body anymore. I searched his face, but it wasn't the same one I remembered. It was the face of a stranger, someone who was pushing me further into darkness, further from the warmth I once knew.

Finally, I spoke, my voice trembling, like I wasn't even there. "B-Buddy's dead... Chelsea... She kicked him to death. She... she killed Buddy! How can I apologize to her? After what she did... how could I possibly apologize?!"

Alexander froze for a moment, his eyes searching mine, and then he saw it, Buddy's lifeless body in the pool of blood. The same dog who had once risked everything to save us.