Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica stared unblinking, her vision filled with nothing but those bloody marks.

She'd known he was hurt that day, but she hadn't realized there wasn't a single patch of unbroken skin left on his back.

As Zachary stepped out of the house, he found a crowd gathered at the front door. He walked over and saw the stripes of blood covering the entire expanse of Timothy's back.

Sallie's voice trembled as she looked at Jessica. “He's injured. I asked him how it happened, but he wouldn't say. We're twins-I can sense a little of what he's feeling. Besides you, who else could make him get hurt like that?"

The world went black for Jessica. Her body went limp as she fainted, but Vince, his entire focus on Timothy's wounds, didn't notice.

“Salome!” Zachary shouted when he saw Jessica about to collapse, ready to rush forward.

Yates was closest to Jessica. Reacting quickly, he caught her around the waist and pulled her into his arms before she could hit the ground.

Timothy spun around in alarm, catching sight of Jessica in Yates' embrace. Clutching his chest, he tried to go to her, but his legs gave way and he nearly fell.

Sallie and Sandra managed to steady him just in time.

car around!" Zachary's mind raced with panic.

Timothy called her name softly, forcing himself to take

and Sandra held him

to the hospital first,"

up to the front, and Yates carried Jessica

them, and the car

Sallie. "Take me to

he needed medical attention too. The three of them helped him into

of Timothy in the back, while the driver took

Timothy's hand tightly; his skin was icy cold. She instructed the driver to turn up

quietly beside them, wiping away

whole was now in pieces. One by one, each of

Timothy's hand, trying to comfort him. "Timothy, what's done is done. Pushing any further will only destroy what's left-if this keeps up, there'll be no going back with the Zimmerman family. Mrs. Zimmerman has always treated you well. How could you have been so foolish?

never meant for any