I gasp and look around me, disoriented. I can feel the wipe of cloth brushing against my skin, wiping away the tears that were on my face. I looked around and realized we were in Grayson's room.

"Amelia," Gina says and pulls me into a hug. Her pretty face looked so concerned I felt bad for making her sad. "This is not the time to worry about me," she tells me. I look back, had I said that out loud? "I can see the concern on your face," she answers my question. I was really wondering if she could read minds. Everyone was gathered around me, all looking at me in relief and shock.

"What happened?" She questions me as she sits on the bed beside me.

"Give her time to compose herself," Grayson growls.

"Why is he mad?" I whisper to Gina. She looks at me with wide eyes and leans closer to me.

"You don't remember much, huh?" I shake my head at her. "What do you remember?"

"I remember playing with a clown, the fun house, and then-" I stay quiet before I say, "my dream." She gives me a quizzical look but doesn't press it further. Instead, she bites her lips, debating whether she should tell me something or not. "Tell me," I tell her.

"Grayson was the one that found you and got you out. He was going crazy with worry."

"Oh," is all I can say. I look at him but know his look is more out of anger than anything else.

"Why didn't you tell us, Amelia," she says with a soft murmur.

"Tell you what?" I told her. Gina wasted no time in telling me everything I had missed when I passed out. Grayson had managed to break down the door with the help of Abacus. The red liquid had poured down with me and they all stood shocked at the writing on the wall. That's when Link's keen eye saw the newspaper article, stained but still readable.

As she tells me this, I look away and hug my knees to my chest. They knew, they all knew I had caused the death of my dad. There wasn't a day that went by when I didn't blame myself, but it was my secret. Now, everyone knows. All thanks to the person out there who hated me as much as I hated me.

"Everyone leave-" Grayson says in a tranquil voice, but he gives them a death stare. No one questions it and walks out.

"Where's Abacus?"

"He took Sienna home for me," he tells me deadly serious. I'm about to ask something else when he responds, "we have a temporary alliance and he understood that I had something to tell you. Didn't question it."

I bite my lip and look at my fingers, they are still sprayed red. So where my clothes and I now lay in a gray duvet. I gasped and my arms room the covers, "your sheets are going to get stained."

He's next to me in seconds and grabs my hands. I looked up to see how close he was to me. I gulp and he catches the action instantly, for he looks at my throat briefly and back at me. I bite my lip feeling as if I was in court, ready to give my verdict of innocence.

"Why didn't you come get me? I told you when your reminder came, I would face it with you. Or was that not the "reminder" you were expecting."

I pull my hand out of his hold and look down. Resting my face on my knees I look at him. I say, "how could I come to get you when I didn't know myself."

"You followed a clown to play a game," he tells me matter-of-factly. He got me. It was true. I had chances to ask someone but I wanted to go alone.

"Because-"

"Because?" He waits for me to elaborate.

"Some things are meant to be faced alone, Grayson."

"Not when you have people around you that want to help."

"All you've done is the opposite."

He stays quiet, "you're right. I know it's asking a lot for you to trust me when I gain it and then destroy it, but this person was out to kill you."

"Then let them-" I yell and start crying.

He stops and sits down. His actions are softer now. He touches my hand gently and speaks softly, "Amelia. His death wasn't your fault. You are not a killer."

I'm blubbering at this point as I yell, "I am. I moved the steering wheel. I did it." I can tell he is confused because the article never mentioned anything about it. I had never mentioned it to anyone. It always baffled me who knew, when the only people who I told were the therapist and my mom. Neither of whom would ever tell anyone else, not even to my stepfather.

"Amelia," he runs a soothing hand on my hair and keeps repeating, "it's not your fault." I do the opposite and respond with, "it is."

Time is frozen at that moment before he pulls me to look at him. "Listen to me." I sniffle. "It was an accident. A terrible one but an accident nonetheless. If you don't trust me, that's okay, but trust that I know you are not a killer nor did you kill your dad." His words sound so convincing, I almost believe me. He seems to catch on because he says, "I'll stick by you until you realize it."

I nod my head when the door opens and he steps away. Abacus, Link, and Matt enter.

"Amelia," Abacus rushes by my side and puts a hand on my forehead.

"Amelia- Oh- Amelia," Link starts fake crying. Even goes as far as pouring some water over his eyes to give the effect he wanted. We all laugh at his antics. If painting didn't work for him, I knew being an actor would. "My sweet Amelia. I thought we lost you." He gets on his knees and pours more water.

"Hey," Abacus calls my attention.

"Hey," I give him a sweet smile.

"I'm glad you're okay. I'm sorry I let you go alone."

"No- I tricked you both."

He gives me a somber look and I raise my eyebrows. "I have to go," he tells me.

"Go," I tell him.

"I'm sorry." He gives me a chaste kiss and approaches Grayson with an extended hand. Grayson doesn't protest and accepts it, "thanks for getting her out and bringing her here." Grayson nods his head. "Your mom still isn't home?" he asks. Grayson keeps a tight lip but shakes his head. "I'll see you around," he says and exits the room.

"I should head home."

"Or stay over?" Grayson says. My eyes quickly look at him in shock. He doesn't say anything and throws my phone at me "text your mom. We can study in the morning."

He leaves the room not giving me a choice. However, I don't text my mom right away. I see another message from the unknown number and click on it. Did you like my surprise? I promise there's more to come. No running away this time from who you are. When I'm done, everyone will know what you did. The message was signed off with a heart. I deleted it immediately, ready to ignore it again as an unsettling feeling settled over me.

At that moment, Gina comes in and squeals, "I heard we're having a sleepover." She jumps on the bed and begins moving it as Link joins, giving me a knowing look. I avoid his eye contact before Matt comes in and joins as well.

It isn't long before Grayson is kicking everyone out and Gina settles next to me. The boys had their pick of rooms but Gina wanted to sleep next to me. She snuggles close to me as if she was a bird protecting her young.

She puts her head next to me and tells me, "next time. Don't run into a burning building without me. Also, keep in mind that I will kick some ass for you but only if I'm in the loop."

"Gina, did you guys ever see the clown?"

"No, sorry. However, we did find a lock on the door. I think the person who trapped you knew you would go there and was waiting."

"No, I think they were watching me and I played into their hands." 

>>>>

Who do you think is the clown? 

Anyone want to start a bet... 

My money is on... 

Okay. Please don't forget to vote, comment, and share. :) 

Phoenix <3