Several things happened after Josh's body fell to the floor, but I wasn't sure in which order each action had occurred. It seemed that once I had swung the blade my mind no longer functioned properly.

At some point I replaced the shirt that had been taken off my body. I pulled my pants and underwear back on, though it was useless. Everyone in the room was unconscious. I think I checked to see if Josh was still alive, but I couldn't be sure. All I could remember was not wanting to touch his body and hovering over it for a long time. I recalled picking up the phone and dialing a number, but I couldn't remember if I had dialed an emergency line or if I had punched in the phone number that belonged to Alistair's parents. The only thing I could clearly recollect was asking for Jasper repeatedly and telling them to bring an ambulance. I needed help and I needed it fast.

And once I made the phone call everything just stopped.

There was blood on my hands. I stared at my open palms for a long time. Too long. The blood was drying, becoming sticky and uncomfortable on my skin. I think it was Josh's blood, but it could've been my own from an injury I wasn't sensing. Then my eyes moved to Josh's form. He was still there, exactly where he had crumpled. Still splayed out of the floor with the crimson liquid discoloring his shirt. He would be so furious if he ever woke up. He loved very few things the way he loved his clothing.

I think that some part of me knew that Alistair and Sophie were nearby. And I truly hope that there was something in me that was concerned for their well-being, but I wasn't able to sense it at the time. I think I wanted to go to them. I wanted to touch Alistair's face, bring his eyes to mine and see all of the emotions that constantly whirled within him. I wanted to hold Sophie and cry into her bloodied hair as I thanked her profusely for all she had done for me. But I was terrified. And I had been since Alistair went silent again. I was scared that he had fought too hard to stay conscious, that he had exerted energy that his body couldn't maintain in such a state. I was worried that Sophie's body had simply shut down from all of the pain and fear. I didn't think I could bear touching my friend's dead skin. Not yet.

So I stood in the kitchen, in between Josh's unmoving body and the people who had done everything they could to save me.

I was frozen. Numb.

And I still hadn't moved when the front door was flung up by a hoard of people in dark green gear.

There were several male voices and the heavy stomping of feet that entered the air. It would've woken the dead. My eyes remained trained on my hands. The dried blood that coated my skin from the violent act I had committed.

"Camila."

I knew that voice. It wasn't Alistair's, but it was so similar that it drew my gaze upwards.

The person before me seemed to be more beast than man. Strong arms that pressed at the seams of his tee-shirt, a broad chest that was covered by a bullet proof vest and a hefty gun strapped to his hip. His face held an intimidating amount of intensity as his features were incredibly angular and his brown eyes were actively monitoring the scene around him. The lines of a dark tattoo curled around his left arm. The same tattoo that Alistair had.

"Oh God," His attention shifted to the two people who had saved me. The two people I had left tied to my dining room chairs. Then to the body behind me, "Oh my God."

"Jasper." I whispered, feeling my chin quiver. The impassiveness that had fallen over my shocked system was fading.

It was like a switch had filled. The horror that had filled his expression vanished as his brown eyes darted back to my shaking form. It was replaced with vivid concern. I expected him to run to me and hug me tightly, to chase all of the bad feelings away as best as he could. But that was not Jasper. Instead, he slowly raised his hands in surrender.

"Everything is going to be alright." He soothed. He inched towards me like he was approaching a spooked horse. "I just want you to tell me where the blood on your hands came from."

My gaze fell back downwards. Staring at the blood that had now turned brown and crusted over my skin. Where had this blood come from? I couldn't seem to remember. Everything had gotten lost in the whirlwind of wild events.

"J-Josh I think." I confessed. One tear rolled down my cheek. Then another drifted down the other side. And that was enough to break the dam that the shock had created. "I didn't mean to, Jasper. I didn't mean to." I sobbed.

My knees weakened. I moved to clutch my hands to my chest. One glance at the substance still covering them made me cringe and push them away in disgust again.

"It's ok." Jasper hushed, still coming closer at a slow pace. "We are going to figure everything out together, alright?"

I nodded my head slowly, worried that my mouth wouldn't be able to create all of the words I so desperately needed to say.

"Where is the weapon, Camila?"

I mutely pointed in the direction of the knife. After it had served its purpose I had placed it on the counter, distressed beyond belief.

"Is that the only weapon in the house?"

I could only shrug.

I didn't see the man who moved behind me. In fact, I was so focused on Jasper that I hadn't noticed anything else that was happening. By the time I felt the cool metal closing around one of my wrists it was too late. I tried to spin around but my arm was yanked hard, keeping my body straight as the officer captured my other wrist in the cool metal. There was a clicking noise and I knew that I couldn't get away.

"Jasper." I choked out, my throat clogged with tears. "Jasper, what's happening?"

"You need to trust me." Jasper stated as he closed the distance between us.

I heard the words and I knew what they meant. I understood what he wanted from me, but the second his hands closed around one of my ankles I couldn't use my rationality to fight off the instincts. Invasive hands had just been on my body and now there was a second set. It was not the same man and it was not the same action, but it felt too similar too soon.

My body twisted and contorted as I desperately attempted to get out of the grasp of the man who held me. He was resilient and I was weakened. The only response I got from him was a soft grunt when I attempted to jab him with my bony elbow. I fought hard until I was coated in a light sweat and panting. It was useless, my hands remained bound and his grip on the chain was unrelenting.

It would've been impossible for Jasper to be oblivious to my struggles. His brown eyes roved upward to my face, but his hands remained on my right leg, still progressing upward. He was the real problem as he was the ring leader.

Just as I was about to aim a kick towards him he spoke.

"I know this seems strange right now." He murmured. I remained tense as his fingers moved up my thigh, "It's not the most comfortable thing and I understand that. But I just want to make sure that you don't have anything on you that could hurt me or any of my team members. Do you understand that?"

I nodded bleakly, vaguely able to think about how defensive I was of my own employees.

"Good, so I just have to search your pockets for anything sharp."

His hand brushed over my jeans, pressing down softly and dipping into my front and back pockets quickly. It made me stiffen but I didn't fight too harshly.

"Perfect and nothing is tucked under your shirt either."

I flinched when his hand progressed upward, in between my breasts. I tried to listen to him, but I couldn't resist the urge to attempt to shuffle away. With his thumb, he hooked the middle of my bra and pulled outward. I let out a soft whimper and squirmed. Then it became evident that if anything had been stowed in my bra it would've fallen to the floor. Once that was cleared he released me and I settled down as he continued on.

Jasper's hands settled on my hips once he was satisfied with the search. His brown eyes were no longer focused on me, but now narrowed in on the man who was still holding my handcuffs.

"She's clear, but the marks around her neck and her frantic state have me worried. Take her to the ambulance."

"But Alistair and Sophie-" I began, my voice feeble and weak.

"Take her, please."

The officer complied with Jasper's commands. It was clear that he was the absolute authority right now. But I still strained against the biting metal of the handcuffs. I shouted my complaints and my defiance. I don't recall what I said, my mind still muddled beyond belief. I just wanted Jasper's attention; I wanted him to reconsider taking me away from the scene. From Sophie and Alistair.

The officer holding me didn't entertain my ideas. Though I thrashed my body around Jasper didn't even glance over his shoulder. I craned my neck, watching him drop to his knees in front of his younger brother. A second later I forced to walk down the stairs and out the front door of my own home.