Rylie's eyes were shiny and bright. Her lips were curved into a sad smile, and I was sitting between two women I never thought would meet.

" I'm here." the voice repeated. Sarah was wearing civil clothes. Her blond hair was attached in a ponytail hidden behind a football cap.

I was as good as dead at that point. I lost Rylie, and now a cop was unto me. Love has ruined everything. Mandy had ruined everything. If I'd never met Rylie, I'd probably still be killing and wouldn't be getting caught.

" I couldn't help but overhear the fact that you are a killer, Jay."

Sarah walked slowly towards us, getting out of the shadows. She smiled at Rylie than turned to me.

" You let me believe I was a crazy cop, stalking you for nothing."

" You're a crazy ex girlfriend!"

" I'm a righteous cop! I don't care about you, Jay, I never did and we settled that a long time ago!"

The blow hit hard in the stomach.

" You deserve to rot in a cell, JJ. You deserve to be killed on sight— that would be too merciful!"

" If I have to live without Rider, I might as well die."

" You're a crazy psycho!" Sarah yelled, her face turning tomato red " you're so delusional you think this chick still loves you after you confessed to brutally murdering a bunch of people! You're no hero. You're not even good enough to be a villain! You're simply a failure, Adams, like you always were."

Rylie's hand squeezed mine.

" Is that true? Do you not love me?"

She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Sarah.

" Of course she doesn't! You killed people! You're a monster!"

" Let her speak, please.." my voice was a broken shell of what it once was. It was a nothing-voice. It was a cry of a kid that lost his toys.

Rylie looked like a shadow of herself. Her smile was basically a distorted frown and her eyes were still full of tears. She glanced at Sarah, biting her lip.

" JJ, I... I love you. I'll probably always love you. These past six months or so have been pure heaven."

Sarah's face flushed an even deeper red.

" You can't possibly believe that crap! He's been living a double life for six months, girl!"

" You weren't there. I know he truly was honest- I know he truly loves me and believes everything he's ever told me. I know that"

" You're as mad as him. Gosh! What did I do to end up in this mess? If only I could turn back time and prevent your mother from banging your father!" She spat at me, her voice so loud it would wake every animal in the damn forest

" You SHUT UP! You have no right to say such a thing!" I yelled as I said "shut up" but the rest was barely a whisper. I felt like a dying man. I could barely fight. I could barely talk. I was a shell of whom I once was.

" Don't tell me to shut up—"

" If he doesn't, I will, Detective. Don't you speak to him that way."

I looked at Rylie, surprised. Why was she defending me?

" I may hate his guts for being the worst possible kind of sinner and despicable being, but I know he's good. I know there's an explanation. I think... I think we could work through it."

" Do you have Stockholm's? Cause you're acting completely mad."

" I don't."

Sarah grabbed my wrists. I let her. I knew where I was going the second I saw her anyway.

" A'ight. I'm taking you to the police department. You'll give us a statement- a confession there. Maybe if you plead guilty you'll have less problems and less time, I dunno."

She was slowly making me back into the trees. She'd hidden her car there. Had she placed a chip on my car? Illegally?

" Not so fast."

" What do you want, Carrot Hair? I have to go right now."

I couldn't see Rylie's face, my back was at her. But I knew she'd be really mad. No one was allowed to mess with her.

" You're not going anywhere with my boyfriend."

Sarah laughed. Her fingers trembles against my wrist.

" right. And what you gonna do about it? You're so—"

I heard a thud and I felt Sarah fall against me. She weighed more than she looked. I collapsed under her, face in the muddy soil.

I heard scraping and clicking, and I heard a gasp.

" She didn't record none. We're fine."

I then heard the click of a key set and then felt cool fingers brush against my skin. Then, my wrists were free.

" What are you... What are you doing?"

I scrambled to my feet, pushing off Sarah's body.

" I knew she was there. I played pretend— well not entirely. I am mad you hid this from me. I just don't care that much about what you hid."

" You don't mind me being a killer?"

" I'm sad you didn't take me with you. I could've had so much more details in my books! And I mean your life is probably worthy of a good thriller too."

I chuckled nervously.

" You mean that?"

" Of course I do, weirdo! I just killed a cop for you."

Despite me being all muddy and sweaty and her being all teary eyed and sweaty, I grabbed her hand, forced her unto me and kissed her hard, my two muddy hands cupping her face. She pushed away, smiling.

" I love you, killer."

" Too soon."

" Okay."

I didn't know she had been such a weirdo, but her search history should have told me that. Now, our relationship could truly be honest and open. That was the best thing that could ever happen to us.

" And JJ? Will you tell me about your past one day?"

" Maybe. First... We need to hide her."

" Oh. Yeah. And cover our tracts. If the one person that suspected me disappears, we're as good as dead."

Sure are. This was a mess I wasn't prepared for. My life suddenly felt like a bad soap opera. Without the soap and the singing.

Some things were left unexplained still, and I wanted to connect the dots. It was better to hide my doubts though. Maybe I didn't see the full picture yet.