The Substitute's Last Dance novel Chapter 9

It didn’t take long to confirm my identity—there was no doubt that the body was

mine.

Rachel acted as if nothing had happened, clinging to Jackson’s shoulder, pretending

to be scared.

Zoey finally made her way to me, trembling as she tried to smooth out my tangled

hair.

She had always been strong, but now she was sobbing uncontrollably, pounding the

bed in frustration.

She blamed herself for not stopping me, saying she deserved to die, saying she

should have gone with me to face the danger.

I wanted to comfort her, but my hand passed right through her back.

That’s when I truly realized I was dead, and tears began to stream down my face.

Silly girl, I went because of my own mistakes in love. Why would you have to die with

me?

I wanted to tell her I didn’t regret meeting her, that my only regret was not spending

more time with her while I was alive.

When I finally made something of myself, my parasitic parents and brother tried to

reconnect, only to curse me at the company’s gate when I refused. They accused me

of being heartless and ungrateful—no wonder I had no friends.

But Zoey stood by me, broom in hand, arguing with them. When she won, she smiled

at me like a little ray of sunshine.

In my life, I made many decisions I came to regret.

with me, that’s why Jenna died! Why are you pretending to care now?”

“Did you really think I loved you? You were just my lapdog. I said I was kidnapped,

and you made Jenna take my place!”

“You killed Jenna, not me! What does any of this have to do with me?”

“Without you, Jenna would still be alive!”

Jackson stood there in a daze, like his soul had left his body.

His once immaculate suit was wrinkled from all the shoving, his eyes red and swollen,

looking utterly defeated.

He muttered to himself, “She’s right. I’m the real murderer.”

“I’m nothing but a monster.”