Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Riley’s hand flew to his throat, covering the pendant with his palm.

For the first time all day, I saw genuine panic in his eyes.

“It’s nothing,” he said quickly, trying to leave as he added. “Just a regular necklace.”

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But I could see the light that was still seeping through his fingers, could see the way his whole body was filled with fear. Something was wrong, and I wasn’t just talking about Riley’s behavior, but with that necklace.

“Let me see it,” I said, stepping closer, trying to touch it with my hand.

“Riley, that’s not normal. Necklaces don’t glow like that.”

“Stay away from me,” Riley said, backing toward the door. He sounded less cold and more scared of me, like I would hurt him.

“I just want to help,” I said, reaching out toward him. “If something’s wrong-”

“Don’t touch me!” Riley screamed, and in his panic, he shoved me hard with both hands.

I stumbled backward, my feet getting tangled together. I felt myself falling, felt the horrifying feeling of emptiness behind me as I realized I was at the top of the small staircase that was connected to a floor below us.

Time seemed to slow down for me as I saw Riley’s face change from panic to horror as he realized what had happened.

I saw him move forward, his hand reaching for mine. I felt his fingers grab my wrist just as gravity took hold and pulled me down

with intensity.

We both went down the stairs together. I felt Riley wrap his arms around me, felt him turn his body so that he hit the stairs first, cushioning my fall with his own body.

We came to a stop at the bottom of the staircase, and for a moment, everything was silent. I was lying on top of Riley, completely unharmed thanks to his quick thinking. But Riley…

“Oh no,” I whispered, scrambling off him. “Riley, wake up!”

He was unconscious, his head was tilted at an odd angle, and blood was pouring out from behind his head where he’d hit the concrete step. His face was pale, and he wasn’t moving.

“HELP!” I screamed, my voice echoing through the hallway. “SOMEBODY HELP! RILEY’S HURT!”

I knelt beside him, my hands shaking as I tried to remember what Mama had taught me about first aid. Don’t move someone who

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20:58 Wed, Jan 21

Chapter 96

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might have a neck injury. Don’t let them choke on their own blood. Keep them warm and call for help.

HELP! I shouted again, tears rolling down my face as I wiped it and got my face stained with his blood and my clothes as well as I

bit back another sob.

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“PLEASE, SOMEBODY HELP!”

I could hear footsteps running toward us. But all I could think about was the way Riley had protected me, the way he sacrificed

himself to prevent me from being hurt.

Even after everything that had happened between us today, even after he’d been so cruel and cold, he’d still tried to save me.

As Mrs. Henderson and the school nurse came running down the hallway, as they knelt beside Riley and began checking his vital signs, I found myself staring at his necklace. The glow was gone now, the pendant looking like nothing more than ordinary silver.

But I knew what I’d seen. I knew there was something wrong with that necklace, something that might explain why Riley had been

acting so strangely.

And as the paramedics arrived and began working on my friend, I made a silent promise to myself.

I was going to figure out what was wrong with that necklace and what it had to do with Riley’s behavior.

Because despite everything that had happened today, I still believed that the real Riley, my best friend was still in there somewhere.

I just had to find a way to bring him back.

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20:58 Wed, Jan 21

Reborn From Regret A Second Chance at Luna’s Heart