The Beneath
Copyright© 2025 by Heel
Chapter 5: The Accusation
Stella’s arms burned as she gripped her crutches, every step a struggle. Her body swayed, the cast heavy and unyielding. The park, once a quiet refuge, felt suffocating, the sunlight harsh and unrelenting.
The man stepped into her path, eyes blazing with grief and fury. Even before he spoke, she felt it — a tidal wave of raw, jagged emotion pressing into her chest: anger, despair, blame.
“You!” he shouted, voice hoarse. “You killed her! You killed my wife!”
Stella froze, disbelief anchoring her in place. “I ... I don’t understand,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I didn’t—”
“You!” he barked. “The day you fell, the day you broke your leg and hit your head ... she tried to help you. She rushed to you, leaned over you, and you struck her. Your leg hit her chest, and she stumbled ... she fell ... and hit her head on the stone. You...” His voice cracked with grief. “ ... you killed her.”
Stella’s stomach lurched. Memories were fragmented flashes: the bike wobbling, the sudden fall, the sharp pain in her leg and head, then ... nothing. She couldn’t remember hitting anyone. She couldn’t believe it.
The words hit her like a physical blow. She pressed harder into her crutches, her arms trembling violently. “I ... I don’t remember,” she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. “I didn’t mean to ... I couldn’t—”
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