Backstabbed by My Bestie on the Run

Mackenzie Holt, my best friend, is dating Caleb Lowe, an abusive man. I grab her and make a run for it after she gets beaten up again and is left with a swollen, bruised face. Caleb, however, catches us before we can get away. Upon seeing Caleb charging at us with a knife, Mackenzie immediately shoves me aside and runs to him. "Adeline's the one who forced me to run away! You know how much I love you, Caleb! How could I ever leave you?" I feel my blood run cold, and in the next second, the cold blade pierces my abdomen. I open my eyes again, only to find myself on a train. Chapter 1 Amid the rumble of the train, Mackenzie Holt, my best friend, excitedly shook my arm. "Wake up, Adeline!" I followed her gaze and saw a breathtaking view outside the train window, like something out of a fairy tale. I finally realized that I had been reborn as my senses came back to me. I had returned to the day Mackenzie and I had set out on a trip together. Upon noticing that I hadn't said anything, Mackenzie leaned closer and looked at me. "Haven't woken up yet?" I stared at that all-too-familiar face, my heart pounding with fear and refusing to slow down. Mackenzie was my university roommate and the class academic representative. She was cheerful, optimistic, and sweet, and everyone in our class liked her, including the faculty. I was completely different. I was quiet, withdrawn, and constantly trying to blend into the background. I never expected us to have any real interaction even though we lived in the same dorm, but everything changed after that one incident. Mackenzie's then-boyfriend organized a get-together and invited everyone in the dorm. I had always hated those kinds of outings, so I declined as politely as I could. Mackenzie wasn't having it, though. She grabbed my arm and said softly, "You should definitely come with us, Adeline! What's the fun in staying in the dorm by yourself?" I had no choice but to agree after she kept pestering me. I thought I'd just be there to make up the numbers again, but Mackenzie took good care of me the whole way, making sure I wasn't left out. I also discovered we actually shared a lot of the same interests as we chatted. It was from that day onward that we gradually grew closer, and she became a constant presence in my life. I was no longer the isolated loner I used to be because of her—no longer the odd one out in a crowd. I had cherished our friendship for three years, but everything changed after graduation when Mackenzie met Caleb Lowe. I felt a cold sensation spread through my entire body, leaving my hands and feet cold and numb. I had been foolish enough to trust the wrong person once, so in this life, I would never take the fall for her again. In my past life, Mackenzie secured a decent job soon after graduating from university because of her abilities, and not long afterward, she got a new boyfriend. I didn't like Caleb from the moment I set eyes on him. "I'd like to introduce you to Caleb Lowe, my six-foot-one, total dreamboat of a boyfriend. I've got good taste, don't I, Adeline?" Mackenzie held Caleb's arm, showing him off with a proud smile. Caleb was wearing a dark brown coat with his hands in his pockets. He was tall and slender, with a handsome face and striking eyes that made him look refined. There was an unmistakable arrogance in his gaze, though. I couldn't shake a strange sense of unease as I watched them being lovey-dovey, and it turned out that my instincts were right. I noticed Mackenzie looking completely pale and exhausted during a video call, with traces of bruising still visible around her eyes. Mackenzie finally gave in and broke down after repeated questioning. Caleb, as it turned out, had an overwhelming need for control, forcing her to live entirely on his terms—no opposite-sex friends, constant check-ins when out, no autonomy over her clothes, and immediate replies to messages even at midnight. He would immediately threaten to break up with her whenever Mackenzie disobeyed him. Chapter 2 Mackenzie seemed to have lost all reason while they were in the early stages of their relationship, willingly giving in to Caleb's demands. "Caleb says he's doing this for my own good. He just cares about me too much." He claimed that having her report her whereabouts was for her safety. "Did you see that celebrity who got trafficked to Malgora? She only survived because she kept people updated on her location constantly, Mackenzie." He didn't allow her to have male friends. "There's no such thing as a platonic friendship between a man and a woman. I'm able to do it, so you should be able to do it for me too, right, Mackenzie?" He controlled her outfits. "You dress to please the person you love. Who else are you dressing up for if not me, Mackenzie?" Caleb's steady stream of manipulative reasoning left Mackenzie firmly believing this was love. They suddenly had a huge fight just because Mackenzie got her nails done. "Caleb says he can't stand manicures and prefers a natural look. He says that, much like getting a tattoo, having manicured nails is often branded as unconventional. He told me no man actually likes them." Mackenzie cried bitterly. "It's the one thing I enjoy, yet he refuses to let me keep it. Who the hell does he think he is?" In the end, a fight broke out between them, which soon escalated into a physical clash. It was entirely one-sided, with Mackenzie taking the full brunt of it. I couldn't just stand by and watch Mackenzie sink further into this toxic relationship, so I spent a long time earnestly trying to talk sense into her. Mackenzie had it all—a good career, looks, and a great figure—and had no shortage of suitors. Why stay fixated on one guy, especially one who was an unhinged control freak? Mackenzie cried on the video call, looking as though she'd been deeply wronged. Her tears caught the light on her cheeks, giving her an even more fragile, defenseless look. I couldn't tell if she'd actually listened to what I said, but I hoped she'd snap out of it before long. That night, Mackenzie sent me a message. "Caleb apologized, so I've forgiven him." She included a photo of a designer handbag with the message. I suddenly felt like a fool again, as nothing had changed. Mackenzie's cycle of domestic violence kept repeating itself, matched only by her endless, predictable forgiveness. Mackenzie finally had enough and brought up breaking up. That was when Caleb dropped all his pretense and laid it out directly. "You want out? You've got two choices—either I walk away from you, or you die in my hands!" Mackenzie called me late one night. She lowered her voice as she told me that she had resigned and planned to return to her hometown that night. She had already packed her belongings and left home. She asked tremblingly, "Can you come see me off, Adeline? I'm really scared…" I was stunned, but I still got dressed and went out to meet her. I waited with her on the curb for a rideshare once we met up. "I'm so glad you're here with me, Adeline," Mackenzie murmured, gripping my arm tightly. She looked pale and exhausted, the bruises and injuries under her tinted sunglasses just barely visible. Yet, before Mackenzie's ride could arrive, Caleb appeared. He walked out of the dark a little ways off, picking up speed as he got closer. Mackenzie shrieked as soon as she made out who it was. "W-What do you want from us?" I fixed my eyes on Caleb as he closed in, the knife in his hand glinting coldly. I forced myself to stay calm, scanning out of the corner of my eye for anyone nearby who could help. It was around 3:00 am in the dead of winter, so there were only a few scattered cars passing through. "Where are you two off to?" Caleb asked, his voice cold and menacing. I grabbed Mackenzie's hand and swallowed hard as Caleb closed in on us. I glanced at a store down the street that still had its lights on, getting ready to make a run for it. Just as everything hung in the balance, Mackenzie let go of my hand and ran straight to Caleb. "Adeline's the one who forced me to run away! You know how much I love you, Caleb! How could I ever leave you?" Chapter 3 I was dumbstruck after hearing what Mackenzie said. Caleb's lips curved into an unsettling smile. He raised his hand as if to strike, and Mackenzie flinched back reflexively, but his hand settled gently on her head instead. He stroked her hair affectionately, chuckling softly. "I knew you wouldn't do that to me, Mackenzie. I told you before to keep your distance from her. Why wouldn't you listen to me?" He then walked toward me and said, "You're truly a bitch, Adeline. You were the one encouraging her to break up with me whenever we fought. You're the one feeding her all these bad ideas. You should've died long ago, Adeline." I tried to run, but I couldn't move—my body was completely locked up. I suddenly felt a searing pain shoot through my abdomen. I collapsed to the ground, clutching my bleeding abdomen. I met Mackenzie's vacant, lifeless eyes as I lay in the pool of blood, but she quickly lowered her head and avoided looking at me. I slowly closed my eyes as my consciousness started slipping away, refusing to accept my fate. I then opened my eyes and found myself back on this train again. Mackenzie immediately pulled out her phone to check in with Caleb the moment the train reached its destination, and we got to the hotel. They were still deep in the honeymoon stage of their relationship. I gazed at Mackenzie's face, deep in thought. I couldn't help but wonder if she was truly human beneath that outer shell or something sinister. Mackenzie suddenly pointed her front camera at me while I was lost in thought. Caleb's well-defined features appeared on the screen. She then chuckled merrily and said, "You can see for yourself, Caleb! It's just Adeline and me here!" I plastered on a friendly smile and greeted Caleb. I was completely done with this unhinged couple. I would let them stay together in this life and cut them out of my life for good. We each went back to our own lives once the trip was over. I almost didn't recognize Mackenzie when I saw her again. She had long black hair over her shoulders and was dressed in a floral dress with low-heeled leather shoes. She had ditched her colorful makeup and looked like the epitome of a dutiful housewife. She looked completely different from her usual style. Caleb had clearly done a thorough job of changing her. "What do you think, Adeline? Does this outfit look good? Caleb picked it out!" Mackenzie turned a full circle where she stood. I nodded and said, "It looks good. It suits you well, Mackenzie." Mackenzie looked visibly happier after hearing that. She wrapped her arm through mine, and it was only then that I noticed her bare, unadorned fingernails. "What happened to your manicure?" I asked instinctively. "Caleb doesn't like me getting my nails done, so I switched to nude polish instead. He said he'd buy me a gift to make up for it. Don't you think he's being too controlling? I mean, none of my ex-boyfriends were ever like this. I've completely lost my freedom, Adeline!" Mackenzie complained with a pout. "I mean, everyone has their own way of loving someone. I guess this is just his way of showing his love for you, Mackenzie," I said, smiling sheepishly. "Huh? You really think so? Don't you hate him more than anyone, Adeline?" Mackenzie turned to look at me, disbelief written all over her face. I shrugged helplessly and said, "I do hate him, but since you're so crazy about him, what choice do I have? I guess I just have to warm up to him because you love him." Mackenzie kept staring at me like she couldn't believe what she was seeing. I instantly went into overdrive. "I mean, maybe Caleb and I just don't mesh well, personality-wise. I know I used to judge him pretty harshly, but for your lifelong happiness, I obviously have to let go of my personal feelings and put you first, Mackenzie." I almost convinced myself with the explanation I came up with on the spot. Mackenzie fell for it hook, line, and sinker. She threw her arm around my shoulders, her face glowing with delight. "You're the best, Adeline!" I fought back my discomfort at her physical contact and continued, "You see, nobody's perfect. You can't just dwell on his shortcomings. You should also consider his strengths, Mackenzie." Chapter 4 "I guess Caleb is handsome, has a six-pack, has a great job that makes a lot of money, cares about me, is willing to spend money on me…" Mackenzie started counting on her fingers. "He has a really bad temper sometimes, though. He even got physical with me last time. Is that a sign he might become abusive, Adeline?" Mackenzie asked, looking troubled. I chuckled dryly and said, "You know what they say—love and hate are two sides of the same coin, and a little fighting keeps things interesting! It's not just boyfriend and girlfriend; even old married couples go at it all the time!" That bit of manipulative persuasion likely left Mackenzie even more convinced she had struck gold with Caleb. I kept stirring the steaming coffee in the cup, and when I looked up, I found Mackenzie staring at me with her eyes wide open, her face just inches from mine. "I need you to look me in the eyes, Adeline!" Mackenzie fixed her gaze on me without blinking. She then asked seriously, "Are you really Adeline Calcraft?" I remained composed on the surface even though I was taken aback by the sudden question. I inwardly felt a pang of guilt, though, as if every effort I'd made to hide the truth had just been seen through. "You see, I just can't shake the feeling something's off. You haven't been possessed by some evil spirit, have you?" Mackenzie narrowed her eyes slightly, putting on a dramatic, thoughtful look. "You seriously scared the hell out of me!" I finally realized she was just messing with me. I quickly pushed her head away and gave her an annoyed look. Mackenzie broke into a cheerful laugh. I truly disliked her, but I had genuinely loved her once as a friend, too. In my past life, I would have wept with joy for her well-being before she even had the chance. In the toughest periods of my life, she was always there for me. I quit my job because I was being harassed at my workplace. I couldn't pull myself out of that depressive state for a long time, moping around all day and hiding from the world. Mackenzie kept dropping by my place to check on me, bringing me good food and taking me out to travel and sightsee. I gradually began to feel less weighed down and finally started to move past the negative emotions. We treated each other's parents like our own. We shared every tiny, insignificant thing that happened in our lives. I couldn't just let her keep mistaking lies for love, but I knew very well that I couldn't possibly pull her out of it. I would only end up hurting myself in the process—just like in my past life. I eventually figured it was better to back off and let her live out the life she chose for herself. Thus, without my intervention this time, Mackenzie kept spiraling further out of reach. It wasn't long before she got pregnant. She was so excited about giving Caleb a surprise, already imagining him proposing to her. "Caleb will probably learn to rein in his temper once he becomes a father." Unfortunately, what came wasn't news of a baby being born, but a phone call from the hospital. I happened to catch two nurses venting when I arrived at the hospital. "That woman's husband is so cold-hearted! He didn't seem to care that they'd lost the baby. He even left without paying the medical bill. What a jerk!" Having settled the medical bill, I made my way to Mackenzie's hospital ward. She looked pale and sallow as she lay there in silence, as if she'd aged a decade overnight. She slowly turned her head toward me when I arrived, the pillow under her head soaked with tears. She then said hoarsely, "Please don't tell my mother, Adeline." "What on earth happened, Mackenzie?" Mackenzie replied weakly, "Caleb told me he wasn't ready to be a father. He wanted me to get an abortion, and when I wouldn't go, he tried to drag me there by force… and I ended up falling…" Mackenzie closed her eyes tightly, tears streaming down her face. "It's all his fault! I actually lost my baby because of him! I loved him so much, so how could he do this to me?" Mackenzie was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe. I would've been livid if this had happened in my past life. I might have even gone straight to Caleb and given him a piece of my mind. I had no intention of doing that in this life, though.