How They Got Away With Murder | Book Three

Chapter Seven-Part Two

      Michaela went first, ranting about all the spiteful things Annalise had done, including using her to get to Caleb. She then talked about how she held Annalise to such a high regard, only for her to have no one in reality. She described herself as hopeless and broken near the end of her speech, stepping back so that someone else could have a turn.

      Connor moved closer to Annalise, starting off by saying that she should have just let them go to the police after what happened to Sam. He even laughed, claiming that they were all 'basket-cases', to which Karmen could agree. He used words to portray how he felt about the professor, such as 'cold' and 'two-faced'. His argument ended by telling her how he was simply miserable and tired.

      Laurel decided to talk about how she did everything Annalise asked like a puppet. She talked about how Keating didn't respect any of them, not even herself. She called Annalise toxic and a 'mean alcoholic'.

      Next up was Asher, who began with how much of a bully his father was. He then declared that Annalise took the meaning of bully to a whole other level. He added on how Keating wasn't happy and neither were any of them.

      The only people left were Alyssa, Wes, and Karmen.

      "Alyssa." Annalise called, to which the brunette bit her lip. 

      "I can take it."

      With the reassurance, Alyssa said,

      "You have some sort of Midas's touch, except when you touch people or things, they break. Maybe Sam was our fault, but after that? You forced us into the Hapstall situation, made us take part in that. Maybe we bent to your will before, but we can't keep doing that. You're the reason all our lives went to hell. And now we'll never be the same. We're gonna live the rest of our lives in guilt and regret, all because of you. I used to think you were amazing, but now I see who you really are. You're just a sad excuse of a woman who thinks she can control us. But you can't."

      Karmen mentally applauded the speech. She didn't think Alyssa had it in her. Now, it was her turn.

      "There's so much to say about how I feel about you. But you already know. I hate you. You poisoned us and our minds, made us believe we were at fault for everything. You've turned us against each other, messed with our emotional states. You ruined my life, my relationships! I lose people because of you. You do cruel things and then lie, just because you feel like it, because you think everything is about you. You're just a lonely, manipulative person who thinks she can get people on her side by screwing them over and then offering a pathetic solution in response. I wish he were here instead of you." She spat, knowing she would understand the mention to 'he' without her having to say his name.

      Annalise didn't acknowledge a single thing she said, instead turning to Wes.

      "Go ahead."

      Dismissively, he replied, "You already know how I feel about you."

      With that, she stood from the chair and addressed them casually.

      "Get a good night's sleep. We'll start fresh tomorrow."

~~~~~

      "She said what?" Karmen asked after Alyssa finished telling her about her encounter with Annalise the previous night.

      "She told me Edith poisoned herself and that I'm gonna question her. When I asked her why she picked me she said, and I quote, 'because I can control you'."

      The blonde snorted. "So much for a fresh start."

      "Karmen!" She instantly shook her head as she heard Bonnie call out for her. She kept walking, eyes glued in front of her.