Dark Menace

Unlocked

"Lemi? W-what are you doing here? Hell, what are you doing back? How did you even know what college I was attending?" I blasted off with questions, staring behind her at Julia, who was just confused as I was.

"Just--so many questions. The real question....you should be asking, is why your father has suddenly chosen someone like me....over someone like you." She poked my chest as I crossed my arms, "What are you even talking about?" I scoffed underneath my breath at the certain idea of Lemi believing my father would actually honor some lunatic chick with serious issues over his own daughter.

"I'm talking about the reason I've decided to return back. To redeem and collect what was stolen from me." She glared intensely at me. I rose an eyebrow, blinking with impatience at her awful attempts of throwing out hints. I was so entirely lost here and she was purposely sugarcoating what she initially had to say just to score a reaction out of me, "And what exactly was "stolen" from you?" I placed my hands on my hips as Julia quietly took a place on her bed, staring at Lemi from behind. Thank god she was here for backup. I don't think I would've been able to stand Lemi's presence on my own. Not that I was afraid of her, but more of the fact that I haven't learned what her true intentions are surfaced to be after what happened a few months ago.

"Now, now, cowgirl. It wouldn't certainly be fair if I just gave away that answer so easily, right?" She spoke sweetly, yet almost innocently. I watched her every move while she quickly proceeded to search her bag, pulling out a brightly colored tan folder. "Here, I suggest you read through these papers wisely." Her arm stretched out in front of me, I silently eyed the folder in her hands and examined it before receiving the folder, "What's this?" I questioned almost immediately. Behind her, Julia was still waiting patiently on her bed, possibly still keeping head-on with our conversation.

She smiled briefly, "Only one way to find out is to open the folder, yeah?" She nodded at the folder. I hesitated at first, glaring at the black thickened numbers written boldly across the folder. "062319..." I whispered to myself, intaking a sharp breath once the particular date switched a lightbulb inside of my brain. "What the hell is this?" I held up the folder with no intentions of wanting to investigate what was inside the folder anymore. My heart began to thump a bit faster  "Well, you haven't opened the folder yet to answer that question for yourself now have you, Callie?"

I rolled my eyes, "Lemi, stop. I seriously do not have time for you or any of your little childish games right now--" "Except you will have time for me because as I have announced before, due to your father I have returned on behalf of his requests to pay his precious of a daughter a visit and deliver--"

"Oh, so what you're his little secretary messenger now? Is he paying you minimum wage?"

"Hm, are you jealous?" She widened her smirk. I scoffed in disbelief, pressing the folder against her chest. "Take the folder and send it back to him. Tell my father I want absolutely nothing to do with what lies in that folder, now please kindly turn around and exit my room please." "Don't come back here again," I warned her, stepping closer to her face. She chuckled grabbing the folder, not phased at my sudden confidence which definitely was something new to mark in my books. "You know, I'm starting to notice that you're just as entertaining as Mason you used to be--"

"Okay, your time is up. Get out. Now." I demanded immediately. Julia shot up from her bed, staring at Lemi who didn't move right away, and went for the door. I swallowed a big chunk of air, attempting to calm my anxiety and not repeat Lemi's latest words. Remaining silent, I waited for Lemi to finally turn around and exit out the door, leaving Julia and me.

I exhaled deeply, running my fingers through my hair. "Who was she, and what was that all about?" I sighed, "She's Mason's ex-girlfriend. They broke up their senior year of high school, it ended on very bad terms which led her path into leaving Bayview without a word or trace. Now she is suddenly back and has obvious intentions into wanting to make more drama erupt as if Bayview isn't already suffering through high peaks of drama right now."

"Since my family is practically going against me like pretty much everyone else is in Bayview because of what happened with Mason, Lemi has certainly chosen her side and apparently still holds a grudge tighter than ever.." I explained to Julia. She slowly nodded, taking in the little information I led her onto. "Do you have an idea what was inside that folder?" She asked, placing herself beside me on my bed. I shook my head, "No, I don't. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's just another one of his schemes to try and punish me without attracting attention from the public."

"If it weren't for the amount of attention being drawn to us after Mason's death because of his sudden rise to fame, who knows what my father might've done behind all of this. Beside him, my mother stands and does about everything he says. Can't count on her to defend me or even try to discover the truth. In their eyes, I am guilty as charged. Even with the investigation still ongoing and very little is happening prior to the evidence that hasn't been found yet, I am guilty until proven innocent. For now, I am just the psycho girl who killed her own brother." I half-whispered the last part to myself.

"Hey, don't say that. You're not a psycho and you did not kill your brother, Callie." She said softly, pulling me into her for a side hug.

Her words made me shoot my eyes at her, tears were formed in my eyes, desperate to collapse."Y-You believe me?" I asked her, choking over my words as I felt a wash of relief swim through my body. "Yes, I totally believe you. I always have. Even when I first read about it online, I never once thought that you were guilty. It's okay, Callie......I'm here for you." She rubbed my back gently as I hugged her tighter, closing my eyes as I cried out more tears.

For the next few minutes, we both sat here embracing each other as I poured out my emotions. Soaking up Julia's shirt and sobbing between the few words I tried letting out every once in a while. At that moment, I can say that I felt okay to cry and let everything that was withholding go. Hearing those words from Julia gave me hope that in some shape or form, I was going to see the light at the end of this dark tunnel and that she was going to be right there next to me. More importantly, I was beginning to realize that beyond all the chaos that was going on, there was one good thing I was starting to process and appreciate while I had it, no matter how long it was destined to stay.

A friend.