𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒕 ✓

Chapter Four

"SAOIRSE?!"

She called out, hurrying out of her room.

"I'm in the kitchen!" Saoirse's voice echoed through the hall, making Mal run towards its direction, following it to the kitchen. She found her friend standing on the kitchen counter, cutting up vegetables with a small knife.

"Hey, I was going to make you a snack. Is everything alright?"

Mal shook her head, tears filling her eyes. "No. Is that the movement Timothée was doing on the restaurant?"

She held up her laptop to reveal a drawing of a hand movement, with instructions under it written in a small handwriting.

"Actually yes."

"Is it the same one Timothée was doing on the FaceTime?"

Saoirse nodded again, concern written all over her beautiful face.

"Yes. Why? Does it mean anything?"

"Yes! It's a signal for domestic violence victims, who are being abused at home."

The girl stepped back in shock. "What?"

"It's true! People use it on video calls when they're being threatened or abused at home. Look at that video."

The girl began tapping on her laptop and let out a video of a woman smiling nervously and waving at the camera, then trapping her thumb between her fist while talking as casually as possible.

"Oh my God! So, what does this mean?"

Mal stared at the video for a second with an expression full of dread, then bit her lip.

"Somebody is forcing him to do this."

"We have to help him! What can we do first?"

"Listen, um, we have to check Lily's background first. I know they loved each other, but you know, just to be sure."

Saoirse nodded, then stood up from her seat.

"But let's have that snack first."

"You're right."

-

Both girls were sitting in the living room, which had a table filled with books, scripts and paperwork in front of them, and two armchairs across from each other. The girls kept browsing their feed continuously and taking notes in their notebooks.

"Who's someone that knew Timothée and saw him a lot at the time of his relationship with Lily?" Mal asked suddenly, a thought crossing her mind.

"Well... Me, obviously, but we didn't see each other much at that time-"

"No, I know you two are best friends, but I mean like, male?"

"Well, Armie, and Steve Carrell."

"Do you think they, maybe, noticed anything weird on Timmy at that time? Maybe he was acting weird like he was doing earlier, or..."

Unexpectedly, Saoirse's face broke into a sincere smile.

"What?" Mal asked with a baffled look, "What are you smiling about?"

"You called him Timmy. I know it's his nickname, but, I've seen the way you two look at each other and... You two are perfect together,"

Mal grinned, then took an awkward glance at the laptop.

"Well... We're not together anymore, but, I did love him. I still do."

"Don't worry, babe. We'll get him back."

Mal nodded at that phrase, as she realized that it was her intention more than anything.

"Did you find anything?"

"No, not really. I need to dig a little deeper, but I don't know how."

Saoirse sighed in dismay. "Me neither. Then it's settled. I'll send a text to Armie and tell him to meet up tomorrow."

The other girl nodded. "I'm going to make another snack, you want anything."

"Probably pretzels or something."

"Okay."

Mal then walked towards the kitchen and opened their storage room, letting out a big bag of pretzels and pouring some in a bowl.

Saoirse heard the satisfying noise of the snack pouring into the bowl and went back to her laptop.

Then gaped in shock.

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