Dark Love

Chapter Twenty-Six

The cells were falling apart. The bricks were disintegrating and the floors were wet. It smelled like cement and dead rats.

Mia was beyond disgusted. To make things worst the guard that was escorting her was a woman and treated her like a common slut.

She kept grinning and cackling and making Mia feel bad. Mia was sure that this would be one of the toughest nights she had ever had. She wouldn't even get any sleep. She was being judged for something she didn't do.

Funny thing was that the cells were all empty. Mia was all alone in a decomposing cell. Great. That's all she needed.

It's been two hours and no one has visited her. That was another stab to the heart. Who else would support her? She only had her family. She needed them.

A roar snapped her back to reality. She recognized the woman's repulsive smell. It was that guard. Mia felt like she was being bullied by that woman.

“Oy, blondie, here's yo' food." she said and threw a plastic bag at Mia. Mia caught it. When she opened the bag, she found a piece of bread with mold on the side and bottled water. She discarded the bread and took a swig of the water. It tasted like fish. She held back the urge to vomit.

“Das' all ya' gettin', miss." the woman laughed. “Here we dun' get gud food. Better get used t'it."

Mia put the plastic bag to the side. Besides the fact that she could not understand a thing the woman was saying, she was getting slightly annoyed. She had enough to worry about.

“Wha'? Cats gots you tongue, eh? Looks like yo' d'only one here, eh? Even dem' beggars and thieves are at home celbratin'." she laughed again. Mia didn't find any humour in that.

“Oy," another guard barged in, “Blondie's got visitors."

Mia's head snapped up. The female opened the cell and guided Mia over to the male. He then took Mia to the visitor's room. When he pushed her in, she came face to face with Lauren.

“We need to talk."

*

Santiago Farm, 20:00

“Greta, you need to calm yourself." uncle Ben said to Mia's mother. But she couldn't stop. Her chest kept swelling up, and the tears threatened to spill.

“I can't, Benjamin! My daughter, my only daughter!" she cried. Katie rubbed her back in a soothing way. They were all pained.

“How could she do such a thing?" Katie asked. “She couldn't be that out of control!"

“Enough!" Mia's uncle Castor boomed. The room felt silent. He stood from his seat and cleared his throat. “Mia, I've seen that girl grow up, we all have. How can you be so quick to judge?"

“The evidence was in her hands! She killed that man!" her aunt Lucinda exclaimed.

“It could've been somebody else! We all know that Mia is incapable of killing someone!" Castor said.

Greta was relieved that at least somebody was on her daughter's side. She couldn't believe it at first, but now she really believed that her daughter was innocent. She knows exactly what Mia is capable of, and she would stay by her daughter's side.

Todd on the other hand was confused. He was angry and hurt. He too doesn't remember what happened. He was consumed by anger, and when he found out that Mia was engaged to Henrico, he wanted to kill someone.

Did he?

*

“What do you want?" Mia snarled. Lauren took a step backwards, and looked down at Mia. Mia looked so defenseless. She was so small, and Lauren was a walking giraffe.

“You really are out of control." Lauren commented.

“Oh to hell with you and your comments. I don't want to see you." Mia was about to turn away when Lauren grabbed her by the arm.

“Listen here you ungrateful little thing, I'm the only one by your side right now so you better listen." Lauren growled.

“Why?" Mia asked, “Because you killed him and now you want to act like the saint?"

“I didn't kill him," Lauren said without hesitation, “you did."

“I know I didn't."

“Oh, but you did." Lauren laughed. Mia's mind was racing now. Had she? No, she was sure she didn't, unless...

She remembered a few things. She was holding a log and was aiming for his head, but then...

“I couldn't have." she whispered.

“Sure. That's what they all say. But don't come with an 'I have dissociative amnesia ' story, because they aren't gonna fall for that." Lauren sighed. “Be more creative."

“Why are you here?" Mia asked.

“Because I want to prove to you that I'm not that-" Mia slapped her right across the face.

“Bitch." she spat out, “Whore, you're sleeping with my fucking fiancé! You want to help me after that? You sick shit!"

“Get yourself together." Lauren warned.

“Get out." Mia retorted. “I don't want to see you, or him, or anybody. Leave me alone!" she yelled. Lauren walked out afterwards. Mia's heart ached. She sincerely believed that she hadn't killed Henrico. She couldn't have.

So she did what she did best. She cried. It wouldn't solve the problem, but it would alleviate the pain, and that's all she needed. It was too much weight on her shoulder.

There was nothing worst than being angry and alone. Sometimes it's best because you won't blame anyone for your mistakes, but sometimes you need someone that will support you and tell you that everything will be okay. Mia didn't even have that. She would drown in her sorrows and tears.

Life has its ups and downs. A few days ago she could have sworn that she was the happiest woman in the world. She had everything a woman could have asked for. A decent job, good friends, a supportive mother, a fiancé and a kid. Now, what did she have? Or better, what did she have left?

Herself, maybe.

Who would save her? Was there no man on earth that would give her the support she needed? No being that would help her and show her affection? Was she that screwed?

She was beginning to think she was.

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