The Storm Inside

Chapter Nine: Note

A/N: another chapter 🤪 a new mystery is afoot

Two days, we'd been alone in that holding cell, being let out twice a day to go to the bathroom. We hadn't seen or heard about Beatrix or any of the others, and I was starting to go a little crazy.

"Do you think they're ever gonna let us out of here?" Evianna asked.

"Nope," I replied.

She groaned, leaning her forehead on the metal bars. "Don't affirm that."

"Okay. Fine. They might let you out in a few years."

"Someone can make an online petition. I'm sure we have some supporters out there," she said. "Or we can get a lawyer. I bet Alexis is working on that."

"Did you really just list a lawyer after an online petition?"

"You guys have powers," she continued, ignoring me. "Can't you use them? I know you don't wanna get us into even more legal trouble by breaking us out, but what about Dove and the others? She said they have people everywhere, including the legal system."

"They can't reveal themselves," I said. "And I don't know if they have enough people to collapse a whole corrupted system in a day. I don't think a couple of teenagers are worth utter chaos."

"Okay, what about Beatrix? She could send you a telepathic message or something."

"I don't think she can do that."

She let out an explosive sigh and sat down beside me. "Fine, you think of something."

"We can whither away and die," I suggested.

"I'll try and see if I can find out something on my next bathroom break tomorrow," she said. "In the meantime, let's play a game."

"Does it involve you being quiet?" I asked, rubbing my forehead in exasperation. I already had a headache from the lights and her voice was making it worse.

"Nope. Truth or dare?"

"What are you gonna dare me to do?" I asked, gesturing to the empty cell.

"Good point. Truth or truth?"

"That's not a real game."

"It is now. Truth or truth?"

I leaned back against the wall, crossing my legs. "That's a hard one, but I'm gonna have to go with truth."

"Do you think Beatrix did it?"

I sighed, closing my eyes. I knew we would have to take about it eventually. "We don't even know if that security footage even exists. The police are allowed to lie to us."

"I know. I'm just saying, she has a bit of a controversial past, involving making people kill themselves and all that."

"If she hadn't, we might not be here today," I reminded her.

"That's true, that's true. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for her. That girl is smart; and she gets things done. But still. I mean, she has the right to kill Thomas. He ruined you guys's lives. He ruined so many people's lives. But..."

"But the thought of Beatrix murdering someone in cold blood is terrifying," I finished quietly.

"Yeah. I don't know how to feel about all of this. I mean, I'm not exactly best friends with Beatrix, but I respect her. Always have. She knows how to play the game. But..."

"But?" I prompted. Despite how much I wished for quiet, I wanted a second opinion on all of this. Or a first. I hadn't decided where I stood yet.

"I want to look at this logically. Like, there's an obstacle in our path that's been removed, with Thomas gone. Even if he's still clearly pulling the strings, even from the grave. But despite everything... I miss him. And I hate that, but I do. He was the closest thing to a parent I ever had, even if he was cruel and manipulative."