In The Scenes

Twentieth

WARNING: May be mentions of abuse, panic attacks, trauma, blood, etc. If you are sensitive to these topics, please don't read.

Micah POV:

I woke up in a cold, dark room.

"Wakey, wakey," Mindy said.

"What the . . . "

"They got us. I don't know how but they brought us here with them."

I looked up. Alex and Lia were sitting across from us, each with a bloody nose.

"What happened to your . . . "

"Nose? The trio," Alex said.

He looked tired. His head was on Lia's shoulder and he was shivering from the cold.

"Well, the plan didn't go as expected."

"Don't worry." I was surprised Alex said that. "If all goes right, I still have one trick up my sleeve."

Lia, Mindy, and I looked at each other. What did he mean by that? I was about to ask when the door opened and four people stepped out. The trio and Dr. Owl. Are we calling them that now? Should we call them the quartet? Now was not the time to think about this.

"I thought you were on our side," Alex said to Dr. Owl.

"I was never on your side. My story about Jason. Did you really think that was true? Have you even seen a picture of Dolphin Man? You would have recognized him on the picture on my desk. I'm thankful you're stupid. You could have ruined our plan."

"You're still acquainted with him?"

"I'm married to him. Our daughter is with his parents right now. We decided to raise her . . . away from all of this nonsense. Her heart would break if she knew what we really do."

"What do you mean?"

"Kidnapping's just a side job," Lia and Jane's stepfather said. "I'm talking murder. More specifically, the murder of your friends."

"So you admit to killing them, then?" Lia asked.

"Of course. There's no shame in it. What can you guys do? You may have escaped the other two but as four, we are more powerful."

"All four of you killed them?"

"Well, we each played a part. Mr. and Mrs. Ramn did the actual killing. Dr. Owl just sat in her office and worked. I alerted Mr. and Mrs. Ramn when I saw young Asha and Mattheo near the building."

"How did you know they would come?" I asked.

"I knew one of you would come. Of course, she just happened to be the most observant. I'm guessing you told her about the pizza box we sent to you. Of course, she was naturally curious and checked it out herself, right?"

"Yes . . . but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Next to one specific date was the word 'OWL' and you all probably overlooked it. She must have kept that in her memory and waited until that day to think of something that had to do with an Owl."

"I told her that I had an appointment with Dr. Owl before she jumped up and . . . left with Mattheo," Alex said, realization dawning on his face.

"It was really simple. To make sure we didn't miss our chance to shoot you down, we waited there every day since we sent you that box."

"So you all had something to do with the murder of Ashira Doe and Mattheo Hawk, correct?"

"Yes. Why are you asking me?"

"And you're positive, right?"

"Are you stupid? Yes, I'm sure we killed them. What's going on?"

Alex smiled.

"Got you."

Lia POV:

Just then, a swarm of police officers led by Officer Eel entered and grabbed Dr. Owl and my stepfather. They were handcuffed and taken away. Officer Eel untied us and explained what happened.

"We saw you getting taken away and followed you here. I entered the house myself but couldn't find you. When help came, we were able to find this secret room and free you."

Bryce and Jane came running in and hugged all of us. Bryce grabbed Alex's shoulders.

"You're brilliant. You're just brilliant."

We didn't understand so Jane explained.

"Bryce was still connected to Alex and Lia's hearing. What they said and heard, he could hear. Alex got our stepfather to confess and Bryce has the whole thing saved in a flash-drive."

All of us attacked Alex with hugs. He really is the best boyfriend ever. We exited the house and walked back to the parking lot. It was only a 30 minute walk and it was nice to be able to walk around freely.

"Watch this," Bryce said.

As the police car drove past, Bryce stuck his tongue out at my stepfather and Dr. Owl. Another car drove by and Bryce booed Alex's ex-foster parents. Once a child, always a child.

"Feels good to do that," he said, leaning on Jane.

We went back to my house where everyone decided to stay for the night. Mindy and Micah slept in the guest room. Mindy was on the bed and Micah was on the foldable couch. Jane and Bryce slept in Jane's room. It was just Alex and me in my room. I layed down next to him.

"You okay?"

Alex looked at me and smiled.

"It's my birthday."

My eyes widened and I checked my phone. Sure enough, it was September 12th.

"Oh, my god. We missed your birthday. I'm so sorry. We'll make it up to you."

Alex stopped me from panicking.

"It's midnight. That happened yesterday. Today's my birthday."

I grabbed a pillow and hit him. It feels good to be back to normal.