𝘜𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳-𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯

ten

chapter ten:
keep your friends close

Charlotte Carter was a mess, everyone could see it clear as day within her eyes. The once brightness in them was dull, a very darkness rested along them. It was as if she'd snap in seconds, Hanna was the only one who noticed the coldness Charlie showed to everyone. The once friendly girl was pushing everyone away from her.

She didn't trust a single soul, not even the girls. She slammed her locker shut. It had been a month since the attack, a very long month since she lost her ways. She remembered the attack like it was happening all the time.

Moments of it flashed into her skull whenever she would think too hard. She winced as she rubbed at her throat, the loud squeak of the PA going off made her look toward it with concern.

"Spencer Hastings, Aria Montgomery, Emily Fields,
Hanna Marin, Charlotte Carter, please come to the office". Charlie gripped her bag tightly before going towards the office area.

When she walked inside the girls all sat down beside one another. Her eyes clashed with Hannas the girl smiling briefly at her.

Charlie didn't return the gesture and sat down in the small chair beside the girls. The woman who stood in front of them handed a card towards Spencer.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm Agent Cooper" the girls all looked at one another. "FBI?" the woman smiled sweetly "this is my partner, Agent Randall".

Charlie wished she ditched school for the sole purpose of not having to be in this dreadful moment. She honestly didn't have the energy to care enough anymore about Alison or A.

"We're here because the Bureau was asked by local authorities to assist in the investigation of Alison DiLaurentis' murder".

The room was silent as the woman grabbed a remote she seemed hesitant for a moment.

"I wanna show you something sent to Rosewood Police Department by an anonymous source". There was that word, the one Charlie hated deeply.

Anonymous, a strong word and just with that one little word entering the air. She knew whoever sent that video was the same person who attacked her.

"Family's given me permission to show it to the five of you girls". The woman hit play and something inside of Charlie shifted, it was a darkness.

"Wanna see more? I know you want to" Alison's voice was soothing and sounded the same. Charlie blinked away her tense form as she rubbed at her throat. This was it, the same video she saw that night Alison stormed into her bedroom.

The same video she promised she wouldn't watch, but the second Alison slipped out of the room. Charlie watched every second of it, and she kept it secret for months, she wouldn't fess up now either.

As far as it goes, she's never seen this video a day in her life until now. When the woman paused it the other girls all looked distressed.

"Is there anything you can tell me about what you see?" Charlie was thankful her voice was practically broken for the moment.

She knew if she spoke the woman would be able to detect her lies. So Charlie focused on the girls.

"They're at the kissing rock. It's in the woods behind the lake". Emily smiled sadly as she looked at the screen, she felt guilty about that night.