wally's lament.

[ 18 ]

⫸——⫷

A couple minutes later, after a short walk down the road, you were knocking on Julie's bright yellow front door.

You hoped that Julie was not at work. Your anxiety had calmed since leaving Wally's, but your mind was still flitting through every bit of information you had gained. It was a lot to take in.

Eventually, and much to your relief, Julie's front door swung open to reveal Julie in the flesh. She grinned at you, her face, clothes, hair and hands covered in pink glitter. "Hey, Charlie! Come on in!"

You stepped inside Julie's house, slipping your shoes off. "What are you up to in here?" you asked her, giving her glitter-covered self a curious look as she shut the door behind you.

"Oh, Sally and I are doing some crafts in the living room. We were thinking of a new board game idea, but then things got a little out of hand." Julie giggled. "Come on, join us!" She started to walk into the living room, which was just to your left. You could see Sally sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table, craft supplies everywhere.

Quickly, you snatched Julie's wrist in your hand. Shocked, she turned back around to face you. "Julie," you said, "can I actually talk to you for a moment? Alone?"

Julie must have registered the seriousness in your tone and expression, because her smile had completely faded. "Oh, sure. Hey, Sally? Charlie's here, but we're going to talk upstairs for a moment. We'll be back down in a bit."

"Okay!" Sally chirped. Sally stood up and turned to smile at you. She still had those pointy sun rays around her head; seeing her with them a second time made you think that perhaps they were not part of a mask. "Hi, Charlie," she said.

"Hi, Sally," you replied with a smile.

With that, you and Julie walked upstairs. She led you into her bedroom, closing the door behind you. Her bedroom was a very cheerful sight: light pink walls, stuffed with posters, paintings and pictures, surrounded a huge bed that was full of colorful blankets and stuffed animals. There was a vanity in the corner covered in makeup and miscellaneous clutter. Julie took a seat on her bed, apparently not minding that she was probably shedding glitter over her covers. "Come sit," she offered, patting the mattress space next to her.

You sat down beside Julie with a sigh.

"So," she continued, "What did you want to talk about?"

A new wave of anxiety washed over you. "Well, first of all, I want all of this to stay between us," you said, turning your knees and body towards Julie so you could focus on her. "You have to promise me."

"Okay. I promise."

"Well..." You looked around the room briefly. "Jeez, I don't even know how to say this. I... found out what Wally is hiding. I think it's what you were warning me about before."

Julie put a hand over her mouth, covering her lips. "Oh."

"Yeah. Um, and just to make sure that it is the same thing you were warning me about..." You winced. "Was it, by chance, about something... really illegal?"

Julie nodded.

"And violent?"

She nodded again.

"And... life-threatening?"

"Murder!" She blurted quietly, as if she was excited to finally say it out loud, but did not want Sally to hear her from downstairs. "He's a murderer!"

"Yes! Oh my god!"

Julie fanned her face with her hands. "Wow. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who knows... Now I don't have to keep this a secret from you!" she said with a giggle. She sighed with relief, then suddenly gasped, looking shocked again. Julie reached forward and squeezed your arm, her eyes boring into yours. "Did you see something? Did they do something to you?"