The Misguided

Bold Accusations

Chapter 17- Bold Accusations

Dr. Marco told her that whenever this happens, she could take

to flush it out of her system. It has something to do with dissolving a particular compound by creating a reaction- He gave her a whole lecture on it because he knew she would mess up eventually, one day. Sometimes she feels like he's the only person to understand her from the roots and stem.

She decided to call Dr. Marco as she hadn't seen him in over a week due to her packed schedule and missed talking to him as it's been quite a long time. Lilian clicked on his contact and hit dial; no one answered the first time and the interval music played for what seemed like hours. The second time, it went straight to voice mail. Lilian couldn't help but feel like something was wrong; he always immediately picked up her calls, and today was the first. But she didn't give up yet; the third time is the charm, right?

And he picked up but did not greet her like he usually does, instead waiting in silence until Lilian spoke.

"Hello, Dr. Marco. Is everything alright?"

"Yep, things are good."

"Great, it's just that you didn't pick up instantly like you always did; I figured something might be wrong. How have you been? I missed going to your sessions, but I promise I will find a slot in my schedule soon."

"Actually, Lilian, I've been wanting to talk to you about that- it's the whole reason why I've been ignoring you." He paused on the phone as an uneasy feeling began to rise over Lilian's lungs.

"I don't know if I can see you as a patient anymore."

Lilian began tearing up; everyone was leaving her, even her psychiatrist. "Why Dr. Marco? Did I do something wrong I-"

"I hope you won't be mad when I say this. I reported you to the authorities for potential murder, Lilian. I know you've been getting letters using manipulation tactics, getting you to do things. But you left one at my office last week, the one telling you to kill your husband."

"I just felt something off, and It's a part of my job to report dangerous behaviours to the rightful organizations."

Lilian sobbed harder, "No, Dr. Marco, don't leave me; you are the person I felt I could trust all these years. Please." Lilian begged.

"I'm sorry, Lilian, but I think our counselling journey stops here. It was a pleasure to get to know you and see you bloom into this wonderful person, aware of the experiences that shape them. But it seems this is going to be the end. I don't need you to confess anything to me or ask me for guidance on the steps to take. You know that yourself better than anyone. Whatever you did, Lilian, I hope you make the right decision; that's the main thing we focused on during our sessions."

And Dr. Marco hung up. They couldn't talk about the latest celebrity drama or their dreams and ambitions, and she couldn't ask about the medication bottle lying in her drawer, twice her usual dosage.

As she was about to sprint to the bathroom to wash her face of snot, someone stopped her with their arms extended outwards. "Where do you think you are going?" The man said with a knacking tone, echoing through her head. Lilian blinked rapidly, unable to tell if it was reality or another fragment of her mind, squinting her eyes to try and make out who it was.

A man with a warped face slowly walked up to her; his image became increasingly apparent with every step he made. It was Daniel, hands tucked in his trousers while swaying his body left and right.

"Karma gets you eventually," Daniel chuckled, leaning his body against the wall. "If you aren't going to confess all your other wrongdoings, something else will get you."

"You aren't real. You are dead; I will not listen to you !" Lilian shouted, her voice screeching like a broken chime.

"That's what you think." Daniel tilted his head downwards, staring straight at Lilian as she began to back away. "But as long as you are alive, I will make your life miserable, somehow."

"Get out of my head!" Lilian screamed and smashed the tray of fine China on the floor as it burst into wedges. She grabbed a piece of the broken ceramic and charged towards Daniel but ran into Ruben instead, as he slowly faded like a stream of lingering smoke.

"You murderer, actually, a serial killer."

"What do you think you are doing?" Ruben grabbed her hands, twisted them behind her back, and sat her on the couch, snatching the cement wedge out of her hand. Lilian's legs began to kick him, struggling to escape his firm arms while sharp squeals echoed through the house. He handcuffed her wrists before he turned her entire body backwards on the couch and held her legs together with his grip.

"You need to snap out of it. Jenning, come help me out."

Jenning rushed over and lifted his arm off Lilian's trembling legs. "Ruben, let her go. You are hurting her. Let me handle it."

Jenning sat beside her, dusting her tears with some tissues down her cheeks.

"Lilian, it's okay; it's probably just a panic attack. Follow my instructions. You have to breathe in, breathe out." Jennings whispered, while using her breath, trailed her words, hand gesturing the intervals.

Lilian tried to comply, but the guilt suffocated her, making her chest firm as if it was squeezed. She felt calm again, looking at Jenning's eyes filled with a well of hope, unsure if it was the breathing exercise or Jenning's wistful presence, like a spring breeze.

Jenning uncuffed her and gave Ruben a pitiful glance before she began to walk away, resuming the investigation. This is the moment Lilian knew- she would be condemned for her past mistakes instead of punished for a crime she did not commit. There's only one way Lili can earn their trust: to divulge the truth- something she's been abstaining from for years and has grown recently. Tears gushed out of her eye socket as she turned around and tugged on Detective Jennings' sleeves.

"Lilian, is everything okay?" Jennings turned around and sat back on the couch.

"Yes, do you have a minute to spare?"

"Of course! Is there anything you want to add to your previous statement or-"

"Actually, I have a confession to make," Lilian paused for a second, looking into Jennings' fearful eyes,

"I would like to confess two accounts of murder."