The Tiyanak

The Accused

Alicia checked her watch, noting that she was five minutes later than planned. She could see Sasha just ahead, her back to her, so she picked up her pace. Alicia was just about to call out when Sasha turned with all the speed of a meerkat sensing danger.

"Jesus, you scared the shit outta me!"

Sasha seemed a bit more highly-strung today – Alicia guessed that her call to her earlier must have stressed her out. "Fucking hell, you look like shit!"

"Yeah, fuck you too," Alicia laughed. She knew Sasha only spoke the truth, even Alicia could sense the bloodshot colour of her eyes, and the burning red rings around her.

"What's going on?" Sasha asked. "You really scared me earlier."

Alicia avoided the question as quickly as she could. "Um... do-do you have... have the pills?"

Sasha reached into her pocket, taking out the box of pills. "Just to warn you, these pills are pretty strong, like Wonder Woman strong," Sasha told her. "Take one a night and ONLY one a night when needed. Seriously, I'm not fucking joking here – I heard someone overdosed on these by just taking a couple."

Alicia took the box from her with such vigour that it could almost account for snatching. She placed it in the pockets of her hoodie. "Thanks," she said, wiping her eyes. "Sorry for... disturbing you at work earlier. Hope I didn't get you into trouble."

"Yeah, funny thing," Sasha said, her face scrunching, "I think I'm fired."

"Fired?" Alicia asked. "Why?"

"Probably because I called Clive an old fogy!"

"Fogy?"

"Well, words to that effect. I might have put a C in that sentence somewhere!"

Alicia put a hand to her mouth. "You didn't!"

"Fuck him. I hated that job anyway."

"I am so..."

Sasha put a finger to her lips. "Don't you even think about apologising. You're more important than some fucking café. Come on, we don't want to keep your boyfriend waiting."

"He's not..." Alicia couldn't finish her sentence. Not at first anyway. "...my boyfriend."

"Yeah, and I'm Monica Rambeau!" Sasha sniggered.

"Who's that?"

"Girl, you need to read more comics!"

The pub seemed empty as they walked in. Alicia's head scouted for Matt, but didn't see him anywhere. Rosie was at the bar, talking to two police officers. Rosie wasn't his real name, he just preferred to be called that. However, with his long pink hair and painted fingernails, you would be forgiven for that small mistake – depending on how triggered he was at the time.

The police officers put their hats back on and proceeded to leave. Alicia's stomach was already churning in knots, despite not hearing anything of the conversation. She went to the bar. "Oh, hey Alicia," Rosie said in the most fake sounding American accent ever (he was a Brumie by birth; but seemed to hate his heritage for reasons known only to him).

"Rosie, where's Matt?" Alicia asked.

"He's round back," Rosie replied, pointing a finger in the most ostentatious way possible. "If you could tell him to get his cute ass in gear, my break started, like fifteen minutes ago and I am gasping for a fag. And a smoke too!" He put his hand to his mouth in a chuckle.

"I thought it wasn't PC to do gay jokes?" Sasha asked, rolling her eyes.

"I can get away with it!"

"Double standards!"

"Oh, hush now. Now, if you would be so kind?" Alicia and Sasha followed the finger to the beer garden.

Matt was sat on one of the benches, doubled over with a cigarette in his mouth. The end burned bright red as he sucked in hard, moving a shaky hand towards it. He almost dropped it as he pulled it out, exhaling a long stream of smoke. If Rosie had seen this, he would have no doubt lost his shit.

Alicia never saw Matt smoking, giving his healthy lifestyle – this had to be bad news. Matt turned to her, his skin bright red and his eyes moist and glistening. Seeing those strong, powerful eyes full of hurt brought an air of panic.

"Matt? What's up?"

Sasha asked that question after Alicia seemed to forget to. Alicia had never seen Matt cry before; and judging by Sasha's expression, neither had she.

"It's all over," Matt said, taking another drag, "it's all over. My life's fucking ruined!"

"What's wrong, Matt?" Sasha asked. "We saw the Police out there, did something happen?"

Matt took another long drag of cancerous air and exhaled it, hardly believing what he was about to say himself. "It's that guy... he's dead."

"Who's dead?"

"The one I kicked the shit out of. The fucker who raped Alicia."

Alicia's heart felt like an invisible hand crushed it from the inside. Finally she found a voice. "No," she gasped, "you... you told me he would pull through..."

"He had a clot in his brain, or something like that," Matt said, "he went into shock this morning... I'm a murder suspect." He grabbed the back of his head with both hands and lifted his head up. "Fuck!"

"What do you mean?" Sasha asked, her gaze shifting between Alicia and Matt. "What's going on?"

Alicia bit her lip hard and sucked in air through her nose. Everything seemed to be going so well for her – and now this? "Joe – he, came at me one night. Matt was there with me and – and..."

Though the sentence wasn't finished, Sasha was already in awe of this. She turned to Matt with a look that was both gratitude and horror in equal parts. "You beat him up?" Sasha asked. "And they're going to arrest you? Matt, you're a fucking hero, mate. You just rid the world of one less rapist."

"I fucking killed him!" Matt screamed.

"Matt, you haven't been charged, mate," Sasha placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're innocent until proven guilty-"

"That's not how it works in the real world!" Matt screamed. "You've seen how this plays out! You get accused of something and then everyone believes you're guilty! They don't care about facts or evidence or whether you did it or not – they only see your accusations. And that shit never leaves you!"

He buried his head in his hands and wept loudly. Sasha stroked his shoulder, as if Matt were her own child and she was attempting to assure him everything would be all right, however untrue that was. Matt eventually lifted his head up, wiping his eyes. "Alicia," he sniffed. "Alicia, please – just say some... say something..."

Sasha turned to Alicia and she could see by her expression she had a 'That's your cue to help him,' look. Alicia was frozen where she stood, her skin drained of all colour. She pulled against her hair and then took a step back.

She thought she could hear the screams once more. The Tiyanak had returned in full force and wouldn't let her go.

"I... I..." Alicia stammered. "I have to go..."

"What the hell?" Matt cried.

"I'm sorry," Alicia said, "I'm just... really stressed right now."

"You're stressed!" Matt exploded. "How do you think I feel?"

"Matt, chill man," Sasha cut in, "Alicia didn't mean that. She's just worried for you." She turned to Alicia. "That's right, isn't it?"

"I'm... I'm..." Alicia stuttered. "I'm sorry..."

She turned and ran as fast as her legs could carry her tired body. She could only imagine Sasha and Matt's shocked expression as she ran – Sasha would probably throw an F-Bomb in there somewhere and maybe an indignant cry, but Alicia didn't care.

Whatever pain Matt was feeling, Alicia felt it a million times greater.