BUTTERFLY EFFECT | KV

JAYDA'S SECRET

JAYDA AMOUR CHEAVES
| JAYDA |
ATLANTA, GA 📍

Jayda sat in her car, gripping the steering wheel tightly. The neon lights of the diner flickered in the rearview mirror, casting eerie shadows in the backseat. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before picking up her phone to send a message. Her fingers trembled as she typed.

"Got some info for you. They're staying with Von's cousin in Hampton. Be careful."

She hit send, her heart pounding in her chest. Working with Deshawn wasn't something she had ever imagined herself doing, but she felt trapped. Deshawn had something on her, something that could ruin her life if it ever came to light. She had no choice but to cooperate.

A few minutes later, her phone buzzed with a reply. It was Deshawn.

"Good work. Keep an eye on them. Let me know if they leave."

Jayda felt a wave of guilt wash over her. Dess was her best friend, and she was betraying her trust in the worst possible way. But Deshawn's threats were real, and she couldn't risk him following through on them. She had to protect herself, even if it meant hurting someone she cared about.

She drove back to her apartment, her mind racing with thoughts of what she had done. She hated herself for it, but she couldn't see any other way out. She just hoped that somehow, Dess would understand if she ever found out the truth.

The next morning, Jayda received another message from Deshawn.

"I'm going to make a move soon. Keep them in Hampton for a few more days. Make sure they don't suspect anything."

Jayda replied with a simple "Okay" before putting her phone away. She needed to act normal, to keep up appearances. If Dess or Von suspected anything, it could all fall apart.

She decided to pay Dess a visit, to check on her and make sure everything seemed normal. As she drove to Gary, she rehearsed what she would say, trying to push the guilt to the back of her mind.

When she arrived at Kayla's house, Dess greeted her with a relieved smile. "Jayda! I'm so glad you're here. It's been so stressful."

Jayda forced a smile, hugging her friend tightly. "I'm here for you, Dess. How are you holding up?"

Dess sighed, leading Jayda into the living room. "It's been tough. But Von's been amazing. I just... I can't believe Deshawn found us."

Jayda nodded, her heart aching at the fear in Dess's eyes. "We'll get through this. You're not alone."

Kayla entered the room, nodding at Jayda. "nice to meet you, Jayda. Thanks for comin'."

Jayda offered her a tight smile. "Of course. I wouldn't leave Dess alone in this mess."

They spent the afternoon talking, trying to find some semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos. Jayda did her best to act natural, to hide the betrayal gnawing at her conscience.

As the day turned into evening, Jayda decided it was time to leave. She hugged Dess tightly, feeling a lump form in her throat. "Stay safe, okay?"

"You too, Jayda. Thanks for being here," Dess said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Jayda drove back to her apartment, the weight of her actions pressing heavily on her shoulders. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was making a terrible mistake, but she felt trapped by Deshawn's threats.

That night, as she lay in bed, Jayda's phone buzzed again. It was Deshawn.

"Good job today. Keep them there for another day. I'll handle the rest."

Jayda stared at the message, her stomach twisting with dread. She was in too deep, and there was no turning back now. All she could do was hope that somehow, everything would work out in the end.

The next day, Jayda woke up with a renewed sense of determination. She had to find a way out of this mess, a way to protect herself and keep Dess safe. She couldn't keep betraying her friend, not when it could cost Dess her life.

As she got ready to head back to Atlanta, Jayda made a silent promise to herself. She would find a way to fix this, to make things right. She just had to figure out how.