tell me your pretty lies

chapter 35: back home

I take a shaky breath, ready.

Kai's face grows softer.

He's listening.

"So I grew up in a really toxic household. My dad was verbally abusive and narsiccistc and my mom was just there. She never did anything about it. Instead, she always said we'd get out of there sometime soon. I have two siblings, they never got abused by my dad. It was always me. If my dad dropped a glass, it was somehow my fault."

I take a deep breath.

"One night, my dad was in a bad mood and I didn't want to be targetted so I told my mom to take me on her errands. I begged her." Tears form in my eyes and I squeeze them shut.

"Mom, please can I come?"

"Leighton, please. I have to run them by myself, love." She sighs.

"Please, mom? I won't ask you for anything else ever again. Please."

She sighs.

"Fine,"

"There was a gut feeling I had, a feeling that I knew I should've stayed home. Should've been the target. But I ignored it."

"Leighton, you don't have to keep going," Kai interrupts but now that I'm talking, I need to get this out.

"My mom pulled into the parking structure of the bank. She left me in the car to get a valet ticket. She was gone for so long so I got worried. I exited the car and followed the footsteps I heard. I heard commotion coming from a close by alleyway and I went."

"I saw a man. Beating my mom."

"Mom!" I screamed and the man beating my mom looked up.

A mans arms wrapped around me and I squirmed and screamed.

"Another man grabbed me and cut my forearm. Really badly."

I point towards the scar, covered by my tattoos but still noticeable.

"I've seen it. But I've never asked about it." Kai says.

"My dad lied to me when I woke up. He said she was alive. He said she was okay." A sob formed in my throat. "She died before she got⎯"

I'm cut off with a tight hug.

Woah.

"Leighton, I'm so sorry," Kai whispers in my ear. "So so sorry."

"It's not your fault," I tell him. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"And your dad? What happened with you and him after that?"

Of course he asks that.

"We, um, stopped talking and just didn't have a good relationship," I lie and Kai doesn't look like he believes it.

Well womp womp to him, it's the 'truth.'

As Kai's about to say something else, my phone rings.

"Hello?" I say.

It's the middle of the night, what could they possibly want.

"Leighton Winters?" a female voice asks.

"Yes, that's me." 

"I'm Detective Lucia, I've taken over your case." She says.

Oh. 

"Oh hi," I say.

"I would like you to come down to the station. We have some news on your mothers case and I'd prefer we talk in person." She says.

"I'm in Florida right now," I reply.

"Yes, I'm aware. We can talk to your teachers and fly you out. It's really important."

"Did you find my moms killer?" I ask and she stays silent.

"Did you find them?" I ask again.

"Like I said, I'd prefer if we discussed this in person. I can the school and buy a plane ticket." 

I close my eyes and think. "Can you buy me two plane tickets?"

"Uh sure. Does that mean you'll come out?"

"Yes," I say and I hear her breathe with relief.

"Okay wonderful. I'll buy you your tickets and send them to your email. I'll see you soon."

"Thank you," I hang up.

"Who was that?" Kai asks. 

"It was a detective, you're coming with me to Australia."

"Australia?!" He exclaims.

"Yes, are you okay with going?" I ask him, hoping he is okay with it.

"Yeah of course, but why? Did they find your moms killer?"

"I don't know," I say quietly.

"I'll come." He agrees.

Too easily.

"When do we leave?"

"I don't know," I reply.

I hate not knowing. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.

"Okay,"

I'm going back to Australia.

Back home.

beep beep!

i have a giant idea that i FINALLY get to write.

enjoy the next chapter bc we have some...stuff coming up.

mostly good tho 🤭

chapters will be longer for...reasons