after the death of her mother, leighton's father sends her to a boarding school halfway across the world to be taught a lesson. she knows no one and no one knows her.
but the cherry on top is who her roommate is.
#2 in ptsdawareness
#2 in anxiety
#...
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I stumble out of the interrogation room.
My mind is spinning and I can't think clearly.
Father.
Father.
Father.
"Leighton, what happened? Are you okay?" Kai rushes over to me.
I shake my head, unable to find the words. "It's... it's my father," I manage to whisper. "They think he killed her."
Kai's eyes widen in shock. "What? Why?"
"They found textsfrom a burner phone," I say, my voice trembling. "From someone she called 'yiu know who". They think it's him. They think he's the one who did it."
Kai pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly. "I'm so sorry."
I cling to him, feeling like a child again, lost and afraid. "I don't understand, Kai. Why would he do this? Sure he was a shitty dad but why would he murder my mother? Why not me?"
"Well firstly, you just said a bad word,"
"I love how that's the first thing you think off," I scoff, joking obviously.
"no no, i didn't mean⎯" he sighs. "Wait what do you mean 'why not you?'"
"Well he had motive for me. I was a crappy daughter and he always took his anger out on me. Not usually my mom. So why her?"
Kai strokes my hair, his touch soothing. "I don't know. We'll find out though.
We leave the detective's office, the night air cool against my tear-streaked face.
The city lights blur as we walk, my mind struggling to process the information.
We head back to the hotel, the silence is not awkward but not normal.
Once inside, I collapse onto the bed, my body trembling.
Kai sits beside me, his hand never leaving mine. "What can I do to help?" He whispers.
"Can I have a hug?"
He nods and we collapse into a hug.
I love his hugs. So much.
I'd hate if I lost them.
"We need the notes, though," I whisper.
"We do. But for now, just relax."
The next morning, we return to the detective's office.
Detective Harris greets us with a sympathetic nod and hands me the file containing screenshots of the texts/notes. I take a deep breath and open it, my hands shaking.
The texts are in a weird font.
It's definitly not an Apple phone.
Dear Lucinda,
I swore to Christ that if you uncovered, you'd be murdered. I've had enough.
-you know.
I drop the letter, my hands trembling. "Uncovered what?"
Detective Harris leans forward, his expression serious. "We believe your father was involved in something illegal. And your mother was involved in it too. But then she must've realized it wasn't worth it and started investigating it."
My mind reels with the implications. "So she was trying to protect us. That's why she was so scared."
"Yes," Harris says. "And it seems she was planning to confront him, or at least find a way to stop him."
I look at Kai, my heart aching with the weight of this new reality. "We need to find him. We need to know the truth. He was in Florida."
"We will," Kai assures me. "We'll find him and get the answers we need."
The detective nods. "We're already looking into his whereabouts. In the meantime, I suggest you stay somewhere safe. Go home. Stay in the dorm. We'll call your school, okay?"
"Okay,"
We arrive to the hotel room and my phone rings over and over again.
"Hello?" I whisper.
"Leighton, it's me." The voice on the other end sends a shiver down my spine.
It's him.
My father.
"Dad?" I whisper, my voice barely audible.
"Yes. We need to talk. There are things you don't understand. I need you to meet me at your dorm. That detective is a liar."
"Dad, I'm not there." I say.
"Where are you?"
"Sydney," I say and instantly regret it.
He has my location now.
Before I can respond, the line goes dead. I stare at the phone, my heart pounding.
"What is it?" Kai asks, his eyes full of concern.
"It's him," I say, my voice shaking. "He knows where I am."
"Fuck!" Kai exclaims, frusturated.
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