ARE YOU WORTH IT (intersex)

28

Vivian clearly held derricks murder over Camilas head but what did she have on cash?

I closed my laptop and rubbed my temples, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in. It was late—later than I realized—and the shadows in my apartment seemed to stretch longer, as if they were reaching out to pull me deeper into this mystery.

—I need to clear my head.

So I went for a walk, something to shake off the lingering unease that had settled in my chest. The cool night air greeted me as I stepped outside. I inhaled deep.. the smell of autumn had arrived.

As I walked and walked until I almost couldn't walk anymore I found myself outside a familiar place. I hadn't intended to come here, but it was as if my feet had led me here on their own. The lights were off, but I knew she was home. I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should knock But I couldn't turn back now. I knocked a couple times. I wondered if she would just ignore me. But then I heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching, and the door creaked open just a crack.

Cash's face appeared in the sliver of light, her eyes wary and tired. "Steph? What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Im genuinely puzzled that she'd think I'd be anywhere else right now. "I need to talk to you." She hesitated, glancing over my shoulder as if she expected someone to be lurking in the shadows. "Please," I said, stepping closer. "I know about you and Vivian."

Her eyes widened in shock. "You what?" she whispered harshly, pulling me inside with a force that caught me off guard. She quickly locked every single lock on the door, the metallic clicks echoing in the darkened room.

"Whatever it is that Vivian has over you—" I started, but she grabbed me by the arm, slamming me against the door hard. Her hand shot up, covering my mouth with an intensity that shocked me. Fear and anger flashed in her eyes, a combination that sent a shiver down my spine.

"I'm gonna need you to shut the fuck up," she hissed. My hands rose in surrender, trying to signal that I meant no harm. For a moment, we just stood there, locked in a silent standoff, her eyes searching mine, trying to see how much I really knew. Slowly, the tension in her grip eased, and she let her hand fall away. The room was heavy with the kind of silence that suffocates. I could barely find my voice, the shock of her aggression leaving me rattled. Cash had never been rough like that before; it threw me completely off guard. I began to second-guess my decision to come here. —to try and help. Her hand rose again, and this time I flinched slightly, but she just went to scratched her head, she was clearly as uncomfortable with the situation as I was. After what felt like an eternity, she sighed, her shoulders sagging as if the weight of the world rested on them. "Believe me, Steph, I didn't have another choice—"

"It's okay, Cash, you don't have to apologize to me." I interrupted gently. "I'm not upset. Vivian—" I paused, choosing my words carefully, "—she's clearly some kind of psychopathic monster. The things she's involved in... it only makes sense that you fell victim to her too. Even Ms. Jones—"

"Wait, what?" Cash cut me off, her tone sharp. She crossed her arms, her gaze cold and judging. "You think Ms jones is a victim?"

"It's true," I insisted. "She told me herself that Vivian controls her—"

"Steph! I don't know what delusions that woman has been feeding you, but it's straight bullshit," she snapped, stepping out of her defensive stance.

"It's not bullshit cash. I know she isn't perfect, but she's admitted her faults and truly seems to regret it—"

"Regrets it? What does she regret exactly?" I stood silent at her question. Was she insinuating something? —something I still haven't figured out yet?  "Since you think she's so innocent and can't make her own damn decisions, ask her about Victoria." Cash's words cut through the air like a blade.

—Victoria? I thought.

My brows knitted together in confusion. Who the fuck is Victoria?

Next chapter drops tonight!
See you then

Xoxo