The War.

Chapter 43: Heartbroken.

gang sorry for this one.

-~•***~-

Mia was pacing frantically, her mind racing. "Where the fuck is Ella?" she repeated, worry tightening her voice. Her face was pale, her hands restless. "I'm going to go look for her," she declared, tone firm, despite the obvious anxiety as she turned to leave.

Marjorie stepped in front of her, panic flashing in her eyes. "Do you have a death wish, Mia?" she asked, trying to stop her.

Mia spun around, eyes narrowed in fury. "What?" she snapped.

"Mia, you'll die!" Marjorie pleaded, her voice rising in desperation.

"I need to find her!" Mia repeated, unwavering.

"Look outside!" Marjorie cried. "It's chaos, you'll die out there!"

Mia's anger flared, clashing with her fear. "So, what? We just stay here and do nothing?" she yelled.

Marjorie's voice softened, trying to reason with her. "She escaped a kidnapping last time. I'm sure she'll be fine."

Mia's heart pounded harder. "You're telling me to just sit here and wait?! I need to save my daughter!" she shouted, her voice breaking as frustration and fear overwhelmed her.

Suddenly, Charlotte, who had been quietly crying moments before, stood up abruptly. Her tears of worry and sadness had morphed into tears of pure fury. "You mean MY daughter?!" she shouted, her voice shaking with raw emotion.

Mia turned around, her eyes wide with confusion. "Sweetheart? Are you okay?" she asked gently, stepping closer to stroke Charlotte's hair, trying to calm her.

But Charlotte pulled away harshly. "Don't. Touch. Me," she hissed, her voice cold and cutting.

"Baby, are you okay?" Mia asked again, her voice still soft, concern lacing her tone.

Charlotte's expression hardened. "How could I be okay when you're actively trying to steal my daughter from me?!" she snapped. "Oh, I've noticed. It's clear as day."

Mia blinked, utterly bewildered. "What are you talking about?"

"'Princess,' 'I love you,' all that affection," Charlotte shot back, her voice rising. "You're trying to get closer and closer to her, planning to run away with her, right?!" She yelled, her voice cracking with anger and betrayal.

"What?! Charlotte, what the fuck are you talking about?!" Mia shouted, her voice rising in defense.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about!" Charlotte fired back, her words dripping with accusation. "Was it all just an act? Were you planning this from the start, trying to take her from me? Were you behind her first kidnapping? Is that what this is?! And she escaped your little group?!"

Mia froze, disbelief flooding her face. But as the words sank in, all the sadness and confusion she felt morphed into a hot rage. "What the fuck?! You think I was behind kidnapping her? What group?! Are you sick in the head?!"

Charlotte's eyes narrowed, the venom in her voice thick. "You're the only one sick in the head. Marjorie was right. You're just a 'cruel heartless bitch'."

"Oh yeah?!" Mia shouted back, her fury flaring.

"Yeah. Honestly, we'd all be so much better off without you," Charlotte spat coldly.

"Fine then! Let's see how you manage without me!" Mia yelled. Without another word, she stormed over to the corner, grabbed a gun, stuffed spare bullets into her bag, and marched out of the house, slamming the door behind her.

Mia marched through the cold winds, her mind swirling with a storm far worse than the one around her. Her original plan had been simple—find Ella, bring her back, and return home. But after hours of fruitless searching, with no sign of Ella in sight, she no longer wanted to go back. The night stretched on, long and empty, and every bitter word from Charlotte echoed in her head.

"Cruel.. Heartless.." The words cut deeper than she'd ever imagined possible. Charlotte, her sweetheart—no, her ex-sweetheart—had once been her entire world. But now, after hearing those venomous words, Mia felt hollow, the weight of betrayal crushing her chest.

She couldn't face going home to that. Not now. Not ever, maybe.

Finally, she found herself standing in front of an old, rundown apartment. It looked abandoned, cold, and forgotten, just like how she felt. Without a second thought, she pushed the door open and crashed inside, the emptiness of the space matching the emptiness inside her. She collapsed onto a dusty couch, staring into the darkness, wondering how everything had fallen apart so quickly.

-^-

The room was tense, frozen in shock as the door slammed shut behind Mia. Charlotte stood there, her mind racing, barely able to process what had just unfolded. Did she really call Mia a cruel, heartless bitch? Her lips parted, trying to form words, but nothing came out.

Carly rushed over, gently wrapping an arm around Charlotte's shoulders. "It's okay, Char. She'll come back," she murmured, her voice soothing. The others quickly followed suit, surrounding Charlotte with murmurs of reassurance, each trying to comfort her in their own way.

But not everyone moved to console her.

Autumn stood off to the side, her face twisted with disgust and fury. Her fists clenched at her sides, barely able to contain the seething anger bubbling beneath the surface. Siobhan had quietly retreated to her room after the encounter, but Autumn remained, glaring at Charlotte. Her emotions boiled over, the anger and disappointment etched deeply into her expression.

Charlotte didn't notice it yet, but Autumn's disgust was unmistakable. It hung in the air, thick and suffocating.

Marjorie couldn't help but grin, the satisfaction of her victory settling deep within her. She had gotten what she wanted, played her cards just right, and now Mia was gone. The woman who had caused her so much frustration, who stood in her way, was finally out of the picture. Life would be at peace now. No more arguments, no more power struggles. Just silence. The calm she had been craving for so long. She reveled in the moment, a sense of accomplishment washing over her.

But as the minutes ticked by, her grin began to falter. Was this really peace? Was Mia's absence truly what she wanted, or just what she thought she wanted? The echo of her own thoughts began to grow louder, doubts creeping in like shadows. Marjorie had won—but at what cost? What had she really accomplished?

Was she going to regret this decision?

-~•***•~-
oops sorry gang.

don't come for me y'all

marjorie when i catch you marjorie.

anyways don't kill me please i beg.

also ella is fine and no she isn't dying. (or is she?)

anyways hope you enjoyed !!

bye loveliess !!