The Devil In Disguise

Morning After

The December morning lay still and silent, the air carrying a crisp, biting chill that seeped into the car as Gianina pulled up to Rufus's house. She'd barely slept. Every moment of the night replayed in her mind—Cal's darkly charged gaze, his lingering presence, and the unexpected confession that left her questioning everything she thought she knew. But those thoughts were tangled with guilt, too, and a sense of dread that pulsed with every heartbeat as she parked outside the modest house.

Rufus was waiting at the door, his figure small and still against the vast gray sky. His expression was blank, numb with the weight of everything he'd been forced to bear. He raised a hand in greeting, a forced smile tugging at his lips as Marcus and Cal stepped out of the car behind her.

"Hey," Rufus murmured, his voice strained. "Thanks for coming."

Marcus approached him first, reaching out to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You know we wouldn't be anywhere else, man. How's your dad?"

Rufus lowered his head, the attempt at a smile fading. "Not good. He hasn't left his room since... since it happened." His voice cracked, the weight of grief heavy in each syllable. "He... he couldn't even come down to meet you guys."

Gianina's chest tightened with sympathy, and she stepped forward, gently wrapping her arms around Rufus in a hug. "We're here for you, Rufus. Whatever you need, okay? Don't even hesitate to ask."

He nodded, his eyes misty as he managed a grateful, tight-lipped smile. "Thanks, GG. I mean it. I wouldn't know what to do without you all." He glanced toward Cal, his expression softening with gratitude. "I heard about everything, Cal. It must've been awful. I can't believe they thought you'd—"

"Yeah, well," Cal cut him off, his tone flat, eyes lowered as he shrugged. "They made a mistake, but I'm out now."

Gianina exchanged a quick look with Marcus, who was watching Cal closely. Cal's detachment since the arrest lingered like an unspoken shadow between them, and she knew they all felt it. But the doubt still lingered, clawing at her from the edges of her thoughts, reminding her of everything unsaid, every lingering glance and charged silence.

They followed Rufus into the house, the somber quiet and dim lighting amplifying the chill that seemed to hang in the air. Rufus gestured for them to sit in the living room, and they took their seats, glancing around at the familiar space, which now felt strangely foreign.

The silence hung thick until Marcus cleared his throat. "Rufus, I can't imagine what you're going through right now. But we're here, all of us. Whatever you need, you know we've got your back." Gianina thought long and hard. She had felt this just last year when her parents both died. All she could think of now was that Rufus was going through the same pain she had. She couldn't comfort him as it never gets easier.

Rufus nodded, his hands shaking as he ran them through his hair. "I just... I don't even know what I need anymore. I feel like I'm living in some kind of nightmare that I can't wake up from." His voice cracked, and he took a deep breath, as if trying to steady himself. "I just... I thought they had the guy when they arrested Cal. I thought we'd finally have answers."

Gianina's heart lurched, the words stinging like a fresh wound. She glanced at Cal, who sat stiffly, his gaze hard and unreadable as he stared at the ground. The silence stretched on, heavy and unyielding, until Rufus finally broke it.

"They think it was someone who knew her... knew my mom, I mean," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "They think it was someone close."

Marcus frowned, his expression darkening as he processed the words. "Close... but they let Cal go. They cleared him, right?" His gaze flickered to Cal, who seemed to tense at the question.

"Yeah, they said... they said they were wrong," Rufus replied, swallowing hard. "Said it was probably someone trying to frame him." He glanced at Cal with an apologetic look. "I can't believe they put you through that, man. I'm so sorry."

Cal's jaw clenched, his gaze shifting to the window. "It is what it is," he muttered, his tone clipped. "They can think whatever they want."

The tension in his voice was sharp, and Gianina felt a pang of guilt twist in her chest. She remembered the doubt that had filled her, the way she'd looked at him with suspicion, even accusation. She opened her mouth to speak, to apologize, but the words caught in her throat.

Rufus looked at her, his eyes filled with sadness. "I thought this was over when they took Cal in," he said, his voice trembling. "But now... now it's like I don't even know who to trust. My mom's gone, and my dad... he's not doing any better. I just don't know how to deal with this."

Gianina reached out, placing a comforting hand on his. "We're going to get through this, Rufus. All of us. You're not alone in this."

He managed a weak smile, nodding. "Thanks, GG. I know you're right. It just... it feels so... surreal." He glanced at Cal, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. "But, Cal... I just... I'm glad you're okay."

Cal met his gaze, the briefest hint of gratitude in his eyes before he looked away, his expression hardening again. "Yeah. Me too."

The tension between Cal and Gianina thickened, unspoken words hanging heavily in the air, yet she couldn't bring herself to address it. She could still see the hurt and anger in his eyes, the bitterness that lingered after their last encounter. She wanted to apologize, to somehow make things right, but the distance between them felt insurmountable.

The silence stretched on, and finally, Marcus spoke, his voice hesitant. "What's going to happen now? Are they still investigating? Or did they just... give up?"

Rufus shrugged, his face contorted with a mix of anger and despair. "They said they'd keep looking, but... I don't know. It doesn't feel like they're doing much of anything."

Cal's gaze hardened, a flicker of anger flashing across his face. "Typical. They're too busy trying to pin it on someone to actually do their jobs."

Gianina looked at him, seeing the bitterness in his expression, and felt her guilt twist even tighter. "Cal, I'm... I'm so sorry for everything. For... for doubting you. I just... I didn't know what to believe."

He met her gaze, his expression cold and distant. "Doubt's a powerful thing, GG. Once it takes hold, it doesn't let go easily."

The weight of his words sank into her, each one a fresh reminder of the pain she'd caused, the trust she'd broken. She looked away, the guilt heavy in her chest, and Marcus reached over, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"We're here," he said quietly, his voice filled with reassurance. "Together, just like always."

The words were meant to comfort, but the tension in the room lingered, each of them grappling with the weight of loss, betrayal, and fear. Eventually, they said their goodbyes, each of them hugging Rufus tightly, offering him words of support before they made their way back to the car.

As Gianina climbed into the passenger seat, she glanced at Cal in the rearview mirror, her heart heavy with regret. She wanted to say more, to somehow bridge the chasm that had grown between them, but the words wouldn't come.

The drive back was silent, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Gianina stared out the window, her mind racing with everything that had been left unsaid, every question that lingered in the back of her mind.

Finally, Cal broke the silence, his voice low and bitter. "Funny how quick you all were to believe I'd do something like that."

Gianina's heart sank, the guilt twisting in her chest as she turned to face him. "Cal, I... I didn't want to believe it. I just... I didn't know what to think."

He scoffed, looking away. "Yeah, well. Guess that says more than you realize."

The bitterness in his voice stung, and she looked down, her hands clenched in her lap. She wanted to make things right, to somehow fix the damage that had been done, but she didn't know how.