ingydar- nika muhl & kate martin

Chapter twelve

Nika followed Caitlin into the guest room, her curiosity growing with each step. She notices the shoebox on the bed and furrows her brow, wondering what it might hold. "What is it, Cait?" she asks softly, her voice filled with a mix of confusion and anticipation. She stands beside Caitlin, her gaze fixed on the seemingly ordinary shoebox, curious to uncover its secrets.

Nika's eyes widen in disbelief as Caitlin reveals the contents of the shoe box. Her heart sinks, a mix of shock and sadness washing over her. She takes a step closer to the box, her trembling hands reaching out to touch the baggies and needles. Tears well up in her eyes as the reality of the situation hits her. "No..." she whispers, her voice barely audible. She feels a wave of emotions crashing down upon her - sadness, anger, disappointment, and heartbreak. "Why?" she asks, her voice quivering.

Nika's mind races as she tries to make sense of the situation. She turns to Caitlin, her eyes filled with a mixture of betrayal and desperation. "How did you find it?" she asks, her voice laced with a hint of fear. She clenches her fists, struggling to keep her emotions under control. The box of secrets has opened a Pandora's box of questions and shattered trust. Nika's heart aches for Kate, but she also feels hurt and confused by the deception.

"I remember her hiding stuff in her vents in college." Caitlin whispers softly

Nika listens to Caitlin's revelation, her mind flashing back to memories of college. The pieces start to connect, and she feels a pang of guilt for not noticing the signs sooner. "Hiding in the vents... I should have known," she whispers, her voice heavy with regret. She looks at Caitlin, a mix of gratitude and sadness in her eyes. "Thank you for telling me, Cait. But what do we do now?"

"I mean, I don't think she's been using." Caitlin said, "The box was dusty and she had actually screwed into the wall."

Nika's expression softens as she contemplates Caitlin's words. She takes a deep breath, trying to quell the storm of emotions raging within her. "So, you think she's been hiding this stuff for some time, but she hasn't been using it?" she asks, her voice tinged with hope. She looks at the box, feeling a mix of relief and confusion. "Why would she hide it, then?"

"Maybe she forgot about it?" Caitlin reasons

Nika considers Caitlin's suggestion, her mind searching for a logical explanation. "It's possible," she says, her voice filled with a glimmer of hope. "But why would she hide something so personal and potentially harmful? It just doesn't add up." She rubs her temples, trying to process the information. "Should we confront her about it?" she asks, turning to Caitlin for guidance.

"She probably didn't know what to do with it? So she probably just hid it." Caitlin says

Nika nods in agreement, realizing the complexity of the situation. "You're right. It's possible that she hid it because she didn't know what else to do," she says, her voice filled with understanding. "But we can't ignore the fact that she had all that stuff to begin with. We need to approach this with sensitivity and support." She turns to Caitlin, gathering her thoughts. "Should we talk to her together? It might be better if we're there for her."

"Yeah... that's a lot of heroin." Caitlin muttered, "that's at least $500 worth. Maybe even more."

Nika's eyes widen at Caitlin's words, her heart sinking further. "Heroin? Again?!"she whispers, her voice barely audible. The revelation hits her like a punch to the gut. She takes a shaky breath, trying to process the information. "Why would she have all that? It's just... I can't believe this is happening." She runs a hand through her hair, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts and fears.

"Have you noticed any needle markings or anything on her arms?" Caitlin asks, moving the box and sitting down on the bed

Nika's mind races, recalling the times she has seen Kate's arms. She tries to remember if she has noticed any suspicious marks or bruises, but her thoughts are a jumbled mess. "I don't know... I can't remember," she stammers, feeling a wave of guilt and confusion wash over her. "I should have noticed something, shouldn't I? But I was too caught up in my own world..."