In Charlotte's Eyes

ONE: [P] Broken News

When Parker got there, Suzuki was already there. He was impatiently tapping his foot in Charlotte’s living room, hands on his forehead. His eyes shot up when Parker entered the house. “Where is she?!” He asked, panicked.

He got up in Parker’s face. “Uh, I..-! I don't know, I don't know!” He quickly shouted, reciprocating the unease.

“You said you saw her when she disappeared!” He put his hands on his shoulders. “What happened?!”

“She disappeared!” He repeated, stepping back. He looked him in the eyes, hoping that somehow he'd believe that. “She vanished in front of my face!”

“Parker, please don't fuck around with me here! Where is she?! Her car is here, she isn't anywhere in the house!” He motioned to Charlotte’s phone on the counter. “I tried calling her, but her phone is right here!”

“Suzuki, I wish I could tell you, god..!” Parker looked up, defeated. “But she genuinely disappeared right in front of me.”

The front door opened. “Please settle down, you two.” Carlos’ voice requested calmly. He stepped inside, Aaron following behind him, concerned.

“I can't, Carlos, I can't!” Suzuki panicked.

“Pipe down, then.” He responded sternly. He looked at Parker, brows furrowed. “Parker, what's going on here?”

Parker whimpered. How many times did he have to repeat himself? This is what crazy people have to do to get anyone to listen to them. Maybe he really was crazy. “Charlotte disappeared.” He defeatedly repeated, eyes on the floor. “She disappeared in front of my eyes.” He stared at the spot where Charlotte had stood before vanishing, feebly gesturing to it.

“How the hell am I supposed to believe that?!” Suzuki interjected.

“Uh.” Aaron awkwardly spoke. “I have to agree.”

Carlos put his hands on his hips. “Gotta give us more info, Parker. Start from the beginning.”

He sighed. “Okay.” He looked between all of them. “But before I do, I need you all to believe me. I'm telling the absolute truth.” None of them responded. He took an uncomfortable breath. “After I gave her all the money we raised for her mold treatment, I saw that she had got a new motorcycle a few days ago.” He glanced at Aaron. “It made me worry about her spending—that she wasn't putting the money we gave her to its intended purpose.” He looked at Suzuki. “When I got here, I found out that she had been using our money to buy a bunch of expensive things..” He disappointedly explained, looking at Carlos. “We started arguing about it, and then.. she was gone.”

“She just poofed out of existence?” Aaron asked softly. “For real?”

He nodded with a hum in response. He looked at Carlos and Suzuki for responses. Carlos had a stern expression on his face, arms crossed. Suzuki’s face was crawling towards anger, an a thousand yard glare making its way to Parker’s eyes.

“..How the hell am I supposed to believe that..?” Suzuki muttered angrily.

“I-I know it sounds crazy.” Parker felt intimidated by the expressions each of them were giving him. “But you have to believe me. It's truly what happened.” He did his best to keep his tired eyes wide.

Suzuki growled, teeth showing. “Do you think I'm some stupid fool, Parker?” His voice rasped. “You're a liar. All this shit you're trying to sell,” His hands balled into fists. “You're covering something up.” He accused.

He was taken aback. “No-.. no! I.. What would I even cover up?!” He shouted desperately.

Carlos turned to the side, putting a hand on his temple and closing his eyes. “On the surface, it's pretty obvious what you could be covering up.” He murmured.

“You murdered her.” Suzuki bluntly accused. “You killed her in cold blood, and-”

“No!” Parker shouted. “No, I would never! I swear I would never!”

The front door shut. Aaron was gone. Suzuki and Carlos stared him down. No..

“Please, I didn't! She-.. she really did disappear..!”

“Bullcrap.” Suzuki pointed at him. “You spew all this BS about Charlotte spending our money recklessly, and getting into an argument,” He paused, growling. “YOU’RE JUST TRYING TO JUSTIFY THE ATROCITY YOU COMMITTED!”

Parker’s breathing hastened. He looked at Carlos. Carlos’ brows were low. He looked down at Parker with a look of disappointment. His breath hitched. “-No, I-..” He leaned back defensively. “I swear I wouldn't hurt Charlotte, let alone kill her..!”

“Don't feed me that shit.” Suzuki took a step closer. “You've gotten violent with her in the past,” Parker’s eyes widened. No.. “You did the same now.”

“I-.. I know, but-..” But what? “I didn't. I-I swear I didn't..!” He shouted.

“You'll end up paying for this, Parker.” Suzuki paused. “I HOPE YOU ROT IN PRISON FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.” He stormed towards the door, tears in his eyes. He rammed the door open, then slammed it shut behind him.

Carlos and Parker stood in silence for a few moments. Parker felt paralyzed again. Everything was crumbling. Charlotte was gone. Suzuki thought he was a murderer. All of his friends think he's crazy. And he hadn't even told Kylee or Leon yet.. he couldn't tell them.

He looked to the floor. His mouth hung agape. “..What the fuck..?” He murmured, frustrated, sobbing once. He knows he didn't kill her. He knows she disappeared. But he had nothing to prove it.

A soft sigh escaped Carlos’ lips. Parker didn't look up. “..This is truly disappointing.”

Parker used all the energy and force he could to look up at Carlos. “..C-Carlos..” He shakily hushed, throat dry. Tears threatened to pour from his eyes. “Please.. Please, just-..! Believe me..!”

He sighed again, shaking his head, eyes trained on the floor. “She negatively affects everybody she meets.” He looks up at Parker. “I can't say I feel bad for her.”

“..please.. Carlos..”

“But I can't say I feel bad for whatever comes to you, either.”

There was no hope anymore. Parker stood there, paralyzed. His mouth hung open in hopelessness. There was a long moment of silence, Carlos staring sternly down at Parker.

Then, Carlos’ footsteps began fading away, towards the front door. When it opened, Parker finally brought up enough strength to look up. Carlos stared back at him. He turned his head away.

He closed the door.

Now it was silent. Just like last night. He was alone again in Charlotte’s house.

Nobody believed him. He knows he didn't kill her. He didn't. But nobody believed him. She disappeared. But that's not how the world works.

But he knows what he saw. It was real.

But he had no proof. He had nothing.

He didn't even have his friends anymore.

Wide eyed, his knees finally buckled. He crumbled to the floor. And finally, he began violently crying.