Beyond The Crash

CHAPTER 37 | [THE INCIDENT]

Lilley waited for Atticus by the cafe. To while away time, she played some games in her phone. Then she took a picture of the cafe with a satisfied smile and tried calling some of her friends back in Wellington.

Not to her surprise, it didn't go. Even her messages didn't send. As she tried calling her closest friend Ava one last time, it finally went through.

But then again, she couldn't really hear her. So she decided to walk around, hoping the network would get better. She kept walking until she found herself next to an alley.

She curiously peeped and then walked in as she spotted a baseball bat. It reminded her of what Nicky had said and of her conversation with Melvin next to the baseball field.

As she turned to leave, she met Melvin at the entrance. Though she was surprised to see him, he had a different look on his face. A look of surprise mix with agitation.

She approached him slowly with a smile.
"Hey, crazy meeting you here,"

He looked ahead, then back at her, his hands restless beside him. He seemed a bit different from last time.

"Are you... okay?" She asked, but he didn't respond, not right away.

"You're meeting up with someone?" He responded with a question.

Her smile faltered as she nodded.
"Are you–"

"Is it William?"
She stepped back a bit.

Where did that come from? She blinked.
"N–"

"There's something you need to know about him," he said, again sounding agitated and with a hint of something else... annoyance?
"William isn't a good person... no, he's the worst!"

"Excuse me?" She blinked again, stunned.

"I know you've probably spoken to him before but– you can't trust someone just by one or two conversations with them."

"Wha– what's going on? What are you talking about?" She asked, her brows furrowed together.

"I– I just wanted to let you know... I don't want you ending up like–" He suddenly stopped.

"Like who? Wait, what?" She massaged her temples trying to make sense of what he was saying.

"He didn't deserve her..." she somewhat heard him mutter and looked up at him. "Neither does he deserve you."

"Deserve what? Who are you talking about?" She asked, a bit of haste in her tone. "Are you feeling well? What happened?"

But he didn't respond to her. He just kept looking down. Her questions– everything else she was saying became a blur.

His mind kept replaying what happened earlier.
Their stares. Their voices.

Of his family.
"Can't you just behave normally?"

"Brittany, stop."

Of once his friends.
"If it weren't for my parents, you think we'd be friends?"

"You're messed up."

"I don't blame you. I blame the people who raised you yet... I also pity you."

Fake. Every last one of them.
Except for her.

Was he ever in control?

Did he ever hold power?

Was all that just an illusion?

Will this light vanish, too?

But he promised it would not happen.