Broken Apart

Chapter 5

Michael's POV: I decided to call LaToya. Maybe she'll help me. "Hello?" She answered. "LaToya, I think I found out why Maria's doing this." I said. "What did you find?" She asked. "She's a junkie." I said. "What?" LaToya asked, confused. "Heroin. I found a small vile of heroin and a bunch of needles. I noticed that she's usually calm for two or three days, and then she has outbursts for a week or two, which must be when she's out and waiting for a new vile. She must have shot up this morning cause I found a needle in the trash and she was calm." I said. "Michael, you need to report this." She said. "No! I'll do something myself! If I can get her into rehab or something she'll be better!" I said. "And how are you gonna go about that?" LaToya asked. "I'll figure out a way." I said. I heard the car pull up out front. "I gotta go. Later sis." I said. "Bye Michael. Please be careful." She replied. I hung up and sat back down on the couch. Maria walked in with a bag with nail polish and some makeup in it. "Here, I picked up some concealer for you." She said as she handed it to me. "Thanks hun." I said. "No problem." She said as she bent down and kissed my forehead. This was the first time in a long time she kissed me and meant it. I really want to confront her about her addiction, but I'm afraid she'll snap. I'm gonna do it. "Maria, can I talk to you?" I asked. "What?" She asked as she sat down next to me. "When I was looking for your list, I found a vile of-uh—heroin, in your drawer." I said. Big mistake. Her eyes widened and she looked angry. "Why would you go through my personal stuff?!" She exclaimed as she stood up. "I didn't do it on purpose, it was there with the list. I'm just really concerned about you, and I really think you should—" "Oh you've done it now." She said as she ran into the kitchen. She came back out with a knife. My eyes widened and I stood up. "Maria, what are you doing?!" I asked as I backed up. "This will teach you you fucking worthless piece of shit!" She said as she approached me. I tripped and fell on the ground. "Maria! Don't do this please! I promise I won't tell anyone!" I begged. I pleaded with her not to do this. "I warned you Michael! Now you've crossed a line!" She said. She suddenly plunged the knife into my stomach. I gasped for air. She punched my face multiple times. I felt the blood in my mouth. I could barely breathe. I was losing blood fast. My vision became blurry and all I heard was ringing and Maria's muffled voice. Then I blacked out.
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LaToya's POV: I was in the kitchen when I heard the phone ring. "Hello?" I answered. "LaToya! You need to come here quickly!" I heard Mike's girlfriend, Maria, panically say. "Calm down Maria what happened?" I asked. "I came home from the pharmacy and I think someone broke into Neverland because I found Michael passed out on the floor with a knife in his chest and bruises all over! Please come quick! I don't know if he's ok!" She exclaimed. I was furious. I knew this had her written all over it. How could someone break into Neverland and stab Michael without security noticing? I told Michael to report her, now she's gone too far. I want to kill her myself. "Ok, I'm coming right now. Did you call 911?" I asked. "Yes, and they said they're sending police and an ambulance! Please hurry!" She said. I hung up and rushed to my car. I was terrified that she killed him. I finally got to Neverland. The cops or ambulance hadn't arrived yet, so I was becoming skeptical about her calling them. The door was open so I rushed inside. "LaToya! Please help I don't know what to do!" Maria said with tears in her eyes. She could win an Oscar for her acting skills. She had blood on her hands, but not her clothes. She must have changed. I looked behind her, only to see a motionless Michael, laying in a pool of blood, with a knife sticking out of his chest. I ran over to him and knelt down next to him. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. He was still breathing, but it was very slow. I cupped his cheek with my hand. I heard sirens outside. Maria motioned the paramedics inside. They rushed up to Michael and I backed away. They put an oxygen mask on him and started doing CPR to keep him alive. They got him on the stretcher and took him to the ambulance. By this point I was crying. So was Maria. What an actor. The police came in and started talking to Maria about what happened. She lied right through her teeth. I washed Michael's blood off of my hands before pulling an officer aside. "Officer, don't believe anything she says. She did this, not some random burglar." I said. "Well, we won't know without enough proof. We're just going to hope that Mr. Jackson survives so we can get his side of the story." He said. "You want proof? Check the phone calls. Michael told me over the phone what was happening. All those bruises are from her. Those sheets on the couch are because he's not allowed to sleep in his own bed. That knife has her fingerprints on it. And if you want more proof, check upstairs. Michael told me she's a heroin addict. Is that enough proof for you?" I said. "One second Miss." He said as he walked away. He quietly talked to another officer, but I could hear him. "Pierce, call the station and get a search warrant for this house. I want it by the end of the day. She says the suspect has heroin somewhere in the house." He said. The other officer nodded and walked outside. He walked up to Maria. "Alright madam, we'll find out who did this and why. In the meantime, be careful." He said. "Thank you officer." She said as they left. She closed the door behind them. "You are one great actor." I said. I was tired of her shit. My brother could be dead because of her. "What are you talking about?" She said. "Don't give me that shit. I know this was all you. Michael told me everything. I know you've been abusing my brother. And if he dies, I'll make sure no one will ever see you again!" I yelled. "Just stay the fuck out of this before I do the same to you!" She yelled as she got close to me. I pushed her into a wall, making her hit her head on it. I left and went to the hospital...