Innocent

Talking

I stood there, staring at her. The woman that I haven't seen in a year. She hadn't changed much. Her dark, brown hair was just passed her shoulders. Still had those deep, dark brown eyes. I got my eye color from my dad, which is bright blue. I looked like my dad more than anyone in my family. The only thing I got from her was the height. She's about two or three inches taller than me. Not much of a difference.

Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at me. "Mai, I don't know what to say." She said, going to walk closer towards me. I took a step back, putting my hand up, telling her to stop.

"Don't come any closer." Was all I said.

She froze. We just stared at one another.

She took a deep breath, coughing a little as she blew it out, "H-how have you been?" She shakily asked. I only scoffed, shifting on my feet some, "It's been a year of me being locked away in a mental hospital, you ask me how I've been? That's all you got to say. I mean, I would have expected more from you other than that, but I guess not. And where is Deacon? Or Abigail? Were they too ashamed to come with you? I'm surprised you're even here." I threw it at her all at once.

"I'm not. I was called as soon as you left the hospital. Your father and sister are out in the waiting room. They both agreed that it would be best if I came to talk to you first." She explained.

"I don't know who you're talking about, but I don't have a father or sister. Haven't had either since the night Mark was murdered by his best friend." I said, looking at my fingernails as if they were the most amazing thing.

I heard her gasp. Glancing back at her, she had her hands covering her mouth and tears were falling.

"Yeah. That night, I went up-stairs to shower and Mark invited Adam over. I didn't think anything of it til I had finished my shower and heard a lot of banging. Standing at the top of the stairs, I saw Adam, beating the shit out of Mark. That went on for a while til they scuffled into the kitchen. I could've stepped in and stopped them, but Adam was kicking Mark's ass and if I did anything to try and stop him, he would have beat mine. Only did I step in when Adam grabbed a butcher knife," I explained to her as she stared at me with wide and tear-filled eyes.

"Mark was telling me that I should go, call for help, but I knew that if I did and call for help then by the time I got back, Mark would be dead. I didn't listen, I stayed and ended up watching Mark fall to the floor with a knife in his back," I paused, taking a deep breath to keep myself from crying.

"Adam threatened me, saying I had to take the blame or else he would kill me just like he did Mark. He confessed to doing it about an hour or so ago." I finished, wiping a few tears that I didn't know had fell.

Isabella sighed, her breath being shaky, "Oh Mai. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that you had to witness that all." She said. Her voice was soft and calming.

I shrugged my shoulders, "It's whatever. Not like I can do anything about it now." I said.

She opened her mouth to say something, only the door opening cut her off, "Isabella, Mai."

Detective Froman, along with two police officers, stepped into the room. Isabella turned, facing them.

"Detective, officers." She said, her hands falling to her side.

"We are here to inform you that Adam Williams was jut arrested for the murder of Mark-Johnson Thompson." He spoke.

Isabella gasped and began to silently cry whereas I only smiled.

"Mai," He then said, causing me to look at him, "you're going to have to be taken back to the hospital until Adam's court date is set up."

His words hit me like a bus. My breath caught in my throat and I felt as though I were glued to the floor. I stared at him, not saying a word. My heart was pounding rapidly as my hands began to shake some. I have to go back? He's crazy! There's no way that I was going back.

"Are you crazy? I'm not going back. I didn't do anything so why do I have to go back?" I snapped.

"Just hear me out okay? We don't want to chance that if Adam escapes that he'll go after you. You did turn him in and get him to confess and we heard what he would do to you if he found out that you turned against him. Well, he's found out obviously, and he's pretty pissed," He explained as the two officers stepped forward towards me.

I stepped back, only to come into contact with the window sill. I glanced over my shoulder, looking out the window before looking back at Detective Froman.

"You'll be safe there Mai. If Adam were to escape, then he won't have any way of hurting you." Alice said as she entered the room.

"I can't stay here? Or go into protective custody?" I asked. My heart still pounding rapidly, and my hands shaking profusely.

"Can she come home?" Isabella spoke for the first time since my explanation of what happened.

My head snapped over at her, "Hell no. I'm not going back there." I growled.

Alice walked over, placing her hand on my shoulder and began guiding me to the door, "I think her going back to the hospital is what's best for her." She said as we reached the threshold.

I pulled away from her hand, stepping out into the hall, "No. I'm not going back there. I did nothing wrong." I said, my voice a little raised.

"Mai, don't do this. Not here," Alice sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose before continuing, "Just follow these officers as the escort you to the car. I'll be out in a minute." 

The two officers that were behind Detective Froman began to make their way towards me.

I shook my head, "No. No. I won't go. I will not go back." 

And before anyone could stop me, I turned and booked it out of the station.

I could hear multiple people shouting my name or telling me to 'stop!' But I didn't.

 Once busting through the main doors of the station, I glanced over my shoulder, seeing Detective Froman, Alice, and a few officers running to catch me.

I took off down the stairs and down the sidewalk, bumping into people and shoving through them.

Each time my boot slammed down onto the concrete, it was taking me farther and farther.

I didn't look back. Only looking forward as I ran. And ran. And ran.