Unlike You

Twenty Seven (pt. two)

"Drugs?" I repeat breathless. Mr. Birch is a drug dealer? He doesn't seem the type. He is the clean cut father who loves his family. Why drugs? No, I refuse to belive that.

"You're lying."

"Honestly, I wish I was. Please, let me explain."

"No, I don't want to be here. I just... I need to go-" I begin to stand, wanting to get Lawrence and get the hell out as fast as possible, but a clamy hand clasps my wrist. I whip around, my eyes burning with anger.

"Let me explain," Sam growls.

I rip my arm away, not wanting his murderous hands on me. I oblige to his demand and I place myself back in the chair. Sam looks nervous. His balding head is beading with sweat and his hands clench and uncleanch. My eyes watch him with caution, my right hand hovering over the taser.

"I met Amy's father in high school. He was a big stoner and all of the kids who were into that kind of stuff went to him. Soon enough, he went from selling weed to more hard drugs like heroine and cocaine. It was bad. Eventually, he was kicked out of school."

I know that Mr. Birch left high school early, but he always told me that the was because he didn't need high school for the career path he wanted. Sam's story is plausible, but he still isn't telling me why he targeted Amy and not her dad.

"Even after he was kicked out, he still sold drugs. He never did them, he just sold them, which is just as bad. I wanted to start buying from him a little while back, before you were even born. I didn't know he was still in buisness. So, as I kept buying from him, he ended up falling in love with his wife. He kept the business going for years after Amy was born. It was only last year that he decided enough was enough. He quit the drug business. I wasn't done though. I was addicted to whatever he would sell me. I was furious. It was the drugs. The withdrawl. I went nuts. I... I guess I just took it out on his daughter for pay back."

My hands are shaking with rage and hate. Will Amy ever get a break? Damn, she's dead and her life is still screwed to the core.

"That's too bad," I spit, no sign or remorse in my voice. "Because I have everything I need." I proceed to stand and walk myself to the door.

"What do you mean?"

"You confessed to the murder of Amy Birch. You are going to Folsom State Prison my friend." Sam stands abruptly as I try to maintain my composure.

"How? It's my word against yours. Need I remind you that you are just a delinquent?"

"Actually it's your word against yours. Unlike you, I had a plan. I know how to do things clean without giving anyone a second thought. I recorded the whole conversation. So good luck rotting away in a cell where you'll never be able to leave. Crazy how it works, huh? The one who everyone called insane is the one who they needed to trust the most."

Fire burns from his core to the dark pits of his eyes. His composure cracks and shatters into a dust. Suddenly, Sam is charging at me. His hands clasp around my neck and I can't breathe. I'm drowning. His eyes seer holes into me.

As I think about my death held in Sam's hands, a familiar voice echoes in the back of my mind.

Serendipity Hampton I swear to God you are impossible. You have a taser in your pocket and you're letting him choke you? Wow.

Amy! Oh my God.

My hand latches onto the box-like taser in my waistband, and I jam it into Sam's side. I click the button and like magic, Sam's hands are leaving my neck. He shakes violently from the shock of the taser, and once he's down and unable to move, I turn it off and bolt out of his room toward the recreation room where the girls go when it's gross outside. I'll bet the basketball court looks like a tornado blew through it.

Once I reach the door I yank it open and run over to where I spot Lawrence and Dana playing a game of pool in the center of the room. I run past other inmates and embrace Dana in a hug after she notices me. I must look in distress because Dana looks worried.

"Dude, what happened to your neck?" She asks. Lawrence rushes over and inspects my neck with wide eyes.

"Did he do this?" Lawrence hisses.

"Can't wait... we need... to leave... now," I gasp through choked breaths.

"Okay, bye Dana. We'll see you again soon." Lawrence pulls me from the rec room and down the long corridor towards the main enterance. We don't even bother checking out and we dash over to Sharon's cop car. She's not done with her shift yet, so she told us to wait for her until her lunch break - which should be soon.

Both of us scramble into the back and lock the doors. I try to catch my breath, but the pressure Sam had on my neck is compermising my breathing. Lawrence picks up on this and he begins to assist me and my breathing.

"What did that bitch do?"

"He was... choking me. I tased him."

"You have the recording, right?" I nod and pull the recording box from my waist. I place it gently into his palm, and I click the button to stop the recording. I slowly click the replay button, as every movement I make hurts. The recording starts and all I hear is the dreaded conversation I had not ten minutes back.

"I know you were the one that killed Amy Birch last summer."

I thought getting him to admit to it that it would be good thing. That Amy would finally get justice and my family and hers would find closure. It doesn't feel that way. Not one bit. It's just like finding out who ran over your dog. It's sickening. I will only find closure if he's dead or behind bars. As horrific as it sounds, he deserves it.

I don't even realize that the recording has ended and Lawrence is staring at me. My eyes meet his. They hold a look of sorrow and hate. Two dangerous emotions.

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't try to talk. It will hurt your throat even more." Lawrence is silent for a moment, the gears in his head working a mile a minute. "I wish my mom was here."

"Why?"

"Sam is her brother. He always listened to her. She always kept him in line."

"It sucks."

"Yeah... you can say that again."

~*~

Part two is up! Sorry for the wonky updates. I just write when I get ideas. Idk when the next update will be.

How do you feel about Amy's dad?

In the next few chapters are going to be great as she will reunite with some... other characters.

Well, that's that!

Bye lovelies.