Psycho But Not Really

p s y c h o - 29

Althea

My father pulled up to what looked like an old, worn out warehouse, I gave him a concerned look, but he smiled and winked.

"I want you to meet someone, I know it's sketchy, but trust me it'll be fun", he reassured me, I nodded and got out of the car. The night breeze brushed against my skin, as I brought my hand to warm my arms. I followed my father into the building, and without any concern, I had just entered my worst nightmare.

We walked through hallways, and I would occasionally kick rocks, as they echoed through the hallow walls. I was just about to question how far we had to walk, when voices were heard, deep laughters, and some bangs on the walls, I clutched onto my fathers arm, but he didn't do a single thing, but continued to walk as if i wasn't clung onto him.

We finally made a stop, when a few tall figures came to our peripheral, I squinted my eyes, as I saw the one familiar figure.

"M-Marcl?" I said, the man came into the light, and he had a worried look on his face, bruises on his cheeks, and a busted lip it was for sure Marcl. "I only warned you Thea, now you have to deal with the consequences" he shrugged, and joined the other men, who were in suits, and had cigars in their mouths.

I looked at my father, who was picking at his nails, when he finally noticed me looking at him, "oh!, my dear Thea, you see we all know something you don't, and all we need is your little Nate, he'll be here very soon" he smirked.

Sweat was forming at my forehead, and I clenched my hands into a fist, and I bit my bottom lip. "W-What.." I whispered, the men laughed, as I saw them sarcastically pout their lips at me.

"D-Dad! Tell me what's going on! I wanna g-go!" I stuttered, but my fathers menacing chuckled was let out. "Go on Malcom, tell her, you know we don't have the patience" one of the men said.

Malcom?!

My eyes widened, "Malcom?" I said, and looked up, my father lit up a cigar and pulled it between his lips, I was never fond of smokers.

"Yes! Correct my love! I am the Malcom!, the one and only! Jesse Malcom Herwok!" Malcom screamed as he lifted his hands up for exaggeration. I felt betrayed.

My face held disgust, but that all went away, when my favourite sound in the world met my ears, "Thea? Where are you!"

Nate

My eyes met Nate, and a smiled formed on my lips, but immediately dropped when I saw blood on his shirt, Lenny was with him, but he was clean. Nate was holding a gun. I felt more betrayed.

"Look who finally showed up!" Malcom playfully said, I had no right to call him my father anymore. I narrowed my eyes at Nate, he found my eyes, and his body went tense. Nate took big strides towards me, and instantly grabbed me by my waist, facing my towards the men and Malcom.

"Nate? What's going on..." I whispered, Nate's grip tightened. He looked at me, and for a second I saw red flash in his eyes, before he bent down to whisper in my ear.

"Remember when I told you I never leave me? Even when it's the worst situation?" He gulped. "you promised" he finished, but Malcom interrupted.

"Nate Nate Nate.... little Cougar Nate.." Malcom taunted.

How does he know Nate's middle name?

"Thea, I have something you'd want to read..." Malcom waved a file in front of my face, it looked like the files Gibson showed me at the clinic. I grabbed it, and felt Nate release his grip, snickers were heard from across the building.

Before looking at the file, I wanted to confirm something with Malcom.

"Malcom... why did you leave?" I asked, looking into my so called fathers eyes. I could tell I got his genes. Malcoms face softened, but went dark a second later.

"Because... I had to protect you-" I was furious by now.

"Protect us? Are you kidding me? Protect us?" I yelled, and scoffed the last part. "So you left to protect us from who? And What? And look where I'm at now! Almost everyone one in the building is holding a gun, what are you going to do? Protect me?" I yelled louder, Malcom pinched the bridge of his nose.

"It's not that easy, it was a hard time for me and your mother" he said, and tried to play the empathy card. I scoffed once more.

"Hard time hey?, mum had the hardest time when you left, she sat on the couch every night waiting for you to come back home! she worked her ass off to pay the bills! she still kept your stuff in place at home, and now look at her! Depending on a machine to keep her alive! I think she's had the hardest out of all of us... not you Malcom... not you at all" I said, and my tears betrayed me as they fell.

Everyone in the room was silent, I could still see some men smirking and some looking a bit concerned.

"Thea... what you're about to read in that file will change your whole perspective on this, you'll finally understand why I left, and why you're here" he said, dropping his cigar and stepping on it. My face scrunched up, as I looked at him.

"And you!" I turned to Nate, he jumped a little at me harsh tone, Nate couldn't look at me, Lenny on the other hand was playing with a pocket knife.

"You made me feel pathetic! I don't know if I can trust you! I know you warned me about leaving the hospital, but couldn't you just tell me the truth? I've been in the dark, always kept hidden and not told anything about anyone!" I screamed. Nate was still looking down, I scoffed.

"Whatever" I mumbled.

I took a deep breath, and held the file to my sight, I turned it around. Everyone was dead silent, like they were waiting for this moment.

I scanned the file until the top left corner, my stomach dropped as I saw the name, and photo.

Nate Cougar Jondus 

•••

Wow... the truth has been slightly revealed... will Thea end up hating Nate? Or will she keep her promise and stay with him?