Sisters No More

Chapter 8: Hoax (Marie)

It was almost one o' clock the next day. The stage had been set up and a huge crowd was waiting. Just a few minutes and the announcement would start. I feared that people wouldn't believe that it was a hoax. Thankfully, I had some proof to back it up. After rewatching the video several times, I noticed that the Callie in the video didn't have her earrings on. Up to now, she always wore her earrings, just like me. I hoped that people would realize that Callie wasn't an evil person. I had to make this announcement good, for Callie's sake.

Behind me were Sheldon, Pearl, Marina, and Agent 4. In front of me was a big crowd. I dragged my eyes across it until I made my way to the back. And there was Callie, with her arms crossed and a doubtful look on her face. The most notable thing though, was that her tentacles weren't in a bow like usual, just another sign that she was serious about breaking up the Squid Sisters.

Sheldon came up to me and told me it was time, so I took a deep breath and picked up the microphone.

"Hello everyone," I said, trying to keep my nerves out of my voice. "I know why you are all here. You want to know the truth about the video. And the truth is that it's fake. It was a hoax. A dumb joke that I posted because I didn't think it would cause any trouble. Callie did not try to kill me. She did not attack me at all. She isn't the criminal you think she is. She wouldn't do something like that. I have some proof too."

I held out Callie's earrings. "These are Callie's earrings. If you're a fan of the Squid Sisters then you know that we wear these all the time. Up until yesterday, Callie always wore them. But after what I did, she no longer wanted to be a part of the Squid Sisters. And it's obvious why. I hurt her and she has all the reasons in the world to hate me. But these earrings are also what can prove this video to be fake. The Callie in the video does NOT have these earrings on. That's because there are only two pairs in existence. I am wearing one, the other are the ones I just showed you. You can check the video if you want. And even if you don't believe that you should believe me and the people behind me. They all know Callie very well, and they all can confirm that Callie is innocent. She's not some evil murderer. She's the same Callie that you might've met on the street one day. And that's all I have to say. If you still think that video is real, then shame on you for being so gullible and stupid. Callie doesn't deserve all this hate. You can take this as a formal apology. I'm sorry, Callie."

The crowd clapped and cheered, and I could see a slight smile on Callie's face, even from this far away. After everyone cleared out, I saw Callie coming forward.

"You guys can go," I said to the others. "I need to talk to Callie."

Callie came up to me, her arms still crossed. But I could tell that she was loosening up.

"Hey, Cal," I said. "I mean, Callie. You said you didn't want me to call you that."

"It's fine," she said. "Cal's fine."

"If you couldn't tell from that speech," I said. "I'm sorry. Sorrier than I've ever been. You don't deserve any of this hate. I do. I caused all this. I understand if you still hate me. You have every reason to be."

"Maybe just a little," Callie giggled.

I smiled, but only for a second. "I shouldn't have posted that. I should've fought my urges. But I didn't. I let that brainwashing get the better of me. It's gone though. If you even believe that it was my brainwashing."

"I believe you," Callie said.

There was a moment of silence.

"Hey, um, I don't know if you want these anymore," I said, opening my hand and revealing Callie's earrings. "But here."

I handed them to Callie and she quickly put them in her ears.

"I shouldn't have thrown these at you," Callie said. "I shouldn't have yelled at you. I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," I said.

Callie didn't say anything but instead, put her tentacles back into her iconic bow.

"Squid Sisters forever?" she asked.

"Squid Sisters forever," I confirmed.

Callie embraced me with a hug.

"Sheldon will be happy that you're back," I said. "He needs someone to buy his rollers."

Callie laughed. "Speaking of weapons, you want to do some celebratory League Battle?"

"Sure," I said. "I'll go home and grab our weapons. Wait here."

I quickly ran to the house, grabbed our weapons, then came back to see Callie right outside the Battle Tower.

"Ready?"

"Ready."