Memory Lane

Chapter 19: Inner Strength

(Song performed: Speechless from Aladdin by Naomi Scott Inspired songs: (is still Speechless), I Say No from Heathers)

Falcon sighed as she reached home. She would need a shower. She would need to regroup. She would need to do this... that. A chat with Rex would do. Apparently he had unearthed more details.

She was not even sure if it was a good or bad thing.

"Bro? I'm home."

She was too busy unloading her GoPro mount with no GoPro after turning it over to the police and explaining what was happening to them (apparently there had been a case building up on the guy for years. They just needed to charge him for something, and the GoPro footage, as well as accounts from the group, was actually more than enough to put him in high security behind bars) and being told that she and her brother are the 'bait' so to speak, of the whole operation. It was only when she called out for her brother a second time and when she opened the fridge did she notice the screaming.

"Bro?" she asked, straightening and closing the fridge door behind her.

"HOW FUCKING DARE YOU TELL THAT TO ME! YOU FUCKING CHEATED ON ME! I HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL YOU TO FUCKING LEAVE YOU PIECE OF HUMAN SHIT! DON'T FUCKING TELL ME I'M FUCKING OVERREACTING!" She could hear her brother scream himself hoarse, and that worried her. He may have had a good voice, but if he had been screaming like that for the whole day...

Falcon marched over and opened the door to her brother's room. There was a jar of mealworms on his desk with tweezers beside it, as well as a styrofoam cup with a mouse inside it? It was probably a pinky for Sindragosa the snake who was pretty small. The amplifier was connected to his electric guitar, the latter thrown haphazardly onto the unmade bed. The light inside the room was only the basking light of the snake and the bright reading light at the desk. Her brother kept his tarantulas on the bottom shelf of his cabinet so it was easier to load and unload on a cart. He was obviously going to feed his animals, in the middle of practicing.

Schoolbooks were strewn to one side. Falcon had actively kept up with school. She was not quite sure if her friends had. She knew Violet well enough to know she did not. Jared was excused for the recent events. Rex... she did not quite know. Rachel's case would have reached her polytechnic.

They should be excused for a while.

"Excuse me."

He was screaming at another boy, someone a good head taller than she was. He did not look too intimidating, but he was very muscular.

She got both their attention. Falcon could almost laugh, seeing their faces. It was like she walked through a warzone.

"So you must be the boyfriend! Hi, the name's Falcon. I don't think we've met. I'm his sister." She smiled, sickly sweet, shaking his hand firmly, as if to let him know who was in charge. "You're the dickbag who cheated on my brother?"

"That's the fucking lie he told you-? Ah... ah ow ow ow!"

Falcon's grip on his hand tightened, placing particular pressure on the knucklebones, squeezing the bones together as if she wanted to make them merge.

"I wouldn't use that tone of voice in this house if I were you. You are not the one in charge." Falcon's grip tightened further, and everyone could swear that they heard bones starting to pop.

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I cheated on your brother with a girl. I'm sorry," he yelped, and Falcon gave a satisfied grin as she released his hand.

"There! Not so bad to say that right? What's your name, pal?"

"Michael... Michael." The boy flinched as Falcon assumed a mock thinking pose, looking him over.