Scars | ✔

Chapter 23

The group of kids laughed with each other as they walked through the school halls, heading to the shed they had found a day prior.

"So, my wish I made upon a shooting star last week came true, huh?" Louis asked, nudging Violet.

"Shut up, idiot." Violet replied, giving Louis the middle finger.

Suddenly, a few police officers found the group, turning to Clementine.

"Clementine Everett?" A police officer asked. Clem stayed silent, staring up at the police.

"Officer Jackson." The police officer said.

Clem recognized that name. It was a police officer who helped her before.

"We have some new information on Timothy and Tayla Barn."

This is what threw Clem off guard. Her breathing sped up, her eyes were already creating tears as everyone stared in shock.

"You found Timothy?" Clem asked, a bit frantic as AJ took her hand.

"Unfortunately not. Do you want to talk about this in private, or?"

"No. I'm staying here." Clem said, furrowing her eyebrows a bit.

"Well, turns out, Timothy and Tayla weren't actually married. They're siblings."

Clem stared up at Jackson, not knowing how to take this. Confused voices from the other kids beside and behind her were heard, but she couldn't make any of it out.

"But.."

"Half siblings. That explains why they aren't too close looking."

"I.."

"The two are sick in the head, Clementine. Tayla is being executed tomorrow. The, 'pals', of Timothy were already executed. As soon as we find Timothy, he will be too. You are completely welcome to come view their death, but if not, then that's-"

"I want to."

"Clem?" AJ asked worriedly.

"They deserve to die after what they did to me and Marshall." Clem said sadly.

"Meet us at the court at 2 pm." Jackson said as he thought again.

"Oh, and Clem?" Jackson asked after a minute of worried thought.

Clem looked up to him, noticing the worry in his eyes.

"While you were with the Barn's... We found out from Damon that... That well... Your nude pictures were sold to people, and then later sold on the internet..."

Clem's heart sank. One of her worst nightmares came true. Everyone behind Clem was yelling, but it was all a jumbled mess. Everything sounded the same.

Tears filled Clem's eyes, AJ having a death grip on Clem's hand.

"But..."

"We're so sorry Clem. We're trying our best to erase the photos we can."

"I didn't want to. Timothy always forced me into things, and, and..."

Clem let her tears fall, choking on the tears and words as her lip trembled, Jackson watching the girl sadly.

"I know, Clem," Jackson knelt down. "But what's important now, is that you move past it. And before you tell me you can't, I know you can. You aren't broken. Not yet. Not tomorrow. Not two weeks, four years, or six decades from now. You're so strong, Clem. To keep fighting all this time? You're strong. We'll find those pictures and erase them. You won't have to suffer any more. Okay?" Jackson held onto Clem's shoulders, staring into her eyes and speaking slow and softly.