MADISON

I returned to the building around five in the evening on that day, hoping Mitch was at home. He was the only one I could think of. He is the only one around here who could help us.

In the denim pants and t-shirt I've been wearing since Monday, I stepped out of the elevator. Then again, I have some visitors standing by my door. Bryan Tatum! And he has his two security men accompanying him.

Not now. I haven't attended school for three days. I haven't talked to Asher or picked up any phone calls that are not related to Caden's issues. All I need right now are solutions alone.

When his eyes found me, a smile began pulling his lips until he surveyed my miserable appearance, he came to be concerned, promptly. "Hey? I've been calling you."

I stop by Mitch's entrance door and let Bryan walk over to me. "I am sorry, I had been busy lately," I responded, trying to sound fine even though I look very beyond it.

"All right..." He suspiciously stares at me before he suggests: "Well, maybe if you are free I can take you to somewhere you might find repose. I know a place you will like." He smiles gently.

If only he knew there was nothing he can offer that could wipe away my distress right now. He shouldn't try in vain. I rub my tired face with my hand while I tell him: "I really appreciate the kindness but right now I have a lot on my plate. I will need you to leave."

His brows pinched together in confusion. I really am sorry, but he was useless to the matter right now. And time is something I don't have. Caden is been charged for an attempted murder that he had confessed to. His trial is on Monday and we have not a lawyer or any older person around.

Sorry, but there's nothing that could bring repose if not Caden's freedom. "Madison? Are you okay?" Bryan worriedly asked.

"Yes..." I nodded. "I-I have some things to round up." I implored. He hesitates for some seconds before he says: "Alright." and walks away with his men, into the elevator.

When I was alone in the hall, I breathe for half a minute, mentally gathering all the logical statements I've shelved for Mitch while on my way back home. Softly praying to God for Mitch to be home, I knocked twice on the wooden door. My heart pounding in my chest.

As the door swings open and Mitch appears in some weird yellow pajamas, I heave a relieved sigh: "Thank God you're home."

He cautiously gapes at me, like I have some weapon behind my pants and I was going to attack him any moment. "Why?"

"I need your help."

"What again?" He exhales loudly, acting already exhausted.

"Caden he...." I started but with the mention of my stepbrother, Mitch quickly cuts me off: "No... no, I am not getting involved in any of your troubles again... I will call your parents." He sternly concluded.

Yes, calling our parents was the right thing, I wanted to do that but Caden had made me promise to not let dad know about this. Which doesn't make sense because when the news goes out, it will be everywhere and dad will be finding it out on tv.

I know they don't have the best father-son relationship but I am sure dad wouldn't let his only son lock up in prison for years. "Please, Mitch. He's in jail and he will probably stay there for years if you don't help us." I desperately begged.

The story didn't seem to surprise him, it kind of annoyed me how he took it neutral like a young man's future wasn't in danger. "Why? Your parents have the right to know about this."

"My parents shouldn't know. They can't. Please... I will pay you if that will do." I rush, hoping he wants anything I can offer, I can give him the money for my car. All he just needs to do is help Caden out of that place.

He frowns at me and breathes. "I don't want your money, Madison. Why won't you be honest with your parents about all the things that are happening here?"

Sure, he can see how miserable I've become. "Is better this way." I weakly murmured, chewing my inner cheeks.

"You don't like it here. You and your stepbrother are two different people. You're true and good, but Caden is trouble. There's no way you will make it without him dragging you down with him," Mitch advises.

That's what I used to think, but now I don't care. Now I know I can't make it at all without him around me. Caden had become my greatest sin. As long as I have him here, I don't care how far he drags me down with him. He has claimed every ounce of me, and he's all I need to breathe. All I crave to share my life with.

Blinking away the tears, I sniff. "I just need your help... Will you help me?"

Mitch watched me for a while before agreeing. "I will try to represent him. I hope you're doing the right thing, though."

I am... He is my family... He is who I love.

On Friday, I waited for anything, but it was like every day; everyone minding their business, then papers, sirens, phone calls, and the smell of donuts and coffee.

I anxiously wait for Mitch to come out of the office he had entered with some officers and the lawyer he had hired. I was fidgeting on that same bench, nervously tapping on my thighs when something happened.

Someone in front of me mentioned a very familiar name. "Kane Esteban? Please follow me," they said.

My head jerks up, and boom! There was a cop in uniform and a middle-aged man in jeans and a black jacket over a grey shirt. He doesn't look very good, but he was better than me.

I quickly shoot from the bench. Without thinking, I approached the two men. "Kane Esteban? Daisy's father?" I asked the middle-aged man.

He appears confused but nodded anyway: "Yes!"

"I am Madison, Caden Thaddeus stepsister." I begin.

"Can you please excuse us?" the cop said, somewhat dismissing me. I have to try.

"I need to talk to you. Please." I desperately begged, my eyes burning.

The man breathed and looked away from me for a while. My heart was throbbing in my chest, I was scared, but I wasn't giving up. When the man's eyes came back, he asked the cop for five minutes. It was like he gave me everything. I thanked him repeatedly while he followed me to the scanty side of the station.

"What do you want?" He boldly asked when we were alone.

Okay, what do I say?

I tugged the lock of hair behind my ear and started: "I don't know what happened before, and I am sorry for all of it. I am not saying what you did to my family is right or what my family did to yours is. But I am begging you to please reconsider... Cara was Caden's twin."

"And Daisy is my daughter. He almost killed her purposely." He exhaled, pausing for a while before continuing. "I didn't kill his sister knowingly. Yet I paid for it, I lost my family. I lost those precious years as my daughter grows up. I lost my home, my job, and everything I've built for my wife and Daisy. Look at me?" He gestured to himself with his hands.

I understand he's pained; I cannot imagine how it feels to almost lose a child.

"I'm wandering around with no home, no job, nothing for myself. But it isn't enough? Aren't your family satisfied enough? I am nothing; can't you see? Why would you want my only daughter? She's all I have left." He exclaimed.

Startled, I apologize: "I am sorry... My family is past it."

"Not all." He shook his head in denial. "My daughter has a serious concussion because your brother ruthlessly crushed her head against the wall until she bleeds out. She did nothing. She's innocent."

A tear escaped from my eyes.

He was right. I have nothing else to say.

"What can I do?"

He held out his palms in front of me.

"Nothing just stay away from my family." He retorts and began walking away.

"I promise we would." I trail behind him. "Just think about your daughter losing everything as Caden is about to. He's just eighteen."

He can't get thrown into jail for years. He can't.

"He caused it upon himself." The man asserted.

Granted! I know he did, but he wouldn't if this man hadn't hit his twin sister.

So I stopped in my tracks, this time disagreeing with him: "No! He had been this way ever since you killed Cara. So he didn't cause it upon himself. No one wants to live in pain and trauma for eight years. He is just grieving over the loss of the person he shared a womb with for nine months."

Kane Esteban observed me for a while before he excuses himself and followed the cop through that door where Mitch remains.

Fucking assshole.