^^ Do I wanna know?- Arctic Monkeys.
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Riccardo Santiago's POV

"Are you sure you want to do this?" James asks me.

He grips the steering wheel tightly and I know he is just as scared as I am.

His blonde hair is brushed back and his pale blue eyes stare at the road.

"I need to get past it, James" I tell him truthfully.

"I haven't slept well at all knowing what I've done" he says.

"He fucking deserved it!" James exclaims, hitting the wheel.

"James..." I say, taking his hand.

He looks at me.

"Just... just be careful, okay?" He says.

I give him a tense smile.

"I'll be fine James, I promise." I tell him.

He runs a hand through my hair and then his eyes meet mine.

"If you're not out in an hour I'm breaking in" He says and I chuckle.

"You're so extra" I say rolling my eyes.

"When it involves you, I have to be" he shrugs, pulling away from my blushing self.

I step out of the car, hearing his deep laughter ring from the car.

I step into the building and walk along the corridors, hands buried in my pockets, my eyes trained on the floor.

"Hey, Ricc, what brings you here?" A voice asks.

I look up to see Sebastian, with a broad smile on his face.

"Hey Bas, I need a favour" I say and he nods.

"What is it?" He asks, intrigued.

"I want to see the boy" he says.

Sebastian raises an eyebrow.

"Do you want to tell me why?" He asks.

I shake my head, no.

"Does Matéo know?" He asks.

"Adeline does, so she'll... Convince him to allow me" I say with a tiny smirk.

"Ugh" Sebastian says, making a face and holding his hands up.

"Ew, fine I don't wanna know" he says cringing a little.

I thank him and he gives me the cell number to go to.

I walk through the dark corridors.

The thoughts of what I'm about to do make my heart sink lower and lower into my chest, painfully.

I stop in front of the holding cell.

I take a deep breath and let it out.

No turning back.

I open the door and I enter the interrogation room that leads out of the holding cell.

When I enter I am face to face with a man.

He looks like crap.

His face is battered and bruised, cutes on his full lips and above his eyebrow.

He looks at me, brown, almost black eyes studying my features.

His body is built like an ox, broad shoulders, large arms and a thick, muscular body to hold it.

He looks just like his father, but...

Less innocent.

A lot more heartless and it has brought him to this point.

His wrists are bound in handcuffs, which are looped into a metal circle that is attached to the metal table.

The metal circle is coated in foam so that the person in its hold, can't bang their head on it, enough times to kill themselves.

"Who the hell are you?" He asks, eyes scanning my body, giving me a once over.

"That is unimportant" I say.

"Then why are you here? He asks with confusion.

"I- I know who killed your father" I say, trying not to stutter.

He sits up eagerly.

"Who?" He asks.

"Tell me, who please, I'm begging you" He says.

I turn away from him, tears welling up in my eyes, to think that he is this bitter because I was unaware that he existed.

"Me" I tell him, looking into his eyes.

He slumps into his chair.

"I- I was wrong" he stutters.

"It wasn't Matéo. It was you!" He says and I nod.

"Yes, it was me" I choke out.

"Why?" He asks.

"Why did you kill him?" He asked me.

"Because... Because I loved him" I say honestly, looking at the ground.

Silence.

I look up, to see that his eyes are wide.

"Did he love you too?" He asks curiously.

I sit in the chair opposite him and I nod.

"Yes" I respond.

"And... and do you know what really happened to my mother?" He asks.

"What did your father tell you?" I ask.

He shrugs.

"He told me that she ran off and he told my sister that she died after her birth" he says.

"I knew something didn't add up" he says, shrugging again.

"Why, would he tell you different stories?" I ask, suspiciously.

"We were separated for some time after her birth, because if our enemies found out that my father had a girl, they would kidnap and sell her" he says.

I nod.

"I don't think I should tell you" I say.

"Please!" He says, capturing my hand and I look at him sharply.

"You- you owe me this much!" He begs.

"Your father, he wasn't a good man" I say, tentatively.

He scoffs.

"I'm not an idiot" he says, rolling his eyes and I sigh.

He even sounds like his father.

"He killed your mother once your sister was born" I tell him truthfully.

He looks at me.

"Did he tell you why?" I ask.

"She stopped agreeing with his lifestyle and begged that he didn't continue." I say.

"When he refused, she threatened to leave him and she thought that he would snitch" I say.

He lets go of my hand.

"Thank you" He says.

"For what?" I ask.

"Killing that son of a bitch!" He spits.

"Kojo" I start, but he cuts me off.

"No! Don't defend him because you loved him. The bastard killed my mother, he deserved to die" he says, eyes ablaze with fury and sadness.

"Tell Matéo that I regret what I've done." Kojo tells me.

"I don't think-" I start, but I stop, when he leans forwards.

I turn my head quickly and his lips catch my cheek.

"Please" he mutters into my ear.

"They don't have to spare my life, but they need to hear my thoughts" He says.

I nod.

"I'll try" I say.

"Thank you" He responds.

I stand up and just as my fingers touch the handle, he asks.

"How do you know Matéo?" He asks.

I turn my head slightly.

"He is my little brother" I respond and then I walk out of the room, feeling ten times lighter.
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Question time: Have you ever been told to 'get over it' when it comes to conversations about slavery?

My answer: Yes.