Dedicated to sassykathy16 and ayeesha247.

"Queen of Cliffhangers" and "Mistress of Suspense"? You guys are hilarious. xD I have to say these are probably the best nicknames I've had in my entire life.😂😂😂

• • •

Chapter 31 | Vindictive Thoughts

"It takes a great deal of courage to see the world in it's tainted glory, and still love it."

-Oscar Wilde

• • •

All good things come with an inherent flaw, a flaw which makes us hate and cherish them at the same time. This flaw is the fact that the wait for them seems eternal, whilst they tend to end in a matter of moments. After long, tedious week days, when one sits back and relaxes, it's indeed a feeling he had been longing for eversince the dreaded​ Monday morning. But, it is short-lived. Or so it seems.

As Mallory woke up on the Sunday morning, she couldn't help but feel the same. The previous day went by in a blur and she had an inkling that the present day wouldn't be any different.

Like every normal High School kid, she had plans for weekend which involved studying for her exams which were around the corner. But unlike most average kids, her plans weren't postponed because she was a procrastinator, but because she had more pressing matters at hand. Like for instance, she had to drive down to the Sheriff's station.

"Mum, I'm going out and tell Jake I'm taking his car again," she called out knocking at the door to her mother's bedroom.

"Mallory Millington, did you just knock?" Eva queried as she opened the door and invited her inside.

"I did," she raised an eyebrow. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Oh, no no. Not at all. Quite the opposite, actually!" Eva grinned. "My children are becoming civilised. I think the purpose of my life is fulfilled."

"You do realize that you are probably one of the most melodramatic mothers on the planet?" Mallory face palmed while shaking her head in disbelief.

"What can I say? It's a gift," her mother winked.

"No doubt you are still single."

"Not for long."

"Wait a second, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Eva pressed her lips to a thin line.

"Mom, are you dating someone?"

"Um...yes?" she replied nervously.

"Wow, that's awesome! Why didn't you tell me before? When do I get to meet him?"

"Soon."

"How soon is 'soon'?"

"Depends. How long would it take you to drive down to the station?"

"What? How is that related to -- Oh, God," Mallory's eyes widened in revelation. "Please tell me he is a cop and not a convict."

"What can I say? I was always into bad boys."

"Thank you for giving me disturbing thoughts," she said, pretending to throw up. "Now, tell me who it is."

"I don't know, if I should. I was planning to tell you and Jake when the time is right."

"Eva Millington, you better tell me, who it is, right now. I mean what kind of mother doesn't tell her own daughter who she is dating. Come on that's ju -- "

"Will."

"Will? Now what does he have to do with anything? I am going to meet him. Are you saying I should ask him about your mystery guy? In fact, are you telling me that he knows and I do not? What kind of sick and twisted mother does that?"

Eva laughed, throwing her head backwards.

"Now, you are laughing? Is there something wrong with you, today? Do we need to get that pretty little head of yours checked?"

"That won't be necessary," she said, a smile still lingering on her lips. "Why don't you just go down the station and ask Will? Because clearly that was exactly what I was implying."

"Fine, I'll do that. Hopefully he'll be less cryptic than you. And while I'm at it, I'll also ask him to be my mother. He'd do a better job than you."

"Ooooh, I sense competition," her mother said.

"Ooooh, you should," Mallory mocked. "Now, if you'll excuse me, while you enjoy your day off I've work to do. So, toodles."

"Bye, Mel."

"Bye, Mum."

• • •

'Delvinshire Sheriff Station' was the local law enforcement agency. The grey structure held a wooden sign indicating the name of the building. In front of it, the police vehicles were parked in a neat row. The doors were made of one way glass which prevented the outsiders to glance inside.

Mallory pushed open the double doors to be greeted by Sheriff's Deputy.

"Mallory, hi! I haven't seen you in a long while," Amanda Rogers said cheerily. Her brown curls fell upon her dark skin, as she smiled radiantly.

"Hello, Deputy Rogers," Mallory returned the smile. "Yeah, I've been...umm...busy."

"I know," she gave a sympathetic smile. "So, how can I help you today?"

"Well, I am here to see the Sheriff."

"Do you have an appointment? Because, I don't have your name on the visitor's list," she scrutinised a clipboard lying on the desk.

"Oh-kay. Actually, he asked me to come by," Mallory explained.

"Well, in that case, go right ahead. He doesn't have anything else scheduled for today," she said and returned back to her computer.

"Alright. Thanks. See ya," Mallory chirped.

"Yeah," Amanda replied. "See you."

Mallory made her way through the corridor to the Sheriff's cabin. Throughout the way, she was speculating the reasons as to why he wanted to talk to her. She thought about the phone call she got the previous day.

"Hey, Mallory. How are you?" Will had said.

"I'm good, Sheriff!"

"So, I was wondering if you could come by at the station tomorrow?"

"Why what happened? Is there anything serious?" She had replied, panic clear in her voice.

"Not exactly. No."

"Umm...okay. Sure. What is it about?"

"Just meet me, I'll tell you."

"Great. See you."

She stood before the wooden gate, hesitant for a moment. Finally, she took in a deep breath and pushed the door open.

"Sheriff, what did yo -- " She began but stopped short. "I didn't realise you had a visitor."

That was the moment the visitor in question decided to turn around. Mallory furrowed her eyebrows, confusion evident on her face, "Andrew?"

"Mallory?" Andrew said looking at her.

"Wait a second, you both know each other?" Sheriff queried.

"Yeah, he goes to my school," Mallory said.

"Why would a twenty year old go to school?"

"Twenty? He's nineteen!"

"No, Mallory, I'm twenty now. My birthday was last week," Andrew said. "And Sheriff I only go to school because it's a simple cover story. I needed it to be a part of 'The Beasts'."

"The beasts? What are y -- " Will began with a faux-surprised expression but was cut off.

"She knows, Sheriff." Andrew said.

"She does?"

"Yes I do," Mallory replied walking in the room while she took the chair beside Andrew. "Now, tell me how do you know Sheriff?"

"I know a lot of people," he shrugged, his eyes glued to the manilla folder lying on the table.

She scoffed, "With your attitude, I somehow find it hard to believe."

"What you choose to believe or not isn't my concern. Now, if you'll excuse me, my work here is done," he got up, picking up the folder from the table. "Thank you, Sheriff Johnson. I'll talk to you later, Mallory." And with that he bolted out.

"What was that about?" Mallory asked. "What was in that folder?"

"Nothing that concerns you," he replied cryptically.

"Fine," she reluctantly dropped it. "What did you want to talk about?"

"A couple of things. First of them, I want you to stay away from Andrew."

"Huh? Why?" She knitted her eyebrows.

"Mallory, I've known that kid for a long time and believe me when I say he is trouble."

"As if I don't know," she muttered and then nodded.

"Okay, now, the other thing is I got a call from Detective Todd. He talked to the DA who told him that unless there is any new evidence or eyewitness, a concluded case cannot be reopened. And -- "

His phone suddenly began ringing cutting him off.

"Excuse me," he smiled politely at Mallory before answering the phone.

"Alright. Where? -- How many? -- Okay, I am on my way." He disconnected the call. "I am so sorry, Melly. I need to leave. Duty calls. Let's finish this meeting soon, okay?"

Mallory nodded, shoulders slumped in disappointment.

• • •

"Watcha doin'?" Jake said in a sing-song as he jumped on the couch.

Mallory sat on the carpeted floor, her books sprawled on the coffee table with her vigorously scrawling on a notebook and then crossing it out. With a groan, she dug the pencil into her notebook so hard that it's tip broke, punching a hole through the paper.

"Earlier I was doing math," she responded snapping the notebook with a noise, "Now, I am just planning a murder."

"Oh, nice," Jake replied casually, twisting an Oreo cookie in his hand and licking the cream, "Whose murder, if I might ask?"

"Well, I don't know if you know a lot of murderers, Jake. But most of us are rather reluctant when it comes to sharing our potential victims," she smiled sarcastically.

"Oh, come on I won't tell," he winked.

"If I show you, then I know you won't tell what I said, 'cause two can keep a secret if one of them is dead," she said with a smirk, quoting 'Secrets' by the Pierces.

"Ooooh, isn't it Pretty Little Liars' title track?"

"You recognize the title track of a sickly girlish TV Show," she raised an eyebrow, "Should I be scared for you?"

"Dude...hot girls, sexual tension, a hard to keep up with mystery, insane plot twists...What else do you want from a show?" He said in a 'duh' tone.

Mallory rolled her eyes, "Creep."

"Never mind." He sighed. "Now, tell me what were you doing?" He picked up her notebook and opened it up.

"Math. I was trying to do math. The keyword being trying," she said getting up and sitting on the couch next to him.

"Little sister you need help. You are mathematically impaired." He said reading her answer, his brows scrunching as he tried to make sense of what was written by his sister.

"Aren't we all? Everybody hates math!"

"Every six out of ten people actually love mathematics."

"And apparently, only four out of ten people actually have a life," Mallory rolled her eyes.

Jake glared, "Now, tell me what were you trying to do in this question?"

"Er...Factorization?"

"In what world is this factorization?"

"I was splitting the middle term," she explained tracing her finger along the page.

"Give me a pencil," he said as she complied. "It's so easy, all you have to do is apply the quad -- Get your hands off my Oreo!" He snatched the packet from her and kept it on the other side.

"Meanie!"

He promptly ignored her, "It's simple quadratic formula and here, it's done."

"Woah, I have been stuck at it for half an hour." She looked at him.

"That's my charm, baby sister. Why are you doing these questions anyway?"

"Got a 'D' and Mr. Brown gave me these questions for extra credit."

"Sucks to be you," he said placing the packet of cookies in his lap and propping one in his mouth.

Just then, the bell rang.

"Go open the door," Mallory said.

"What for? It's your turn!"

"No, it's not!"

"It is."

"I am studying!"

"I am eating!"

"Arghh..." She groaned in frustration.

"Fine, I'll get it. But you owe me." Jake finally got up from his place in resignation and unlocked the door.

Without so much as a greeting or a simple 'Hi.', Andrew made his way past Mallory's brother into the living room and announced, "We need to talk."

"Oh, it's you. Hello there!" Mallory looked up surprised by the unannounced visit.

"And if my memory serves me right, you are Andrew?" Jake queried.

He nodded in acknowledgement.

"We're going upstairs," Mallory announced getting up and shutting the books.

"Oh yeah? Why?" Jake raised an eye brow.

"None of your business, Jacob," she glared at him.

"The sun is up, shouldn't you be in your coffin?" Jake said smugly to Andrew whose expression remained indifferent.

"Jake, behave," Mallory said suppressing her grin.

"Whatever you say, little sister. Maybe I should take Andrew to the kitchen and we can talk like two gentlemen?" He suggested.

"Maybe some other day," Andrew said casually as he started moving towards the staircase without so much as a glance behind.

"Woah! Someone has serious attitude issues," Jake remarked.

"You've no idea."

• • •

Andrew sat down at Mallory's bed feeling a strange sense of déjà vû. The last time he was there, his identity had been revealed. A lot had happened ever since then. It's funny how life works some times.

"So, what's up?" Mallory said as she dropped her books on the study table with a thud. "Why are you back to your former self?"

"Mallory..."

"You know, a little courtesy​ won't kill you."

"Listen to me."

"I will. First tell me, what were you doing with Will this morning?" She turned back and plopped down at the foot of the bed.

"I wanted some information and he was the only one who could give it to me."

"Wow, can you be anymore secretive?"

"It's not a secret. It's just none of your damn business!" He barked.

She looked at him for a moment with surprise choosing her words carefully, "Look, if there is anything you need help wi -- "

"No, for God's sake, I do not need your help!" His voice bellowed.

She cringed at his tone.

"What I cannot understand is, why can't you mind your own business? Isn't it how you got into this mess at the first place?! By poking your nose where it doesn't belong! Why can't you rest it, huh? Why do you have to be Mother Teresa and fix everyone's problems? Don't you have enough of your own?"

Andrew saw her blinking repeatedly, clearly taken aback by his sudden outburst. He looked at her confunded expression. What led to his outburst? Even he didn't know!

He pinched the bridge of his nose and inhaled deeply before saying, "Sorry. I didn't mean it."

She remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"I don't know what got into me."

"Say it."

"What?"

"Say it. Say what's bothering you."

"I-I don't know..."

"Yes you do, you just don't know how to say it out loud. You don't know how to share it with someone. Try it. Talking helps."

"Trying to play therapist?" He mused wryly.

"Something like that," she gave him a small smile.

"I don't know where to start from. There's just so much happening. There's Marko and then there's Antonio's return. And Emily, oh God. Emily. What would I do about her? I've been trying for a year now and I haven't received anything against them! I've failed at everything. I failed Emily, I -- "

"Shh, it's okay. You haven't failed anything." she inched closer to him and patted his knee.

"Mallory," he whispered after momentary silence.

"Yeah?"

"There's something I wanted to ask,"

"Shoot."

"Look at this," he retrieved a couple of photographs from his pocket and gave them to her without looking at them.

She gasped.

The polaroids were Emily's photographs from post incident case files. His sister's broken and battered features were etched into his mind, making him furious whenever he thought about it. Emily's body was covered in scars and he didn't dare imagine how she got them. Yet he wanted to know. He wanted to know what did those monsters do to her. Rage fuels vengeance and he wanted it, desperately needed it. And so he spoke his next words with a hope that he won't regret it.

"Tell me. Tell me how it happened."

"What?" She said still recovering from the shock.

"Tell me everything those monsters did," he stated. "And in return, I'll make sure they pay for it."

• • •

Vote? Maybe. ;)

Hello there!

Are you still hanging in there? I know. I know. I'm very lazy. **Dodges the things you all are throwing at me**

I took an eternity to update. But here it is. It isn't the best of the chapters. But I was eager to update and so I did.

Now, what do you think? Go ahead, comment.

And thank you once again for the messages and comments. Keep them coming!

Have a wonderful day/night! (Random: What's the date and time while you are reading it?)

Until next time!

-Ridhima