A special thanks to saaliwritesss

" We are sometimes taken
into troubled waters,
not to be drowned but
to be cleansed. "

- Anonymous

-------●●°●●--------

Kylie

Cold breeze licks my bare skin the moment I step on the outside. It's getting so cold nowadays, after all, winter is knocking on the door. I hug myself trying to provide some warmth in my bare skin as the thin layer of my t-shirt was doing nothing to save me from the chill weather.

The thought of paying a surprise visit to the police station might be considered another reason behind the sudden coldness that sipped through my entire being.

Is it only me?

Because I don't see anyone else surrendering to the weather like me.
I shrugged it off as the mind game of my fucked up mind, taking out my phone I open Google Maps. I have only ever been to the police station once and the condition I was in? Not the ideal moment to memorise my surroundings. Being interrogated two hours after my best friend's death wasn't the nicest thing for me.

I checked the way in Google Maps, it's quite far. At the 34th Avenue.

"Kylie." Here we go. It doesn't take me too much to recognise the voice despite its unfamiliarity because I know only one person with this high-pitched voice that has been playing on like a broken record near my ear for four hours nonstop, each day. That makes it twelve hours in three days.

"Please, tell me you aren't here to follow me home," I ask him without lifting my head from my phone screen. I felt his presence on my left side.

"No, I mean... Don't you live in the neighbour," he asks me frowning as I hail a cab. He would be quite inspiring for stalkers.

I regret ever thinking that getting stalked was hot while reading a dark romance book. It is not.

I glance at him shoving my phone into the pocket of my baggy pants.

"That's right I am going to the police station," I answer him waving at the supposed cab. I hope it's available.

He frowns still getting a hard time catching his breath.

Should I offer him some water?

Or maybe not. I glance at him - he looks okayish, well not dying any time soon.

Besides I have learnt my lesson that helping people is a dangerous thing to do. Everything in this world has a cost even helping others.

The frown on his face remains as if he is hoping I would burst out into laughter telling him it's a joke. He is such an open book. He is gonna be in serious trouble one day if he doesn't learn to school his expression.

"Police station?" he questions hesitantly.

"Yeah, you know in case I murder someone someday and have to get away with it. I gotta keep track of how that stuff works." I stare at his dumbfounded face offering him my sweetest smile. I got in the cab that stopped at my sign.

I see him standing in there troubled, swaying back and forth on his feet. The car drives off making his figure grow distinct with each second.

I throw my head on the headrest taking in a sharp breath. I refuse to believe someone like Mathew is adamant about being my friend just because I helped him.

Does he lack self-confidence? Yes.

But, self-respect? No.

It's... It's as if he is forcing himself. The hesitant, discomfort is always in there. There is something more to it. But, right now I have neither the time nor the patience to solve his mystery.

"Tired, kid?" the middle-aged driver asks me glancing through the rare view mirror.

"A little bit," I answer politely watching the outside through the mirror. When I was younger I thought I liked travelling but never quite understood why I never enjoyed the trip when I reached the destination.
I still don't know the reason but something is fascinating about watching the familiar and unfamiliar path in a different light. I never get to look at them for too long. But, it's enough to remember its beauty, but short of time to notice the flows. They remain crafted beautifully on the safe of my memories.

🍁

I bounce my knees feeling the piercing eyes of the female police officer boring at me. Has she never seen a normal decent teen in this world before? The way she is looking no glaring at me I am afraid my doubts are correct.

I'm not going to lie her gaze feels like she can read the tough language of souls the same way archaeologists can read ancient language.

"Are you aware of what are you saying, kid?" The mockery and underestimation in her voice were clear as day even if she hadn't stretched the last word unnecessarily.

"Yes, I am," I confirm firmly clasping my hand over the wooden table. But, the mockery in her eyes didn't waver, it's so freaking annoying. It's so weird the elders don't consider us kids when they harl their shit on us laced with half-assed excuses but don't forget to consider us naive when we question them for their deeds.

"Coffee? "

"Sure." She purses her lips giving me a tight-lipped smile but the carse on her forehead lets me know that we are both on the same boat both equally annoyed. She pushes the cup with brewing coffee in my direction as she starts talking, "Look Kylie I understand that your friend's sudden departure came as a shock to you. But, you have to accept that he is gone....."

"It's not about his death, it's about the way he died. He is..... was my friend. I know him, he just simply can't do something like this." I try to convince her. They sound stupid and pathetic, don't they?

" His phone was still on hold when he... he.."The words get stuck in my throat like a thick bundle as if they got tangled with each other. Damn it.

"He committed suicide." She finishes it for me sipping from her cup.

"Yeah. I was talking to him then suddenly it all went quiet until I heard a people shouting. He just can't do something like this. Maybe it was an... an accident?" I inserted desperately, almost pleading to her to listen. She was my tiny tany bit of hope left.

But who was I kidding?

She waves it off flickering her fingers as she chuckles as if she is explaining to a child why she can't eat more than two cookies in a day. The urge to roll my eyes was so strong right now. Don't do that Kylie, she is your silver lining.

" Most of the suicide attempts happen in a blurry, Kylie. The victims always choose this path driven by their emotions. Emotions are not the sum of our rational thoughts hence it's hard to say something based on the person's personality." she stops sucking on a breath her eyes squinting in sorrow..or pity, maybe?

"The survivors? They all regret it." She finishes drawing circles on the rim of her cup. Fair enough, but that's not the only thing that's bugging me. The chances of going to jail for theft are enough high if I tell her the truth.

"But, we can give it a try at least. The case was shut down on what? Two-day investigation. "

She clenches her jaw narrowing her eyes. Seems like I pushed the right button. "Look I am done playing those games with you kid. I have more important things to do. The case? We didn't shut it. We can't run a case that has been pulled off by the victim's family."

They pull off the case? I licked my lips as I felt a storm brewing within me at the sudden insert of unlikely information. How can they just do that?

She pinches the bridge of her nose huffing. "Go home now, kid," she dismisses without giving any space for argument as she storms off from there.

I rub my forehead tiredly before getting up to leave. Not gonna lie it's a huge turn-off for me. But I am not returning empty-handed. At least I have a new information in my list. God, I feel like I am running in a desert in search of water where all that's available is a mirage.

I step outside as the lingering coldness hits my body like thousands of needles again.

"Kylie!" I frown when I hear a faint voice calling out for me, the voice rang bells of familiarity.

"Kylie." The familiarity strikes again this time much more loud. Kai, it's his voice. I looked back and forth trying to find him it wasn't that hard considering he was rushing towards me. What is he doing in here?

He jerks me to face him gripping my forearm but he lets go frowning.He is acting weird, well when doesn't he?

"What are you doing here?" I inquire him curiously, it can't be a coincidence. Nope, he knew I was here.

"I should be the one asking that. Don't ever think of pulling those stunts again." he shoots back instead burning a hole in my head through his eyes. The blazing rage in his eyes so similar to someone yet so different.

"Never dare to do something like this again!"

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

"Kylie!" Kai's voice pulls me out from the resurfing memories that I thought would never come back. " You should have informed me."

I raise my brows looking at him questioningly. "And when did we make this pact that I have to tell you everything?"
What's with people trying to poke their noses in my business today? No, he didn't question me, he is demanding it.
If he thinks I am accountable to him then he is very much wrong.

"Get in the car." he, commands again scrunching his nose in disapproval as he stares at me with annoyance.

I tap on my chin thoughtfully before looking at him. " Nope, that's an order. Try again." My petty brother doesn't even realise that he needs to weigh the responsibility to get the power over someone too. He can't question me like this when he never even stood up for me in the first place.

He sighs breaking off the imaginary stare competition as he pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance "Come on, please. You are coming down with a fever. It's pretty cold."
I have a feeling I caught a fever, I guess that explains why I am feeling cold. That will go away with some medicine. I smile in satisfaction when he lets out a frustrated sigh bringing the engine to life.

Hey guys,
Sorry for the late update. I am currently on a break so I have all the time in this world to write. That's what I wanted to do.
But, my brain has decided otherwise. It's currently busy rebelling against me. All I am doing now is sleep, eat, sleep.

I guess I will edit this chapter again when I can make peace with my brain and it starts working accordingly.

Hope that you liked the chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment.

Updated on 24th August 2023.