Source...
"If you betray me, you betray your family." Mat watched as Alicia shouted the warning while pacing the bedroom floor. Not able to connect the points Alicia bragged about, Mat scratched his head, then leaned against the wall. Abandoning his search, he hung his head low, cupping it in his hands attempting to block the hole her stare threatened to make. He focused on the floor that reluctantly accepted the broken vase, the usual victim of her rage. Recycling her hellish week, she paused to deliver the final stab of conscience.
"Do you know what I've been through for you; for our relationship? Unappreciative is what I'm seen. I'm trying my best damnedest to save you from yourself. You owe me!"
With his head still lowered, Mat cut a path across the room, silently searching for her location. He'd learned early on that avoidance was a thousand times safer than enduring her accusatory tirade. Finally spent, Alicia plopped down on the bed.
Immediately, he joined her, easing down and pulling her head onto his shoulders. This gesture would buy him time to evaluate this new dilemma she'd spun.
Without warning, onto his shirt, she blew mucus, not soft but hard. He winced. I've drunk of your deceit, like sweet tea turned bitter with bullshit, he desperately wanted to blurt.
Instead he sighed, cognizant of the manipulative routine brought about by their toxic relationship, but the strength to break away these past two years didn't rise to the occasion of clearing out his side of the closet.
A pain stirred in his loins. It wasn't excitement, so he waited for it to subside.
It wasn't five minutes later Alicia tore from his arms and shoved him to the floor. The next moment, Mat heard the front door slam.
The air was thick with suspicion. Alicia sat ramrod straight, but occasionally fondled her hair and yanked until a pleasurable hurt registered. Her eyes darted from side to side taking in the breadth of the two interrogators. Attempting to gauge their intelligence wasn't difficult.
They watched, tracing and documenting her movements. The gambit wasn't lost on either. One scratched his cheek. A regular guy, Alicia turned away. No threat.
But the other, beads of sweat formed on her lip. She reached for and gulped down the glass of water, breaking contact. She hurriedly turned away from Detective Harley to relieve a stubborn itch. She jerked back her head.
An observer of people, his gaze concentrated on her balled fist, and one hand covering the other to hide the trembling. The concocted alibi was an annoyance at best, as he heaved a heavy sigh, shook his head, and allowed his shoulders to droop. The final question Alicia didn't anticipate hung in the air like a dead carcass, permeating the answer until it fell like a well-aged dung ball upon her head.
Instantly, she knew that he knew of her and her twin sister's divide and conquer strategy. A strategy they had devised years before in another state.
And Mat was the glue that held the conspiracy together.
But that glue was quickly dissolving into the weakest link. Proving our connection was only two miles away probably still sitting on the edge of the bed sniveling like a wounded pet begging for attention.
It would be difficult, but not impossible to cast a shadow onto a set of bumbling idiots. She knew one day the alcohol drinking, drug consuming gang he preferred to call his brotherhood would be useful.
A unique story Alicia put forth and prided herself with after leaving the station.
The next few days were crucial. Planting items in the proper locations took careful planning in which she and her sister were masterful.
Returning home, she locked herself in her room as though heartbroken over her latest concocted infidelity episode.
They met in the hallway on a Monday night.
The opposite walls met their gaze.
They met in the hallway on a Tuesday night.
Neither of them spoke, but the cacophony of doubt was deafening.
The met in the hallway on a Wednesday night.
A fleeting glance stung each other's eyes.
His hurt remained; the pain visible.
Her hurt suppressed.
After all, he'd done nothing to deserve this. And, the first time involving an innocent stabbed at her heart. But blood came first.
On the last day, she glanced up at Mat, making eye contact. Nodding slowly, she smiled, but met his sudden rush to embrace with a face palm. No turning back. Her fondness for him stung, but he was weak, and her life hung in the balance. Easily intimidated, he wouldn't last thirty minutes with the detectives.
“I told you to part ways with that crowd you hang with. You incompetent idiot!” She slammed her fist against the wall. "What fresh hell is this? involving me in your shady dealings. Those guys are under suspicion for that serious crime that occurred last month!”
"What crime are you talking about?"
Rolling her neck while fingering a necklace, she twisted her mouth into a sneer. She didn't answer as a long deviation turned into a single-minded focus calculating an escape for this crime drowned out all dicta.
However, a scathing tone crossed her mind as her father's finger pointed directly in her face now caused her nostrils to flare. She'd show him, especially if he gleefully thought she'd ever face the consequences of her actions.
Returning to the task at hand, she bit her lip rapidly. Either him or me. Spending twenty or more years incarcerated with my sister was an unnerving thought. She depended upon me.
But an entire family lost their lives. Eager to stem the flow and bring answers to loved ones, Mat would serve up nicely to the detective and ease tensions in the community, providing enough time for her and her sister to relocate.
She called Mat into the kitchen.
"Would you be so kind as to run to the grocers for a few items. I'd like to cook you something special to celebrate."
Alicia listed for the door to close.
She picked up the phone and first dialed her twin sister; then the detective.
For my theme, I was inspired by and utilized:
| Prompt | Challenge Link |
|---|---|
| You owe me | 26 December 2023 - Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2232 |
| Betray me | 25 December 2023, Day 2231 - Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2231 |
| Sweet tea | 24 December 2023 - Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2230 |
| Long deviation | 23 December 2023, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2229 |
| What fresh hell is this? | 22 December 2023, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2228 |
| Observer-of-people | 19 December 2023, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2225: observer of people |
| Stem the flow | 17 December 2023, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2223 |
| Unique story | 28 November 2023, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2234 |
| Face the consequence | 10 November 2023, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2216 |
| Face palm | 6 November 2023, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2212 |
SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/
