1
CHAPTER 7
Puppet
ARI
"What happened?" I asked, touching my hair as I looked around. I turned to my side to see who was with me and found Jeff lying down, sleeping, propped up on two chairs. I looked across and saw Liam sitting with his eyes closed, his arms crossed, in a tense and silent posture.
We were in a hospital waiting room, filled with an anxious atmosphere. The silence was only interrupted by the soft murmur of passing nurses and the ticking of clocks on the walls.
The guys from the party, who were also there, looked at me when they saw that I woke up, and I knew they were gossiping about me.
But that wasn't what worried me, it was the fact of what could happen and what would cause the death of those two girls.
My thoughts cleared, and sadness returned to me as I remembered the scene. I turned to look at Jeff again and touched his leg to wake him. He jerked his head up; I'd definitely startled him. And who wouldn't?
"I was scared when you didn't wake up," Jeff said, sitting up beside me. "How are you feeling? You were in really bad shape."
"I don't have any strength and my head feels like it's going to explode," I replied, directing my gaze toward the door where the police were arriving. Officer García was among them.
He didn't greet us, he just gave us a look and followed the doctor with the other police officers, whom he didn't recognize.
"Do you think he'll come talk to us?" Jeff asked, to which I nodded and leaned back in my seat, staring at the ceiling.
"Liam was the one who called the police and Mr. Garcia," I said, still staring at the ceiling, closing my eyes and hoping the pain would go away. I was dizzy; I hated it.
"Do you trust Liam completely?" Jeff asked. I opened my eyes and looked straight ahead to see Liam having a little dream.
"No, I'm not, but I'm trying to," I replied. I looked at him and was startled by a voice that addressed us.
"Ari, weren't you hurt?" I turned to see who it was and looked up: it was Dylan, his expression visibly worried.
I wondered why unexpected people always appeared in my conversations.
The good thing is that I see it coming.
"I'm fine. Nothing happened to me," I said, trying to smile. Dylan leaned down to where I was sitting.
—Really? Sorry, I didn't even get to help you; I was with Alexander.
—It's okay, you don't have to take care of me; besides, I wasn't hurt, other girls were.
"When I saw one of them trying to hurt Jeff, I went upstairs to get Alexander," Dylan said, touching his head, then looking at Jeff. "I'm sorry I didn't help you."
"I didn't need anyone's help, I can defend myself," Jeff replied, to which Dylan nodded, still looking dismayed.
"When I came down with Alexander, the other girl was holding that gun ; then I heard the shot and your screams," Dylan continued, as I took a breath. The scene wouldn't leave my mind, and the tears wanted to flow. The dizziness, which I thought would go away, became more present.
"Dylan, would you please go? This isn't the best time for you to remember," Jeff said. I just looked down, trying to control my symptoms.
"I didn't mean to make you feel bad," Dylan said to me.
"You heard Jeff, get out of here," Liam's voice said, joining in the conversation.
I looked up, seeing him awake, his expression tired. He was standing in front of me, intimidating Dylan, who was also looking at him. The two didn't like each other. Dylan just ignored Liam and looked at me.
"Ari, if you need anything, you can talk to me anytime," Dylan said, giving Liam one last look with a smile before walking out the hospital door.
"Did he just come to see you?" Jeff asked, the three of them alone. "You've got competition, Liam."
"Shut up, idiot," Liam immediately replied.
"Both of you, shut up. Why are we in the hospital?" I asked, looking at Jeff. Then I saw Liam sit down next to me.
"Your parents gave me that order," Jeff replied.
"Did you call them?" I asked. My headache was only going to get worse once my mom arrived.
"I had to do it. You're in serious condition, you need help," Jeff said, just as a nurse approached us.
"Are you Miss Ari and young men Jeff and Liam?" the nurse asked. We looked at each other, uncomprehending.
—Yes, it's us —I replied.
"Can you come with me? Officer Garcia is waiting for you in a room," he said. I stood up immediately, along with Jeff and Liam.
He'd even asked for Jeff to be present, which seemed odd to me, since I'd previously been reluctant to involve him. His action now came as a surprise to me. I felt it wasn't just because he was at the scene of the homicide-suicide, but that there were other reasons.
We walked behind the nurse, passing through several hallways, and then she stopped at a room that looked more like a lunchroom for hospital workers. She waved us in and closed the door before leaving.
Officer García was sitting in one of the chairs, drinking coffee. When he saw us, he asked us to sit. He put down his cup to grab a napkin and wipe his mouth before speaking.
"Have they taken your statements yet?" García asked, and I felt his gaze on me. He was analyzing my condition.
After so many things, I didn't even know how I was still here.
—No, you sent me a message that... —Liam began to say, but was interrupted by Garcia himself.
"I told them to wait for me to take them to the station. This is related to the case, so it's my duty," he said, stirring his coffee with his spoon, and for a moment I watched that movement.
"Your gaze changed," Officer Garcia said, turning to me.
"I'm scared. Is that abnormal for you?" I replied. For a moment I thought she might smile, but she quickly hid it.
—Yes, you're afraid, like everyone else, but I see something else.
"Anything else?" I asked, frowning.
—It's anger.
"Do you see me angry? No one notices because I rarely show it," I replied. The boys had confused expressions, as if they didn't understand the purpose of the conversation. I didn't understand either. What was he trying to get at?
"Of course you're angry, but you hide it so well. I wonder how you managed to hide it so well." My eyes widened in surprise.
Mr. García's attitude surprised me. He didn't seem to be trying to attack me, but rather to make me aware of something. But I didn't have to realize it. Nor take off my mask. He wasn't fooling me.
Sometimes I try to trick myself, to help myself, but this wasn't one of those times.
—The question isn't, rather, why wouldn't she be angry? Does it seem like this is an everyday occurrence to you?
—No, miss. Well, we're getting sidetracked with small talk. Jeff, could you tell me what you discussed with Ian? The false rumor.
Jeff looked at me as if he wanted to ask why the sudden change, but I gave him a look that made him immediately hide it.
"I talked to Ian. The guys at the cafeteria said he was the one who took the photos," Jeff began, and I noticed Liam's attention on what he was saying. "I thought he'd deny it, but he said he was threatened."
JEFF BROWN
"Money? We're supposed to be friends, and you're telling me you did it for money," I said to Ian while we were at the boxing gym. Training was over, and I asked him to talk afterward.
"To be honest, I was angry. I lost Ari's friendship, and she distanced herself from me. When you texted me saying you two were a couple and that's why she rejected me…" Ian replied. Every time he spoke, I became more confused. Texts? Multiple people?
"Texts? Who texted you?" I asked. He sighed, went to his backpack, took out his cell phone, and tapped it a few times before showing it to me.
He takes his cell phone.
They were message requests:
@20.10.24
Do you think it was bad luck that she rejected you? We saw it, she won't love you.
@18.12.22
Stay away from her before you regret it. Don't you want to see her cry? Suffer? Tell me this is all your fault.
9:00 pm
Jeff and Ari. Jeff will be a problem. A problem that will soon be over.
A problem that will soon be over. I saw Ian searching my gaze for something. So... did they threaten him?
Did he just tell me he's going to kill me? Who was that damn idiot? What was he going to do?
"The messages keep coming. I don't know how, but he got personal information. He threatened me after I kept my word to stay away from Ari. Then he asked for the photos. I took them, and even though I asked him why he wanted them, he stopped answering. I found out about the post afterward, too. I felt bad, man," Ian said, trying to touch my shoulder, seeking understanding. I tried to listen to every word, but I couldn't stop thinking about those damn words.
—Ian, stay away —I said and immediately removed his hand from my shoulder. I gave him his cell phone to finish reading the messages. I wasn't lying. They threatened him and said something about "Showing his secrets?" Did he have secrets? We all do, but... something so strong that you feel forced to do something against your will?
"I really didn't mean to do that. You know you're my friend," he said, to which I looked at him, and I wasn't sure. I felt so distrustful, not just of him, but also of the people who sent those messages.
Ari was unsure. I was too, but she couldn't handle this. Besides, what did they want? Fuck... the headache isn't going away for a while. I try to remember enemies, people who might have had a point, but I always come to the same conclusion.
She's already had enough with her mother, with Liam, with her biological parents, and now with the stalker . I'm worried about what decisions she might make, because it seems to me that she's still keeping a lot of things to herself. She hasn't been feeling well for a while, and just when she seemed to be moving forward, when she was going back to being the girl she was before, my best friend, something always happens that hurts her.
And the worst part is that she's always kind to others, she shows happiness to everyone; when something makes her angry, she just lets it go.
But she's too sensitive now, and I don't blame her. If I were her, I wouldn't know how to stand.
"I understand you felt threatened, but didn't you think about Ari? How he might take it? How it might affect me? You didn't even try to tell me... I could have helped you," I said, while he looked at me as if he understood that I wasn't completely believing him about the messages.
I actually believed him, but my mind told me to be wary. Sorry.
I'm scared. I don't want anything to happen to Ari.
"Don't you believe me?" he asked, to which I sighed and took a deep breath.
—I don't know, Ian. I know you're a good person, but... I got death threats. Weren't you worried? That they 'd do something to me?
—Of course I was worried, but I knew that person was close to me and that if I didn't accept, he could do something to me. I even made it a condition that they wouldn't come near you, so nothing would happen to you. Despite everything, I appreciate you both... although with Ari, you know it's not the same.
"They tried," I replied, remembering what everyone knew from the news, and how now, every time I walked into the high school, they pointed at me for what had happened.
"I know, and I'll never forgive myself for it," he replied.
"Me neither. So you don't know anything about the attacker?" I asked as a final question, feeling I should end the conversation. Not only because I wanted to get out and be alone, but also because I felt useless not having much information about who it could be.
—Actually, when he called me, one of the people with him didn't know he had the call active. I heard two people's voices. He called them by name: Nay and Daisy. He yelled at them several times to get out of the room. One of them answered, but called her by a strange nickname... Kenji.
—Kenji?
—But I don't know anyone with that name. At least not in high school.
"I have to go, but if you have any more information, please find me or text me," I said. He nodded, and I didn't say my usual farewell with my usual enthusiasm. I walked past some friends from the boxing club and avoided their eyes when they noticed I wasn't in the mood.
I put my phone in my backpack, started running down the street, and put on my headphones. I ran until I reached a sidewalk, crossed the street, and realized there weren't that many people.
So... I ran faster, let the tears fall, and raised my arms, keeping pace with the walk.
really that strong. God, and I'm sorry for invading my thoughts with your name now , but I'm feeling desperate. I need to find that Kenji.