Broken Face - XXIV

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H A Y D E N
.....

"She's missing!" I snarled at him, any restraint or patience long since gone.

"Hayden," my uncle looked down his nose at me, considering my form. "I already told you, I can't help you. I can't tell you anything I know about her."

"But you do know!" I snapped, "I know for a fact you couldn't keep your shit stained nose out of other people's business. The moment we left, you investigated her- I know you did."

"Correct," Mark said coldly back, "And here is my advice on the matter. Stay away from her. She's more dangerous than you think."

I watched him with contempt and disgust. "You really don't intend to help me find her, do you?"

"No I don't. And a runaway is hardly a thing of news. Have you spoken to her mother?"

I let a small chuckle roll out of my lungs dryly. "Oh yes, I talked to Juliana. And she didn't seem too concerned that her daughter was missing. I was informed it was none of my businesses."

The shattered face of Alys hung in my head. Staring across from her, that disgusting humanbeing who tried to corral her into following him.  But it was the shattered face that would not leave my mind.

"Why do you care about her?" Mark sneered suddenly towards me. I said nothing and instead gazed upon him, noting his similar facial features and harsh cold eyes. He looked the same as he did that day, the one we first met. But instead of helping me, saving me, he had merely used me as his own pawn. And he would pay dearly for that.

He licked his lips as a different thought crossed his head, "She's up to something with you, isn't she? So perhaps she ran away to get away from you Hayden, did you ever consider that?"

I did. She hated me, I knew that. And I had just pushed her towards the edge. I didn't want to believe she was hiding from me. For whatever reason she had been relenting to my presence and she had trusted me enough with parts of her dark past. I didn't know what they were, but I wanted to find out. I just didn't know why.

Before I would have done anything to pry them out of her crazed hands, not caring if it hurt her. I had told her that even on the way back from that store. I will find out these things about you. She was incredibly guarded and enigmatic, and that excited me; another person to examine. No, not just another person. Something more distorted and extraordinary. But those same things had captured my interest more than I intended them to. She didn't seem to understand who she really was. How extraordinary she really was.

I stared at my uncle, wondering if he would believe me when I told him how we met, how I decided to get revenge on all the State had done to me. For the final two years of high school, after what Mr. Kinsley pulled back up, I was dealing with the fallout of my past.

Every day I wished I could get my revenge. Every day I was unbelievably angry and screaming on the inside, wanting to punch through the smiling faces around me. Their lives were so fùcking simple, so fùcking stupid- and yet they believed themselves to be the victims of this world.

Every time one of them complained about being in trouble, about being caught smoking... about anything to do with their horribly happy lives- I wanted to curl my fingers around those idiotic minds and rip out the festering ignorance that lay there. I wanted to knock them senseless, hating them with every fiber of my being. But I learned long ago how much easier it was to handle them instead; to manipulate them into at least granting me the power of control.

And then...  I met Alys. A girl who had been always in the corners of my mind; my eyes always catching her in my peripheral. How stupid was I to think she was a nobody. I truly believed her to be an insignificant idiot like the rest.  There had been a person before, one who seemed to wear her face; fearfully watching as Jason fell.  I had laughed to myself then, thinking she knew Jason through another player or perhaps had a petty crush on him.

But it always stuck me odd she was staring at me dreadfully, not him. But I never pieced it together. Not until now, not until I realized that Alys and that nobody were one in the same.  She had seen me since the beginning.

"I know you're lying to my face, Hayden." My uncle growled again, but I still didn't say anything. Instead I walked closer to the windows... and to his desk. My eyes glanced down and for a cautious moment, I noted he had a file on his folder with a sticky note saying Child's Lie. When all others were filed under real person's names, this one struck me as odd.

"When did I lie to you?" I asked pointedly, "I asked questions and you answered. I hardly see how I've deceived you."

"Oh how convenient." Mark said roughly, "You threatened me beforehand- telling me I better answer your questions or else you'd use that paperwork against me, again. But look at my luck when I realize that girl was being harassed; I thought perhaps I could use her against you- I brought her up to hinder you- hoping it would shut you up. But just the opposite happened. You still chose to ask your dammed questions- even with her presence right there- and I was unable to fight you on it, for she was right there. At first I was taken aback- you never let anyone see what you are up to. But then I realized something. She must be involved." his eyes tracked me as I moved.

Involved wasn't the term. She was the power behind it; she just didn't know it yet. For years I was desperately waiting for my revenge. And then the one next to me had snapped and stood and ran, and I knew from Ashley's angry glances to her that there was something I did not know.

That journal seemed to wait for me. My first inclination was this was a repeat of what had happened in the past; someone had discovered my history and was using it against me. But those drawings didn't contain any events, no, just my hidden thoughts and personality. And not just mine... it had them all. Every single one. Including our teachers, including a drawing of a mockery of missing funds.

As I walked down the hall my mind was burning and racing out of control. Ashley seemed more than willing to shed light on the stupid bitch who was Karri's friend. I walked into the far side of the door to the room she had dashed through. Her hands were shaking, but there was something odd about it. Something not right about her.

When those wide blue eyes finally met mine, I knew for sure- she really could see me. For the first time in my life, the alarm was sung.

She is seeing me.

"Alys has nothing to do with my questions about the governor." I said evenly to Mark. He was smart not to believe my words; I couldn't blame him for that. Again his eyes narrowed and his jaw ground tighter together.

"I said it before, and I'll say it again. You get involved with her and you are opening up something dangerous. I can't tell you what or why, but stay the fùck away from her. I am tired of covering your trail and fixing your problems. God be praised the day you graduate and are legally free from me so I can wash you clean from my hands for life!"

The movements of my lips pulling aside never felt like a smile to me. But it always looked like it to others, so I gave my uncle that tight mockery that spread across my face; "Oh, but you get no say in the matter uncle. Until I graduate, I still have leverage over you- even if you have it over me as well. It appears though, even with that you still won't tell me what you found out about her."

His hands tightened upon the rests of his chair. Again I could see his searching gaze trying to tear itself into my head. Why does he care about her?

It was the same question in my head. I had hated her the moment I laid eyes on her. But she was the answer to everything. Her art was so revealing, so incitingly dangerous... I already could see it used against all those around us. And even more so... a chance to use all Mr. Kinsley bought to light and send it right back to the god awful school who fùcked me over. To the State who started this all.

So why was I worried about her?

She had not returned my phone calls last night and had missed school today. I thought I heard her cry, but the phone had disconnected. I would have driven straight over, but her friend had told me after persistent texting that Alys had indeed made it home fine. So why the silence?

I detestably admitted she was running from me; she had hung up instead of answering me. All morning at school I couldn't focus, I was too angry- too frustrated. I knew it was my fault; these past few weeks I've been approaching her slowly, trying to keep her from bolting from me like the deer she seemed. I couldn't explain why it pissed me off so much- I knew there was probably another way of claiming a reason for this mural. But I didn't want it. I wanted this. But if kissing me was so horrible, for fucks sake, she should have just told me instead of hiding from me. 

And knowing she was skipping class because of me pushed me over the edge; she was even compromising the mural. So I drove to her house, prepared to yell at her and drag her back if need be. That's what I thought would happen... until when I finally confronted Juliana about Alys and then I knew; something wasn't right. She merely said her daughter needed to take a day off. But she reeked of lies; her hands were shaking, she nervously watched me and I could practically see her praying to god that I wouldn't press anymore. The slamming door in my face told me all I needed to know. This was something else.

I knew that the uneasiness I felt ever since was evident on my face. I forced myself to remain as passive as I could, but my uncle was more than curious as his eyes searched high and low across my features. He had the same question that had been corrupting my thoughts too.

Why?

"You like her, don't you?" My uncle finally said. "Well I'll be damned, the callous bastard finally figured out how to chase tail."

I tightened my fists into a ball, but instead of breaking his nose, I merely replied with deliberate calmness, "She must have something interesting about her past. Something you have declared," I paused, contemplating the word and his intended meaning, "dangerous."

It made me smile coldly at him. "Pray uncle, when have you ever concerned yourself with any danger associated with my name? As I seem to recall it's always been with your name instead, something that might damage you subsequently. Every time you've ever "helped" me out, it was to protect you or your interest." my grin practically hurt as I watched him below me, "So on the contrary; I won't stay away from her. In fact, I'm rather curious as to what could cause you so much harm."

My words worked, his face fell and any gratification he had for using her against me vanished.

Mark bared his lip slightly, revealing wet white teeth. "Get the fùck out of my office Hayden. I should have let you rot in the foster system, or better yet, be sent off to live with the Russells' again."

At the mention of their name I reached forward and ripped his collar towards me, keeping his stunned and furious face away from mine by mere inches. My voice sounded calm, a habit I could never seem to break myself of completely, but I definitely felt each knuckle and joint pop under the pressure of my hand.

"If anything happens to her," I said lowly, "I will personally hold you responsible for not finding her. And I will come back here, for you. Make no mistake about it." And I jolted his head back away from me, before leaving his office with the slam of a door.

.

.

The commotion I made caused the woman outside to jolt suddenly in their chairs. The receptionist looked up at me, her eyes large and doe like,  I knew she hoped I would apologize for startling her. Instead I made it a point to look away unfazed as I walked towards the elevator, but my phone buzzed within my pockets. It was Alys' friend, Karri. She finally was getting back to my texts.

Karri: [Where is she!?]

[I don't know, that's why I asked you. I'm trying to figure that out.]

Karri: [If you've done anything  to her I swear to god...]

[Drop your shit attitude or fùck off.  Her mother said she was taking a breather. What the hell does that mean?]

There was nothing back as I waited for her text. Instead, the phone rang. I hesitated as I watched it; talking meant I'd have to put up a pretense in front of these people. My gaze shifted around as I watched them in annoyance. The call was close to ringing through so I finally answered it.

"What?"

"Hayden, what exactly did Juliana say?"

"She told me exactly what I texted you, but I knew she was lying. I've been looking for Alys ever since, whatever her mother was saying it was complete bullshit."

It was silent for a moment, making me suspicious, "What is it?"

Finally Karri answered... "She's burrowed."

"What?" I said incredulously, "Jesus she's not a fùcking squirrel-"

"Shut the hell up Hayden" she interrupted me, "It's a clinical term, I'm well aware she's not a fùcking squirrel.  Burrowing is basically going AWOL with no intentions of being found."

Wait, a clinical term? A therapy term? My fists began to tighten on their own accord. "What do you mean she has no intentions of being found? Why would she need to fall back into therapy?"

Karri mumbled something quietly and it took me a moment to realize she was crying. I stood there dumbfounded, having no way of knowing how to handle it.

"Dear god," she's whispered, "Something bad happened. Oh god, somethings happened and I can't be there!"

My hand tightened on the phone. I had known Juliana was lying about something. She reeked of wine and puke, but I imagined that she and Alys had perhaps gotten into a fight after what I had said at school. But no... with what Karri was saying, something else had happened, something bad enough to make Alys fall back to a coping mechanism from therapy. I remembered her always running away from me, scared of me, when she knew I was angry. I had always suspected...

"It's her past, isn't it?" I said evenly.

I could sense, rather than hear Karri soberly jolt out of her crying. "I will not talk about this with you." she hissed angrily into the phone. "For all I know you are the cause of this Hayden. No, I know you are the cause of this. Do us all a favor and fùck off. Never come back into Alys' life, do you hear me?"

I said nothing at first, but my eyes were on the room across from me. Legal Stenographer watched me back.

"I'll have you know, you're the one who left her. Not me." I said evenly before hanging up. I walked past the main desk, ignoring the gasp of the front girl and made my way towards the five or so wooded desks the cluttered the room beyond. A few quick glances arose from behind most computer screens, but none were who I was looking for. Finally I found her sitting with her back towards me, staring out a window beside her computer. I glanced at her name plate then to her.

"Ms. Clarkson?"

She jumped at my voice, before swinging her head full round to stare at me.

"Ye... Yes... Can I help you?"

She was in her early 40's, and had some wisps of gray hair through the auburn locks. I noticed there were photos of her and a child along the desk. As the years went by, I never noted a male ever being present.

"I need your help. You knew my friend the other day, Alys Westbrook."

Her eyes widened slightly as she realized again who I was. "Yes, I remember. Please... please tell her I apologize for my outburst, I realize now how rude it was." A small blush arose along her cheekbones and she lowered her head in embarrassment. "It was not my place to call out to her and put her on the spot. I was just surprised to see her."

I gazed upon her, hoping she would understand the severity of my words, hoping my assumption from those photos were correct.

"She's actually in trouble right now. She's missing and her mother won't help me find her. I'm sure you remember Mrs. Westbrook."

My hope was that Ms. Clarkson would instantly feel angered towards Juliana. Even I was aware that that woman did something horrible to Alys. And this woman was obviously a single mother, fiercely protective and loyal to her own child. Surely she would never understand why a creature like that woman would do what she did. But to my dread, Ms. Clarkson seemed wary and uneasy of me.

"It's best you probably stay out of it." She finally whispered making me realize- for whatever reason- she had sympathy for Juliana as well. "Alys needs people around her that understand her; that know what she's been through. If her mother feels it's best for you to remain out of the-"

"Please." I said roughly. Why? Why was I doing this? Why was this eating me alive knowing something else was happening? I hated her. I didn't give a damn about any pain or dark place she found herself in.

Yet...

Her broken face hung in my thoughts again, her fearful eyes as that man stood before her. I would have done anything to punch him through the teeth at that moment.

Her broken words weighted my memory; the first person to ever surprise me like that.

"Even if I hate you, I won't draw your suffering. I won't capture your burden. I have no right."

I would have done anything to know how she saw me at that moment.

"Help me find her." I whispered again to the woman before, "I beg of you. Something's not right. Even her best friend who knows Alys' past knows something is wrong."

"I can't tell you." She shook her head soundly. "But..." she hesitated, feeling the prying eyes of those that were around us. "Perhaps I can tell you someone who can. He will know how to find her." She opened her file drawer and begun shuffling through it. Finally she found a folder and pulled out some paperwork, from what I could see from the upside-down words; it was a doctor's office.

But my eyes began dilating as I peered at another document just barely visible. Her voice was a low tumble against my thoughts as she copied some information down on a sticky note for me.

"Just call this number, if there's anyone that can help you- it's him. After all, it was he who saved her."

But my eyes were still staring at the words below me.

Child's Lie.

.

.

.

"What. is. Child's. Lie?" I growled.

Juliana's eyes widened largely, "How do you know those words..."

I stood there. I couldn't fathom, understand what it meant. In all the years of watching my uncle work, cases became legends for names of persons or corporations. But something called Child's Lie was what prominently marked Alys' case file.

"Tell me now Juliana." I hissed to her, "What have you done to Alys? Why has she disappeared?" It was night now. And she was still missing. And the woman before me refused to call the cops.

Her eyes watered. There was

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