"What's wrong?" Sky asked with concern, seeing Faith's expression.
"It's Sherm. He apparently met this crazy girl while walking to his car, and-- Well, I'll just let you read it." Faith held her phone up so Sky could see the message.
The more Sky read, the wider her eyes became. "...Yeah, sounds like a setup. Galanos has used this tactic before. I don't wanna say for sure, but I think she was acting as bait to get Sherm to trust her while making sure they have the right guy. He tends to recruit people who appear upstanding or harmless at first to keep the whole deception factor going."
Faith shook her head. "This whole thing is getting out of hand. I would say we need to get Sherm somewhere safe too, but he would never go for it. He'd want to be a boy scout and try to protect Violet and me, knowing how he is."
"Well, I would at least tell him to lay low, since Galanos isn't gonna stop at just one or two attempts. Not if he thinks someone's spying on him."
"I'll try. But the thing is..." Faith paused before continuing, "He's gone so far as telling me he wants to join you guys. So that's why I'm afraid he might use this whole thing as an opportunity to prove his credibility somehow, and not consider running away as an option."
A brief surprised laugh escaped Sky's lips. "Wow. He actually wants to join us, huh?"
"Yeah. I was going to let him tell you all this himself, but I think I would rather you know ahead of time in case he tries anything else impulsive. I just don't want him getting hurt or killed over something that was never his problem to begin with."
"I know what you mean. And while I'm flattered, we ain't exactly accepting applications right now. We've all known each other a long time, and between what I've heard from Cobalt and what I've actually seen and heard, this Sherm guy just doesn't have the makings of a vigilante. It might sound harsh, but he should just focus on not ending up at the bottom of a lake somewhere, and that goes for you too. We'll keep a look out for you and Sherm as best we can, but we can't be there 24/7, and his own safety should be his own responsibility. As for you, just focus on giving Galanos that money and getting out of there for right now."
"That's the plan," Faith said truthfully. "But there's still something I can't help but wonder about, though if it's a sore subject you don't have to tell me. Basically I'm wondering, what's you and Aaron's story? When did things get so bad?"
Sky hesitated. "Well, I guess I might as well tell you, since you were honest with me about your own story." Sky then told about how she'd lost her biological parents in a car accident when she was five. Aaron, whom she later met at an orphanage, had never known his real parents and had been there as long as he could remember. The two had made fast friends and developed a brother-sister relationship, becoming protective of one another and fantasizing about having a peaceful, ordinary life with a loving family some day. "When Pops found and adopted us years later, things didn't turn out the way Aaron had thought they would, since Pops used a lot of tough love on us growing up and there wasn't a lot of free time. In a way I found it kind of exciting, being chosen to be a part of something bigger and maybe help other kids like me, but Aaron just...wasn't interested in any of it. I would always try to get through to him though, and remind him that things would work out in the end, and sometimes it would work--at first, anyway."
Faith felt a slight pang in her chest upon hearing that, some elements of Sky's story hitting a little too close to home for her. Now that she thought about it, that's how she had viewed Rowan--not as a boyfriend so much, but more like a younger brother that couldn't stay out of trouble, and her situation as a chance to make a positive difference in someone else's life that didn't end up going according to plan. But at the same time, Sky's story was also rather different from hers, and Faith realized how fortunate she was to still have her family, especially parents who behaved like parents and not the way Brian apparently had acted at times.
Sky shed no tears, but judging by the way she now referred to Aaron by his first name, Faith wondered if a part of her still viewed him as the ambitious brother figure that used to make life at the orphanage feel a bit less lonely or scary for her. "But one day in our teens," she continued, "I let Aaron convince me to sneak out with him for a day of 'fun' with some other kids he'd made friends with at the time. At first it was just stuff like drinking and spray painting on some walls, but things got worse when they wanted to go inside some nearby stores and see what all they could steal without getting caught. I admit, I thought if I did it one time then maybe Aaron's friends would cut me a break and stop picking on me so much, and maybe Aaron would show me a little respect again. So I grabbed a few small items and ran, but someone saw us and the cops happened to be nearby, so it wasn't long before they started chasing us. Aaron managed to outrun them but I didn't, and the police took me and a few of the others to the station where we got all the blame, because they couldn't prove that he or the others who got away did anything." Sky shook her head. "I don't think Pops was ever as angry as he was that day, even if it was mostly just things like candy and chips, and to this day I wish I would've just stayed home. Aaron refused to admit any guilt to anyone and he just got worse from there, until he finally left the house for good. It was just one stupid decision, that's all. You know?" Sky paused. "Well, I ask that, but I guess you probably know all too well."
Faith nodded solemnly. "But, surely your dad would believe your side over his after everything that's happened, right? What you did is nothing compared to his crimes."
"Oh, he believes me now," Sky said, the indifference returning to her face. "But if I could just get Pops to quit sending me to Galanos's stupid ice cream store just to waste my breath, I think we'd get a lot more done."
"So that's why you were arguing with him that night? Because your dad sent you?" Faith asked quietly.
"Yep," Sky exhaled. "I keep trying to tell him how it's probably gonna go each time, but 'Admiral' happens to be extremely stubborn."
Well, I guess I was right about who 'Admiral' is. "So, how many of you are there, exactly?" Faith asked, figuring Sky might appreciate a subject change.
"Uh, look, I appreciate you and Sherm's interest in us, but I think I've told you too much already. Just because we've swapped sob stories doesn't mean I can just go spilling everything about everyone in our group. The only reason I told you what I did was so you'd get a better idea of just how selfish Galanos is, aside from what you should already know by now."
"Oh--right," Faith faltered. "I guess I do sound like I'm prying into your life, and I'm sorry. It's just--"
"No, it isn't really that. Of course you'd wanna find out everything you could about someone you still don't know that well who invited herself into your car and just handed you a bag full of money. I get it. But my reasoning is, it could be dangerous for you and your friends if you learn too many details about us as a group. It's better that you don't know each and every one of us, in case Galanos does end up putting two and two together and trying to associate you with us."
"Oh," Faith nodded. "I see what you're saying." The more Sky talked, the more Faith wondered if she could throw that money at Aaron a bit early, perhaps in a day or two when he wasn't quite as irritable. Of course there was still the whole Melanie situation to think about, but if he knew about all the money she'd just acquired, then he might let that go. As for Sherm, Faith hoped he wouldn't be too disappointed to learn that while the S.A.S. continued to appear benevolent enough, the trust dynamic was still (understandably) somewhat strained.
"Well, anyway, I'd better get back to Sherm and make sure he's okay. And before we part ways, there's one more thing I should've mentioned earlier: I might know the name--or names, if you will--of the girl that approached Sherm. Her real name is Mariah Frost and she's Rowan's sister, but according to Aaron she insists on being called Melanie now. She's a new employee at Happy Scoops, and apparently wants to meet me and find some things out about Rowan. I'm hoping I can get out of that though, now that you've given me all the money I need. I wish I could believe she's also a victim in this entire thing, but my gut tells me otherwise."
Sky looked off to the side, as if mentally taking notes. "Okay. I'll definitely tell the others. I'd heard he'd gotten him a new girl named Melanie, but I hadn't known that was Rowan's sister. I'm not sure why she'd wait until now to meet up with you, but it definitely gives us more information to work with, if it really is her. But like I say, if Galanos or this girl give you or your friend any more trouble after you pay him, let us know as soon as you can."
Faith spent most of her next few days off trying to relax as much as possible, while regularly keeping in touch with both Sherm and Violet to make sure they were still doing okay. Sherm was now getting rides to and from work upon Violet's insistence, whenever she could find time in her schedule to do so. Maybe Sherm had taken Faith's advice, and decided to open up more to his girlfriend about what he had been up to lately. He was understandably disappointed to hear Sky's cynical response to his wanting to eventually become a part of the S.A.S., but ultimately seemed to respect it.
She had also eventually contacted Aaron offering to pay him off early, and while news of that money seemed to brighten his mood rather significantly, he was still bent on her coming in on Friday to meet Rowan's sister. Faith had wondered numerous times in the past about what she would say or do if she got to meet that confused, terrified little girl she had conjured so many images of in her head just one time--would she hug her, reassure her, let her know there was a world outside the torture her grandfather had put her through? But of course, Mariah wasn't so little or innocent anymore, and Faith didn't exactly want to protect or reassure someone who had put stickers all over her mailbox for intimidation purposes, or tried to stalk her friend, or even simply resembled the person who lied to her for years. It'll be fine. Just as long as Aaron can remain convinced that I had nothing to do with Sheena's disappearance, everything should go okay.
So when Friday evening did roll around, Faith gathered the briefcase from where she'd been keeping it safely under her bed and headed for Happy Scoops--hopefully for the last time. She continued to try to think of the positives, dreaming of her own little apartment all to herself where she would focus on her career and leave any memories of the Frost family behind for good. Realistically speaking of course, she would have to stay with her parents and try to get along with them while she eventually saved enough money back up before she could ever think of having her own space again, but freedom was a nice thought nonetheless. And while she might not be able to legally burn that Happy Scoops sticker, she could still make a game of seeing how many tiny pieces she could cut it into before disposing of it.
However, she couldn't help but appreciate it for the protection it admittedly seemed to offer as she walked briskly between her car and Happy Scoops's front door, full briefcase and all. And immediately, she was greeted by a voice--though not one she recognized.
"Hi, welcome to Happy Scoops! How can we help you tonight?" Her voice was chipper, but the girl's eyes showed otherwise, and Faith wondered if she had been crying before she walked in.
It really is her... Throw in those sad eyes with the hair color, the freckles, and the smile, and she truly is the spitting image of how I always imagined her. "Hello, Mariah," Faith blurted out, momentarily forgetting about her new preferred alias.
"Oh--please, it's Melanie. I don't go by that other name anymore. I wanted to leave my old name behind along with my old life, but I won't bore you with that. So you're Faith, I presume? Mr. Galanos has told me so much about you." The girl continued to study Faith with her puppy dog eyes, and Faith eventually had to look away uncomfortably.
Don't fall for any of this. You can't feel sorry for her. Not if you don't want to get hurt again. She's not who you used to think she was. Not now, anyway. "Yes, I am," Faith replied coolly. "And I'm not sure what exactly he told you, but it must've been enough to find my house and do a little vandalism on my mailbox. I believe these belong to you and Tracy." Reaching into her purse, she pulled out the pieces of torn sticker she'd had to peel off of her mailbox a week ago and now dropped them on the counter in front of Melanie.
Raising her eyebrows while retaining the innocent look in her eyes, she let out a giggle. "Wow, you actually saved these just so you could bring them back here? Y'know, you're actually really funny, for somebody who doesn't seem to smile a lot. I really wish I could've met you sooner."
It was becoming easier not to sympathize with her by the minute. Casually dropping the sticker pieces into a nearby trashcan, Melanie then meandered out from behind the counter, past Faith and over to the front door, the flowery pink sundress she wore swishing all the way.
"Okay, what are you doing?" Faith asked warily as Melanie nonchalantly flipped the sign hanging on the door over to display "closed" instead of "open" and locked the door.
"Relax. It's just you're our last customer for tonight, and we don't want anyone else coming in. So, did you want some ice cream or anything while we talk?"
Something is going on in the back, isn't it? But I don't hear anything... "Alright, so I'm not going to sugarcoat this--you and me, we're not friends, nor am I interested in that ever happening. Aaron wanted me to talk to you and that's the only reason I'm even here, other than to give him the rest of what I owe. And thank you but no, I don't do ice cream, or much of anything unless I make it myself these days."
"Hey, hey, there's no reason to freak out," Melanie said with a hint of defensiveness. "If you're that mad about the stickers, it was just a prank. And if you have to know, it was really Tracy's idea."
"Okay, forget about the mailbox now. Let's just talk about Rowan. That's what you wanted to know, right?"
In a heartbeat, Melanie changed back from giggly and childish to her former sad and lost demeanor. "Yeah... I'd been wanting some closure on some things, in case anything happens to him. I'm just so glad I finally got to meet the person who tried to save him, which is more than I can say for myself. So...he was your boyfriend, right?"
"...No. It doesn't feel right to refer to him that way in retrospect, since I don't think he or even I really know what that kind of love is. He was just someone I took pity on. If Rowan were here right now, he would tell you that we were really boyfriend and girlfriend in name only, and I agree with that wholeheartedly."
Melanie glanced behind her toward one of the doors leading to the back before returning her attention to Faith. "Oh. That just sounds so different from the way Mr. Galanos described you two, though. He said you were really desperate to protect Rowan, and that he was the reason you became a customer in the first place--"
"Look, it sounds like we both have pasts that we'd like to move on from after tonight. So I won't call you Mariah if you don't refer to Rowan as my boyfriend. Does that sound good?"
Melanie looked off to the side, with a briefly pouty and flustered look. "...Hm. Whatever."
"Good. Now I'll keep this short and sweet, to avoid wasting your or my own time: he uses people, and he's just as crazy as your grandfather was. In other words, he's not someone you would want to feel sorry for. If anything happens to him, it's most likely his own fault. The only reason we even met was because I was a bored teenager looking for something, anything interesting in my life, and I happened to be near your grandfather's house and heard yelling. So I tried to be a hero, and it ended up costing me more than I thought it would, even after we both escaped from that house."
"Oh..." Melanie looked away, twisting a springy red curl around her finger. "But you stayed with him for so long. Why?"
"Because I wanted to fix him, or better yet save him. He had me convinced that Spencer was this big bad supervillain who was part of some underground organization, and...that he enslaved you and your brothers and ended up killing you. I was paranoid for a long time, which Rowan mainly just encouraged. I admit that Chance tried a few times to tell me how ridiculous it all was, in his own sweet and considerate way," Faith added sarcastically, "but I thought he was just in denial."
Instead of laughing in her face like Chance did, Melanie only stared at her as she slowly took it all in. "...Wow. So, that's what he said about me, huh? That I died? Well, I guess that's probably what he wishes happened, after the way I abandoned him. So I can't really blame you either, for not liking me all that much. You tried to take on by yourself what me, Chance and our parents should have done for him."
"Yeah. I was about ready to tie him to a chair just to get him to stay put and not cause any more problems for us. If he hadn't laced my tea to knock me out so he could sneak away to who knows where, I never would've let any of this happen."
"I know," Melanie said, seemingly empathetic. "Like Mr. Galanos says, helping people like that can be a pretty thankless job."
"Yeah. It really can." Faith still wondered how much of what Rowan did was due to mental illness and how much was on purpose, and even now found herself worrying for him. Like his sister, chances were he wasn't safe at all. He had no medication, or at least not the legitimate kind, and no one to really look after him and rescue him from himself. He was still alone out there, somewhere. "Well, nonetheless, I'm glad you're okay. Whether you end up like Rowan or not is solely up to you now."
"I'll try not to," Melanie said softly.
"Well anyway, with all of that said, I need to give this to your boss. I'd like to give it to him personally, if that's alright." Normally Faith would just leave that money with whoever was at the counter, but she wasn't sure she trusted Melanie enough. If Aaron later claimed to have never gotten it, Faith knew that would just mean more bad news for her. Now that she had a definite way of escape, she was determined not to mess it up.
"No," Melanie said abruptly, with sudden anxiety in her voice. "You can't. Not right now." Forcing a smile, she added, "But don't worry, he hasn't forgotten about you. Actually, he said he wanted to show you something before you left tonight, so just give him a few more minutes."
Are you serious? I brought the money and talked to Melanie, didn't I? Unless Aaron wanted to show Faith her name and information being removed from his little book, she strongly doubted it was something she wanted to see.
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