uesday, 4th May, 50XX
Elliot yawns, still feeling tired even after 10 hours worth of sleep. All day his has just stayed in bed.
Not so much because he is tired tired though. More for Kiera who has made no attempt to leave the bed.
"Kiera." He says, watching the credits of the 3rd DVD they've watched on Maxis laptop scroll. "What?" She says.
"You sure you don't wanna get up and do something?" He says, trying to bring her closer to him for a hug.
"No." She says, pushing his arm away. He feels his heart sink. "It's 4 p.m in the afternoon, Kiera. We've just stayed in bed the entire day.
My Mum and Maxis will be home soon from work/just being out. She doesn't respond, still curled up in a ball. "What can I do to help?" He asks.
"If you haven't noticed, I have a fucking ankle monitor on, Elliot. I'm trapped in this apartment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."
"I know, and I'm sorry."
"No one else, but you could understand this."
"Yeah, I wasn't always such a good boy."
"....."
"But there are laws, Kiera. This is the price you have to pay, but it also beats being locked in a jail cell or having a bed on a secure psych unit."
"That is true."
"So, you're here right now with me and my Mum and Maxis will be back soon.
We can have dinner together and play some board or card games."
"I didn't mean to hurt either of them like I did."
"We know, you we're angry. You wanted to hurt Kaylee V and Nadine May as well, but you took it a little too far is all."
"......"
"Can I ask-"
"I miss Kade, Elliot. I yelled at him back in the hotel. It feels wrong that his not here with us now."
"You we're under alot of stress and a total stranger telling you that you we're his sister is not the easiest thing in the world to believe.
Especially after you and him grew up, apart not knowing the other one existed or who you're parents we're."
"Still don't know who our Dad is. She knows his name and appearence, she just doesn't want to say."
"Maybe Kaylee will reveal it one day... I think she has alot of things to work through."
"Just it's Kade, Elliot. I never got to know him, I never told him I love him, and vice versa for him."
"I'm sure he knows now."
"What do you mean?"
"Because ever since I accidentally murdered Allie, I've been telling her I'm sorry. Even if she isn't here.
But maybe she is and we just can't see her."
"Are you religious?"
"No, but I get a feeling sometimes like it there are people lingering around."
"I see."
"You could pretend Kade is around if you want, tell him everything you want to tell him."
"I'll think about it."
"Okay."
Then the light above then flickers and begins to sway a bit. They both stare up at it. "Weird." He says. "You can say that again." She responds then the light stops swaying, no longer flickering.
"Hello?!" A voice calls out. "Ayy, we're in the guest bedroom!" Elliot calls out and Maxis walks in a moment later, placing down a backpack.
"How was your day, guys?" He smiles.
"Uh, we watched movies all day. We haven't exactly moved from this bed."
"Oh, that's no good. You both should get up." Maxis answers to Elliot. Elliot moves to sit up when Kiera grasps his sleeve. "No!"
"Hey now." Maxis says, sitting down beside her, gently removing her hand to let Elliot go. "I know you feel miserable about the prospect of the tracker on your foot, but it won't be forever.
I have spoken to my Dad, it's just temporary. He said a month and then they're going to remove it likely, you're court hearing is then. They just want to know you're where you're supposed to be and are safe...
But more importantly other people are safe too."
"Like who?" Kiera snaps.
"V, Nadine May, Kade's adoptive family as well. I know you're frustrated you aren't going to be able to go to a funeral for him or anything, but it's his adoptive family's call.
The last thing anyone wants to see you do is hunt them down and scare them.
Plus, you could get hurt if you did."
"I know..."
"Anyway, what do you say we get up, shower and put something on other than PJ's?"
"Why?"
"Dad wants to hold a small meeting."
"I don't want to go."
"I know, but you've been given clearence for just this evening to go outside."
"Why?"
"There's no easy way to say this, but he does want you and Dr V to get a chance to talk in a neutral environment. I know that sounds really wrong, but Courts also want to see mediation sometimes, this is a complex case, it's not straightforward.
You should tell her you're sorry for choking her out."
"So she's still alive."
"She is. They rewound the security footage for her room, you we're begging her to wake up after she flatlined. It shows you never wanted to truly kill her.
You seem to show remorse. Do you feel guilty?"
"Yeah..."
"So, let's go. You get some time outside, you need to say sorry and she might answer some questions you have.
You never know, I have heard she does want to say sorry too for the things she's done."
"Fine, we'll go." Kiera says. "Great, so let's get up and shower." Maxis says, pulling her to her feet.
---
"We'll be back in time for dinner, Miss Coleman. It's just a short meeting on base." Maxis tells her. "Sure, got it, Maxis. No rush, guys." She responds, standing at the stove, stirring a pit of spagetti.
Someone's favorite meal...
When our trio arrive at base, Vincent escorts them in. "Evening, Vinc..." Elliot says. "Evening, El" Vincent says, giving him a small fist bump to his suprise.
"So, Kaylee and General are in the meeting room. I'll be sitting in so I'm there incase there... is a problem between you or Dr V and intervention is needed." Vincent explains.
As they near the room, they see a familiar woman up ahead and she notices them and quickly darts away.
"Excuse me a moment." Vincent says, going ahead. "I'm sorry. Hey, uh... Nadine, you wanna go re-group with the rest of your past co-workers?
You all are ready to ship out to our sister base."
The familiar woman nods quickly, not looking back. She's wearing the troubled special taskforce's uniform and her long blonde hair has been cut.
It's in two semi circles, braided at the back. Rupert claps his hands together, returning to our trio.
"So...."
"Did she enlist?" Kiera asks.
"Yes, and the other remaining eight did as well... The Government presented them with a contract in hand with a plea deal. Felt it was their best options so their lives didn't go to waste, but also to secure a verdict. They're all guilty, but they can work towards redemption instead of being locked up.
They are going to be watched closely though and will go straight to jail if they even think of escape and have to undergo mandatory therapy.
Not to mention, some of them have student debt which needs paying off so it doesn't hang over like a black cloud for the future. The debt they would be in if further if jailed."
"That's only nine, Vince. Where's the 10th one? Bonnie Desmond."
"Oh, there's no easy way to say this... They public prosecutor actually judged her as mentally unsound, she's been issued a not guilty by reason of insanity plea.
I can't tell you why, they've shipped her out to Drew Mount Mental Health Behavioural Centre. She was a doctor, just like Kaylee V. They're not going easy on Doctors I don't think.
Let's go into the meeting now? Don't worry about them, please. We are transferring them to the sister base like I said to get them out of here." Vincent says, guiding them into the meeting room.
When they head in, Vincent pulls the door closed behind them. General Peterson and a silent looking, numb Kaylee V is there too, right beside him.
She has handcuffs around her wrists, connected to a metal loop on the table.
"Evening you three. How are you?" General Peterson speaks first.
"Uh, fine." Elliot says. "Good." Maxis smiles, giving two thumbs up.
"Kiera?"
"I... hate the ankle monitor."
Kaylee perks up a bit, raising her eyebrows and looks straight at Peterson.
"You didn't tell me you put a ankle monitor on her."
"It wasn't my call, Kaylee. It was the justice department."
"But still."
"I'm sorry."
"She doesn't deserve that-"
"Hey! I don't need you to fight my battles for me!" Kiera hisses and Kaylee slinks down into her chair a bit, seemingly nervous.
"Can you all sit?" Vincent gestures as he takes a seat on the other side of Kaylee. They all sit down too. Kieta looks across the table at V.
Her neck and shoulders and are heavily bruised. Purple, red and blue. Her face is not damage, but there is a minor cut on her bottom lips that has been stitched.
"How did you get hurt? That's a-lot of bruising on-"
"I fought the staff. It wasn't the result of you suffocating me. I was scared when I woke up, it was just an accident."
"Accident my ass!" Kiera says. "Kiera, I assure you it was not intentional on the medical staff here." General Peterson says.
"I don't believe you."
"I don't need you to fight my battles for me." Kaylee taunts back, smirking. "Oi, reign it in or we take you back to solitary." Vincent whispers into Kaylee's ear.
"Uh, so. Kiera, is there anything you want to say to Kaylee V?" General Peterson questions.
"....."
"Don't make her say anything she doesn't want too." V says, clenching her fists, slightly agitated."
"Kaylee, we talked about this." General Peterson says. "Fine." Kiera says, arms crossed.
"I'm sorry I tried to kill you."
"It's okay..." V says, trying not to look Kiera in the eyes. "Do you accept her appology?" General Peterson says with a bit of force.
"Yes, Sir. I do."
"Look Kiera in the eyes when you talk and say it again. This time she makes eye contact with Kiera. "I forgive you, Kiera Bailey. It's understandable why-"
"That's all you had to say. Nothing more." Giving V's hands a slight slap. She scrunches her eyes up briefly, feeling pain.
General Peterson gives Vincent a glare that says, 'don't do that again'
"So, is there anything else you or Kiera want to say or ask eachother? If not, we can get this little show on the road and you both will never see eachother again from here on out.
"Where are you going?" Kiera asks.
"Hope-Point Maximum Security Psychiatry and Behavioural Treatment & Management Hospital. It's located on the other side of the city..." V answers.
"For how long?"
"You know how long, miss stickybeak. You read my medical file, remember?"
"Oh, yeah... Eight years minimum and then upon re-evaluation... General."
"Yes, Kiera?"
"What's the success rate and what treatment options are there?"
"That's not an easy question to answer, Kiera. If she is not ready to change and/or participate, rehabilitation will not happen.
But I can assure you it has an appropriate staff to patient ratio, the rooms, activities and treatment options are fantastic there. They'll put together a treatment plan for her, she'll be looked after there."
"Any other questions for me before I leave for there....?" Kaylee says, biting on her lip.
"Don't bite on your lip, you'll rip the stitches out." Vincent warns her.
"Who was our Dad?"
"Yours and Kade's?"
"Yeah."
"The same man."
"Yes, but what did he look like? What was his name? What did he do?"
She breathes out, looking seemingly more nervous. She thinks for the moment. "He was a friend of someone, Elliot actually knows. Jerry."
"Oh, damn." Maxis says. "Actually, I had a dream about them last night. I was their leader, Jerry started his own off shot criminal group." Elliot begins.
"Now, is not the time, Elliot." Maxis says, elbowing him. "And if you ever joined them, you and me wouldn't be friends or boyfriends for that matter.
You can bet your precious money on that."
Jerry is silent, look concerned.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzmKPJMc5G
"What was his name? What did he look like? What was his ranking?" Kiera asks.
"He told me his name was Craig Reynolds, it wasn't. It was Johnathan Bailey... His ID was his picture, but the name was false. It's only now I know that.
And... You look like him, Kade. Kade resembled me more as you have seen."
"Oh..."
General Peterson interjects. "We've actually looked into it to try to ID him, we've had no matches so who knows where that man is."
"I see."
"Any other questions, Kiera?" V asks.
"No, you can go now. I never want to see you again."
"Okay, goodbye it is then..."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QCixzoQzS
And Vincent begins to lead her away for her to be transported to the hospital when both of them fall flat on the floor.
"Vincent, Kaylee! Are you both okay?" General Peterson asks, worried.
"Uh, yeah. I think my boots slided on the floor or something.
It was mopped not long ago actually. No prizes for guessing who did a good job." Vincent responds.
"Nadine May." Kiera says, unimpressed. "Yeah...." Rupert trails off. "She does have real work ethic, I guess." General Peterson responds.
"Kaylee, are you okay?" Maxis asks, as Vincent helps her up.
"We we're pushed." She murmurs. "I'm sorry, what?" Vincent says.
"We we're pushed."
"Uh, General?"
"Kaylee, look at me." General Peterson says.
"I'm looking, Sir."
"There is nothing there, okay? And whatever you think you hear either is not real, okay?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Good, now go with Vincent."
"I want to hurt her!" Kade yells, getting angry and stomping around. Elliot's eyes widen, able to see and hear him.
But he looks ghostly. "Kade, I know you're angry and upset! But hurting her isn't going to bring you back to life or solve you're anger. It will only hurt you worse! And you will only occasionally be able to push her around, but nothing more." Allie pleads with him.
"I know! B-but I feel so stupid now, Allie! I fucking slit my throat and look where we are, dead, but still alive in a sense! I thought death would be an escape!"
"And it was! But not in the sense you thought it would be." Allie tells him.
"Now, come here. It's okay, I'm going to take care of you. Kiera's my best gal friend I've had, I owe it to her to take care of you.
Now let's go, I've been hanging around here all this time and I couldn't leave before. I was trapped, but I feel free now that you're here. Let's go, it will be okay, I promise."
"What lies beyond the white light?"
"I don't know, but I guess we'll find out when we go together." She says, taking Kade's hand.
"Is my sister going to be okay without me?"
"Yeah, of course. Elliot and Maxis will look after her, I promise." Allie responds.
"Okay, we can go see what's beyond... I just want to give my sister one hug for goodbye and to tell her I love her before I go quickly. Elliot broke his promise, he never told her my final words." He says, floating over to standing behind Kiera. He hugs from behind, wrapping his arms around her.
"I love you, Kiera."
Then he let's go and goes to go with Allie to vanish into the light when he looks at Elliot out the corner of his eyes.
"Thank you for saving me and being my partner in crime." He says. "You're a true friend, but minus points for not telling her I love her."
Elliot quickly holds his breath and Jacob's eyes widen. "You can see and hear me?"
Elliot nods his head slowly, keeping his mouth shut. "Huh, that is so odd. Kaylee could too. Anyway, thank you for everything you have done for me...
I have to go now. Take care and peace out, friendo!" He says, floating over to join Allie and both walk into the light, vanishing together.
Kiera shivers. "I feel cold, Maxis."
"Oh... It is getting quite cold because it's late. Let's go home, we can eat the delicious spaghetti Miss Coleman is cooking. Come on!" He smiles, dragging Kiera out the room.
"Uh, I wish you a pleasant evening, Elliot and I'll see you some other time? Don't think you will be rid of me. You are dating my son after all." General Peterson laughs.
Elliot salutes him and walks backward, waving goodbye. Then he turns around to run after Maxis and Kiera.
What he just heard and saw playing on his mind. He was the only one who could hear and see them. Well, other than V. It's clear she knows Kade shoved her and Vincent, but Vincent wrote it off, jumping to the most logical conclusions The floors having been mopped by Nadine May and Kaylee's mental state.
The question is why could both of us hear and see them just now? Poor V, Kade's probably been tormenting V this whole time.
She needs to be careful or they'll give her more medications to take in addition to what she's already on.
Wait... could Allie see Elliot could see and hear them just now?
He can't think if she made eye contact with him. Kade did though and realized he could see them. Did Allie notice? Are her and Kade going to discuss it?
If she did, why didn't she say anything to him? Maybe she's beyond pissed he killed her. It's hard to know how she feels as he can't ask her.
Her last human moment was realizing Elliot was unwell medically. Too hard to know if she hates and blames him or not...
"Elliot, hurry up! You're falling behind!" Maxis calls. "Ah, coming!" Responds Elliot, starting to sprint to catch up them, forgetting about what he just saw and heard.
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