The Darkness comes hunted

Chapter Thirteen: Dark Path lay ahead

"We need to tell each other our stories. We need to show that everyone - our neighbors, our families, our community leader - that everyone we know is touched by corruption, no one can escape it and without strong watchdog institutions, impunity becomes the very foundation upon which systems of corruption are built, and Lakewood police station are not the exception... controlling by the Prescott family on top, nearly none of the people that live in the town of Lakewood can get the proper justice they need."

Meanwhile at the Lakewood Police Station, the interrogation room door open once again, but this time it's not Captain Hopper, who the last time come in and scare the hell out of Mike, this time it's Betty, walking in slowly, puts her handbag on the table and settle herself into a chair across from Mike.

"I didn't do it, Betty. You have to believe me." Said Mike, clenching his lip, and staring down at the table for where he sat for the last thirty minutes.

"Of, course, Mikey, I believe you, always, and besides I know who you truly are, the best person I ever I met in town." Said Betty, trying to reassure her depressed boyfriend, who will get jail time, if she doesn't find a solution to his problem quickly.

"Well, those Paradise Lost kids went to death row, because they wore black and listened to Metallica...I don't wanna be a scapegoat, Betty." Said Mike, still shaken to his bone.

Betty drew her hand out, put it toward Mike's hand, and hold it firmly, "I'm not gonna let that happen...all the evidence against you is circumstantial, we gonna get you out of here." She holds his hand tight, trying to tell him that everything will gonna be okay, and Mike, he's tried his best to hold his composure.

"Is my dad here yet?" Mike asks.

"No, But Mason is here with his dad, they're talking to the Captain, no one knows where your dad is," said Betty.

Mike puts his hand on his forehead, trying to think why his dad is not here yet when he needs him the most? the disappointment with his dad is now going through the roof.

Outside of the interrogation room, Mayor Blossom is now talking with Captain Hopper about Mike's bailout payment.

"Mr. Sinclair is not helping himself in there, Mr. Mayor, I ask him for an alibi, and he just gave me back lips"

"He was at my house, doing some school with my son that day, the week of August 6th, was it." Says Mayor Blossom, Captain Hopper glances at Mason who standing next to his dad, trying to play along with it.

"What with the hesitation, Captain, you want proof, Cullen my driver here can provide it, he the one who Drove Mike to my estate." Say, Mayor Blossom, pointing at his driver who standing by the door waiting.

Mason shifts his gaze to Captain Hopper, nodding his head confidently at the lawmen.

Later that moment, Father and son exit the police station with Mike and Betty close behind,

Nearly got on the bike with Cole, who's been waiting outside, to take them back to school, Mike's dad arrived, rush in to meet with his son, that just got bailed out by his friend's father.

"Sorry, I came as soon as I got your messages... my phone... the freaking battery. I forgot to plug it in last night." Anton explains, but he still can't convince his son, Mike, who knows the real reason why his dad is late.

Everyone is silent, staring at each other for a second, "What the hell happened?" Anton asks again.

"Nothing, Dad, it's fine now, Mr. Blossom took care of it, you can go back to your bar and drink your beer again." Said Mike, with his angry face and tone toward his dad.

Anton points his anger back at the station, trying to lash his anger in there.

"What crap s**t did they accuse you of in there, again, huh?... those bastards trying to throw you in jail as they did to your old man? well, screw that!" He is furious.

"Dad, No, please no," Tears welled up in his eyes and began rolling down his cheeks like rivulets.

"I will rip that piece of s**t Hopper up for trying to pull on you--" Anton's eyes flashed with anger and resentment.

"Anton, settle down"

"Hey! Hey! He's my son, He's my son, Joe, you'd do the same for your boys.' Anton pushes the Mayor away, the man who tries to explain some sense to him.

"Dad, please stop, before it's too late." Mike said and grabbed his dad" Don't make things worse, please" Mike hold his dad's blue t-shirt firmly, Anton nods, and he let it go.

"Yeah, Yeah, alright, then...you, uh... you coming home with me?" Anton asks,

"He--- He can stay with us, Mr. Sinclair, we already offered." Said Cole, glancing over to Mike, who standing by the Police Station exit way.

"Is that what you want?" Anton asks again, shot his son a look, Mike nods his head, Anton watches his son stare sadly at the pavement, " Maybe that's for the best, if-- if your dad won't mind, Cole." Anton adds.

Mike wipes his tear away, looking back at his best friend Cole, " Yes, he okay with it Mr. Sinclair." Said Cole, eyeing back at Mike.

"I'm coming with you, Dad." Head hung low, he wipes his nose and walks past the other toward his father.

Anton places his hand on top of Mike's shoulder, then grabs the repel of his son's black denim jacket.

"Son, listen to me,... I'm gonna do what you always want me to, get my act back together, I'm gonna get your mom back home, so we're all under the same roof again, I promise." Anton's forehead was beaded with presentation and regrets.

Mike nods his head, clenches his lip, and stares down at the pavement while also trying to hold his tears from dropping down.

"But I just need a little more time to do that, not a lot, not long, maybe a month or two at most." Anton holds his son's face, while Mike looks away, trying to hold his strong self together.

"Then we'll be back on track...all right?" Anton adds.

Mike nods a bit, but not much doesn't want his dad to think he's easy to ask back.

"You, uh... you believe that, don't you, son?" Anton asks while Mike tries to fight back his emotion.

"Yeah, I believe you, Dad." They rest their head against each other and then embrace, as tear streak Mike's cheeks, Anton buried his face in his son's shoulder and rest his palm against Mike's back.

Anton let's go, playfully shuffling Mike then turn and walks past a patrol car toward the street, Mike wipes his face with his jacket sleeve then turns back to his friends, Mayor Blossom walks close in, hugging and in the process, he whisper into Mike's ears," I help you this time as a favor, Kids...and I hope to get it back someday in the future, you understand that." said the Mayor,

Mike nods his head, and the two lets go of each other, and Betty starts to walk close in, gently touches his cheeks, and together the two leave the station, Cole, Mason, and his Dad hang back, with Mayor Blossom putting his right hand on his son's shoulder, knowing his son also have a feeling for Betty, and later Cole and Mason leave the station together on Cole's bike while Mason's Dad, ride back to the town hall.