Carter's Beloved

Where's the truth in this?

Carter’s P.O.V

Her greasy brown hair fall to her shoulders. Her bony hands cover her face where streams of water flow from her eyes. The clothes are ripped and the tension in the air high.

“I don’t know! Please let me go! I did nothing!” She pleads while the guard drops her onto the floor. Mr. Walker looks her directly in the eye and spits at her. She moves uncomfortably as she continues to cry.

“Lies. Why did you do it? Money?” He inquires gruffly while squatting down to face her. Lydia stares at him and with a sudden hiccup reaches out for his face. Being not cared for did not treat her right. Her red acrylic nails are chipped and her hair is matted with dust.

“Honey, I told you I did nothing. Ask that b***h!” She shrieks and points at her step-daughter, throws her body on top of him. Mr. Walker grabs her by the head and slaps her. Madison gasps next to me.

One glance at this family, and you know they have been through a loss. Lydia was taken away shortly after the engagement party, being the only suspect for her son’s murder; which came as a shock and sounds absurd to me. Why would she kill the apple of her eyes? For money?

Madison dragged me to her family house, and I have never regretted anything more. Mr. Walker sleepless and shaken ordered his wife to be taken, not wanting to be associated with her. The matter was quickly hushed up by the media. But one wrong move and everything spills out to the public.

Madison looks disturbed and is avoiding speaking to people at all costs. I hope this ends soon so I can go to the lab and check for updates. I need to know how Mom died and if he did it.

I glance outside at the fountain in the driveway, small birds sit around it sipping water. The expensive cars stand at a distance from the Lower House. Yes, they have two houses. The need for a large mansion, moreover two houses amazes me if you have 2 children who live with you.

The first time I walked in this house, I hoped that I could have a lavish lifestyle similar to this. Now seeing the reality which happens behinds closed doors is mind blowing.

Someone tugs lightly at my sleeve, Madison motions for me to follow her. I go along with her and notice she’s leading me outside to the backyard. A mini garden would be an insult to this gigantic mass of flowers growing on each fertile plot of land.

“I can’t believe Father doubted her.” I spin quickly to face her with a warm smile on my face. If I didn’t need this job, I would quit it in a heartbeat. I would quit and go search for her and live my life happily. Even if I didn’t find her, the hope would keep me alive and I would die pleased.

I must sound so pitiful, but I can’t help it. Madison lies in a hammock and I stand next to her. She mildly resembles her, but I can’t tell for sure. With her brown eyes and slender figure, she makes me confused between my past and present.

“Carter do you know what I love about you? You don’t judge me or my family. At least you don’t express your opinions out loud. I can understand how insane this looks from an outer perspective. Just a few more weeks and we’ll be free from here.” She signs apprehensively and looks towards the pool in front of us. Even with a ‘mini,’ garden the size of my house, they couldn’t resist putting a gigantic pool here.

I nod and distastefully glance at the pool. The reflection of the man dressed in black shocks me slightly and I look around me, behind the trees and near the flowerbeds. I notice that the reflection comes from behind me; I turn around to see... no one.

I stare up and down at the house until I find the man at top of the house. He’s staring directly at me and after a few moments walks away into the dust. I blink twice and rub my eyes and look again, but to no avail.

“Is there anyone there?” Madison asks me curiously from the back. She stands up from the hammock and looks at the roof eagerly.

“No. Why does your house have 4 chimneys?” I ask desperately trying to shift her gaze off me. She shrugs and lies down again.

“You know what we should do? Do you want to go boating?” She asks me spontaneously and I stare at her for a few seconds before comprehending what happened.

Her face changes and soon I’m looking at my lost friend, sitting underneath the willow tree in high school.

“Did you study for the quiz? Mr. Jayden said it’s going to be hard.” She chews on her granola bar while staring down at her science textbook. The scene flows from my eyes and I blink to find myself in the blistering sun next to a hammock.

“You remind me of someone.” I tell her without thinking. She doesn’t seem to mind, but chuckles. She stands next to me and takes my hand.

“So do you.” I gaze at her until the two scenes morph into one and I notice her face hasn’t changed. Both the people I saw are the same. I feel the same about both.