BURN THE TRUTH

Episode Seven

CURRENT

Velda took on a step and was abruptly gaping at the wrong end of a gun. "We are only here to talk, okay? Calm down" She ultimately uttered, attempting to push down the anxiety bubbling up her chest, voice as calming as possible. Though for some reason she appeared calmer than the rest.

"Don't tell me what to do!" The suspect's voice cracked "You know nothing of how I feel" He lashed out, violently pushing down his frustration as his free hand dragged through his hair.

"It's okay, it's alright. You can tell me. That's why we're here, to hear you explain" She uttered loud enough to be heard, and then seized what could be barely called a step.

"Don't take another step or I will shoot" The suspect threatened furiously yet nervously, although one could glimpse his trembling form.

"I won't" Velda assured him "but please move away from the edge"

"I already told you, you don't get to tell me what to do"

"Okay, okay, I get that part" She muttered with a few assuring nods.

"You know what he said when I asked him about Emily?" He chuckled, bitterly "She was a frightened little b***h. Can you imagine? How can he say such a thing about Emily?"

Velda shook her head when she detected the query was intended for her "I'm not sure" She whispered barely audible. They were in tight circumstances as per the position of the suspect. Any attempt of using force would certainly lead to a catastrophe as he was barely standing by the edge of the cliff and so their best option was to listen to him and hope they could subdue him, or perhaps drive him to walk away from the cliff edge.

"She was the sweetest, everyone loved her back in the orphanage, and then she turn eighteen. You know you can't continue to stay there after turning eighteen so she moved out. Hoping to get a scholarship just as me" Pain laced through his words. "She was family, we were both families, she was the only family I got and he took her away from me, all because of his stupid s****l desire" He let out a hiss and managed to grin through the pain.

"You know he r***d her" He began again "Not just once but twice, two consecutive times!. She reported the first case but he again did that to her and even terrorized her, threatening to r**e her to death if she doesn't go and revoke her statement at the station. She was broken, ashamed, wronged, dirty and permanently flawed ever since then" He tried to speak, but was choked with tears. His tear-stained face was puffy and swollen with grief.

Those words unawarely activated something in Velda that she helplessly needed the male to cease talking. She was gradually suffocating without anyone being away, and so she yearned to get away but her legs seemed to be glued to the earth. Feeling defeated.

"You know she never told me all that. She kept them all from me. I was family, wasn't I? Whenever I call to check up on her she just says a few words 'I am fine, I don't need anything that was it. The police couldn't even notice the slightest clue that she was being threatened. They just dismissed it as though the statement was never made. Like nothing happened. But it did happen! It did happen! And the bastard who coursed her such pain was roaming freely in the society, the society they were supposed to protect!"

"I read every one of those goddamn emotions she poured out in her diary. I read them all to him. I made sure I read her pain, and her anxiety, she penned how helpless she felt, her fear and the sleepless nights until she couldn't take it anymore and ended her life! Right here, all because of a selfish desire"

"We understand your pain" Clyde spoke up soothingly when he notice Velda was a bit lost. "We understand how you feel"

"No! You don't get to say that! You can never understand how I feel, if you did, you wouldn't have been looking for his killer this whole time. And if you still claim to understand how it feels to lose a family. Your only family to a man's selfish desire. What could you have done, if were in my place? Tell me because I didn't know a better way I would have punished him for the pain he coursed her" He groaned in misery.

"Why not come over and let work things out, there are other victims like Emily who also need help, your help" Clyde tried convincing him.

"I only know about Emily! What is there to be done when she is gone, I would never see her again, that's the whole truth. And I'm glad I finally got to end him too" His last line came off with a wave of sadness laced with a compliment. Clyde suddenly got the instinct he was about to shoot, though just at the thought, the male unexpectedly spun the gun to his head.

"Don't!" Clyde yelled and in a flash the bullet went through his head, leaving him to fall off the cliff. Clyde was left with the sound of the shot echoing in his ears. He froze in his spot, gawking at the space as though the whole world had crumbled.

Velda's breath seized at the sound of the gun. Engulfed with an overwhelming sense of dread. Blood pounded in her ear as her heart thudded in her chest. She was finding it difficult to hyperventilate as she felt her chest and windpipe closing up. Her Hand shook, feet tingled and her vision disfigured as if looking through a fish-eye lens. A memory was awakened.

Carter was the first to move to the edge of the cliff and took a look downward before turning back to Clyde, striking the back of his neck but saying no word. He later took out his phone and dialled a call.

Clyde staggered his way to the cliff edge, both hands on either side of his waist. He watched the crumpled figure and then breathe out deeply before walking to Carter. "Where is the captain?" He asked upon catching up with Carter. The young male gestured at Velda's car and Clyde proceeded.

However, Clyde was a bit confused by Velda's sudden silence halfway, except he directly apprehended something was amiss the beat he joined Velda in the car. "Hey, hey. Vel, Velda? Are you all right?"

Velda seized a profound breath and relaxed onto her seat "I'm fine, Clyde"

"You certain? You kind of-"

"I said I'm fine, Clyde. No more questions" She shushed him.

It was eight fifteen on the same Wednesday night when Velda walked into a bar and headed straight to the front, and settled on a high stool "A shot please" She requested the bartender and looked behind to analyze the space.

The bartender placed the shot before him with a slight clack against the long bar surface. She clutched the shot, taking in the whole drink in one go before slamming the shot down and then requesting another.

After a lanky hesitation, she dragged herself onto a vacant seat at the far end of the bar, its leather slightly torn. Smoke permeated the room, but she kept the entrance in view. TVs barely overheard.

Again she called out to the bartender for more drinks, yet her eyes trained on every single human in the room. The liquor was soon brought before her and the server immediately disappear behind a door.

It's been more than half an hour when a fellow with platinum blonde hair sauntered up to her, observing her like an ageing lioness hungry for a meal.

"You seem to need company, I'm quite free" He beamed at her.

"Please, just go away" He muttered, could barely look in his direction. "I'm in no mood for company," She told him waving her left hand in a manner for him to be dismissed.

"That's what everyone who does need company says. Like I told you, I'm free tonight"

"Are you actually trying to systematically disrupt every part of my life? Please just go away. I have made up my mind to enjoy this drink alone"

Nonetheless, the stranger was about to object when a young male walked in on them. He took hold of the back of a chair and dragged it to the table flank, fingers around a glass of beer covered in condensation. "The lady asked you to leave" He narrowed his eyes at him and with a fleeting intense gaze, he pried away.

"You too" Velda muttered "Join him" She made a gesture with her free hand, moreover not perking up.

"I bet you wouldn't want that" The young man spoke which caused Velda's eyes to flicker in his direction, her brow furrowed as she tried to remember where she had encountered him. She closed her eyes tight only to reopen them.

"The mechanic guy?" She questioned not too sure of her own assumption and the male's cheek turned up.

"You are quite smart, for someone who is already drunk," He remarked, and then he slumped into the chair he held. "I'm Milo. It's okay to drink, you know they say, life is too short, so enjoy it why you can" He winked and proceeded to gulp from his cup.

He appeared younger than Clyde though older than Carter, with his black side part cut and coiffed to perfection. His Roman nose and half-dome cheekbones sat above an oaken jaw and his wrestler's shoulders were components of his burly physique. He had brown eyes, they were a-dazzle with wonder over a friendly smile, and yet the male still got a devil-may-care outlook.