"Oh, Aaron, you messed with the wrong girl. I will deal with you—I swear I will!" Kayla seethed through gritted teeth, her voice trembling with anger. She grabbed her bag, her fingers clutching the strap so tightly her knuckles turned white. Without another word, she stormed out of the room, leaving behind an air thick with tension and the faint scent of her floral perfume.
Aaron's hurtful words echoed in her mind, each syllable like a dagger twisting in her chest. The weight of betrayal sat heavily on her shoulders as she walked down the dimly lit street, her heels clicking against the pavement like a ticking clock counting down her resolve.
---
That evening, she sat cross-legged on her bed, her cat Jamal curled up beside her, purring softly. The dim light of her bedside lamp cast long shadows across her room, accentuating the tired lines on her face.
"Jamal, I had such a terrible day. Don't even get me started. Everyone I thought were my friends refused to acknowledge me today." Her voice wavered as she spoke, trying to hold back tears.
"Meow—I told you so." Jamal's green eyes gleamed knowingly as if he truly understood her words.
"And Aaron... God, don't even get me started on him. But hey, there's one good thing—tomorrow, I get to see my parents at the station. That's something, right? A little piece of light in all this darkness."
" Am not going to bother about anything, right now maybe my Friends are just scared of the scandal."
"Meow. How many more signs do you need to see that these people don't like you? They don't care about you, and yet here you are, defending them again. Meow."
"You're probably right, Jamal. But for tonight, let's just sleep. Goodnight, Jammy. Sweet dreams."
She switched off the lamp, and the room plunged into darkness. But despite her exhaustion, sleep eluded her. She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, thoughts racing like speeding cars on an endless highway.
---
The Next Morning
Sunlight pierced through the curtains, painting golden streaks across Kayla's face. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and stretching her arms. Jamal yawned lazily beside her, his fluffy tail flicking back and forth.
"Come on, Jamal. We can't be late today. I need to see them."
After a quick shower, she stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a soft towel, steam trailing behind her like a ghost. She dried her long, wavy hair, letting the voluminous curls cascade down her back. Dressed in a white tank top and black leggings that accentuated her slender figure, she grabbed her bag and placed Jamal gently in his carrier.
"Ready to hit the road, Jamal?" she asked with a faint smile, fastening his seatbelt in the passenger seat of her small, aging car.
She turned on the radio, her favorite song playing. The familiar tune filled the car, and she couldn't resist singing along.
🎵 Even tried to bite my tongue when you start shit... 🎵
🎵 Now you're texting all my friends, asking questions... 🎵
🎵 Dated a girl that I hate for the attention... 🎵
Her voice grew louder with each lyric, her frustrations pouring out with every word. By the time the chorus hit, she was belting the song like no one was listening.
🎵 A-B-C-D-E F** you and your mom and your sister and your job...* 🎵
For a moment, she felt free—free from Aaron, free from her so-called friends, and free from the crushing weight of her problems.
---
After nearly an hour on the road, she finally arrived at the city station. The building stood tall and gray, its cold walls and harsh fluorescent lights giving it an air of authority and intimidation.
She parked her car and carried Jamal in his little carrier, walking briskly toward the entrance. The station buzzed with activity—officers, civilians, and detainees all moving in chaotic synchrony.
"Miss Kornel!" called a familiar voice.
She turned and spotted Mr. Rogers speaking to a stern-looking policewoman. The officer's gaze flicked over her briefly, her expression unreadable.
"This way, please," Mr. Rogers said, gesturing toward a nearby door.
She followed him into a large visitation room separated by thick glass barriers. The orange uniforms of the inmates stood out starkly against the dull gray walls. Families huddled close, pressing hands against the glass as they spoke in hushed tones, tears streaking down many faces.
"Mom! Dad!" Her voice cracked as she spotted her parents on the other side of the glass.
Scarlett Kornel turned, her emerald eyes lighting up despite the dark shadows beneath them. Her once-perfect hair was disheveled, but her beauty still shone through the dreariness of her uniform.
"Oh, my baby!" Scarlett's voice trembled as she pressed her hand against the glass.
Her father, Mr. Kornel, pulled a chair over for her.
"Are you both eating well? I brought some egg stew and boiled grains. Please, take this." She handed them a black bag through the small opening in the glass partition.
Scarlett smiled as she took the bag, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"You're so thoughtful, sweetheart. We're proud of you, you know that?"
"Don't worry," her father said firmly. "We'll get through this. We'll come back, and we'll make sure you have a life worth living."
She smiled faintly, but her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the table.
"Dad… Mom… I'll do everything I can to get you out of here."
Mr. Kornel leaned forward, his voice low. "Listen carefully. You need to find a man named Kaiden Scott."
"Kaiden Scott? Who is he? Where do I find him?"
"If you can't find him in China, try Los Alamos. He's our only hope."
Her heart sank. Traveling to China or Los Alamos felt like an impossible task. She barely had enough money for groceries, let alone international flights.
"I'll try, Dad. I promise I'll try."
Her father slipped a large, weathered file through the opening.
"Give this to him when you find him. He'll understand."
She took the file, her hands shaking slightly from its weight.
"Time's up!" barked the stern policewoman from earlier.
"No! Please, just one more minute!" she pleaded, her voice breaking.
But the officer was already pulling her parents away.
"I'll get you out, I swear! And you, Mira Loma!" she shouted, reading the officer's name tag. "One day, you'll understand how it feels to be on this side of the glass!"
Her parents disappeared behind the heavy metal doors, leaving her standing alone with Jamal in her arms and a heavy file clutched tightly to her chest.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she whispered into the empty air, "I'll save you. No matter what it takes."
Outside the station, the wind blew softly, carrying away her whispered promises. Somewhere in the vast world, Kaiden Scott awaited—along with the answers she so desperately needed.
And she would find him. No matter what.