Maverick's POV
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It took less than twenty four hours for everyone in town to know of Kennedy's disappearance.
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Her mom picked up the phone just half an hour after Kennedy's curfew. She had called Lilliana's mother, asking if Kennedy had left her house yet. Kennedy had lied before departing her house, telling her mom she'd be hanging out with Lilliana for a few hours.
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The very same night she died, around eleven, the neighborhood search for Kennedy began. People who are close to them and people who are acquainted with them knocked on doors, presenting a picture of Kennedy and asking if they had seen her.
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Her parents went to sleep that night without any luck of course. But they hadn't gave up hope yet. With no word from the police all night, the search continued the following morning. The same people, plus some more who recently heard the news, went from shop to shop, asking if Kennedy had been in. By noon, missing person's flyers of her were plastered everywhere. Social media didn't help as everyone's posts about her started flooding our phones.
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Positivity radiated throughout the community despite what they faced. The longer the police didn't contact them first, the better chance they have of finding her alive and well...at least that's what they convinced themselves.
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Lilliana was just as positive, immediately telling her own mom and me that Kennedy lived a wild lifestyle and probably found a guy or randomly decided to binge for a few days. She's participated in trying to find her friend, told classmates that she's sure Kennedy would be home soon and not to worry, she's even texted and called a her phone a million times as if they're will eventually be an answer.
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The longer I watch it, the more guilty I feel for keeping this secret from her.
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I can't watch while she looks for our friend, fully believing that she's alive, and not tell her that she's dead.
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"Telling her will take care of not only one but two things." Malachi had said to me. "You won't have to hide the fact that Kennedy is gone for good and you're the reason for it. You also won't have to leave out such a big part of who you are; a killer. I mean...it is who are you, Maverick."
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He was right. All I've wanted to do since I started this is not have to hide from Lilliana. It's the very last thing she has to learn about me. This would be good for everyone.
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It didn't take Malachi but a second to create a bad idea out of a good one. Immediately after his persuasive statement he said; "I assume you've thought about if she wasn't to accept. Would you be able to kill Lilliana is she didn't agree to our terms?"
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Answering Malachi wasn't something I couldn't do straight away. So I stayed up all night, not getting a second of sleep, thinking about how I could ever bring myself to take Lilliana's life.
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The answer is no, I can't...
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"It feels so weird eating lunch without her." Bella commented as we all sat around the school's cafeteria table. "It's not like it's one of those days where she stays home..."
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Quinton had leaned in, lowering his voice as he asked us, "Don't you think this is getting a little weird. It's been five days now. She would've came back by now."
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Bella had shot a glare across the table at him. "What are you implying, Q?" She holds up her index finger between them. "Don't answer that. Kennedy is fine, okay?" Bella's head inches around as she looks directly at each of us, attempting to instill such beliefs on us. "She's off doing something stupid, you know how she is."
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"We've been saying that, Bella." Lilliana had spoken up. "And that's reasonable if it was only a day or two...but five whole days is a little long..."
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Quinton had nodded in agreement with Lilliana, eyes glued to the top of the table. "She would've called or texted us by now, especially if she planned on being gone a while."
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"Will you guys stop talking like that?!" Bella hissed before taking a breath. "She'll be back."
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By day seven, hopeful attitudes began to turn into sorrowful expressions as tragic theories of what had happened to Kennedy started to float around. These theories were danced around in everyone's minds, as well as shared in hushed tones. The searches ended, the flyers were something people just walked past instead of taking a glance at as they passed by, social media began to wind down over the topic of her disappearance.
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By day twelve, everyone except Kennedy's friends and loved ones spent less and less time speaking her name, thinking about her. Bella had begun to spiral, becoming extremely sad over the loss and possibilities of her best friend's whereabouts.
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Lilliana, losing all hope as well, begged me for a few more pills, saying this is clearly a circumstance where giving her more would be fair.
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So I did. She's been fucked up for three days.
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I felt this to be the right time to tell Lilliana the truth.
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"Why won't you tell me what we're doing here?" Lilliana asks me as we exit my car, closing the doors behind us. "One minute you don't want me and Malachi around each other and the next, we're going to hangout at his house?"
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I stuff my keys in my pocket as we walk up their driveway to Malachi's porch.
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"There has to be a reason I'm here with you. It's so out of no where." She observes, following alongside me. She glances between me and the path she walks. "Wait a second. This isn't an caa a intervention is it?"
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We walk up the steps.
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"If it is, I'm gonna be so pissed, Maverick." She forewarns me. "Neither of you have any room to tell me what I should and shouldn't be doing!" She defends herself even though I haven't said a word. "Especially since both of you have given me drugs; mainly you! Don't waste our time doing this." She groans.
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Holding a breath before letting it out, I knock on the door as I tell her, "Do me a favor, Lilliana. Shut up for like ten seconds." Her head snaps in my direction and I can feel her scowling at me.
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When she doesn't respond, much to my surprise, I can feel her scowl disappearing.
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Looking over at her, she's giving an odd expression, giving me a once over.
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"What?" I bark out at her, not liking the assessment she's taking of me.
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"I haven't seen you nervous since we were little." She observes, glancing at the still closed door. "What's going on?"
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"I'm not nervous." I claim but my left hand defies me, fidgeting with the bags of pills in my pockets.
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I'm craving a couple.
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It's been a long time since I've felt this heavy, antsy, anxious. My insides are chaotic, not knowing rather to be happy to get this weight lifted, excited to not hide
anymore from her, or to be so nervous I can't fucking breathe properly.
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Luckily Malachi swings open the door with a big smile. "Can we all just acknowledge the fact that we knew this was going to happen? All of us planning a hangout rather than running into each other?"
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I don't have the patience for Malachi's jokes and Lilliana's attitude. I push past him through the door.
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"He's in a mood." Lilliana tells Malachi as she enters the house behind me.
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"You haven't stopped talking since I picked you up." I remind her.
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"Let's all relax. In the dining room, we will." Malachi suggests as he closes and locks the door. "I have a gift for both of you at your seats. Not to worry, I didn't leave myself out."
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I stop down at hall, to my left is the entrance of the dining room.
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I turn around to face Lilliana and Malachi, left hand still fidgeting in my pocket.
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Lilliana keeps her eyes on mine as she comes closer and closer to where I stand, as if to ask if listening to Malachi is what she should be doing.
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I answer her by waving an arm out towards the large opening acting as a door to the room. "This way, Lilliana."
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Her eyes narrow in suspicion as she casts a glance over her shoulder at Malachi who follows a couple steps behind.
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Malachi flashes her another smile and a reassuring nod. Though when Lilliana's had turns back right, I can see she's not reassured at all.
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Lilliana steps inside the room, halting her steps to take in the scene.
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Malachi's long table in the middle of the large room held three black napkins in front of three chairs. A pill sits center of each napkin, next to that a glass of what appears to be triple shots of whiskey.
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"Take a seat, Lilliana." I instruct, as Malachi and I step in behind her.
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"You know..." Lilliana says as she starts for the seat by itself, the one across the table from the two chairs next to each other. "People don't usually do this when they plan to hangout with someone." She sits down with a sigh, staring down at her pill. "Typically it's laid back, chill. Malachi said we'd relax in the dining room..." she then looks up at the two of us still by the door. "This feels very formal."
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"Well that's what the drugs and alcohol is for." Malachi tells her as we both take our own seats. "Soon you won't feel much."
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Lilliana inspects us both from across the table, twisting the corner of the napkin up between her fingers. "For the first time in a very long time, I'm questioning rather or not I should take this and drink that alcohol." She eyes the glass.
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"I'd like for you to take it, Lilliana." I tell her.
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Her eyes dart up at me, eyebrows turned inward. Although she is confused, curious, and hesitant...her hand playing with the napkin moves, picking up the pill.
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"Your all's vibe is real weird right now." She observes, swallowing the pill with the liquor.
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"Remember, Maverick...show her who you are. This is your time." Malachi had said to me this morning, prepping ourselves for this exact moment.
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Malachi uses the edge of his fist on the table to scoot my glass closer to me. "Level up, Maverick." He instructs under his breath.
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After Malachi and I swallow our own, the three of us are met with silence. The only sound you could hear is the heater kicking on as the house's temperature lowered from its preferred setting.
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I rest against the back of my chair, laying my arms across the armrests that I tap my fingers on. Malachi's hands clasp together on top of the table, patiently waiting on us to begin.
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"What's going on, Maverick?" Lilliana questions with a sigh. "I'm getting impatient."
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My chest rises and falls.
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"Remember when I told you I wouldn't lie to you about what Malachi and I do, that I just wouldn't tell you anything?" I ask.
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Lilliana shrugs. "Well yeah, what about?"
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"Something has come up recently." I answer. "Its put me in the position of having to tell you the truth."
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Her eyes brighten, looking between Malachi and I as she sits up straighter. "No fucking way! I had totally settled on not ever knowing but this is so exciting!"
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Malachi smiles at her reaction, glancing over at me.
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"Don't get too excited. This is going to change everything." I advise her.
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Her face falls a little as she asks, "Well...what is it?"
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"We kill people, Lilliana."
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