"What a beautiful sight. Isn't it beautiful, Mar?"

"Oh yeah, it's gorgeous."

Sonia and I nodded to ourselves as we appraised Priyanka behind bars. She scowled at us, struggling against her chains.

"Wipe that smirk off your face!" Priyanka hissed, to which Sonia chuckled.

"No," Sonia said, "I don't think I will."

I stood supportively beside Sonia, and she leaned on my shoulder, still laughing.

"At least Stephen's stalking did something right. Gave us enough video proof to nail this b*tch," I smiled, and Sonia nodded.

"Is this the only reason you children came here then? To gloat? Not to apologize?" Priyanka asked, her nose flared with anger.

Sonia stood upright and walked forward, stepping just outside of Priyanka's swiping range. She stared her down, gripping the metal bars.

"I have something to say to you," Sonia began, "Listen and listen well. You've done horrible things to me. Things no mother - no parent - should ever think of doing to their child. You've beat me, you've shouted at me, you've made me feel like I don't even deserve to be alive. You convinced me that no one would ever care about someone like me. You made me so angry at the universe because I thought it was angry at me just for existing! You're not only a horrible mother, you're a horrible person. I hope you rot here. I hope you waste away every single second of your life thinking about everything you put me through."

Priyanka stared at Sonia, silent. She did this for a long, long time. I could see Sonia's resolve wavering. I could see the last few flickers of hope in her eyes being snuffed out; Hope that perhaps her mom would finally come to her senses and apologize - grovel - for all she did.

But she didn't.

"I am sorry, Mom," Sonia continued, "I'm sorry that I was born to you. I'm sorry that you couldn't see me for the good child...the good person I am. I'm sorry that you fell into a marriage with a man who would've sold your soul away for a profit. And I'm so, so sorry that you got to have your wonderful babies for even a little, because you'll never, ever see me or Kyle again."

Sonia turned on her heel, striding outside. I flipped my middle finger at Priyanka before following, relishing in the defeated look in her eyes as she settled into her years-long sentence.

•

"That was EPIC!"

I cheered Sonia on as we walked through the streets of Plum Creek. She visibly mellowed, her eyes softening as the weight of a long time burden fell off her shoulders.

"Not bad for a birthday present," she chuckled, and I smiled at her adoringly, "Oh God, don't do it!"

"Happy birthday to y-"

"No. I'm stopping you. You have been stopped. We don't celebrate until tomorrow, you know this, Mar! Kyle and I need separate days!"

I giggled, absolutely merry. I took her hands in mine and began to spin with her on the sidewalk.

"Haha! What are you doing?" Sonia beamed through the motions, and I only spun faster.

"There's no more schemes! No more murders! No more heinous crimes! Kyle is out here enjoying life! We're free!"

One of us eventually misstepped, and we fell into a pile of leaves. The whole way down, we clung to each other, laughing hysterically.

My giggling eventually ceased, and I looked up at Sonia, getting lost in her sparkling eyes as her curly hair fell in a halo around me.

"I-"

She cut whatever lovey-dovey thing I was going to say off, wiping my mind completely with her feather soft kiss. Her arms held her body up beside my face, and I cupped her cheeks in my hands, breathing in the enchanting scent of sweet caramel. I didn't even care that we were in public, where anyone could see and spread that I was a big, fat dyke. The surroundings faded away, and all that was left was the bewitching image of her.

"Get a room, you two!"

Kyle bounded towards us, donning his birthday boy garb; An inflatable crown and a green glitter studded sash.

We both sprang upright, chuckling. Sonia helped me to my feet as we stood, then gently dusted off my clothes.

"There's the other birthday kid!" I smiled, and squeezed him in my embrace.

"I came looking for you two because everyone's already at the place. Didn't expect you to be so...busy," he smirked.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever! Let's get going!" Sonia playfully pushed Kyle along, and we all smiled as we continued on our way.

•

Sonia and I watched as Kyle bounded off towards the decorated picnic table beside the enclosures. Several baby animals trotted peacefully nearby, opening themselves up to the surplus of treats the party goers adoringly provided. The sun lit up their furry faces from overhead.

"I'm actually sickened by how cute this is," Sonia scoffed, and Holden walked up to us, a pile of streamers slung over his shoulder as he steadied himself on his crutches.

"Sonny! Mar-bar! You two made it! Mind helping with the decorations?" he smiled, and we nodded.

"You should be off your feet, nerd," Sonia insisted, and Holden chuckled.

"Aw, the big bad Sonia is worried about me? I'm honored!"

Sonia rolled her eyes, but nonetheless tilted her head towards a bench, where Holden compliantly sat. He put up a peace sign before opening his phone to video call Persephone from her bed. I ruffled his hair, relishing in the sound of his laughter before turning back around.

Before we could figure out where to place the streamers, a blur of pastel colors bolted in front of us.

"Hello, hello, hello!" a bubbly girl addressed us, so hyper she was practically bouncing where she stood.

The girl's hair fell in a waterfall of blush pink braids, the light color complementing her brown skin. She wore black lip gloss, cat ears, and heart stickers below her eyes, and her pastel outfit was covered in dark chains. The irises of her eyes did not match; One was brown, the other mint green.

"...hi," I said politely, "Who exactly are you?"

The girl frantically shook both of our hands and replied in her cheery voice, "Oh gosh, you don't know me yet but I hope we'll be amazing friends! My name is Lottie, maybe Kyle told you about me! He certainly told me about both of you!"

Sonia narrowed her eyes, "Lottie, huh? You're Kyle's little girlfriend."

She nodded emphatically, "Yes I am! And you're Sonia, his sister! And you," Lottie pointed at me, "You're his best friend Marinette! Oh, but he calls you Marnie. Is it okay if I call you Marnie?"

Surprised at her energy, I nodded, "Yeah, that's cool, I'd prefer that."

Lottie beamed, "Oh great! Do either of you watch anime?"

Sonia and I blinked at each other before awkwardly shaking our heads. Before we could conjure up responses, Kyle rejoined us, wrapping Lottie in his embrace.

"Hey, candy," Kyle winked at her, nuzzling his cheek against hers, "I see you've met some of my other favorite people. How are you guys getting on?"

Sonia examined them, equal parts amused and perplexed, "I swear any moment now she was about to teach us the renegade dance."

I stifled laughter before replying, "I think you're really sweet, Lottie. Super friendly for sure."

Lottie clapped cheerfully, "Oh great, great, great! We'll be besties in no time, I promise! And I do know that dance, I could teach you!"

The soft purr of the kittens in an enclosure nearby easily distracted Lottie, and she waved with a bright smile before going to coo at them.

"Gotta say, a petting zoo party was the best idea ever! Nana's super smart," Kyle said, looking around contentedly.

"Yeah, she's cool," Sonia said, "But can we go back to when you called your girlfriend 'candy'? Why not sugar?"

Kyle laughed, "Because her hair looks like candy floss, duh!"

I smiled, "You still call it that? It's cotton candy and nothing can change my mind."

"Agreed," Sonia said, "But whatever name it goes by, it'll still be a cloud of sugar."

Kyle examined Sonia and I, "So," he started, smirking, "Are you two, like, together? Or are you dating Holden, Mar? Or Seph?"

My face instantly heated up and my heart pounded in my chest. Even Sonia struggled to stammer a response.

Luckily, a distraction saved us - or, rather, me - from having to answer.

"What the f*ck is she doing here?" Sonia asked Kyle angrily, glaring at someone who'd just walked onto the lot.

Looking closer, I could see who it was. I'd recognize the blonde haired bully anywhere: Rachel Greene, my first girl kiss at the game of spin the bottle in middle school, and the very same who'd harassed me in the locker room back before the dance.

Though still polished and feminine, Rachel appeared more soft spoken than she had before. Instead of her customary haughty smirk, she wore a thin, timid smile. Her clothes seemed more understated, as if she were trying to blend in; A plain pink sundress and the smallest diamond heart earrings I'd ever seen her wear. Party goers looked on as she approached me.

"Did something happen between you guys?" Kyle asked confusedly, and Sonia paid him no attention, focusing instead on every move Rachel made.

"Marnie..." Rachel addressed me.

"Rachel," I replied shortly.

"I'm...sorry."

"For?"

Rachel took a deep breath before saying, "I'm sorry for how I treated you. How I put you on the spot about your, ah...who you like..."

I crossed my arms in disbelief, seeing Holden looming in the background with a serious expression, watching it unfold with Persephone glaring on the line.

"Why are you suddenly apologizing?" I asked Rachel, and she blushed, letting her hair fall so that it covered her face as I once did.

"I think the only reason I was mean to you in the first place is because I..."

"You?"

"I might...not be straight..."

I was stunned, and I almost chuckled at the irony.

"So you bullied me because you also like girls?"

Rachel flinched at my bluntness. She reminded me of who I'd been just weeks ago.

"...yeah. I know it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I was projecting, I guess. I saw you being yourself - every part of yourself - when I couldn't do that. I don't know. My family is from the deep, religious South. I know it's no excuse, but I was taught to do right by the church and my duties as a young lady," Rachel's eyes watered, "I'm supposed to save myself for marriage, find a guy willing to love me, have babies to create more servants for the Lord..."

"And I'm...not doing that."

"Right. Marnie, you're everything I want to be. Free. And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying every follower of religion is hateful, that was all on me and the interpretation I was taught. I just felt...feel...trapped. Trapping you too was my unhealthy outlet."

I shook my head, "But I don't get it. We hadn't spoken since your party in middle school. When would you have seen me 'being myself'? Back in the locker room I was just as confused about my sexuality as you are. I'm still figuring things out."

Rachel sighed, "It was pretty obvious with how cozied up to the new girl you were. You followed each other everywhere, all close and doe-eyed in the cafeteria. That's beside the point, though. I was cruel to you how I'd hate for someone to be cruel to me. And I'm so, so sorry for that."

After several silent moments of deliberation, wary of the nearby eyes on me, I nodded.

"Okay, Rachel. I forgive you."

"Really?" Sonia raised her eyebrow.

"I'm still confused..." Kyle blinked.

"You're too sweet for this world, Mar," I heard Persephone say over Holden's phone, who nodded along with her.

Rachel's eyes lit up, and she smiled brightly. She looked at me, a mixture of relief and remorse on her face.

"Thank you, Marnie. Seriously. Is there anything - anything - I can do to make it up to you? Would you like me to make you some sweet tea? Or maybe give you my table in the cafeteria? Or-"

"Actually, yes. I'll take you up on the table. But only if you share it with me and my friends," I smiled, and Rachel couldn't seem to contain her happiness.

"Why? Why on Earth would you want to share a lunch table with me after what I put you through?" tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I know what it's like to eat alone, I've seen how your so-called friends abandoned you. And I believe in second chances. Just promise you'll do better."

Rachel looked like she might hug me, then decided against it as she caught Sonia's eyes. Instead, she stepped back slightly.

"I'll do better. I promise," she turned to Kyle, "And welcome back, buddy. I'll bring your gift to school Monday."

Kyle smiled, "That's what's up! Now can we get back to partying? There's a bazillion baby sheep and absolutely none of them are being lavished with affection!"

We all laughed and nodded. I waved to Rachel as she sauntered away, and she beamed back at me before disappearing across the street.

*

As the day went on, everyone had an amazing time. Sonia begrudgingly held a duckling, beginning to coo cheerfully at it minutes later. Holden chatted with Persephone on the bench for a long time, introducing her to Lottie. Kyle and I danced to his rock music surrounded by playful puppies. Further off, crowds of students mingled, welcoming Kyle back home and dropping off presents.

Then Mei Chen walked onto the lot.

"Mom?" Holden noticed her, passing his phone to Lottie as he stood with his crutches, "What's going on?"

Mei wore a tormented expression. Her bags were so defined it seemed like she'd smudged makeup beneath her eyes. Her hair had not been combed in days, and her blouse was stained with apple sauce. Her demeanor alone caused Sonia, Kyle, and I to turn our attention to them.

"Your sister..." Mei approached Holden, gently stroking the sides of his face.

"What about her?" Holden pressed, the tinges of fear making his voice crack.

"The doctors had cleared her for release. She would need to stay at home for a while, but she was fine. No longer in fatal circumstances..." Mei began, her own voice strained.

"And then?" Holden asked, barely above a whisper.

"She told me she wanted apple sauce for the road. I was happy to get it for her, you know? But I left her..." Mei began to cry, "And when I came back she was gone without a trace! She wasn't even shown to have left on the hospital tapes, it's like she never existed there!"

Holden, Sonia, and I knowingly glanced at each other. Her skills with coding and computers could've assisted her in escaping as she'd assisted us months ago.

"Where would she go? She hates to be alone!" Holden pointed out worriedly.

"Precisely. It's why I need your help. If she's tiring herself out, she could end up right back in that hospital bed. I'm not to call the police until 48 hours have passed. So I need you to grab a friend and check to see if she's gone home while I drive around town. I already checked there, but maybe I missed her," Mei told him, and he nodded.

"Of course!" Holden looked at me, "Come with me, Mar?"

I glanced over at Kyle apologetically, but he waved me off, "Go, go! I'll wrap this up so we can all help."

And so, off we went. Holden and I made for the nearest cab driver as Mei rushed off with Sonia across town.

•

The front door creaked eerily as we opened it.

"'Lia? Are you in here?" Holden called out, but silence was his only response.

We rushed up the stairs as fast as we could given his injury, holding our breath before we pushed through Cornelia's rhinestone studded bedroom door.

We were greeted by the sound of the wind flowing in through her open window.

I frowned, "She's not home."

Holden's face fell, and he deflated, sweeping his eyes across the room several times as if we'd somehow missed her. He went deeper in, peeling back her bed sheets as I tried to call her.

"I'm pretty sure she isn't hiding under the covers, Holden," I said gently, and he shook his head.

"Nope, but there's gotta be some explanation for her disappearance. Maybe there's clues around here somewhere. Like in a diary."

I nodded, "Okay yeah, that makes a lot more sense. Also, I got sent straight to voicemail."

I shoved my phone in my pocket, helping Holden rifle through drawers to no avail. Even going so far as to look behind mirrors and paintings, we came up short.

"Next step is her closet then, yeah?" Holden suggested, and I nodded, opening the door.

I was shocked to see that it was the size of my bedroom, lined with extravagant shoes and clothing.

"Holy- Do you have a giant closet too?!"

Holden laughed, and he never answered, instead going straight to shuffling things around.

What felt like hours passed as we searched. We became increasingly desperate, and I couldn't help but wonder what it was all for. Weren't we still upset with her for her part in helping someone get killed, even if it wasn't Kyle? She'd taken a bullet for Persephone, but her words to her before could've hit harder. She was spoiled, mean, spiteful, and yet...

I cared about her. We all did. I'd watched her grow up, I'd spent days in her bedroom getting my clothes bedazzled. She was my friend. She hadn't intentionally aided in Vivek's death. Had she?

Where was she?

"This is no use, Mar. We've torn this place apart," Holden said, rousing me out of my thoughts, and I looked up at him steadying against the purple wall with tears in his eyes.

I approached him with a downcast expression, wrapping my arms around him. There were so many times when he'd steadied me through the uncertainties in our world; I wanted to be his rock, too, if only for once.

Holden melted into me. Though tears fell, he was silent. All he did was bury his face into my neck, my hair undoubtedly covering his eyes. His crutches crashed to the ground as he held on, but it was no matter to either of us. I wanted nothing more than for him to be okay. To be happy.

Lightly, I kissed his cheek, elated to feel the curve of a smile form on his lips. I felt like I was holding a ball of glowing sunshine. He pulled back ever so slightly, staring down at me with a warmth in his eyes that made my heart skip a beat. We leaned in, pressing our lips together gently.

But before I could shut my eyes, something sparkled in the corner of it, and I pulled back, still holding Holden steady.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly, and I shook my head.

"Her backpack! She keeps that pink journal in her backpack!" I mentioned, and Holden's eyes widened.

Once steadied on his crutches again, Holden watched me unzip Cornelia's bag and brandish the thick notebook. I flipped through it, rejoicing when I saw the last entry dated just hours before.

"She's been here! She can't be far now!" I beamed, and Holden nodded, gesturing for me to read it aloud.

"Alright," I said, trying to fend off the feeling of being intrusive, "'Dear Diary: This'll be my last entry. I'm leaving Plum Creek. I'm leaving Berry altogether. This country isn't safe.

Cedric Wildman was barely an inch of all the dark threads in power here. Maybe my friends or family will find this. If they do, I want them to get out while they still can. Enroll in exchange programs, pack your bags, but for the lives of you all, please get out.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry for accidentally helping get someone murdered, I'm sorry for being a b*tch. But if the last thing you ever hear from me is a warning, so be it.

There's an underground society running through the country. Functions so dark, so heavily interconnected that we can't even begin to comprehend it. I promise the only reason they imprisoned the criminals here was because it was too sloppy to ignore. I know about things - I've known about things for so long. While everyone was trying to avenge Kyle, I was looking deeper into Wildman's origins. No one is safe from the reach of this awful organization.

By the time this is discovered, I'll likely already be on a jet to Pastry. Yes, the country across the world. The online connections I've made while building my blog helped me escape. I only want to help all of you.

I'm sorry I didn't say I was leaving. I'm sorry I didn't take any of you with me. My knowledge makes my need for escape more urgent. If you mean to stay in Berry, stay ignorant. I'm getting healthcare, there are real people that care about me. Don't worry, I'm not being catfished or kidnapped. I'm safe. Please get safe too.

Maybe some day, if you all ever visit Cremé, Pastry, we can meet again. Because I'm beyond the borders of Berry, I'm outside their jurisdiction, so you can't bring me back. I love you all. Goodbye.'"

Holden's jaw dropped as the notebook fell, my hands going slack. Several minutes of silence passed before I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. Absently, I answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Mar, this is Seph. I heard some commotion in the background of the party, I think Lottie left Holden's phone with Kyle. Are you okay, sweetie?"

My face heated up at the pet name before I responded, "No."

"What's going on?"

I added Sonia and Kyle to the call. Once they all answered, I replied:

"What's going on is Plum Creek is a lot more f*cked up than we thought. Does anyone know where Cedric Wildman's house is?"

The End

...for now.