Hermia

"Sally! Oh my God! " I almost yell as my eyes widened at my best friend who's now locked up in a cell and mortified.

The security reluctantly let me enter in a confined room with just her. It was an outdoor cell with bars on the ceiling and concrete walls surrounding us as the lightings shined unto the dusty concrete bench.

The officer from earlier had even ensured me that she was crazy,  surprising me.

What was more surprising was the whispers around me.

She's just a teen. Why did she murder the poor lad.

She looks scary. She must've been doing this.

The words had run through my mind far too many times but I shook it off. I should be here to trust her. God knows since when she's been here for her clothes were damp and her green eyes dull and puffy.

She's been crying.

Just now as I was coming, I saw it in the TV news that a teenager was reported to have murdered her brother in the cruelest manner ever. But the thing is she loved her brother so much to even think of killing him. I saw no point to it.

All the evidence seemed to point to her but I was hopeful that she had been framed. She's my best friend. I'd never seen her hurt anyone.

I rushed over to hug her. She looked extremely pale,  her wet brunette hair clammy against the sides of her face and she looked frail.

Not a bit like someone who could murder someone.

"Hermia! Please get me out! I swear I didn't kill him!" Tears streamed down her cheeks as she yelled out in a shaky voice.

"Then who did this Sally?  What really happened? " I asked,  hoping to get something out of her.

Her eyes stuttered close but I quickly shook her gently to keep her awake.

Her eyes slowly opened. "I-I met Alex that night we fought and we,  shared a couple of drinks since I was mad at you. " her eyes dropped. "I'm sorry you're just knowing but I just couldn't face you again."

"Because? " I pressed. She didn't reply. "Sally.  You need to tell me everything. Or did you do it? "

"Hermia, I didn't! None of these people believe me! No! I would never do that!" she said in a very rasp voice.

"Then, what happened? "

"He kissed me. Alex, and, I. . . I swear I tried to stop him but I was drunk. So,  I went home. The next day,  Alex started to disturb me with calls.  I told no one and besides I didn't want to face him. " she paused. "Nor you. Because I was ashamed. He was supposed to be with you. "

I rolled my eyes. "Sally. I never liked him and you know it.  So what you shared a kiss while drunk? "

"You don't understand. He's Daniel's friend and I've always told myself I liked only Daniel but he tried to take advantage of me so I wasn't really ready for another  relationship with any guy. Just not Alex. "

I sighed. "Okay, I get that but this, " I raised my brows, pointing at her. "You're being accused of murder and that is driving me nuts. " I reached for her hands and squeezed it.

Her eyes widened and she flinched. "I didn't kill him! It was an accident! Daniel-"

"What? "

"Yes, Hermia, I—You just have to believe me! H-he showed up yesterday and I-I don't know. . .  He got to know about  Alex and was behaving like a maniac. He barged into our house and was, " she swallowed a lump,  " he was threatening me, calling me names. I tried to stop him but he was just crazy! " tears formed in her eyes.

"And Joseph?"

"Joseph— his shift was over so he came home and met him just about to strangle me to death. They had a fight and I was confused what to do. I just, I picked a knife. God knows what happened next, all I saw was Joseph in a pool of blood. He was dead! ", the tears freely trailed down her cheeks.

"And before I could do something, Daniel slammed something on my head. I fainted, but the knife was stuck in my hand by the time I woke up. To find myself in an hospital."

"I'm so sorry. " I pulled her into a warm hug. "I wish I was there. "

She was silently sobbing as her head freely fell into my chest.

"But what about your mom?" I asked.

"Mom couldn't bare the shock. I just had to convince her, so she brought my phone and I could call you. She doesn't know anyone who could help and the police are saying I killed my own brother. You know,  Daniel is the rich kid, he's free. There's no evidence he was there that night and the tragedy is that I did kill my brother but it was, self-defense. I was just trying to save him!"

I didn't know when a tear fell from my eyes. I understood how helpless she was.

"I'm so sorry, Sally. " I hugged her frail figure tightly. "You don't deserve this. And I wish I had taught that idiot a lesson sooner. Maybe he wouldn't dare to do what he did. He's a freaking free bird after committing a crime! "

"Please save me. The officer— he said, I'm going to court and they'd gonna hang me to death. I'm scared. I don't want to die. Please help me. "

I closed my eyes. "I will. " I whisper. But honestly I didn't know how. She had hope in me so I had to act fast.

"When are you going to court?" I asked.

She pulled away and her dull, still puffy eyes flickered between mine before she looked heavenwards as if you clearly remember. "I heard two weeks from now. "

"Okay. I promise. " I held her cheeks in my hands. "You're not going to court. I promise. "

She nodded a few times. "Hermia, can you please get me a lawyer? I know, you want to help me but you're just a student. If I could get a lawyer, maybe, I'm not going to die?"

I nod back in agreement and smiled. " I will."

-

I left Sally but I didn't know where to go. Maybe her mom?

I drove as fast as I could to reach her house. School is cancelled for today. I had to save Sally somehow because in a way I was responsible for whatever she's going through right now.

Maybe if I didn't get her mad that  night. She would still be among us. Just not in an enclosed cell.

I pulled up in front of her house, which was now taped all round and marked CRIME SCENE. POLICE INVESTIGATION GOING ON.

I stopped in my tracks and opted to call her instead.

~~~

A! N: Huh, it was hard to write this scene 🙁

Drop a few encouraging words here for Sally.

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