The Tyrant's Trophy

Abijah

The deafening silence was our conversation as we walked to the cafeteria. That was fine with me. So much has been on my mind as of late - to the point where I woke up with a splitting headache and a heaviness weighing in my chest.

Still, my mind refuses to be still. The thoughts go in a circle; to Phil, Maybell, Chad’s love for Maybell, my sister, the deceased children, Adam’s mother, and the fight with Basil.

The more I think about each story and how their strands intersect and loop over the others, leading me down deeper holes of secrets. Secrets, I may never be able to talk about in the light, lest the world be turned upside down. That feeling of disgust returns.

I know too much.

Every knowledge I acquire now feels like a heavy burden. As if bricks are continuing to be loaded upon my back, dragging me low to the ground. Yet, there’s no choice but to trudge on and bare the load that comes with my job. There’s too much at stake to drop everything but perhaps when this is over, I will come clean of all these secrets.

The last thought brings some comfort. If I can hold onto that hope then I can keep going.

Disregarding the stress, I walked ahead of Chad as we entered the cafeteria. Quinn was there, ordering herself a coffee from Starbucks. It didn’t take a genius to deduce something unpleasant happened with the siblings. Quinn’s usual banter with her brother was absent as she approached us. There was a slight twitch in her fingers as we approached her.

She didn’t smile but she nodded in acknowledgment towards me. “Settled in yet?” She inquired.

I nodded. “Yes, thank you again, Quinn. I do appreciate you letting me stay here.”

We walked over to an empty table while Chad fetched the food. “Don’t mention it. We’re on the same team - we need to stick together.” Rubbing her temples, she groaned. “Every day feels so tedious now. I can’t wait for this mess to end.”

“I know what you mean.” I sympathized, patting her arm. “Who would have thought a domestic abuse case would uncover such darker evils? I can’t even imagine how Maybell feels at this point. I don’t even want to imagine the pain she must feel knowing what became of her daughter.”

Quinn’s eyes slid to the side, narrowing. It was an odd reaction; one that made my stomach churn uneasily. It took a few seconds until she could stare back in my direction, replying, “I find myself frightened of that…when she finds out.”

“When?” When she finds out? “Hold on,” I gaped, “She doesn’t know?”

“My brother thought it best to keep her in the dark.” Quinn glared over me, towards her brother who stood in line for the meals. “It’s the best option according to him.”

“That’s her child.” Anger pooled in my belly, knowing that more secrets were being kept. More things I would have to hold inside. More pretense. When does it end? “She needs to know the truth.”

Before Quinn could respond, Chad disagreed on her behalf. “She’s already going through enough. She doesn’t need any more on her plate.”

“Really?” I glared. “Is that your reason speaking or your ‘love’?” I spat out the last part. “Yeah, that makes a great relationship: based on lies.”

“Says the woman going to separation. I find it funny how you constantly look down on me, Iogair, considering your whole life revolves around digging up dirt. How much truth do you share?”

“I seek to expose the lies -” He cut me off.

“Yeah right. How did we end up in this mess, to begin with? You blackmailed Adam. You dug up his past and meticulously pieced his history together as leverage to get what you want. How did you prevent Maybell from returning to Phil? I bet you used some sort of blackmail on her too. Let’s talk about your fiancee. Digging up your sister’s dirt must have helped him fall for you in more ways than one, did it not?” He got in my face. “So who’s really the one who creates relationships based on lies?”

There were no words I could come up with.

In fact, words were completely useless.

Any amount of restraint I had vanished and the next thing I know, I headbutted the dolt, causing him to jerk back. I wasn’t done. Oh no, this was far from over. With one aim, I kicked the piece of crap between his legs, hard.

I wanted to get another kick in - to his face this time - however, Quinn stopped me. “This isn’t the place.” She reminded, apologizing to everyone in the cafeteria. “I know my brother’s foolish but chewing each other out isn’t going to help Maybell or us. Please, be calm Abijah.”

“Stay calm?!” I squawked angrily. Quinn nodded, tiredly, silently begging me to be civilized. The sadness in her eyes, as well as the bags, reminded me that I wasn’t the only one tired of this. Being the doctor investigating Maybell’s case meant Quinn knew too much too. “Fine.”

“Foolish?” Chad coughed out, recovering from my kick. “What do you know, Quinn?” Stormy eyes bore into piebald blue. Standing up, he sneered, “You don’t know what it’s like: never did. All my life, I’ve been told what I should do by our grandfather, my sergeant, and Adam. I threw myself under them and look where it led me, Quinn. I’ve seen things your nightmares are incapable of conjuring. So I’m sorry I can’t help but want to protect the ONE person that brings light into my life. Sorry I couldn’t go off and make the life I wanted, sister.” He spat out the last bit.

The urge to kick the man came back in full force but an alarm went off, cutting this argument short. Eyes widening, Quinn yelled, “That’s the alarm for the psyche ward!”

We didn’t have to be told to follow. We ran after her.

Quinn informed the front desk clerks to put the clinic in lockdown before we reached the elevators. I asked what the alarm was for, to which Quinn informed me, “The alarm is specifically for any patient trying to escape the psychiatric ward.”

Catching onto what she was saying, it felt as if the darn elevator seemed to take forever but eventually we got to the top floor. We can’t lose our biggest lead in the case!

Sprinting to the room that kept the man, there was a sickening crunch and a scream that could pierce the heavens. I had never heard any man scream the way he did. It was one of pure terror - the kind that strikes fear in the heart. We slowed down, unnerved.

Opening the door, we halted, watching the scene before us. Maybell had him on the ground, holding his head up by his hair, exposing his neck. His arm was bent in the most unnatural way, signaling she had broken it.

Seeing us, Maybell growled like an animal. Her eyes were crazed and glossy. She tightened her hold on the man, sensing we were going to take him from her.

“Maybell, it’s me.” I tried reasoning, inching forward a bit. “Abijah, remember?”

“Abijah…” The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Her pupils were slits and her hair raised by itself, the ends curling threateningly.

In a flash, she charged me, yanking me by my throat. “You! You’re just like him! Manipulating me! Blackmailing me! What did I ever do to you - any of you! You conniving little -” I clawed at her gown, begging to be released but her grip tightened.

Not wanting to die, I shoved a finger in her eye. Screeching in pain, she backed off me, releasing me to nurse her eye. With the moment of distraction, Quinn rushed forward with a sedative and injected Maybell with it. Maybell shoved her away, ready to attack again, but Chad came forward and hugged her. She struggled against him but the sedative ran its course faster than I expected. Chad lifted her up bridal style when she became lethargic; her hair falling flat and her eyes drooping.

Seeing the man, who remained on the floor, Maybell weakly attempted to get at him. Chad, however, brought her head to his chest, whispering soothing words in her ears. He rocked her with a painfully enduring look. One might say it was sweet but that’s a lie.

There was nothing sweet about this scene whatsoever.

This…all of this is madness.