Chapter 62- Taunting Meetings

[] T H I R D • P E R S O N []

Jerry and Cassandra were nervous. They sat behind a thick clear plastic wall, a small hole in the middle allowing voices to flow through to the other side. They were escorted here nearly 10 minutes ago, and had been waiting since.

They couldn't get a hold of their daughter up until they were about to leave the house. Even then, they had only gotten a text from her, saying that she'll meet them here. Once they got here, they tried reaching out to her, but she didn't respond to any calls or messages. Reluctantly, they headed inside the jail to meet their son without her.

They were now holding hands as they waited for Levi to walk into the other side of the room.

Another 5 minutes went by.

Finally, the sound of a latch opening was heard on the other side of the room. They looked up, only to see a large door opening from where they assumed Levi was supposed to enter.

They held their breaths, and clasped each other's hands a little tighter.

At first, an officer stepped through. When he was fully in the room, another officer came through, this time, with Levi behind him. Another officer was behind them, pushing Levi into the room. Jerry and Cassandra stood as Levi came into the room. Unable to help it, both parents felt their eyes well up with tears. Jerry blinked them away rapidly, while Cassandra let a few fall.

Levi was once a buff boy. Having played sports all his life, he built his body up. He was proud of it too. However, now where stacks of muscle once were, there was a small layer of skin. He wouldn't be showing bones yet, but his parents guessed he was close. He looked malnourished and unkept. A small bruise sported under his cheek, and when their eyes met, Levi's parents saw a heartbreaking sadness.

The police officer behind Levi pushed him onto the chair across from Jerry and Cassandra, the plastic wall still separating them.

Unsurprisingly, he smiled a little at them both. He didn't cry, and that only showed his strength.

"Mom? Dad?" He croaked out.

Cassandra and Jerry finally contained their emotions and nodded strongly at him. Levi let out a strangled breath.

"How are you?" he asked softly.

Jerry and Cassandra shared a look.

"We're fine," Jerry said with a nod.

There was silence for the next little while as they each thought of what to say to each other. In this time, Levi gave his parents a once over. They looked as if they aged graciously over the four years. His dad had started having specks of gray in his hair, and he remembered how he always said he'd color it whenever he started getting aging hair. He wondered why he didn't do it then. Levi then saw his mom. His perfect mom, who always did what was best for the family. He had always been a momma's boy, and he wasn't ashamed of it. If it was always Amelia and their dad, then his mom and him were always backing each other up.

Except for that night.

That night, nobody was on Levi's side. Not even Levi himself.

Jerry broke the silence this time.

"You had called for Amelia a month ago. She couldn't come then, but why did you want to see her in the first place?" Jerry asked.

Levi hesitated as he looked his father in the eye. He didn't want to tell him the truth, but he didn't want to lie either.

"I just... I needed to see her," Levi mumbled.

Suddenly, Jerry smashed his fist against the counter in front of him. Levi and Cassandra looked to him in surprise.

"You don't get to do that Levi. You can't just call all of a sudden and say you need to see Amelia!" Jerry said, raising his voice by the end.

Levi looked down at his lap in shame.

"I know. I just... I thought four years would be enough," he whispered.

Jerry slumped against his seat.

"Why do you not look as if you wanted this Levi? Why do you look as if the past four years were hell only for you?" Jerry breathed out as he watched his son.

He couldn't help but let a few tears escape now. Levi continued staring at his lap, his own eyes welling with tears. Levi finally looked up, mustering enough courage to say what he wanted to.

"I never wanted to do that dad. I would never. But somehow, I did. And I can't reverse it, but I can pay for it. And I have been. I've been paying for it for the past four years-" Levi broke off with a sob.

His parents watched him quietly.

"But when will it be over? When will I stop being punished for this?" He whispered, lowering his head again.

Jerry was unsure of how to go about this. He was torn between scolding his son or trying to get more information out of him. This had been the most Levi was willing to talk since the incident. They had tried endlessly back then, but he never spoke.

"You assaulted her, Levi. And then suffocated her to death," Jerry blatantly said. "Why did you do it?"

Jerry and Cassandra waited for his response eagerly. Levi looked up at both of them, his eyes unguarded.

"My answer is the same as it was four years ago, dad. I don't know."

Everyone was silent. Jerry and Cassandra watched him for any sign that he could be lying. But it wasn't like Levi to do that. Levi didn't lie.

Levi finally broke the silence as he looked between Jerry and Cassandra. He sat up straight, wiping his tears.

"Where's Amelia?" he quietly asked.

A part of him was worried that she didn't want to see him even after all this time. Another part was terrified of something else entirely. Jerry and Cassandra shared a worried look.

"She said she'll meet us here," Cassandra said.

She then looked over to Jerry worriedly.

"But it's been quite some time, Jerry. She left a long time ago."

Jerry nodded, an odd fear settling into his stomach. It worsened when Levi spoke out.

"Where's my baby sister?" Levi asked worriedly. "I need to see her. Why isn't she with you?"

Jerry and Cassandra watched Levi in utter confusion.

"I knew it. I knew it. When he came last week to visit me, I should've just known," he continued ranting.

"What are you talking about? Known what Levi?" Jerry asked, coming to a stand.

Levi turned to him, his eyes filled with so much fear that Jerry felt his fear worsen tenfold.

"She isn't supposed to find out this way. Don't let her find out."

* * *

Leo didn't know what to do with his life anymore. So he wasted it away by playing on his guitar meaninglessly, for hours on end. He woke up nearly three hours ago, and since then, he's been sitting on his bed with his guitar on his lap as he aimlessly strummed it. Time to time, he'd imagine his Moonie beside him, as she laid there listening to him. Or he'd see her past his doorway and into the kitchen, as she made something for him to eat. He imagined her lying between him and the guitar, her head on his chest, her hair sprawled out all over him. She'd laugh every time he moved, and he'd just watch her more than the guitar he was supposed to be playing. He imagined stealing a kiss every now and then-

The sound of a ringtone cut through Leo's thoughts. Leo blinked away his tears and slowly put his guitar down. He reached over for his phone on his nightside table and brought it to his ear, not bothering to check who called.

"What?" Leo mumbled out.

To his surprise, he heard frantic breathing on the other end. He pulled back the phone slightly to see Jamal's name flash on the screen. He then mumbled something that Leo couldn't catch.

"Slow down Jamal."

"Leo, man I know you're not at your best right now, but I need you here right now. Andre- he- he-" Jamal stopped talking then, his breathing erratic.

"Jamal? What happened?" Leo asked getting out of bed quickly.

"Leo, Andre got his hands on some shit and I just- I don't know what to fucking do! He looks like he isn't even breathing-"

He cut himself off then, a sob lodging itself into his throat. Leo was already put of his apartment by the time he said the next words.

"Get over here... we need you."

"I'm on my way Jamal, just hold on. Please, just hold on."

* * *

Jamal paced back and forth in his room, occasionally looking over to his friend. As he waited, Jamal had pulled the needle out of Andre's arm and hurled it in the trashcan. He watched as Andre slipped into another world, not recognizing Jamal for who he was. He'd never seen Andre get so high, and the problem was, Andre had never been one for drugs. Sure he partied and drank, but he never touched so much as weed, and whatever he was on now, definitely did not look like the aftereffects of marijuana.

So what had he been taking that he couldn't seem to say no to? When did this start?

And why had no one noticed?

Jamal bit his nails in anticipation. He watched the door, then turned to look at Andre. He kept doing this in hopes of killing time, but it only made him more anxious. After an agonizing 15 minutes of waiting, there was a knock on the door. Jamal ran for the door and whipped it open, allowing Leo in.

Leo rushed in, his eyes frantic as they landed on Andre. He was as high as a kite, that much was sure. But what it was, neither of them knew. He wondered if Andre even knew.

"What the hell is going on Jamal?" Leo asked, after taking a good look at Andre.

Jamal looked defeated as he sat at his desk, his shoulders slumped. He had witnessed two of his best friends at the brink of death in the last week. He wasn't made for this.

"I thought he died when I called you Leo. His breathing slowed down and he wasn't responding to anything I was saying. And then all of a sudden, he started laughing. I didn't know what to do man. Calling 911 should've been the first thing but I just got so scared man. If this is something bad then it could ruin his entire life if cops are involved."

Leo let out a deep breath and slumped on the bed, opposite to where Andre was sitting. Both Leo and Jamal could only stare at Andre as he did something with his hands.

"Leo, this might be a long shot, but I think... I think Andre was supplied by Jackson's guy."

Leo stopped breathing. He turned to Jamal, his eyes blazing.

"What?" He croaked out.

Jamal nodded with a sigh.

"We know he's missing Leo. He's been missing ever since he beat you that night. What I found out today was that Jackson is some drug lord. I met Joe today and some friends of his got hooked onto Jackson's stuff. It wouldn't be hard for him to get Andre since Andre's always out partying. It could've happened any time."

Leo stiffened considerably.

"Fucking hell Jamal, if that's the case then-"

Jamal nodded.

"I know. We have to go get her Leo. I think she's in trouble."

Leo let out a growl. In the blink of an eye, he had rushed up to Andre and grabbed him by the collar.

"Wake up Andre. Tell me you didn't know. Fucking tell me!" Leo yelled, shaking his best friend vigorously.

Andre's eyes stayed wide open, his breathing even. To Leo's annoyance, Andre started laughing uncontrollably as Leo shook him harder.

Jamal finally snapped out of the trance he was in and rushed over to Leo and Andre. He tried to pull Leo off of Andre with great force, and cursed the guy for having so much strength. Even for being a basketball player, it seemed like he was no match for Leo. At last, with great effort, he finally got Leo to let go of Andre.

"We have to go Leo. We have to get to Amelia."

And like always, saying Amelia's name got Leo's undivided attention.

He nodded at Jamal, and with one last glare in Andre's direction, he headed for the door. Jamal looked between the door and Andre. At last, he decided to haul Andre's ass with them, no matter what the cost.