Expensive joke

Saturday... Amari's residence..

Hey mom, I called as I approached her in the Living room, noticing she wasn't paying attention I called again, Mom?

what is it, She responded still absorbed in show playing on the TV

I know I'm still grounded, I replied, though I have just 'one' day to go

Get to the point Amari, she impatiently responded

Can I go out to see my friends?, I spat out.

she turned her head to face me

It's a Saturday and we wanted to have a little get together, I explained

She continued to stare at me meaning she's not convinced

I already did all my extra chores and I'll be back before noon or even earlier if you want, I added

Check your time Amari, mom replied gesturing to my phone

12:02pm, I confirmed... okay I'll be back before evening, I corrected

Mom continued to stare at me before breaking into a smile..Fine, she replied but only because you've been good this week, and I need you here by 4:00 pm remember your Dad's getting back today

Yes ma'am, I replied ecstatically, running up the stairs towards my room to grab a jacket

How're you getting there?, mum yelled

I'll take care of it, I replied while dialling Sebastian who was already on his way to pick me.

Sebastian's residence...

Welcome, Sebastian gestured as we walked into the living room meeting Piper and Liana

Hey guys, I greeted

Hey, Piper responded. Noticing my black on black outfit, she added, cool jacket.

Thanks, I replied,.. turning to face Liana who was obviously avoiding my gaze.. courtesy of friday's events.. Hey Lia, I personalized my greeting

Hi, she managed to mumble.

Heads up Sebastian said, throwing a soda which I caught quickly

So, he continued, sitting, You said Kai's dad called back?

yeah, but first, are we the only ones home? I confirmed

Yeah, Dad hangs out with friends on Saturdays and mom took my little brother for football practice so it's just us, He replied.

Okay, I continued a little dramatically, a warning, what I'm about to say may suprise you so much you could choke on your own spit so I suggest you don't ingest anything for now

Piper immediately put down her drink

So get this, I began excitedly,...Kai did not kill Adrien, I emphasized

everyone went silent for a while

Amari,..Liana sighed, if you're trying to crack an expensive joke to create some sort of suspense,.. this is the point where you stop and tell us what really happened

didn't know I seem that unserious...

I'm being serious Liana, I insisted.. aren't you guys gonna say anything, I said facing Sebastian and Piper

Amari, Piper began slowly, that night at the party, you said Kai killed him and now you're saying he didn't?

No..no, we all listened to that recording, Kai told me he already finished what he started so we all assumed he did kill him, I corrected.

So Kai's dad told you that his son's innocent and after all we witnessed that night, you decided to believe him? Sebastian said

Of course I didn't believe him, I replied, not until he gave the phone to Kai

You guys talked?, Piper asked suprised

Yeah, I replied, I'll try to recall our conversation

.. Flashback, the night before....

Sorry what? I replied confused

I know it's hard to believe, Mr Anaki replied, maybe it's better you hear it from Kai

Kai? I spoke up seconds after

Amari, he replied, good to hear from you

You..too, I stammered, I'm glad you're awake, what happened?, your dad just told me something unbelievable

I know right, he replied casually... it's true though, his tone changed

I'm gonna need an explanation to believe that Kai, I said firmly

Of course, he deadpanned,.. but first of all, I must say, I knew I could trust you with this.

If that's your attempt at saying 'Thank you', then you're gonna have to try again, I replied

a slight chuckle was heard,...Sure... Amari, I didn't kill Adrien, his tone changed again, I was on the road that day on my way to Boulevard, with mixed feelings, my dad sent me a message that night, he said he hadn't seen me in a while though we live in the same house and he knew I was up to something, you see ever since Keanu's passing and my mom getting hospitalized, my dad and I stopped getting along, we started having arguments, we both changed drastically,... anyway he sent me this message saying he hated our current relationship and he knew whatever I was up to was only fueled by anger, he said that when I'm in a situation where I would have to choose between acting based on my anger and letting it go, he hoped I would make the right choice...I can't say when I last heard my Dad talk like that, he even looked forward to seeing me when he gets back. I began to rethink my plans, then I got another message from an unknown number, "I know what you're up to and I'd like to do you a favor of handling it, you won't even need to show up, but in return I'll also require a favor from you".

I became troubled, wondering who sent the message, I texted back "who the f*** are you?"

I didn't get a reply, Kai continued, so I decided on getting to Boulevard but this time, to save Adrien.. sounds wrong, I know

Wait, so what you're trying to say is, whoever sent you the message killed Adrien just to get a favor from you? I questioned.

Yeah, he replied

Then why did you own up to killing him, I asked

after finding him in his state, he continued, I became genuinely terrified, whoever did it handled it like I would've, while thinking of my next line of action, I saw you walking about, I knew you were looking for me so I decided to open up and also take credit for his death.

and why would you do that? I asked further.

I don't know, he replied, my ego wouldn't let me walk away, also I wanted to seem like every thing was under control, I wouldn't want you to freak out about the sound of another killer

and this is the same person that tried to kill you? I asked

I believe it is, he replied

I don't get it, I persisted, I read you that night, I could tell you were telling the truth while you talked with me.

Yes I was, he replied, I admit, I'm guilty of the first five cases but not the last, the thing is, when a single lie is mixed in with a lot of truth, it could be hard to tell, even for you

I remained silent, pondering over his words

If you still doubt me, think about this too, he continued, what is the one thing you found similar in every victim?

My eyes went wide in realization,..the 'V', I replied

Vengeance, he added, my motive and symbol, did you at any moment notice a V written in red ink on his arm?

I'll admit I didn't, I replied convinced. Your dad said your attempt to run away has something to do with this person, how exactly?

After I got home in the morning, I received another text from that same number, "I told you not to show up, now they'll think it was you, you've just ruined things"... meaning this person saw us talk at the party, I knew then and there that I wasn't safe, deciding to let you know, I wrote out your number hoping to call you after absconding, unfortunately that didn't go so well.

How did you get my number...you know what, it doesn't even matter right now, I wavered, moving on to the present situation, now you need proof of this person's crime and I'm guessing you don't want to take the blame for Adrien's death anymore

No I don't, he replied, I'd handle it if I could but now that I'm awake, I have the police to deal with

Fine So tell me, who tried to kill you?

That's the problem, he replied, I don't remember

Great! this just keeps getting better and better.