the truth (41)
The moment the memory faded, Michael's vision blurred for a second before he snapped back to reality.
The park, his friends, the warm evening breeze—it was all still there. But something was wrong.
Michael blinked in confusion.
Michael:
"Huh? What happened?"
His eyes darted around, and then he saw her—Lisa.
She stood a few feet away, her body trembling, her eyes wide with unshed tears. Bruises covered her face, her lip was split, and she clutched her arm as though it were broken.
Michael's stomach dropped.
Michael (thinking):
"What the hell? Lisa looks like… she was beaten up? But how—?"
Before he could even process it, Ethan was already marching toward him, his face contorted with anger.
Ethan:
"Michael, why?! Why did you beat up Lisa?!"
Michael's breath hitched. His mind raced.
Michael (thinking):
"What? I beat up Lisa? What the fuck is Ethan talking about?"
His hands were clean—no blood, no bruises. He had no memory of hurting Lisa. And yet, here she was, looking like she had been attacked, and now everyone was staring at him like he was a monster.
Michael clenched his fists, his heart pounding.
Michael:
"Ethan, what are you talking about?! I never laid a hand on Lisa!"
Ethan took another step forward, his eyes burning with fury.
Ethan:
"Then would you mind explaining why she looks like that, huh?!"
He turned to Lisa, gesturing to her beaten form.
Ethan:
"She told me you were the one who did it, Michael. Are you calling her a liar?!"
Michael froze.
Lisa met his gaze.
And she smiled.
Just for a fraction of a second. Just long enough for Michael to see.
Michael (thinking):
"That bitch."
Everything clicked in an instant.
She had planned this. She wanted this. She had orchestrated the entire situation perfectly, ensuring that everyone would turn against him.
And now, Ethan was falling for it.
Michael took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.
Michael:
"Ethan… you know me. You know I wouldn't do something like this. Why are you believing her so easily?"
Ethan:
"What?! Because the evidence is right here, Michael!"
He motioned wildly at Lisa.
Ethan:
"Look at her face! It's obvious she was attacked! And that someone is you!"
Michael felt his fingers dig into his palm, his nails pressing into his skin so hard it hurt.
Michael:
"No, it's not."
Lisa whimpered, playing the role of the victim perfectly.
Lisa:
"Michael… I just don't understand why you would do this…"
Michael (thinking):
"Oh, she's good. She's really fucking good."
His pulse roared in his ears as the others stepped forward, uncertainty clouding their faces.
Emily crossed her arms, biting her lip.
Emily:
"Michael… was it really you?"
Alex and Marie exchanged glances before speaking.
Alex:
"We just want to understand, man. If this was an accident or something, you can tell us."
Marie:
"But if it wasn't…"
Michael's jaw clenched.
Michael:
"No. It wasn't me. Trust me, guys."
The silence stretched between them.
Then Emily sighed.
Emily:
"I don't know, Michael… I mean, Lisa wouldn't just make this up, right?"
Michael's heart twisted.
Alex and Marie looked at each other, then at Ethan, and slowly, they stepped to his side.
Michael's breath caught in his throat.
Michael (thinking):
"No… there's no way. They're actually believing her? Over me? Their childhood friend?"
His voice came out hoarse, almost desperate.
Michael:
"Guys… you're seriously choosing her over me?"
Ethan crossed his arms, his expression set in stone.
Ethan:
"Sorry, Michael. But look at the evidence. Now go apologize to Lisa, and we might forgive you."
Michael stood frozen.
Apologize?
To her?
His chest felt like it was caving in.
Then, he laughed.
A cold, bitter laugh.
Michael:
"Apologize? To that bitch?"
His laughter grew, sharp and mocking.
Michael:
"Never."
He locked eyes with Ethan, then Emily, then Alex, then Marie.
Michael:
"You all can go fuck yourselves."
The words echoed in the silence.
And then Michael turned on his heel and stormed off, pushing past them without a second glance.
Lisa's victorious smirk burned into the back of his mind.
As he walked away, he muttered under his breath.
Michael:
"I will get to the bottom of this."
And this time, he wouldn't make the same mistake.
The memory faded, and Dakota's expression remained unreadable as the group turned to face him.
Lucas:
"Hey, Dakota… was that true? Did Lisa really lie?"
Liam:
"You didn't actually beat her up, did you?"
Dakota's eyes darkened, and his lips curled in disgust.
Dakota:
"Of course not. Why the hell would I do that?"
The bitterness in his voice was unmistakable.
Dakota:
"That bitch lied. That bitch lied."
His voice was firm, unshaken by the past.
Ava:
"But why? Why would she do that?"
Dakota scoffed, shaking his head.
Dakota:
"To turn Ethan and the others against me. To manipulate them. And guess what? It fucking worked."
The group was silent, letting the weight of his words sink in.
Jack:
"Then… what did you do? Did you do something? You had to have done something, right?"
Dakota exhaled sharply, his eyes narrowing.
Dakota:
"Yeah. I did something."
The air grew tense as they waited for him to explain.
Dakota:
"I tried to get to the bottom of this. I wasn't going to let that bitch win so easily."
His voice was steady, but there was a faint edge of something darker beneath it.
Henry:
"And? What happened?"
Dakota's expression hardened.
Dakota:
"Lisa's parents caught me trying."
The group tensed.
Lucas:
"Shit… What did they do?"
Dakota let out a dry chuckle.
Dakota:
"Nothing. They didn't do a damn thing to me. At least not physically.
That caught everyone off guard.
Mia:
"Wait, what? They didn't do anything? Why not?"
Dakota leaned against the wall, his arms crossed.
Dakota:
"That… is what I'm about to show you."
The group exchanged uncertain glances.
Liam:
"So… the next memory?"
Dakota nodded.
Dakota:
"Yeah. In this next memory, you'll see."
The group braced themselves.
Because if there was one thing they had learned about Dakota's past, it was that things were never as simple as they seemed.
And whatever came next…
It wasn't going to be pretty.