Chapter 132 – The End of Her Rope – Holly Hayfield

Candace looked like she had completely lost it. She desperately wanted me to believe that the Killing Cat was a member of Naomi's gang and she wasn't being cordial about it. One hand was painfully clenched on my shoulder, and the other was shoving her smartphone in my face as if I couldn't see it.

She mentioned the name 'Sylvia', did she mean Sylvie? She couldn't possibly think that Silver was the Killing Cat, right? Then again, Candace probably didn't know Silver that well. All she knew was that Leigha went after Silver and somehow ended up dead. Perhaps it was a natural conclusion to come to.

"Silver isn't the Killing Cat. She isn't anything like that." I said in Silver's defense.

"How well do you know her? Can you really say what she’s like outside of school?"

"I've tutored her and talked to her outside of school. I know her well enough to know that she doesn't like violence."

"Likely story..."

"Remember that time Ms. Sampson intervened between Black Brittney and Naomi's group? It was after that first brawl during spirit week. Did you notice that Silver wasn't in the room that day? It's because she avoided the brawl altogether in the first place."

"That just makes her more suspicious... Funny that she wasn’t there on the same day that Erica came forward with information about the Killing Cat. Almost as if it were planned..."

"Now you're being unreasonable. I talked to Erica about that and she says it took a lot of courage to come forward with that information."

"I'm being unreasonable...?" She asked angrily, "Leigha is dead because of her! Even if she isn't the Killing Cat, she's obviously working with someone who is!"

"Why would you say that?"

"Because Leigha's dead, yet Silver got off unharmed! How do you explain that?"

"Obviously the Killing Cat wasn't killing people indiscriminately."

"Then why is Leigha dead!" Candace screamed. "If she doesn't kill without reason..."

"It's possible that she protected Silver from Leigha."

"What?"

"How much do you know about the legend of the Killing Cat?"

"Virtually nothing, otherwise I wouldn't be talking to you, now would I?"

"The Killing Cat is an entity of vengeance." I explained, removing Candace's hand from my shoulder, "Leigha must've been seen by the Killing Cat when she attacked Silver."

"And the Killing Cat just happened to be lurking around... Like I said, likely story! If that's true then why didn't Silver contact the police! Why didn't she save Leigha! They have to be conspiring together..."

Candace bit her nails and muttered to herself in deep thought. She was looking into the distance, giving me only cursory glances between ramblings. I wanted to console her somehow but I couldn't. This was a person at the end of her rope. Her current behavior could only be described as deeply troubled.

She soon turned back to me and narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously.

"You seem awfully protective of Silver, why is that?"

"Because I know her well enough to tell you that she isn't like you imagine. I've met her family as well."

"Where were you the night that all this happened?"

"I was working a babysitting job that night."

"Where was Valentina?"

"I’m pretty sure she was busy working at her brother's shop. What are you getting at?"

"Oh...? And I only have your word for that?" She asked. "Now that I think about it, not a lot of people could take Leigha in a one-on-one fight. Valentina, however..."

"Candace..." I said, trying to keep from losing my patience. "You're going through a difficult stage in life with Leigha passing away and I sympathize with that. But don't stand here and call Valentina-..."

"A murderer...?" She asked. "Because that's what I think she is... She never liked me or Leigha and she-..."

"You think she'd kill someone over something petty like that?" I asked in disgust. "You're making heavy accusations too lightly."

"And you're casually dismissing everything I say!"

"You're accusing one of my best friends of killing someone just because she doesn’t like you! Of course I'm going to dismiss that!"

"You haven't explained why she isn't the Killing Cat! You're just defending your friend no matter what! It's a possibility!"

"Goodbye, Candace." I said in irritation.

I turned to walk away but Candace took me by the arm. This time her full strength was in her grip and she wasn't going to let me go. Fortunately Erica was arriving on the scene with Val behind her. Apparently she left to go get her. Candace noticed them arriving and pulled me behind her.

"Let her go!" Val demanded.

"Not until the two of you answer some of my questions!" Candace said. "If either of you had anything to do with Leigha's murder..."

"What the hell are you on about?" Val said. "Leave Holly alone or I swear..."

"That I'll be your next victim…?" Candace asked. "Where were you on the night that Leigha died?"

"I was busy that night! It’s none of your business!" Valentina shouted.

"Are you really going to start a fight at a funeral?" Erica asked. "Show some respect to the memory of your friend!"

Candace flinched back like she had been slapped across the face. She was stunned momentarily and I could feel her grip begin to loosen up. Then she tightened it again and doubled-down as she shifted her glare between Erica and Val.

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"Why are you here anyways, Val?" Candace asked. "I can forgive Erica’s presence, but you... You weren't even friends with Leigha. Do you really need to win popularity points outside of school too? Even at a place like this...?"

"If you had arrived on time then you would've heard my speech about caring for one another."

Candace let out a sarcastic, but pained laugh.

"Caring for...? Since when do you give a shit about anyone but yourself? Holly might've worked her magic on you but don't pretend that you're any better than me, or anyone else for that matter!"

“Shut up!” Val shouted.

“I’m serious!” Candace said. “I’ve known you since before Holly came to our school and you’ve always been full of shit! You’re only playing the role of ‘good girl’ because she’s around.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Erica said. “Val has changed for the better!”

“And you!” Candace said, pointing at Erica. “Why did you have to go and get her? I haven’t hurt Holly at all and I was planning to let her go!”

“Then let me go!” I said. “This doesn’t have to get physical!”

“Not until you finish answering my questions!”

I tried to pull away from her and she heavily resisted against my pull. Her overuse of force caused me to be thrown to the ground in front of her. That’s when Val decided it was time to go on the offensive. The two of them locked arms and tried to wrestle the other away from me. Meanwhile, Erica ran over to help me up.

Val and Candace were fighting to toss the other to the ground. Candace was fighting because she didn’t want to see me leave. Valentina wasn’t going to let Candace do whatever she wanted without consequence. The two of them spun around in an intense deadlock. Erica and I had to back away just so we weren’t run over.

The deadlock ended when Valentina broke Candace’s grasp and pushed Candace away with all her might. By some misfortune, Candace’s back was to the steep edge of the riverbank. She went careening over the side, hitting her head on the hard ground as she fell backwards. She rolled downhill until she splashed into the water below.

“What did you do?” Erica asked in horror. “We have to help her!”

Valentina didn’t look the least bit repentant about the accident.

“Leave her,” Val said coldly, “She brought this on herself.”

As Val was talking I was already taking off my shoes. I jumped onto the edge of the riverbank and slid downhill on my bare feet.

“Holly!” Erica shouted after me.

I dove into the water after Candace. The water wasn’t deep, but it was just deep enough that she was being carried away by the current instead of stopping. I had to swim against the rush of the freezing cold water just to catch up to her. She was knocked out, but she wasn’t bleeding anywhere that I could see.

I grabbed hold of her and tried swimming to the nearest piece of land. This went a lot smoother in my imagination. It turned out that swimming while trying to carry Candace over was harder than I anticipated. In her current state she was unable to help and essentially just dead weight.

Luckily my friends weren’t passive as I was doing this. Both Erica and Val ran into the shallow part of the water to help me. Val, having changed her mind after seeing me go after Candace, was more proactive than Erica. She went waist deep so that she could reach me as I approached with Candace in tow.

“Grab my hand!” Val said. “I’ll pull you in, just come a bit further!”

I managed to reach her and Val pulled both Candace and I to safety. Erica helped me to my feet while Val took care of Candace. She picked Candace up and carried her uphill on her back. We all collapsed on the grass once we made it back to the path beside the riverbank.

“She’s still breathing.” I said.

“Her nose is bleeding! That can’t be a good sign.” Erica said.

“Erica, can you go tell the adults that someone needs help? She’ll need a ride to the hospital. Val and I will bring her to the church.”

“Okay! I’ll be right back!” Erica said.

Val hoisted one of Candace's arms over her shoulders, and I took the other. Together, we managed to lift her off the ground. Her feet were dragging a little since she was taller than me. Val was doing most of the heavy lifting, considering.

"What made you decide to go in after her?" Val asked as we began walking, "That was dangerous."

"I had to." I said, straining to speak while supporting Candace's weight. "Candace dying from that would've made you a murderer. I don't want that to happen."

Val and I exchanged a sincere look before continuing on towards the church. It wasn't long before Erica arrived with a few other people. My mother was amongst them and was the first to reach us. She ran over to wrap her jacket around me. Mine was still inside the church building.

"What happened here?" The church pastor asked when he arrived. "Why is this young woman unconscious? Why are you all wet?"

"She..." Erica began.

"I..." Val started to say over her.

"She threw herself into the river once the funeral was over." I said. "She was Leigha's significant other and she's been having a hard time coping with Leigha's passing."

Erica and Val both sent me surprised looks.

"You mean, this was an attempt at self-harm... possibly suicide?" He asked. “Wait, she’s the same young lady that came in late, correct?”

"Yes." I said. "Erica and I spotted her at the edge of the riverbank as we were walking outside. We tried to stop, her but she wouldn't listen to us and jumped in anyways. Erica went back to get Valentina and together we managed to pull her to safety."

The pastor looked between Erica and Val and they simply nodded in agreement with my fabricated story.

“I see… Well, that was very brave of the three of you. We’ll take over from here and get this girl the help she requires.”

I pointed to my mom.

“Actually, my mom here should be able to drop her off at the hospital.” I said. “I’ve got the contact information for Candace’s guardians. It’s best that we take her.”

The pastor gave my mother a curious look.

“I can drop her off. We wouldn’t be going out of our way.” My mom said. “We’re heading home in that direction anyways.”

“At least let me help you get her to your vehicle.” The pastor said.

I let him take my place and he helped Valentina support Candace’s weight.

As I requested, it was my mother that dropped Candace off at the nearest hospital. During the drive Candace faded in and out of unconsciousness, speaking random gibberish. By the end of the car ride she was at least lucid enough to walk with some external help. She had no clue what was going on or where she was.

The doctor that saw us said that she had a mild concussion. She'd be fine with some rest, but would it take time for her mind to clear up. I told the doctor the same story I told to the pastor, and Val eyed me suspiciously. She probably didn’t like the fact that I was covering for her like this, but the alternative was worse.

Val decided to stay over at my place that night since she didn’t have work. It took some time, but I could see Val was finally beginning to decompress after such a stressful day. She was quiet during dinner and didn’t talk much all night. Once we were in bed together and about to go to sleep, she finally decided to speak up.

“Why’d you lie to cover for me like that?” She asked. “You could have told them the truth. I’m guilty.”

I knew this question was coming based on how Val was acting. She seemed really uncomfortable with the idea of me lying to protect her.

I turned in bed so that I could face her.

“I’d rather be a liar than see you arrested for trying to protect me.” I said. “Candace may not have been suicidal, but she definitely wasn’t acting rationally. What happened to her was an accident. I just hope she realizes that when she returns to normal.”

“You shouldn’t have to cover for me.” She said.

“And you shouldn’t have to protect me, in a perfect world.” I said. “We don’t live in a perfect world. We have to look out for each other.”

“Look out for each other…? Heh… I’m reminded of the speech I gave during the funeral. Even after all that I still got caught up in senseless violence with Candace. Maybe she was right about me…? Maybe I really haven’t changed…”

Val looked away from me, perhaps in shame. I took hold of one of her hands and she turned back to face me. It was dark in my bedroom with the lights out, but I could still make out the heartfelt look in her eyes.

“Don’t blame yourself for this.” I said. “You’ve come so far and did so much. Don’t let a single incident like this set you back after all that hard work. Today’s conflict was an anomaly. These unfortunate things happen as a matter of life. Don’t beat yourself up.”

“Something just snapped in me when I saw her throw you to the ground.”

“I don’t think she meant to do that to begin with. I think she just responded to my pulling away with too much force.”

“Then I was the one who escalated things unnecessarily?”

“No, I think that was still Candace.” I said. “The moment she grabbed me the second time I knew she wasn’t going to let me go without a struggle. Despite everything that happened I’m still grateful that Erica went to go get you. Thank you for coming so quickly.”

Val sighed in relief.

“I’ll sleep easier knowing that all that wasn’t for nothing.” She said.

I turned back around and Val put one arm around me. I chuckled in response.

“Normally I’m on the other side of this type of cuddling.” I said. “Normally I’m the one holding Lilith or Alyssa.”

“Then this should be a nice change.” Val said. “Maybe tomorrow we can meet up with them and talk about how their day went? I know they went to visit a place where a woman was last seen.”

“We can. First, I’d like to check up on Candace in the hospital.”

“I’ll meet up with you after that.” Val said. “I think it’s best if I keep my distance from Candace for now.”

“That’s understandable.” I said. “I just hope she isn’t left with any permanent damage from this.”