They all had similar stitches and their stories had lined up perfectly with what she had admitted. She’d knocked them out, ate, sealed up her evidence, then threw them out. It was later discovered that she had stolen the sedative from the local pharmacy, disguising herself as an employee and hiding the drug. She was insane, but I still felt like she deserved a lesser punishment. Maybe I would’ve felt differently if I had been one of her victims.
Over time, I had stopped caring; apathetic to everything and everyone and every emotion. I had been too traumatized to feel anymore; it made me wonder how Amy had dealt with everything. She didn’t speak to me or anybody after the day her sister was sentenced to death row. She had become a husk of a person and I didn’t know how to make her feel better— or if it was even possible.
Chapter 52:\ ‘Dooley’ Noted
Dr. Dooley
My serum: there was a solution to my problem because where there’s a will, there is a way. The serum that a kid had taken from me years ago, utterly shattering all my hopes and dreams of getting a noble prize. It was the only solution to the odd paranormal video that kept surfacing on my news feed, my daughter a star player in it.
Violet. She was the only solution to my problem. She had obviously lied to me when I’d asked if she’d felt different after ingesting it— I wondered if any of my more recent subjects had lied as well. I couldn't recreate my serum because I had destroyed the notes as soon as my product was finalized. I had written a paper and it showed a majority of the steps and ingredients as redacted items; it was useless. I was too confident in my creation, too young and stupid at the time. And now Violet had my mind reading serum engrained in her DNA. I needed her blood so I could perform some tests and extract it; I could check up on my project, how it had evolved over the years.
I wondered if it had affected her, but the beta version that I had been testing on my students was doing nothing to them. They weren't developing any special powers, just getting sick— or so they said. As a scientist, I had to do everything in my power to regain my formula, regardless of what it took to achieve this goal.
I checked my phone, searching for Violet's location on the handy new applications that tracked people. I had one that simply found a person according to their phone number; and soon enough I was outside my old home. I knew that Amelia had been busy with her silly little boyfriend’s case, taking care of his property and assets. Meaning, she most likely hadn’t and wouldn’t be home, especially not in the middle of the day.
I rushed up the stairs, the door had been wide open, and I saw Violet in a compromising position with the boy that she had dated when Amelia and I were still together. Truth be told, I’d never really liked Joseph. He was always a little bit mischievous and his actions were a little sketchy— but I didn’t interfere. I didn’t want her to hate me, and I genuinely just didn’t care.
"Violet." I said, watching the boy’s shocked expression as he jumped off of her bed. He stood there with a smug grin as my daughter had tears streaming down her cheeks. "Excuse me young man, do you mind giving me a moment with my daughter?" I asked, glaring at Joseph.
"How did you get in here?" He crossed his arms, glaring at Violet.
"The door was open, and I heard screaming. Excuse me if I’m interrupting, but do you mind giving me a minute with my daughter?" I asked as he pushed past me, giving her one final glare before leaving the room.
"I don't want this broken waste of space anyway." He exclaimed. His grimace showing as he shouted it from down the stairs. I hoped they’d broken up by now, but as always, the Veowsalot side of the family made poor decisions.
"Violet?" I asked as I sat beside her on the bed and she immediately moved to the other side. She wiped her eyes and nose.
"D… Dad?” She adjusted her eyes, staring at me and then rushing over to hug me, "he tried to rape me. He was trying to hurt me, dad, I'm so scared." She cried against my chest as she hugged me. I pushed her head back so she wouldn't ruin my new suit.
"Yes, some men are stupid. I think we should go somewhere else." I said, standing up so she would stop getting her salty tears on my expensive suit jacket. I was here for a reason and I certainly didn’t have time to waste on childish drama.
"Just give me a second dad, I need to wash my face." She whispered as she quietly walked to the bathroom. I heard the water running; Violet walked out a few minutes later and smiled at me, "thank you for being here." She said as she walked down the stairs.
"Yes dear, that's what fathers do, after all." I patted her back awkwardly, I hated the emotional stuff, I hated having a child because of it. Amelia always was the one to deal with Violet when she became emotional. I was a logical minded person; science and emotion never mixed well for me.
"Why are you here, by the way?" She suddenly asked as she wiped her eyes, seeming unfazed by what had happened with her boyfriend. "Not that I'm not grateful that you're here. I just… mom hasn't been here for almost two weeks and my best friend had to take a trip to visit a friend today." She said as I grinned. She’d easily given me the key to what I was looking for. She was alone and nobody would be looking for her.
"Friend who? Stacy? Or the boy that was here last time? Aaron, I believe." I asked as she blushed. Clearly, she was in love with the boy, so it didn’t make much sense why she was with Joseph a few minutes ago. I wondered if she only wore that promise ring to appease Amelia at this point. It didn’t matter.
"Aaron." She said, I wondered what happened with Stacy, but I refused to ask. All that mattered was that Amelia and Aaron wouldn’t be interrupting what I had in mind today. I'd have my experiment back in no time and the solution lied in my own flesh and blood.
"I see." I said, trying to hide my smile from her, "then, come with me sweetheart, I'm happy to listen to you. I want to be there for you." I lied, a cheerful grin on my face as her face lit up.
"Really dad?" She smiled widely as I nodded, hoping she wouldn’t try to hug me again. She was foolish for simply seeking the acceptance of others when in reality, she should’ve focused on accepting herself. Friendships didn’t matter— all that mattered was the footprint she’d leave behind when she dies. And for me, I would ensure that I could regain access to my serum before anyone dies.
"Of course," I said, wondering what I could say that would make it seem more convincing, "because I love you." Her smile reached from ear to ear as she walked over to me and hugged me. For a girl who was so traumatized, I wondered why she was touching me. I stiffened as she pulled away and exited her home.
"So where are we going, dad?" She asked as I quickly took the opportunity to finally set my plan in motion. I had rehearsed the excuse that I’d say to her; I had been preparing for weeks.
"Let's go get some food, but I left my wallet at my lab, so we have to stop by the lab first.” I said, too quickly. I hoped she didn’t find any of what I had said suspicious.
"I can pay." She smiled widely, sitting in the passenger seat of my 1974 vehicle. She seemed much happier than she’d been a couple of minutes ago.
"No, no, I want to pay.” I insisted, “you've been through enough today. Let me treat you out, sweetheart." I said, hoping it was convincing enough.
"Sure, dad." She said, I wondered why she kept saying dad, but I ignored it. That word didn’t bother me as much as it used to.
"So, when I visited a few weeks ago, you never told me the reason that you wanted to see me." I pried, hoping she would confess that my initial serum actually worked on a human subject.
"Oh!" She said excitedly, happy to please now that dear old daddy was giving her attention, "some weird things were happening to me. I don't even know how to describe it. It was like I could… hear people's thoughts for a while. But then it stopped. I know it sounds crazy, but I… "
My eyes widened at her words. I had been right all along! My life’s work lived on inside of her; and now that I had this new piece of information, I would certainly be able to recreate the serum and understand its mechan
isms and side effects.
"No, not crazy at all." I said, realizing I had just caught the fish and I would be bringing her to my tank soon. I wondered if the strange floating video was a side effect; I wondered why it took her four years to show any of the symptoms of mind-reading.
"You believe me?" She asked, shocked. Violet’s dark eyes widened as I felt her gaze on the side of my face.
"Of course, why wouldn't I? There are so many things people don't know about the brain and other supernatural things. It's like those people that say that God isn't real. There's no way to prove or disprove that statement just like there's no way to prove or disprove that he is. But I personally would rather believe in something, like mind-reading, and find out later it wasn't real, than not believe and later find out it was real." She nodded thoughtfully. I almost felt bad about what I was going to do to her after what she'd already been through. I didn't know how to react.
"Yeah, that's a good point!" She said, just as I parked in front of the building that had my laboratory inside. I checked around the parking lot to ensure that everyone was gone for their lunch breaks.
"Do you want to come upstairs with me? I don't think I've ever shown you my lab." I said as she eagerly hopped out of the car. She smiled the entire way there and I was happy to be the one to make her day.
"That's so cool dad!" She said, eying the building as we entered.
"Indeed."
We climbed up to the fourth floor, walking to the end of the hallway and entering. "Wait here a minute, don't touch anything. I'll be back in a second." I said.
I quickly rushed out of the room to the nearby trashcan where I had left my tranquilizer gun. She would certainly not be expecting dear old daddy to hurt her when she was vulnerable. I knew Violet trusted me, but that was her first mistake. I quickly rushed back into the room, glad that she was still there.
Violet smiled warmly at me, standing up from the chair and approaching me. "Ready to go?" She asked, looking at me happily. I almost didn't shoot her, but I had to. For the sake of science.
Her gasp was the first thing that I’d heard when I pressed the trigger. The needle released its contents into her arm, making my job slightly easier until I realized it would be a challenge to take her back down four flights of stairs. She watched me carefully for a few seconds and I had thought it hadn’t worked. I saw her looking dizzy as she stared at me.
"I needed to do this. You have something of mine, and I need it." I explained as hurt filled her eyes and a deep sadness overwhelmed me. I instantly regretted it, but I reminded myself of the reason I had wasted half a day with her.
"I would've willingly helped you," were the last words out of her mouth as her hurt eyes stared at me before she passed out and landed on my floor.
Chapter 53:\ Hook, Line, and Sinker
Bailey
It was in the heat of the moment that I told them what they wanted to hear. I was forced by my lawyer to admit to something that I didn’t do. Nobody would listen; they’d all made up their mind that I was a murderer. Amy would not speak or even look at me after my trial. She’d ignored every call that I’d sent her way and I felt utterly alone— blamed for a crime that I did not commit.
Amy was dead to me. I hated her for how she’d treated me. Had she not started crying and accusing me of hurting the strange man, I would never have lied in court and told them; I did it to spare her feelings. She was the reason that I lied. I didn’t kill anyone. I had gotten dozens of interview requests while behind bars. Fact of the matter was, I didn’t know why I was this way because I am not who they think I am.
I didn’t go near any men! All of those that are testifying against me are liars who just want to watch the world burn. Several women had even given testimonies against me, but they were complete and utter liars. I would never eat from someone of my own sex, that was just gross. They were all liars.
And worst of all, the girlfriend of the man I supposedly killed had come up to me in court, spat on my face, and cursed at me. And nobody did a thing about it— she had disrespected me, all because of speculation.
Why couldn't they see my side?! I would spend my whole life proving to them that I wasn't in the wrong. I'm innocent. I was framed.
I wouldn't hurt a fly, a snail, or even a bird, so why would I go after an entire human man. Only crazy people would do that, and I am not crazy. I also would never do that because I know it would give me diseases— cannibalism is illegal and would only hurt me more than anything else. And I'm not stupid, I wouldn’t put myself in a position where I would be caught if I had committed any of those horrid crimes.
I’m not dumb. I went to a great university. A university where I had met the greatest professor on the planet a few years ago: Dr. Robert Dooley. I could gush about him all day. He was amazing— the greatest professor ever. I had met him a couple of years ago and he said he would help me lose weight if I tried out his mind-reading serum. I was super interested because there was literally no way that I could lose in that situation. I’d be able to read minds, lose weight, and ace his class— it seemed like a dream come true.
It bothered me that people didn't understand that I didn't need to do anything but be myself. I am awesome. I have no problems. I will spend life convincing these people that I am not the villain.
I am a hero. I am a saint. I wouldn't even hurt a fly.
Stupid Amy! It's her fault, really. The next time I see my sister I would remember to choke her. Just thinking about her annoyed me. She forced me to lie in court.
"I didn't do anything!" I shouted into the hollow room. And yet, nobody believed me. Nobody would even listen to me. They wouldn’t even give me a cellmate to overcome my loneliness. I didn’t understand why the officers that stood outside my cell were constantly afraid of me when I spoke to them. I hadn’t done anything but lie in court about a murder that I didn’t commit. I was being framed.
I was as innocent as a newborn puppy. I hadn't hurt anybody. It made me sad that they'd locked me up alone and antagonized me. I was innocent.
I am sane. And whatever happens on death row should be traced back to the true killer because it isn't me.
I did not kill Ethan Cowell. I simply invited him over for tea. He was visiting one of my elective courses on business to talk about his success in the restaurant industry. I remember it clearly; he was so kind. I would never hurt a kind man like him.
I invited him to coffee because I wanted to learn more. I wanted a mentor. I was invested in becoming a business owner someday. He seemed to be a successful man already, not to mention pretty cute, so I took the opportunity to ask for his advice and guidance. So yes, I went and grabbed a coffee with him and then I asked him if he could drop me off at my home because I didn't have a car. I usually walked anyway. It slipped my mind how far the university was, but I’m certain I lived close— I couldn’t remember the small details.
He visited and I was happy that he’d decided to stay. And then I blacked out and I don't know what happened next, that is the honest truth. But I do know that I would never hurt anyone.
I am not a liar. I only know the truth and that truth is my truth. I am a truth-speaker only—a truther. I do not ever lie. The true liar is Amy. She deserves to be in my place. I did not do anything wrong.
And even when I told this information to the judge. She did nothing about it. She simply said that I had told her three different stories, but I hadn’t. She was lying. I told the same story each time. Ethan had snuck into my home uninvited, so I had to knock him out for my own safety; it was self-defense, really.
That was the story I told her. I am not a liar. Now I was on my way to die for a sin that I hadn’t committed and a feeling that I had no control over. I grew hungrier by the minute.
I wondered if Dr. Dooley had done anything to me. My memory was always foggy. It was never the best. I felt so confused as I lay on the cold floor. I think he had harmed me. I was hungrier than ever before and was craving something delicious. I took a d
eep breath, looking around.
"Help! I can't breathe." I said, pretending to convulse on the ground as a guard opened the door and walked in.
Perfect. Hook, line, and sinker.
Chapter 54:\ Like a Switch
Violet
I woke up with a deep, throbbing pain in my chest, head, and arms. I felt dizzy as a sharp light from the only window in the room reflected over my eyes, waking me up. I felt groggy and it took my eyes a few moments to adjust. I glanced around the room; this place didn't look very familiar.
I tried to recall what had happened. Everything was fuzzy. The last thing I could remember was Joseph showing up at my house. My heart began to race as a strange sense of fear was instilled in me. Everything after that was fuzzy; whatever memory was there must've been blocked out by my brain— I could hardly recall what had happened when Joseph arrived at my doorstep. I hoped I would regain these memories soon.
My head, it ached so badly. I tried to move my arms in order to wipe my eyes, then I realized that my arms and legs were tied down to a wooden table with zip ties. I attempted to pull my arm from the tight zip-tie, but it only sliced my skin. I tilted my neck up, attempting to try to figure out where I was.
There was another table at the other end of the room with a bunch of tools. It was quiet, dusty, and old. There were images of fairies, or things that looked like fairies, placed in picture frames and surrounding the room. They looked like bugs; I couldn't really see. I tried to turn the table, to flip it over so I could fall on the side, but my body refused to move. I groaned as I tried to sit up with no success.
"Violet, darling. I'm glad you're awake. Welcome to my home. Would you like some water?" My father opened the door that was in the corner of the room as I eyed him carefully. He walked over to where I was tied with a glass of a clear liquid inside. I wasn’t sure if it was actually water.
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