LISA'S POV
The gate finally opened, and I hurried inside.
It had been quite a while since my last visit, and I couldn't help noticing that a lot had changed around the place.
Before I could take in my surroundings properly, I spotted Mira approaching.
I couldn't hold back any longer. All I wanted was to hug her and cry on her shoulder.
And that's exactly what I did.
The moment I saw her, I rushed towards her and threw my arms around her. The tears I had been holding back finally came pouring out.
From the way she held me, I could tell she was both confused and shocked. But thankfully, she didn't bombard me with questions.
Instead, she gently led me inside and prepared a hot cup of cocoa to help me calm down.
I collected it from her and thanked her.
The drink was creamy and delicious, and somehow, it helped settle my nerves.
I eventually stretched out on the couch, and before I knew it, my eyelids were growing heavy.
Another lesson Dad had taught me was never to trust anyone blindly. So, even as I drifted into sleep, a part of me remained alert to my surroundings.
Suddenly, I jerked awake and spun around.
To my utter surprise, Mira was standing in front of me with a baseball bat in her hand.
I sat upright and raised an eyebrow.
"What are you doing?"
"Why did you do it, Lisa? Why would you commit such a terrible act?" she demanded.
"What the hell are you talking about, Mira? What did I do?" I asked in confusion.
Instead of answering, she threw her phone towards me.
I caught it, glanced at the screen, and my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
These news outlets really knew how to turn a situation into a sensational headline. Apparently, my name had become one of the most searched topics.
I stared at my best friend, guilt and desperation written all over my face.
"Mira, I can explain. Honestly, it's not what you think. These people are lying!"
"And what exactly do you think I think, Lisa? I know you don't get along with your mother, but killing her? Lisa, that's too much! Do you have any idea what you've done? You're now one of the most wanted people, and not for anything good. You're wanted as a criminal!" she yelled.
I stared at her in disbelief.
"I thought you trusted me, Mira! Yes, I admit that I don't particularly get along with my mother, but I would never do something like that! You've known me since we were children. You should know that I'm not capable of killing anyone!" I pleaded, desperately trying to convince her that I was innocent and had been framed.
Just then, I thought I heard the distant sound of sirens.
I immediately rushed towards the window and looked outside.
No, I wasn't imagining things.
It was the police!
I turned towards Mira, my eyes widening in disbelief.
"You called the police on me?" I asked, my voice filled with shock and hurt.
The expression on my face revealed exactly how I felt.
My best friend didn't believe me. Worse still, she had gone as far as calling the police on me.
"Remember when I said that one of the rules of being a minor is staying out of trouble? Well, that's exactly what I'm trying to do. I'm not going to involve myself in the mess you've created. Accept your fate, Lisa. The least they could give you is six or seven years in prison. And I promise I'll still be here when you get out. I'll remain your best friend, and I'll even visit you regularly. So please, Lisa, just cooperate with the police and stop making things worse," Mira said.
I couldn't believe my ears.
Was this really happening?
"I'm not about to be sentenced for something I didn't do! I'll find my mother. I don't know where that man has taken her, but I swear I'll find her and clear my name!" I declared angrily.
The one person I thought would at least listen to me and believe me had turned out to make everything even worse.
The pain of betrayal was far worse than being framed for a crime I hadn't committed.
I silently stood up and began making my way towards the front door.
But before I could get there, I felt a sudden sharp pain at the back of my head.
Everything happened so quickly.
Before I could even figure out what was going on, I was already on the floor.
The last thing I heard was Mira's voice.
"I'm sorry, Lisa, but this is the right thing to do."
Then darkness swallowed me whole.
---
FLASHBACK ENDS
And that, ladies and gentlemen, was how I ended up in this entire mess.
Framed by my stepfather and betrayed by my best friend.
Now, I was sitting in a police van with four officers escorting me to a juvenile detention centre.
But I wasn't planning on making their job easy.
I had managed to free my hands from the handcuffs, and now it was time to make my escape.
Let's get out of here, I thought.
I suddenly pushed against the officer beside me, creating an opening before making my move against the second officer.
Chaos erupted inside the van.
I made a desperate dash towards the door, but someone grabbed me from behind.
I didn't bother turning around to see who it was. I reacted instinctively, and the officer loosened his grip.
Before anyone could regain control of the situation, I managed to get out of the van.
I knew they would probably call for backup.
At this point, I wasn't just a wanted girl anymore. I was now being treated as a dangerous fugitive.
Things weren't just bad.
They were terrible!
I ran until I came across what appeared to be a garage. I quickly slipped inside and found a secluded corner to hide.
A few moments later, I heard approaching footsteps.
A car drove into the garage and came to a stop.
I heard the doors opening and closing, followed by the sound of several footsteps.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I carefully shifted from my hiding place to get a clearer view of what was happening.
"Are you with the stuff?" one of the men asked.
"Yeah. And what about the girl? Where is she?" another replied.
"She's in the trunk. You'll see her after I've checked my goodies."
"I hope she's better-looking than all the girls you've brought here. The boss specifically instructed me not to hand this over to you unless the girl is worth the money."
I froze.
From their conversation, it was becoming obvious that these men were involved in human trafficking and drug-related activities.
My mind immediately began racing.
They had a girl in the trunk, and judging by their conversation, she was their latest victim.
An idea suddenly occurred to me.
If I could switch places with that girl, perhaps I could find out where they were taking her. And if I was lucky, I might even uncover information that could help me find my mother.
It was a dangerous gamble, but I was running out of options.
I watched carefully as the men became occupied with their conversation.
When I was certain they weren't paying attention, I quietly left my hiding place and approached the car.
My heart pounded as I moved towards the trunk.
To my surprise, it was already open.
I noticed the unconscious girl and realised I had very little time.
I carefully moved her away from the vehicle and towards a secluded corner where she would be less exposed.
Then I returned to the car and climbed into the space where she had been kept, trying to make myself appear unconscious.
I was just settling into position when I heard footsteps approaching.
I quickly closed my eyes and remained completely still.
A moment later, someone approached and touched my face.
"Whoa! Now, that's what I'm talking about! Such a beauty! She's definitely going to make us a lot of money!" the man exclaimed, bursting into a disturbing fit of laughter.
Urrgh! Get your filthy hands off my face!
I wanted nothing more than to jump up and teach this disgusting man a lesson.
But I had to control myself.
For now, I needed to keep pretending.
Just wait, you idiot. You have no idea who you've just picked up.