ABBY
The violent knock at our apartment's door leaves me terrified: every scenarios of either one of the Press family killing me or Christen waking up from her coma with amnesia like every dramatic show ever has played over my head a thousand times.
The past weeks have been haunted by deep thoughts - almost depressive, if you will - and somehow my body wouldn't respond anymore. I was just a ghost, that had just lost somebody she deeply cared about and never got the chance to tell them. Although Kristie and Sam have been the perfect sisters and mental supports, I just couldn't get over the fact that Christen was in a coma.
When I finally open the door, I am relieved to discover Mallory, in her wheelchair, pushed by Rachel, smiling at me softly.
"O-oh" I let out, suspicious of Rachel is she is rumored to be working with the Press (yes, I overheard everything Shelina, Kristie and Sam discussed the other day).
Turning toward Rachel, Mallory orders:
"Leave us, I'll call you when I need to leave."
Without discussing the younger girl's orders, the Brit throws me a death glare, before leaving by the stairs. Mallory, on the other hand, just stares at me, before continuing:
"Hi, Abby, I really needed to see for myself how you were doing: I was utterly worried."
That touches me through my heart.
"Oh, that's-" I start, but I knew I needed to pull myself together: I mean, I wasn't even properly dressed yet so I needed to save my honor. Instead, I just calmly say: "Please, come in so we can discuss in peace."
After nodding her head, Mallory rolls herself in, while I carefully close the door, checking that Rachel was well gone. Once I have done so, I just turn around and walk toward the girl in the wheelchair, who was positioned in front of another chair - probably where she wanted me to sit in the first place.
Once I do so, Mallory immediately declares:
"I just needed you to know that I am on your side, 100%. Never have somebody... cared for my sister that much, hence you can be trusted because you would never do anything to hurt her. How have you been doing? I was surprised not to see you around in the hospital."
I smirk.
"I am not sure your family would've enjoyed me paying my visit to their daughter, since I am the reason why she tried to end her life." I immediately answer, without thinking, while I see Mallory's face changing from the reminder that her sister almost killed herself. Shivering, I just look down and add: "But I never stopped thinking about her this whole time... H-How... How is she?"
"Stable, for now" the brunette explains, trying to not get overwhelmed by the deep conversation we were having. As I painfully nod, trying to hold my tears back, she adds: "Father and our sisters did not feel the urge to come to the hospital yet: only Mother, and she is devastated because Christen clearly is her favorite, although she never admitted it. And I bet she feels guilty since she was the one coming up with the idea of Christen and Shelina marrying."
My world suddenly collapses.
"What do you mean, 'the idea of marrying'?" I repeat, obviously too troubled to care about the meaning of my questions.
Mallory smirks.
"The whole 'wedding' idea is a scam, a way for my family to make Christen respectable in the eyes of their associates" she calmly explains, while my heart starts beating faster. As she realizes that, Mallory grabs my hand and adds: "They chose Shelina because she graduated Harvard and was top of her class, plus she is more than capable of supporting Christen regarding their businesses. But there never way any love between them: even Shelina knows that Christen is in love with you."
My heart explodes.
She cannot possibly love me yet prefer to end her own life than to fight against her family, right? And, although I still couldn't believe that such an incredible person as Christen would've chosen me to love because is just wasn't enough, my heart wouldn't stop pounding against my chest, and I was trapped in my deep feelings toward her, although I wasn't ready to call them 'love' just yet.
Because I never love anybody, usually.
"I-I..." I try, but my words remain trapped in my throat.
"Regardless" Mallory interrupts me, obviously needed to make a point, "it is undeniable that my family has crossed a line, and now that Mother is out of the game because she is destroyed by Christen's current state, Father and my two evil sisters are at the head of the empire, helped by Shelina who is doing a great job integrating the family business: and, to be honest with you, I have my doubts about her..."
"Really?" I ask, frowning, "then why would she ask help from me and my sisters?"
Mallory raises an eyebrow.
"She did?"
"Yes" I explain, trying to contain my obvious freaking out state, "she also called those two FBI agents so that they would help her take The Patriarch down"
"Harris and Krieger, isn't it?"
"Exactly."
Mallory seems thoughtful, as she states:
"Visibly I misjudged Shelina... But if there exists an operation to take down my family, I want in."
"Mal, you're too young, plus, you have school and everything.." I try to dissuade her, but she comes back to charge:
"Alright, maybe I cannot be part of it full-time, but I want you to promise me that you'd keep me updated, and-"
"Mallory.."
"- and in exchange, I can get you to visit Christen without Mother or anyone else around."
My heart misses a few beats.
And at that precise moment, I do not know if it is my utter sleeplessness or the idea of seeing Christen from my very own eyes, but I finally respond a pretty selfish answer, that could have had very devastating consequences.
But my heart speaks against me:
"Okay."
Mallory smiles, before pulling me into a tight hug. As we are holding each other, she whispers into my ear:
"We will take my family down, once and for all, I promise."