>>5723969“It didn’t take long for mom and dad to figure out what happened.” The girl continues as you recover from what she just told you, “Dad always had trouble sleeping, so when he went downstairs to watch some TV he smelled the smoke… by the time we all got out the damage was done.”
Hold on, you interrupt, how is this not, like, bigger news? Why didn’t you hear about this?
“The truth is,” Pepper replies, “is that Jake and I aren’t from around here–we moved from the East Coast…”
A faint smile forms on her face. “I’m not even supposed to be telling you this, actually–when we got relocated we had to take a new last name and cut all ties with our family-”
Wait, she’s in the <span class="mu-s">WITNESS PROTE-</span>
“And it was all my fault, yep.” She interrupts with a solemn nod. “Dad left soon after–couldn’t handle looking over his shoulder all the time. Without him around, though, mom had to work harder to take care of all of us… and Jake had to become the man of the house.”
Something about the way you look at her prompts the redhead to frown. “I know what you’re thinking: was it worth it? And you know what, Diesel?” She asks as a faint timbre enters her voice, “It <span class="mu-i">WAS</span>! Because even though everyone hated me, that damn park was <span class="mu-s">SHUT. DOWN.</span> A-and guess what else!?”
You lean back a bit as she raises her voice!
“The amount of kids missing around that goddamn beach? I cut it down to <span class="mu-s">ZERO!</span> ME!”
The whole dock turns to watch as the journalist fills the cave with a manic, hollow laugh!
“So I don’t give a <span class="mu-i">shit</span> if people hate me, Diesel–even if they’re my own flesh and blood… because guess what happens if everyone just sits back and shuts up, hm?”
They-
“<span class="mu-s">NOTHING. NADA. ZIP!</span>”
Pepper’s energy fades as quickly as it appears, leaving her a shivering wreck. “So…” she pants as she slowly regains her breath, “So that’s the truth… and that’s why I do what I do… and <span class="mu-i">that’s</span> why everyone hates Pepper Hornsby, Diesel… and <span class="mu-i">that’s</span> why I took advantage of your trust.”
Wiping the tears from her eyes one more time, the girl’s crazed smile sinks a bit. “But when you actually took the time to talk with me, Diesel… to help me? To protect me?”
Pepper bites her lip.
“... you’re probably the first person in ages to treat me nicely like that… and even though I didn’t wanna honor our deal at first, I…”
The words get caught in her throat before she gives it another try. “... I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to give it another go…”
Her eyes start to water again as she looks to you for a response.
“Th-thoughts?”
>BULLSHIT.>YOU JUST WANT SOME PICTURES SHE TOOK, THANKS.>I’M STILL MAD. GIVE ME TIME.>I FORGIVE YOU.>WRITE-IN 