No more escape

A/N:

I want to thank sincerely to everyone who chose to read this novel.

'Get Back to You' is my first novel-writing experience. I enjoy writing this story, and I'm working hard to tell the story, the way I envisioned it.

I'm no master writer, but I enjoy the process of learning from others and incorporating them to create my version.

I never thought I would come this far, but I did. And that was made possible because of you guys, who all spend those few minutes reading. My utmost gratitude for that. Not only for me but, to any writer who has a great story to tell.

Last week was entirely a surprise to me as I found that my novel got a front-page promotion under the 'Trending story' category. I found it only later, and it made me very happy. Sort off like all the all-nighters I pulled got compensated. Because of it, my novel received a lot of attention, and people chose to give it a try. It made me very happy.

I don't know what is going to happen in the future except me continuing to write my stories. However, the last few days was fun and with all the attention that my novel received. I'm grateful for that.

My goal is to tell the beautiful story of Lillian Grey and Giselle without any compromises. And I will.

Hence, here's a great bow to all those who support this novel and my characters. If I can make you feel emotions through my characters and writing, that is enough for me to feel satisfied.

I'm still a novice, but I vow to improve more and better.

So let's have fun riding this, and stay awesome.

Thank you very much for spending these few seconds to read my ranting. Here's the 150th episode of 'Get Back to You.'

Enjoy!

******************************************************************************************************

Lillian Grey saw Mike coming, outside of the public bathroom. Seeing him approaching her, Lillian took strides harder and longer.

Ever since the Giselle incident, Lillian Grey never had the chance to encounter with Mike. Either Mike avoided Giselle, and the people around her or he is lucky. However, those never made Lillian forget his behavior against Giselle.

Bridgette got exposed to the authorities for her crime against Giselle, but Mike never got punished for his actions.

Even if Bridgette planned and orchestrated the entire scene, it was Mike, who had executed it. Mike deserved to get punished.

After learning the truth from Giselle, Lillian Grey made it a vow to meet him ever again that she would not let him escape.

Seeing him in front of her, Lillian prayed to the Gods for her chance. Her anger erupted inside when all her mind occupied was the image of Giselle's inside the cubicle. Her dress torn apart and a mess of a girl she resembled, her tears, and the pain she had in her eyes.

All of it replayed in Lillian's subconscious as she could never let this opportunity slip.

Just as Mike unknowingly crossed Lillian Grey, he heard a female voice aiming at his direction.

"It must feel great to escape from the eyes of the law."

"You must feel so lucky!"

Lillian's words were indirect and ambiguous. Mike paused, his steps arrested and turned to see Lillian Grey.

His eyes flickered in shock, a sense of fear and guilt flashed in his eyes. He hesitated.

He didn't reply but only kept staring at her for a few seconds before turning away to leave.

"Never knew that you were such a pussy," Lillian sneered.

Enraged by the comment, Mike stopped. He turned around to glare at Lillian Grey.

"What do you mean?" Mike asked, peering frantically at Lillian Grey.

"I said, you are a pussy, probably that's the reason why you don't have the balls to be a guy," Lillian kept firing insults at him.

"Watch your mouth, Lillian Grey," Mike grunted.

Mike was unable to guess at first, the reason behind Lillian's harsh remarks. All he did was to come out of the restroom and suddenly a girl from his school, started throwing insults at him, his mind couldn't process the meaning behind those words. He struggled while fighting back for the comments.

"Oh, I didn't know that you were such a lowly creature, who can't even remember the horrible shit you did in the past. See, that's why I said you are not a man enough to stick up for your actions."

Still struggling, Mike kept battling mentally for her unreasonable accusations.

Noticing him stumble, Lillian Grey helped him recall the memory he tried so hard to hide and forget.

"Ever remember a girl named, Giselle?"

As soon as Lillian uttered that name, a chill went down his spine as Mike's eyes widened in a shiver. The memory lane took a twist and slapped his breath down.

All of the horrible things he did it to the girl he once loved, Giselle was innocent, and he took advantage of the situation. With the help of Bridgette, he tried to assault her, though it ended up failing, the deed done and cannot be, erased.

Mike's stance trembled in terror, he met Lillian straight but unable to look at her. He did escape all this time from getting exposed for the incident that happened inside the Music room.

When Bridgette got caught and was serving detention, he did avoid everyone at school, afraid of getting caught. He knew that no one mentioned his name, but still, he didn't have the guts to face anyone at school. His sin took many forms, and it affected his mental health.

Noticing the sudden change in his demeanor, his friends tried to talk to him, but he refused and walked out. He didn't share that day's incident with anyone and tried to conceal it within himself, even though he felt horrible for his decisions. So when the trip announced, Mike wanted to skip it, he knew if he goes, he might be facing Giselle outside the school and that can bring trouble for both. However, his plan got rejected as Mike's friends forced him to join them.

The past two days he succeeded until this moment. His whole body shivered from Lillian's confrontation. At first, he thought she was trying to pick an unnecessary fight with him. Only when she said Giselle's name, did Mike realize what she meant.

His guilt refused to abandon him, and his burning eyes were flickering in the horror of getting exposed.

Watching him go crazy made Lillian Grey happy inside. Nonetheless, it wasn't enough for her. She wanted him to go down.

"You're blabbering some rubbish," Mike guarded himself without letting her take control.

"Am I?" Lillian returned.

No one was present in that place except for these two. The early morning atmosphere added the tranquillity. With no humans around or nearby, the air was still without any noise, adding a sense of pressure to Mike, who felt as if he is in a dangerous position.

All that went in his brain was to leave, run away from the place and from her. So he tried to manipulate her words and divert the topic. He was eying for an opening to leave as soon as possible.

"You are so most coward I've ever met in my life, do you know that?"

Lillian triggered him again. She is not letting him escape, not today.

"Even after saying her name, how can you act as if nothing had happened?"

"I mean nothing happened, but still you did stalk her for a while and kept an eye for a chance to assault her physically, am I right?"

Lillian Grey kept hitting him, with her questions without giving him a chance to respond. He reacted the way she expected from him, his eyes kept shifting, the sweat, and his hands turned to fists even still it vibrated crazy.

"What do you know?" Mike questioned in shock.

Only three people knew about it yet, Lillian Grey standing in front of him, clearly stating every detail as if she was present the entire time.

"We don't want to waste our time in finding out who spilled all your dirty secrets, do we?"

Lillian Grey, she took a few steps closing the distance. Mike exhibited his reflex as he moved backward trying to evade her.

"How can you even live after doing such horrible things to her?"

Mike couldn't; his consciousness didn't let him stay normal.

"How do you sleep at night?"

Mike wasn't able to sleep, every night he had nightmares. The image of him tarnishing Giselle kept reappearing in his head.

Moreover, the fact that Lillian Grey, a stranger to the case, is aware of his secret. The secret he thought Bridgette and Giselle didn't share because of their well-being. Mike didn't expect someone other than the two would confront him for his actions. Even though he avoided everyone at school, he kept observing Bridgette and Giselle keenly, marking their movements and behaviors. He found Bridgette secluding herself from her friends, and it made him happy as if she deserved it. However, Giselle started to hang out with Lillian Grey and her friends. That he never expected to be honest, he believed that Giselle got ostracized by her classmates and so, Lillian, Anna, and Diego gave her company.

But that wasn't the case. Here stood, Lillian Grey in front of him spilling his past like she's writing a script out of it. It all began to haunt Mike.

"STOP IT."

Mike screamed finally, letting out his voice as if it got trapped deep into his guilt till now.

"It was all Bridgette's fault. She knew about Giselle, and yet, she deceived me into her plans."

Mike admitted. His voice filled the empty void echoing against the surrounded trees, loud and clear, almost making him portray the sufferer.

"Don't play the victim here, you bastard," Lillian erupted.

Him, taking the wheel of the victim, infuriated her.

She swiftly leaped forward in a flash and grabbed him by his collar, startling Mike, Her grip, so sturdy and heavy. With only four fingers to grab his shirt while the free thumb naturally positioned on his larynx began to throttle him deliberately. Soon, Mike felt pain infiltrating his throat.

His impulse made him push Lillian Grey away as he fought against her. The girl is a beast her strength nearly made him battle for his freedom. He was not able to free from her grip.

***

Back in the lake:

Diego and Josh were a team. Josh concentrated on fishing. Since it required patience, the guys were sitting down on the grass, and leisurely casting their rod onto the lake water.

Diego waited calmly at first but soon got jaded.

His gaze explored the place. As the students circled the lake, he looked around every team, trying to spot his friends. He saw Anna and Giselle nearby the big boulder. Anna sat on it while Giselle stood stiffly. He glanced at them for a few seconds before remembering that Lillian Grey got paired with her roommate, Mindy. He eyes quickly hunted for Mindy and spotted her next to Bridgette and Ivy.

Mindy was alone while Bridgette and Ivy were fishing modestly.

For a second, Diego felt relieved after seeing Mindy alone. It only hit him later a few seconds that Lillian Grey is not around. He searched everywhere but the girl, not to be found.

Diego thought that she might have gone to the bathroom for emergency and so, overlooked. He went back to focus on fishing. Josh kept striving so hard to catch a fish and impress his girlfriend, Carmel. His eyes never wavered away from the bait. He also avoided talking to others, entirely focused. Therefore, Diego didn't disturb the guy and waited next to him.

***