Page 102 of Beautifully Broken
This wasn’t an accident. This was a slow execution.
They think this is over? It’s not.
They took her. Now I’m coming for every single one of them. They took her from this world. But I swear, I’ll tear theirs apart.
Chapter 10
As I dress for the funeral, Van is with me trying to keep me from going psycho while we’re here. All I want to do is say goodbye to my sister, not by blood but by choice, then tear apart everyone who ever touched her. I smooth down the black sheath dress; it has a scoop neck and ends just above my knees. I slip into black pumps and take a glance at myself to make sure my mask for today is in place.
“I know you want to see them suffer, but you need to be here for Cali. Make sure she is honored properly.”
“I know,” I turn into his embrace and kiss his jaw. “I am so thankful you are here with me to hold me up and probably keep me back from hurting anyone.”
“You know I am here for whatever you need.” He kisses my forehead and takes my hand, leading me out.
As we get to the church, I see people who don’t deserve to be here, her fiancé, the headmaster, various others and I tense, almost vibrating with anger and the need to destroy them. Van tugs me against his side, wrapping his arm around my waist. He kisses my temple providing his strength. Like he knows if he lets go, I will go off avenging angel style in broad daylight. This is not what the focus of today should be on. Cali’s mother approaches me with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I know you hate me and think I should have done more for Cali, but I did what I could in the situation. You don’t know everything, so please know I loved my baby girl with everything in me.” She hands me an envelope. “She left this with your name on it. I hope her words bring you comfort.” I take it from her hand, and she walks away.
Later that night, I curl up in the hotel room and open the last words I will get from my person.
My bright star,
I am so sorry to be gone, but know I love you and you were my bright star that guided me. You always saw what I refused to admit and I’m sure as painful as this is, it’s not coming as a surprise. I couldn’t fight any longer. It was time to leave on my terms. Even if you don’t agree with them, know I would never have been able to live with the information and nightmare my life has been. I thought long about my options before selecting this choice. I’m leaving you the information you always asked for. Know I’m with you always and will be the hand that guides your vengeance for us.
Your muse
Cali
-Your stepfather, the senator, governor and their friends run an underage sex ring. Grooming, trafficking, auctioning, you name it. The school is a cover for the headmaster to supply minors he selects or are requested. In return, the coach and he get to make a choice for themselves and help groom them. My mom is stuck in this mess, and I don’t know the details of it to get her out. MAKE THEM PAY!
Chapter 11
Leaving the Crime Scene Unit -2019
At first, I clung to the idea that the truth was all that mattered, that if I just worked harder, dug deeper, the system would listen. That justice would rise naturally from facts, like sunlight breaking through fog. But now, now I know better.
Justice isn’t blind. It’s bought, bartered, and bruised behind closed doors. I’ve seen it too many times, evidence conveniently “misplaced,” expert testimony twisted until black looks like white, the guilty and the powerful shaking hands in court corridors. Meanwhile, the innocent sit in cold cells, forgotten.
Every time I file a report or present findings, a small part of me wonders if I’m helping to build a case for the right side or if I’m just another cog in a machine designed to protect whoever can pay the most. I used to be proud of my work. Now it feels mechanical. Clinical. Detached. Like I’m scraping paint off a wall that’s already rotting from the inside out.
I don’t even get angry anymore. Anger takes energy and hope. What I feel is heavier—a slow, sinking kind of regret. I chose this life, believing I could make a difference. But the truth is, this system was never built for people like me to fix. I’m just another piece of it now, watching the rot spread, too tired — too broken — to keep pretending otherwise.
This is why I decide it is time to leave. To go out on my own and select the cases I take to make sure I can make a difference. I need to give myself over to the truth and to honor Cali’s last wishes, it’s time I avenge her. Because they think they can get away with it, but I am here to show them the error of their ways.
Chapter 12
2020
I found him, fucking finally. It has taken me almost a year of my time to find the monster. Everyone thought I was crazy being so obsessed with this cold case, but I knew it was important. I went through every item of evidence that was catalogued in this case and finally found a small trace of DNA, just enough to test. It was enough to locate John, an ironic name as he whores out girls from his underground club. He owns a mechanic shop and, hidden in the basement, runs an illegal strip and sex club. He calls itUnholy, and it’s an invitation only establishment. Tonight I’m taking it down.
I sneak out of bed, careful not to wake Van, and get dressed in a black lace bra and thong with platform black glitter heels. I slide a red silk minidress over the top. Gathering my hair in an elaborate twist anchored with lethal hairpins and a set of hair chopsticks sharpened into knives. I complete my makeup for that smoky eye devil angel look.
As I pull into the parking area next to the shop, I look around, making sure everyone is inside, and go to the side door I found. The doctor who helps the girls as much as she can is waiting to let me in.
“Thank you for taking this risk. You are saving those girls and getting me out of this. I will get my clinic ready to take everyone so we can make sure they are safe and get medical care. I will put them up at my house until they figure out the next steps.”
I stumbled upon her one day when I was looking for a way in. She had her own story of abuse and terror after she married one of the men who is a part of this world. Thankful to have found a way out of her situation and a way to save these girls, she gave me everything I needed to do this tonight.
