Page 45 of Invisible Bars
“Makes me wonder…” he drawled. “Are you sureI’mnot the one being kidnapped?”
“Th-this isn’t that!” I said too fast, the words tumbling over each other like dominoes. “I—peppermint panties!Sorry, I didn’t mean?—!”
I broke off, stirring my grits just to have something to do with my hands. My face was hot. My whole body tensed.
“I can assure you, this isn’t that,” I mumbled again, more quietly. “I just… I read a lot. And… and watch too much TV.”
Imanio nodded, studying me like a puzzle he’d already solved but wanted to take apart just for fun.
“So, you’re like… rich-rich?” I asked, prying a bit.
“Yeah,” he simply answered, like it wasn’t even worth expanding on.
My hand spasmed without warning, clanging the spoon against the side of the bowl. It was the tic again—always crashing in when my nerves got loud. I inhaled slowly, trying to steady the chaos running under my skin.
“Can I ask… why? Why you did that to Blu? And where does the name Gatez come from?”
My stomach twisted violently, and my breath hitched so hard I thought I might throw up.
My lips parted on reflex. “Don’t snitch, b-bitch!”
“If I tell you…” Imanio’s pause felt like a held breath. “I’ll have to kill you,” he said, too calm to be joking.
The threat didn’t rise in volume, but it hit like a sniper shot—precise and deadly.
I gasped. “Murder muffins! Don’t kill the muffins!”
My heart skipped a beat—then slammed back into rhythm so violently, I could hear it in my ears.
“Say you understand,” he said, eyes locked on mine with terrifying clarity.
“I—I understand,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “If I disappear, it was the toaster. Don’t ask why, just avenge me!”
“Nah.” Imanio shook his head like he was correcting a child. “Say it like you mean it.”
The slight forward tilt of his frame sent a silent signal—my muscles tightened instinctively, bracing for whatever came next.
“Say, I swear on my life I won’t repeat what you’re about to tell me.”
My throat burned, my fingers twitched against the fabric of my pants, and my head tilted to the left. I felt the tic flare, and the words spilled out like acid.
“My left sock knows too much! S-Sorry!”
He still didn’t move… just waited.
My tongue felt like cotton, and my brain scrambled… but I forced the words out.
“I swear on my life…” I choked, voice barely there. “I won’t repeat what you’re about to tell me.”
Imanio studied me in silence, like he was deciding whether or not to believe me—or bury me.
Another tic rattled through me, and I muttered, “Kale smoothie! No backup! I’m alone!”
I wanted to cry.
Not because of the threat. Not because of the fear that was suffocating me. But because I didn’t know if he believed me. And if he didn’t… then what?
Imanio leaned back again, sporting a pleased grin… for the time being.
