Chapter 7

Sibel’s POV

"'If you don't,' Cara threatened, her voice dripping with malice. But Jolie stood her ground, her eyes flashing with defiance. 'We won't let you humiliate us, Cara,' she said, her voice firm.

'We're not the ones who stole your precious shoes. Why can't you get that through your head?' I added, my frustration boiling over.

'We weren't even around today. You were there when Beta Leo sent me to wash and scrub the toilets, remember? When would I have had the time to steal from you?' I demanded, my hands on my hips. 'You're just trying to find an excuse to torment us, but it won't work. We won't be bullied into confessing to something we didn't do.'"

Cara's face turned red with rage as I continued to defend myself. She snarled, her eyes blazing with fury, and snatched up the whip that had slipped from her grasp. With a swift motion, she threw it at me, intent on striking me down.

But Jolie flung herself at me, wrapping her arms around me in a protective embrace. The whip bit deep into Jolie's shoulder instead of mine. I felt a surge of anger as Jolie cried out in pain, her body shielding me from the blow meant for me.

"'You won't get away with this, Cara!' I exclaimed. 'If you think we stole your precious shoe, then prove it! There are surveillance cameras all over this place. Let's go check the footage and see who actually stole your shoe. If you're so convinced of our guilt, then let the evidence speak for itself. But if you're just trying to bully and intimidate us, then you're sadly mistaken. We're not going to take the fall for something we didn't do. Let's go to the security room and review the tapes. If we're innocent, then let us go. But if we're not... then we'll face the consequences.'"

Cara sneered, her lip curling up in a contemptuous snarl. 'You think you're clever, don't you?' she spat. 'Trying to turn the tables on me. But I know what I saw. I know what I know. And no amount of your words is going to change my mind.' She crossed her arms, her eyes flashing, as if she had nothing to lose.

''Besides, even if the cameras did show something, do you think anyone would believe you? You're just a pair of thieves and liars. No one will take your side.'

''But fine, let's check the footage,' Cara said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 'Let's prove to everyone that you're the thieves I know you are.' She turned on her heel, striding confidently towards the security room.

Jolie and I exchanged a nervous glance, our hearts racing with anticipation. This was it – our chance to clear our names and prove our innocence. We followed Cara, our footsteps echoing down the hallway. As we entered the security room, Cara began frantically scanning through the footage, her eyes blazing with anger and desperation.

'Yes... I have never been wrong...' Cara's voice trailed off as she stared at the screen in shock. Jolie and I leaned in, our eyes fixed on the footage. And then we saw it – Charles, Jolie's son, entering the room and putting the shoes in Jolie's box.

The camera angle was clear, the evidence undeniable. Cara's face turned bright red with anger. 'How... how did he...?' she stuttered, her eyes darting towards Jolie. 'You... you used your son to steal from me!' But Jolie just shook her head. 'No, Cara. My son made a mistake, he is just five. We are not thieves,' she pleaded.

'So, do you have any excuses?' Cara sneered, her voice loud and mocking. 'Any reasons why your son decided to steal from me? Or are you just going to stand there and deny it like the liars you are?' She crossed her arms, her eyes flashing with anger.

Jolie took a deep breath, her face calm and dignified. 'Charles is a child, Cara. He made a mistake. And we'll deal with it. But we're not going to stand here and be insulted by you. We've done nothing wrong.' I stepped forward, my voice firm. 'Yeah, Cara. You've been trying to bully and intimidate us for hours.'

The guards moved forward, their faces stern and unyielding. 'Charles, you're coming with us,' one of them growled, and handcuffed.him. Charles looked terrified as they led him away. Jolie and I were shocked and outraged. ''What are you doing?' Jolie demanded. 'He's just a child! He made a mistake!' But the guards just ignored her.

'And you two,' the other guard said, his eyes cold. 'You're coming with us too.' He grabbed Jolie and me, roughly pushing us towards the door. 'What are you doing?' I struggled against his grip. 'We didn't do anything!' But he just shoved us forward, locking us in a cold, dark cell. 'You're going to pay for your son's mistake,' he sneered before slamming the door shut behind us.

Jolie collapsed to the floor, her body wracked with sobs. 'My son... my poor baby...' she wailed, her arms wrapped around her knees. I knelt beside her, trying to comfort her. 'Jolie, don't cry. Everything will be okay. We'll get through this. Charles will be fine.' I stroked her hair, trying to soothe her. 'We'll figure out a way to get him out of this. We won't let them punish him for a mistake.' Jolie looked up at me, her eyes red and puffy. 'But what if they do?' she whispered. 'What if they hurt him?' I took her hands in mine. 'We won't let that happen. I promise. We'll fight for him, for all of us. We'll make sure the truth comes out.'

The next morning, the door to our cell creaked open and we were led outside into the bright sunlight. Jolie's eyes scanned the area frantically until she saw Charles, standing with his head down, looking scared and alone. She rushed to him, embracing him tightly. 'My baby, my baby...' she whispered, tears streaming down her face. Then, she turned to Cara, who was standing nearby, her expression unyielding. 'Please, Cara, have mercy. My son is not feeling well. He's just a child. Keep him out of this.' But Cara's face remained cold. 'No, Jolie. He's involved now. He'll face the consequences.' Jolie fell to her knees, begging. 'Please, Cara. Don't punish him for a mistake. He's just a kid.' But Cara turned away.

Charles looked up at Cara with a confused expression. 'I didn't steal anything,' he said, his voice shaking. 'I was just trying to give my mom a birthday gift. I saw the shoes and I thought she would like them, so I put them in the box. I didn't mean to do anything wrong.' He looked at Jolie, then back at Cara. 'I didn't steal anything. I was just trying to be nice.' Cara raised an eyebrow. 'A birthday gift? In a locked box? Without paying for it?' She sneered. 'You expect me to believe that?' Charles nodded, tears welling up in his eyes. 'Yes, it's true. I wouldn't steal. I promise.'

Just as Cara raised her hand to strike Charles with the whip, I sprang forward, pushing her away with all my might. 'Leave him alone!' I shouted, positioning myself between Cara and Charles. 'He's just a child! He didn't mean to do anything wrong!' Cara's eyes flashed with anger, but I stood my ground, my heart pounding in my chest.

'You'll pay for this, Sibel,' she snarled, her hand still clutching the whip. But I didn't back down. I wrapped my arms around Charles, holding him close. 'You'll have to go through me first,' I said as she whipped me.

'What right do you have to hit him?' I demanded, my voice echoing through the air. 'He's just a kid and doesn't even know anything, for goodness' sake! He's done nothing. Why do you want to make a little child suffer for something like this? Is this how you rule? And then you want to flog him with this whip?' I glared at Cara, my eyes blazing with indignation. 'You're no better than the monsters we're fighting against if you resort to violence and intimidation.'

Jolie stepped forward, her voice firm. 'My son has done nothing to deserve your cruelty, Cara. He's just a child who made a mistake. Show some compassion, for once.' Cara's face twisted in anger.

Cara's fury reached a boiling point, and with a snarl, she ordered her guards to drag us away. 'Expel them from the pack!' she spat, her eyes blazing with anger. The guards moved to comply, but just as they reached for us, a powerful presence commanded attention.

A commanding figure step forward inside the crowd, his presence was authoritative and calming, his intense stare scan the room and the guards hesitated,  unsure of what to do next. The room was filled with anticipation, as everyone kept quiet to head what he has to say, then in a voice that is deep, he asked. "what is going on here?"