Deer and Fawn

The Apple Doesn’t fall far from the tree

It’d been months since Vienna talked to her “Aunts”, months since she’d had to hear her mother scream and beg , watching the love of her life die, she died soon after.

Her Girlfriend Lisa, bless her, she loved her so much; was great, they’d moved away (to start over from the cult and deaths and all) to Further out, it wasn’t easy definitely and life had taken… a spiral, but she was happy with her girlfriend at least, she’d gotten a job waitressing despite it being very low on her capabilities, her mother had made sure she got the best education she could and would live a great life, be better than her, unfortunately her mother didn’t get that.

A degree doesn’t do much when its field isn’t hiring or very open towards women. She’d had no problem with taking the money her “Aunts” had given her, it was their fault her mother had died. Lisa didn’t like taking money so she just said it was inherited from her grandma Florence, she’d used the money to rent an apartment, bills, groceries, etc. She was sitting the with Lisa while the girl packed another order of Shitty take-out to deliver, blunt inbetween her fingers.

“I’m just saying Lis’ if you need you can use the car I’m selling my moms house and gonna clean it out so we’ll have the money to-”

“Is that my delivery?” A voice said, Misty Quigley. Goddamnit.

“Shit-” Lisa said, grabbing her bag and backing up, grabbing her girlfriend’s hand.

“Hi Lisa, Bambi.” Misty said with a grin.

Vienna groaned and glared at Misty. “Seriously? No one calls me Bambi except you psycho’s and you know it’s a bit sadistic considering you’re the reason my mother is dead.”

Lisa interrupted, unlike her girlfriend she wasn’t as..careless around Misty and her safety, “Misty, I’m sorry. you can take the money I don't want any trouble just leave my bike alone.”

“Oh? Well your bike is fine.” Misty said, letting go of Lisa’s bike and knocking it over.

“No don’t!-” Lisa Protests, Vienna sighs, holding her nose.

“Seriously Misty?” She says exasperated and annoyed.

“I’m just trying to find out who killed Lottie.” Misty said, still grinning, looking at her “niece”. “You understand its family stuff Bambi.”

“Again, stop calling me Bambi, anyways why are you here to us about Lottie’s death?” She says frustrated.

“Who- You think We did it?” Lisa says to Misty and laughs, finding the question humorous and stupid.

“Well She took all your money, and your freedom, and oh my god your clothes.” Misty Laughs. “And no offence Bambi but she did cause your mother’s death, even if indirectly.”

Vienna looks pissed and glared at her quietly, the same glare Her mother used to give Misty quite often actually.

“Yeah I was in a cult that ruined my life. I don’t recommend it. But murder? Not all of us turn our trauma into Stabby-Stabby.” Lisa said to Misty with a sarcastic grin.

“Yeah and I’m not exactly the type to take out my anger in a physical way. Plus I was in Seattle talking to my mom’s lawyer, y’know, the one I have cause you killed her you psycho bitch.” Vienna says bluntly, every bit her mother’s daughter Misty had known she would be, even before she was born.

“Well if it wasn’t either of you, maybe you two know who it could be.” Misty says.

Lisa and Vienna look at each other and sigh, not wanting to deal with Misty, she’s annoying but could easily kill us so it’s best not to y’know, piss her off, despite how much Vienna wanted to.
“You’re not going to leave us alone are you?” Lisa said reluctant.

“I took an oath,” Misty replied. “And vacation days at work.”

“Fine.” Vienna and Lisa both said, neither was happy with the situation. “We’ll tell you what we know but we stay out in the open so everyone can see if you try to murder me again.” Lisa finished, reluctantly agreeing, knowing Vienna was too stubborn to agree outwardly to Misty.

Misty nodded with a small smile and Lisa picked up her delivery bag, Vienna sighed and crushed her blunt, done with it. “And no calling me Bambi anymore, why do you even do it anyways?” She asks Misty annoyed.

“No promises, and well you know your mother was… Vienna she was so different before you, SO different, but she had the same anger and frustration at the cruelty of the world, we’d…messed up and she didn’t want any of us around you, she cut us all out, even went so far I couldn’t find her until she wanted me to, we knew she was pregnant but never knew the name, gender, when she gave birth, so we decided to call you Bambi because of her being ‘Doe’ it made sense to call you Bambi. Before you should given into the anger we’d pushed her to, she was a great damn lawyer but what happened out there…it killed your mother inside and she drowned it out with champagne, wine, whiskey, cigarettes, and anything that gave her something to feel. When we met your father for the first time we saw a side of her we hadn’t in years. It only came out around him though, we could see her moving on and eventually getting better, for him, for you… that meant she wouldn’t be around us. Because we were what made it so much worse, we didn’t help her, of course when your father died she reached out to Van for help, she was the best she could be for you, you’re just like she was.” Misty replied honestly, she knew a lot about Vienna’s mother from school, the wilderness and of course spying.

“I’m nothing like my mother , and you don’t get to speak about her, if you had just left her alone-” Vienna replied, pissed about Misty’s words.

“Really? Looking at you right now you’re the spitting image of your mother when she was your age, mad at me and the others, dating someone no healthy parent would approve of. The clothes, ambition, frustration, hair and cigarettes, hell all your missing is the jewelry, your mother always wore this necklace with a specific ring on it, I imagine you buried her with it.” Misty replied, not caring much for Vienna’s feelings.

“Don’t you fucking dare say that about her my mother was too good for all of you , you ruined her-” Vienna said, pissed, Lisa grabbed her hand and hugged her, they reluctantly walked to a café and sat down, Vienna sharing a blunt with Lisa, passing it back and forth, she seemed to calm down and stop having such pain in her eyes, it subdued.

“Last time I saw her she ordered a bunch of food and gave me 50k in cash as a tip. The envelope just said I’m sorry.” Lisa said, taking a drag and squeezing Vienna’s hand as the younger girl’s leg bounced anxiously.

“She gave you 50 thousand dollars and you just took it?” Misty asked, raising her hands animatedly. “You didn’t ask any follow up questions?”

“When bad things happen to me I’ve learned to take it and move on.” Lisa replied seriously. “Finally a good thing happened to me besides Vienna so I took it and moved on. You should try giving that a shot, oh and not stalking my girlfriend.”

“My best friends died at that Compound that night.” Misty answered defensively.

“And don’t kid yourself, your “best friends” didn’t die. You killed them.” Lisa said, honestly and mad.

“Natalie, Valèrie and I had a complicated friendship.” Misty replied.

“Yeah they both seemed thrilled when you showed up.” Lisa retorted. “You know Natalie was trying to better, she was getting better but you fuckers couldn’t let her go.”

“Yeah and my mother was genuinely happy again, she was spending time with me, she was better, she was safe byt you dragged her back down with you bitches instead of letting her heal-” Vienna quipped pissed.

“Listen to me you little punk, and Bambi, we had a bond you couldn’t even begin to understand.” Misty snapped at the two girls across from her, who reminded her so much of young Natalie and Doe.

“Whatever! I don’t actually care!” Lisa bites back. “But there’s no murder, Charlotte fell down a flight of stairs.”

“Yeah and I don’t care whatever delusional shit you think about my mother somehow liking you as a person, but Lottie died accidentally, cut and dry.” Vienna retorted at Misty.

“Yeah that’s too cut and dry. Even you must be able to see that, and especially you Bambi.” Misty laughed with a grin.

“No! We can’t. But if you’re determined to go down this path start with your friends.” Lisa replied bluntly to Misty’s words.

Misty looked confused so Lisa explained. “Taissa, she met up with Charlotte the day she died.”

Misty scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Thats ridiculous.”

“We saw them, right outside the Café.” Lisa confirmed.

Vienna sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Yeah I saw Aunt Tai talk to Lottie.” Misty gave her a weird look for her nickname for Taissa. “What? She’s with Aunt Van who was basically my mom’s sister her whole life.” Vienna shrugged, not caring what Misty thought.

“Whatever- well thank you for your information-” Misty began, Vienna shushed her.

“I’m going to stop you right there, no more going after Lisa. She’s been through shit and doesn't need to get involved in this which could’ve just been solved if you all got therapy. If you need me- fine, call me but if it’s not life threatening don’t involve me.” Vienna bluntly said, getting up with Lisa, they were about to leave when she heard Misty call out after her.

“Bye Mini Doe! The Apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree at all.” Misty called out to Vienna, who bit her tongue not to go and strangle the woman.