Chapter 4.
Alison sat on the edge of her bed, staring into space. She closed her eyes to block out the tense pacing her aunt was doing across the room. She thought about every time she'd visited Charlotte in Welby. About how she'd been so convinced she could help her sister recover and become the person she was meant to be. A good person. How Alison had hoped, just had she for herself, that there was some kind of redemption. Had any of it been real?
"Mary – "
"Alison, don't call me that," Mary stopped pacing, her eyes flicking to the camera in the corner of the room, "She's probably watching."
Alison looked at the camera too, scowling, "I'm not calling you mom."
Mary avoided the younger woman's eyes, "I know we never spoke about… "
"About how you killed my mother," Alison crossed her arms defensively, "No, we never did."
"It was her or me, Alison," Mary said quietly, "I was completely backed into a corner. I had no choice."
Alison sighed, "I know my mom was a… bitch, okay? I don't think anything surprises me about her anymore. I mean, she's the one that started all of this really. She taught all of us, including Charlotte, to keep secrets. To play with people," she paused, "but… she was still my mom."
"I understand," Mary said, "I don't expect you to ever forgive me."
"Well, you did go to prison for us. I mean, I know it was about Spencer – "
"It wasn't just about Spencer," Mary shook her head, "And I haven't exactly been in prison this whole time."
Alison frowned, "What do you mean?"
Mary closed her eyes for a moment, "You don't know."
"Know what?"
"After everything with Alex, I never went back. I mean, the police never came. Not really. It was Mona, it was all Mona," Mary explained, "She had us transported… to Paris. Just another dollhouse. That's where Charlotte found us."
Alison's eyes widened , "Oh my god," she blinked, trying to digest the new information, "Does Mona know that Charlotte's back? That she's in danger, that – "
"She already has Mona, Alison," Mary informed her, "I didn't see her. I just… heard the screams."
Alison flinched at the news before frowning, "Hang on, then where the hell is Alex?"
"Well, at least this time I gave you your own room."
The voice sounded through an intercom. Mona could see the smirk on the blonde's face through the glass.
"Yeah, you're real generous," she sniped back, determined not to show her fear, "The two way mirror's are a new touch too."
Charlotte tapped on the glass mockingly, "It opens up the communication, the flow of the whole place…"
Mona rolled her eyes, "Right. A place like this doesn't go up over night, you've been in town a while."
Charlotte shrugged, "Since I knew you were planning on getting Alison bought here. I figure Rosewood is a little passé at this point."
"And you're invisible here," Mona guessed.
"That definitely helps," Charlotte agreed.
"You need serious help," Mona said.
Charlotte rolled her eyes this time, "And you don't? I wonder what Alison will think when she realises you had half her family locked up in Paris."
Mona had been wondering the same thing, "She forgave you, didn't she?" she sounded more confident than she felt.
Charlotte chuckled, "That's different, I am family."
"Everybody has their limits, Charlotte," Mona warned.
"Sure," she agreed, "But that's one thing I love about Ali. She's just so… desperate to believe that people can change. She needs to believe it because if she doesn't… she's admitting that she can't change either. It does make her very easy to manipulate."
Mona moved closer to the glass, "You speak like a psychopath… but you're not. You fake feelings and you manipulate and you hurt people without guilt but I know there are things that make even you feel something. I've seen it."
"Don't try to play me, Mona. You won't win."
Mona was right up to the glass now, "You don't kidnap one mommy and get her to play other mommy if you don't give a shit about anyone. It's a twisted move but it comes from emotion. And you should know how dangerous that is."
Charlotte bit her tongue and swallowed hard.
Mona didn't miss the way Charlotte's jaw tensed, "Everybody's got a button, Charlotte. And yours is really easy. But answer me this, do you really think she ever cared about you as much as you cared for her? I mean, she was happy to just lock you up. Twice. Not exactly mother of the year."
Charlotte slammed her hand against the glass, "Another word, Mona I swear… "
"You'll what? You'll kill me?" Mona smirked, leaning closer, "You won't. Because I know something you don't know."
"I don't care – "
"Oh, trust me. You'll care," Mona smiled, "It's about mommy dearest. And your real father. You didn't really buy that guy Mary knew from college, did you?"
