The Truth We Hide

Lillian Black

Two years. It's been two years since my life was surgically removed and tossed away like it was nothing.

For two years, I chased a shallow light at the end of the tunnel– pretending, if I left, it would all be over. I could leave.

I played my cards right.

I didn't waver, I stayed on my proverbial track.

And now, with the final picture so close, I could feel it within my grasp– I couldn't afford distraction.

And Alex Fernandez is nothing but one.

My uncontrolled piece. An anomaly. I can't exercise my authority on him– he exists outside my realm of control.

Befriending him is like walking right into rain without an umbrella. You're bound to get wet.

So I had to get him the farther away from me. But he was persistent. And after getting to know him... it was getting harder to pretend he was just another spoilt brat.

Alex Fernandez– charming and lively, with a smile that could melt the coldest hearts and revive the dead ones– so like the light I was desperately chasing. In ways I did not know I needed.

Slowly but surely, I could feel the cards I was clutching to my chest be tossed on the floor one by one. Until it was just me, standing there– bare and exposed– before him.

Our meeting may not have been preordained. But our end will be.

Alex Fernandez

It's easy to hate a girl like Lillian. Cynical. Cold. Calculated. Her dead eyes penetrated through me as soon I walked through the café door– analyzing my every more. Classifying me: pawn or disposable.

I got paired with her for a stupid project. But I didn't anticipate our meeting would leave me frozen in my seat.

My only mission was to be done with the project, and never see her again. But our meetings became more frequent. More... addictive. The calculated gaze of hers softened. I was getting closer to her, or so I thought.

Until I realized I was just another piece in her chessboard.

And now, I'm neck deep in her mess. I can't get out, and honestly– I don't want to.

But when the truth we hide is laid bare on the table,

Choices will be made.

Betrayals are ordained.

Guns will be drawn.

Sacrifices are inevitable.

And truths– that were never meant to see the day of light– will be unearthed.