Author: Syrai

Fandom: Original // Anguish Series

Rating: T (PG-13) for now.

Genre: Fantasy // Sci-fi etc

Status: WiP

Summary: Second part of "Anguish series" - sequel to ‘Shades of Truth.’ Set about three years after the incidents of SoT. (You might want to read it to truly understand what’s going on in here) Romy’s life changes dramatically when the hidden witch gene seems to be awakening and all the sudden, she becomes the prey being hunted by her own friends. Now the question is, can she still be saved or will her mother’s fate be also hers?  

Disclaimer: One word: mine. Oh, Palahniuk quotes are owned by duh, Palahniuk himself.

_Awakening_

When you get everything you thought you wanted, there’s always some new target to shoot down. Something else you think you need. I don’t know if it’s the essence of humanity or just bubbling greed. I used to think it’s greed, but I’m starting to believe it’s just the way we are. A way to stay alive. When a kid falls down on the hot asphalt and hurts his knee, his mother buys the child some candy to heal the bleeding wound. No, no - the wound on the knee is healed by a curing kiss, but the so called spiritual damage, mental wound can only be cured by something, not someone. A girl gets dumped by her boyfriend and what does she do? Cry a little and go buy shoes. Some new clothes. New haircut. Anything that will give her life a meaning again and a reason to live.

How pathetic do you have to be when that’s the only way you can be happy? Getting everything you want and settling with nothing less, because you’re greedy son of a bitch who can’t take pleasure out of life’s little things?

Very.

I can feel the bed shake when Trey suddenly moves – he’s still deep asleep and it brings a relaxed smile to my face.

Yeah. Well hey, I never said I was any better than those pathetic little creatures, ok? Never said I’d be different cause I’m not. I’m just like them; selfish. I can only be happy when I have everything I wanted.

Trey’s sudden movement causes Chelsea to let out a quiet whimper and roll over to her left side, facing me with this weird smile on her lips… that I feel is somehow out of its place; misplaced. She hasn’t been seeing nightmares which is good, but I’m worried it’ll come back to haunt her later. After the shock of her parents’ death catches her up, the nightmares will undoubtedly follow sooner or later and I don’t know what to do when that happens.

Wow.

Stop right there, Romy. It sounds as if I have already decided to keep the girl rather than find her a decent place to stay… There’s a fine line between what she needs and what she wants and I know it. She said she’d want to stay with me, but what she needs is a home where I know she’s safe. It’s not what she is with me, the quite opposite of safe actually. A little girl should not be forced to live in the middle of this chaos and she most definitely should not keep running for her life for the rest of her days. That way she’ll have at least one problem less to worry about. I should contact Patrick as soon as possible. No way I can do it on my own; find her a home fast enough before I get too attached. Hell, I think I’m already over that phase. It’d be better if I just dumped her on his door and ran.

But I can’t do it, can I?

Just what the fuck has happened to me? A former hunter taking care of a young witch while… okay, so, ‘being in love’ with a hunter isn’t the exact phrase I’d use, but it’s the only one that comes close enough, isn’t it? Whether I like it or not, it’s the truth. It kind of complicates things a lot and I hate complications.

One might wonder how this is even possible. It’s all about going over the edge I guess, falling into the abyss; taking risks. He took a risk by entering this motel room. I took a risk by letting him. And as for taking risks, Trey’s a top-taker so this is what you get. He wanted to stay with me. Another risk to take.

It was Trey’s biggest risk, but I’m thinking mine was to let him meet Chelsea even though she didn’t see who killed her parents. My inquire on that particular subject stayed short because she simply refused to talk about it. When I mention her parents a curtain falls between us and she ignores my words as if she hasn’t heard me. It’s like she’s suddenly denying what happened to her and in a way it makes sense. What you don’t know can’t hurt you. What you don’t want to know, you forget. I found her sitting in the small dirty bathtub, arms around her knees rocking her trembling body back and forth. With closed eyes she repeated one simple sentence: "Not real."

I took her into my arms and at first she kept screaming and kicking me away so hard that I thought she’d hurt herself, and me. After awhile she finally stopped fighting and relaxed against my chest. I felt her cry, but she didn’t let out a single sob. My brave little girl.

After an hour spent in silence, me petting her hair and holding her in my arms, I walked her out of the bathroom fearing it would turn out to be, not only my biggest risk but mistake too… I walked her out of there fearing Trey’s reaction, but when he saw the young girl, the look on his face stayed the same. Got a bit softer maybe, but I couldn’t see a single sign of regret or guilt. I probably should’ve asked him who it was that attacked her family and shot her, but I rather not know. Not now anyway. The picture I’ve painted in my mind would shatter and I can’t take that right now. I want this to be real.

"I swear to God Trey, if you hurt her… if you betray me… us now and this is some sort of fucked up set-up, I will make you pay." That’s what I told him while hiding Chelsea behind my back. Her cheek against my back gave me intoxicating strength that I never knew I had. Everything in my being told him I was serious, at least it was supposed to.

"I won’t."

Okay, fine, perhaps I shouldn’t have believed him so easily, but I wanted to and that’s why I’m here; lying in the bed with Trey on the other side and Chelsea between us. I never said I was smart either. If I was, I wouldn’t be here.

Yesterday this would’ve seemed the most impossible scenario to come true but yet, here we are. If my life keeps going on like this, I don’t even want to think of what happens in the future. It’s ok though, I really can’t see myself anywhere in ten years anyway. Most people have dreams and fantasies of what they’ll become and I see nothing. I’m a blank page. That and the whole being hunted- factor really gives things a new angle so to speak. Without any doubts, it’s another reason why I have to let Chelsea go. How is it that someone can grow on you in only few days?

"What you thinking?"

Trey. I glance over sleeping Chelsea and see him staring at me with sleepy look in his eyes. I wonder what woke him up from his peaceful dream? I clear my throat and whisper: "Chelsea. You. Me. Us."

He chuckles quietly and the smile on his lips is as malicious as always. Fine, smile, whatever. He quirks his eyebrow teasingly. "Oh so now there is ‘us’, huh?"

Screw you too, Crichton. Make fun out of my misery, go ahead. He’s joking around, but I know we have to have this conversation eventually so we might as well get it done. Oh gods, why do I always end up into these impossible situations? I sit up turning my back on him to get some space between us and stretch my arms and neck to ease the tenseness. And to get something to do, naturally. Raking my messy hair with my fingers and wondering how awful I must look, I throw a meaningful glance over my shoulder to let him know something’s up. "We need to talk."

Quirking his eyebrow again, Trey follows my example and carefully throws the blanket aside. After sitting up, he takes a deep breathe preparing himself to face what’s coming next. "I know", he sighs staring the wall in front of him.

Alright. Time to do it then. He gets off the bed first. Only then I get up on my feet grabbing Trey’s T-shirt from the floor while doing so and pull it on my white tank top. It’s not exactly cold here so I don’t need it, but I feel much more comfortable wearing it. I nod towards the bathroom and enter the room first. After pulling on his jeans Trey follows me in silence. I have no idea what he’s thinking, but it’s alright. I have no idea what I’m thinking either. This is not what I thought would happen to me; to us. There was supposed to be no ‘us’ and whatever we had, was supposed to be forgotten. Gone.

"So", he starts closing the door and sits next to me on the edge of the bathtub, "it’s been interesting month."

Hell yeah, you could say that. "Sure has", I reply and it’s pretty much all I get out. Now that we should have the talk it seems I don’t really know what the talk is really about. About us? Us living together or us going to different directions? Can I really ask him to let go of the life he knows, leave the Centre behind and come with me? Can I live with myself if I make him choose between me and his family? No one should be forced to deal with that issue. It’s obvious he loves me, but how far can you go with nothing but that? Love isn’t enough, haven’t you learnt that by now?

"What are we gonna do?"

I shrug for I have no solid answer. "I have no idea. But I’m not going back, Crichton. I have a little girl here I’m going to protect even if it kills me." And I mean it. That’s the deal, take or leave it. What are your terms? We need to sort out the facts; how much he’s willing to do and to change. The same goes for me too, of course… But I’ve already changed so much that I don’t think there’s anything left of me to change. Not without losing what makes me who I am. And he? All his life he’s been a hunter; hunted witches and now he’s supposed to join them. Join us? How can he throw everything away like that? All his beliefs and such… With me it was different; is different. I’m living through the mutation every day of my life and learning to see through different eyes, but what does he know? I’d hate to think this is just the Centre’s way to get me back, but the thought does cross my mind more than once.

"I know that… but I don’t want you to go through this all alone, you know. I don’t know what the truth is, I don’t know what happens to you or what happened. I’m just saying, whatever it is, you shouldn’t go through it alone. I’m here." He’s as confused as I at first was. Still am, occasionally. It’s no wonder - takes time, will and strength to get used to this all and though I know he has strength, I’m not so sure about his will.

"You still believe witches are the bad guys", I state the only fact that keeps us apart. It feels so odd to speak like this… I could be talking to the old version of me. Putting myself into his position makes me realise how far he’s already gone… He’s crossed the same limit I have, but he doesn’t know that. He doesn’t know where the limit goes. Either you’re a hunter or you ain’t. Just by being here… if he truly means what he said, it’s obvious he’s not one of them anymore. He thinks he is, but he’s not.

"I’m one of them now", I say, "That’s a gap we can’t fill. I appreciate what you’re trying to do but I can’t be with someone who doesn’t believe me."

I jerk when he lifts his hand up – it’s only natural when most of the time people lifting hands at me are trying to hit me. But he, he touches my cheek so gently that I barely feel the touch. A hand finds its way behind my neck and pulls my head closer to his. "I believe you", he says and kisses my forehead so lovingly that I don’t know how to respond. His hand slides down my back and stops on my waist.

How easy would it be just to let go of the present and pretend it’s the same thing. But, I know it’s not. "No… N-no…", I stumble closing my eyes, holding back the burning tears, "you believe in me."

"Parker…" He starts, but never finishes his sentence, only looks at me. He doesn’t deny it. There’s nothing to deny and I didn’t expect it, although I did hope he would try. But how could he? All those things I know now have been concealed from him for years. To him everything is like it was to me three years ago and the only difference is that he’s willing to change sides just because he loves me. I was forced to do so.

I raise my chin and look straight into his eyes hoping he doesn’t see the pain flashing in them. "You don’t believe that you’re working for the wrong guys, Crichton, and that’s the big fat but." As long as he truly believes all those lies, there’s no future was us and he’s very aware of it. So unless he changes the way he thinks… well, only then we can work this out. And though I know I’m right about the Centre, it feels selfish to ask that. What rights do I have to ask him to leave his family and whole life behind him just for me?

Still, Trey shakes his head rejecting my words. "That’s the but only because I don’t know what you know."

 Alright, he does have a point.

"Tell me", he says with demanding tone, but the only thing I can see in his eyes is a pleading, "don’t argue about this. Just tell me."

//

I wonder if my parents’ marriage had turned out differently if she had told him the truth in the early beginning and if he had done the same. So many secrets to hide; too many to live with. I don’t blame her for everything anymore, I can’t. Part of the blame goes on dad too, for he wasn’t as innocent as I thought. It takes two to make marriage work, after all.

Now I get it why she didn’t tell dad about her genes; it’s not something you want to share with anyone. Not even with the ones you love. It’s something you want to deal with on your own and hope it goes away because even when you realise it’s more common than you’d think, it feels like you should be ashamed of something. Of yourself. By not being normal you’re faulty somehow and you don’t want others to know your one big flaw, because in so many ways, it’s also your weakness.

So I did what I wanted mom to do all along; I told Trey everything the Centre kept as a secret and a whole lot of more information I had gathered during those three years. I don’t know for sure how it affected him; what he believed if anything, but I’m guessing the outcome will be same as with me. Frustrated, angry, disappointment. Either angry at me for making up such stories or angry at the Centre for the exact same reason. Someone has to be blamed; learning that the work you’ve been doing is… wrong in every way possible, is devastating. You start to see yourself as a mindless murderer who never questioned orders but simply followed like a blind man. Before I found out the truth, was there ever a moment during which I had doubts about what we’re doing? I can’t remember a single one if there was and that’s what bothers me.

How can you be so stupid?

"Are we gonna stay here forever?" Chelsea’s cheery voice asks from somewhere behind me and I glance over my shoulder to find her sitting on the crappy cooker, swinging her legs from side to side. She’s wearing the clothes I bought her; jeans and yellow T-shirt. Yellow is definitely her color; fits the blonde curly hair and green-blue eyes. At the moment, she doesn’t look impatient and she didn’t sound like it, either. I’m standing in front of an open airing-window, smoking my – Trey’s cigarette and waiting for Trey to come back. He went to get some breakfast from the shop nearby and though it’s only been 5 minutes, it feels like an eternity. I keep asking myself if he decided to go back to the Centre and sell us out. If he decided to leave and never come back? If he realized he doesn’t want me the way I want him… For fuck’s sake. I can’t help but shake my head silencing the desire to smack my head with my own shoe. This is why all kind of relationships based on emotions should be forbidden when it comes to hunters. If nothing had ever happened between him and me, I wouldn’t be feeling this fucking weak right now. I wonder if I could just pack our stuff and leave Trey here? I could if I had to.

"No." Was it an answer to her question or mine? "Just till I know where we’re headed to, ok? I need to contact Patrick." I try to sound as normal as possible, but I’m guessing the girl can hear the worry and see the frustration. Blowing the smoke out of my mouth while tapping my foot nervously against the floor and looking out of the window every 30 second should tell her where we’re standing, and besides, she’s a smart kid. She’ll get the hint one way or another. My arms are crossed but suddenly I feel cold; lost somehow. Gods I wish he’d come back already. He was right, I can’t do this alone.

"Why do you need to contact him?"

"I.." I can’t tell her, I just can’t. Can’t stand the idea of telling her that she can’t stay with me when it’s quite obvious it’s what she wants. Still, I have a feeling she already knows what I’m thinking but wants to torture me and get me to say it. To admit it. You know, just to punish me. "Don’t worry ‘bout it, Chessie, everything’s gonna be fine."

Is it? It wasn’t what the answer she was looking for, but it’s the only one I can give. "If you say so", she says but as expected, doesn’t sound all that convinced. One final inhale after which I throw the cigarette out of the window and turn to look straight at her. "Honey, everything’s ok", I try my luck with trying to convince her with an assuring smile on my lips but nothing seems to penetrate her adamant. I close the window, but this time without looking out. All the sudden, the world outside isn’t ready to face me again… and I’m not ready to face it. "Don’t worry, okay?" Will I ever truly be?

"Not worrying, just curious."

Being a child I suppose it’s her duty to be curious, but it can end up hurting her and I’d hate to see that happen. I doubt there’s anything with what I can feed her curiosity, so the only thing left for me to do, is to walk to her and land my own hands on hers as they’re resting on her lap. "I won’t let them hurt you ever again, you know that right? Whatever happens, you’re my family now."

It’s not a lie... Then how come I feel like I’m betraying her? "But you’re gonna leave me." That’s probably why. I may be leaving, but she’s still all I got.

The look on her eyes has the ability to tear your soul apart from your body. I guess I deserved that one. "It’d be too dangerous for you. You’re a kid, you belong into a good family with a dog and a white fence…" Encouraging smile meets my lip peacefully, "and a walking-closet, you know, somewhere where they can take care of you. I can’t."

"Yes, you can", she snorts. Great. A fight with a little kid was just what I needed to make the day better, huh? If it was Trey I could always throw him out. Well, I could try throw him out and lose the little I have left of my dignity while at it. At least he’d get the hint though, but with Chelsea is doesn’t work like that.

"Look, I’m not gonna fight about this subject with you", I reply hands on my hips. I’m still standing so close that I can feel her legs against mine. For a minute there I’m worried she’ll kick me in the knee out of frustration, but for my fortunate, she doesn’t. "Yeah, because you think you’re automatically right just ‘cause you’re older than me", she comments glaring at me. Well duh?

"No", I protest, "I’m right because I know better." It sounds pretty logical to me, but she doesn’t seem to think so. Instead of saying anything back at me, she only crosses her arms matter-of-factly and gives me the kind of look that makes her years older than what she really is.

The sigh climbing up my throat gets swallowed down. This definitely proves I wouldn’t have been a very good mother-figure anyway. Obviously, I can’t handle a 12 years old girl, so just imagine what it would be like with a teenager on my hands. In a word: chaotic. I’d be screwed. Never really though what my father went through when I was a teenager and just these few days spent with her, it makes me wonder. Was I an easy child because he let me be raised by the Centre or was I difficult one because of that? I can’t remember. I’d assume I was an easy one to handle of course; after the Centre showed me the power it possessed, I never really dared to swim against the tide. Taking whatever they offered was a better way to deal with it all.

"Someone’s coming."

What? I look up and the first thing I see is a scared look on Chelsea’s face. Someone’s coming? Automatically I cast a worried glance towards the door to make sure it’s still closed. "Someone’s coming, I’m not lying", she says raising her voice up with a level, "Someone’s coming!"

"Okay, okay!" I wrap my arms around her shoulders to keep her from panicking but it’s not really helping. What the hell can I do? I have no idea what’s causing this sudden panic attack of some sort and therefore I have no clue how to make it go away. Then I hear it. An impatient knock on the door.

Oh my God… After last night, I’m pretty sure Trey wouldn’t knock. Grabbing Chelsea’s chin I force her to look straight at me. The brave young girl with whom I was just fighting has turned into a scared child. What the hell is it that she’s sensing? When I’m sure I’ve gotten her full-attention I lift my finger to touch my lips signaling her to be silent. "Shhh. You know what to do, don’t you? Be quiet. Go to the bathroom again, I’ll handle this", my whisper can barely be heard, but she nods. I lift her down on the floor and as quietly as a cat she dashes into the bathroom. This time I hear the lock click.

Another knock, louder one. "Romy, for heaven’s sake, it’s me! I need to talk to you!"

What the hell is going on in here? First it’s Trey banging my door, then Raven? Just how damn careless was I with hiding my tracks, I wonder.

"Please, Romy."

Within the few following seconds I’ve already walked to the door and opened it. Of course the first rational thought that should’ve entered my mind is a grand escape… but this is Raven we’re talking about here. If he came to claim his promise to kill me… well, I just need to make him take it back then. With the door pulled open, I can see Raven standing there all alone casting nervous glances to his sides.

"Can I come in?"

I can only nod and step aside letting him walk pass me into the room. At first he just studies his surroundings, but after he’s sure no one’s going to attack him from the shadows, he turns around to face me. Gods, he looks so different… sad, nervous… exhausted. Like the weight of the world would be lying on his shoulders. He hasn’t even shaved and there are black spots underneath his eyes telling me hasn’t slept that well either. Goddamnit Raven, what have you done to yourself? "You look like shit", I blurt out closing the door.

The tension lingering around us is broken by his husky laughter. "Yeah I know", he says smirking, "your fault though." Always is, boy. He’s probably spent half of his nights trying to locate me… running from one place to another, hunting me and people I’ve been in contact with. It doesn’t make me flattered though, just scared shitless.

"I’m sorry." There’s not even a hint of insincerity in my voice, probably because I truly mean my words. It lacks in self-pity though, for that’s a feeling I refuse to feel. I’m simply sorry for everything he’s been forced to go through on my account.

"Trey’s not here, right?" Not the question I thought he was going to ask, that’s for sure. What is he doing here? "He…" I hesitate to admit it yet, so instead I say; "No. Why’d you think so?" Now let’s only hope he doesn’t show up any time soon. Wouldn’t want Raven caught me lying… Wait, why had he asked about Trey? He couldn’t possibly know about our… it takes a minute for me to decide what the best word to define it is… thing? Yep, definitely the best one. Most describing.

"I know he came to see you yesterday."

How? I don’t have to ask it out loud, I’m pretty sure my face asks it on my behalf. "The asshole locked me into the nook for the whole fucking night", he adds massaging his neck. The nook? Let me get this straight. Crichton locked Raven into the Centre’s store room… for weapons? It certainly explains his crappy looks…Alright, so, should I actually understand what he’s trying to say? If so, I’m not following.

"I don’t know what’s going on, Romy", he continues quickly, "but I do know he’s playing with you."

He’s doing what? No, no he’s not. He can’t be… "I… I don’t understand." Don’t understand or don’t want to understand? Is there a difference, honestly?

"I don’t either. I was ordered to hunt you down and kill you." Yeah, great, doesn’t that sound adorable? Coming from your best friend’s mouth it truly has its own, weird tone… I’m not sure if he’s trying to get me attack him or what, but it’s definitely the direction I’m heading towards. "He was ordered to do something else."

He was ordered to do what? Can I truly trust him? How can I be sure that it’s not a written scene for my entertainment? Well, how can I be sure Trey showing up wasn’t one? The simple answer is, I can’t. Who is it that I trust the most?

"Like what?"

The answer? Myself.

"I don’t know." He both looks and sounds aggravated. This isn’t an act, I know him better than that… this is real. Still, I’d feel a whole lot better if I had something else than the same tank-top and panties on as I had when I woke up. How can you miss your gun holster this much?

"But if you don’t find it out soon, you’re dead, Romy. I mean it." It just keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it?

"How do you know this?" Well, I think it’s a fair question to ask. Either it’s a plan made by the Centre, which I actually doubt or he’s found something… something bad. When it comes to the Centre everything you find is bad one way or another. I stare at him, trying to read his expressions but failing at it. Either he’s just getting better with hiding his true feelings and thoughts or then I’m just not as good at it as I was before.

"Agent Green", he says making me draw a breath. Agent Green… I remember her more than well. Three years ago she did me a favor that could’ve cost her everything, even her life. She gave me a file that told me the truth about my mother; about the witches being test subjects of inhumanly exams… I should’ve had ran away the day I opened that file, but I didn’t. And every day of my life, I have to live knowing that I could’ve ended my own suffering years ago if I had only chosen another path. If I had walked. Why didn’t I? I wasn’t really scared of doing something that radical… I just hoped it wasn’t true.

"What about her?"

"I… know this all, because I asked her." You did what? Was he serious? How could he do something so stupid when this whole thing has nothing to do with him!? He has a little daughter to take care of, goddamnit! "I know she told you something important three years ago, something that changed you. We met briefly few days ago, but all I got from her was a file addressed to you.

Gods, do I even want to know? "What… did it say?" No, I don’t, but I guess I need to know.

Raven shrugs shaking his head. "Wish I knew. I was knocked out before I had a chance to check it out and when I woke up the file was gone."

The more he tells me, the more confused I get. It’s almost unbelievable how evil one sick agency can be… the horrible plots its management is willing to carry through only to cover up what’s really going on in there… Whenever I think I’ve met the bottom of their trash bin, something new and unseen gets dumped on me; some new despicable crime.

"And Green?" A part of me doesn’t really want to hear the answer to that question. Maybe because when it comes to the Centre, I know how they take care of their problems so I automatically expect the worst. He looks away not able to meet my eyes. "We were supposed to meet the next day… they found her body yesterday. Seems she was killed by a witch."

My heart stops beating and my lungs stop working. She was killed by a witch? She couldn’t have. "How’s that possible?" Although, let’s not forget that faking a lousy autopsy report isn’t something they wouldn’t have had done before. "Are you sure they didn’t just fake it?" I point out.

"I was there in the autopsy", Raven explains suffocating my hope, "Michelle and her connections got me there." Damn.

"I don’t understand, how can… she couldn’t have been… I mean…" I can’t seem to finish the sentence, but I don’t really have to either.

"You’re asking the same questions I was." Raven takes a step closer and I don’t even attempt to move. If he wanted to hurt me, he would’ve done it already. Hunting is his specialty, not torturing.

Man, how did this happen? The air seems too heavy to breathe and my legs refuse to support me any longer. I sit down on the armchair, elbows against my knees and bury my head between my hands not caring if I’m once again giving him a chance to take me down. "How the fuck did you find me?" The question was born from rage, from confusion. "I thought I was so careful…"

I look at his nervous fidgeting through my fingers. "Trey found you", he says. Oh, that explains the look on his face. "Last night he showed up at my door and told me we have a job to finish." He pauses only to rake his hair sighing, "I knew he meant you… he didn’t know I had found out his orders didn’t match mine. We went to get the right kind of equipment when he pushed me into the damned nook and locked me up. I have no idea who he bribed, but they didn’t find me till this morning."

Even if he had done something like this, how does it fit with the plot? It doesn’t. "But how…"

"Before he left, he gave me this address. He said that if I really cared about you, I’d come here with two tickets to some god-forsaken country from where they’d never be able to find you… he would never be able to find you. He said…"

"… That I’m here. He told you about me." It’s Chelsea voice coming from the bathroom’s doorway. When the hell did she open the door… and what the hell is she saying?

Quickly my eyes move from Chelsea to Raven, but to my surprise he doesn’t look to be confused, not at all. "Yeah…" He turns to look at me with a pleading face, "I know you have no reason to believe me, Romy, but you’re my girl. My best friend. Fuck the Centre, ok? I know you think it was me who attacked her… family, but it wasn’t."

I didn’t see this coming. I honestly didn’t. "Then… then… who… was it?" I choke the words out. How did Chelsea know what Raven was going to say? How did Trey know about me and Chelsea and why did he tell Raven? There’s not even a one credible reason that I can think of.

Time to think this shit through is, however, something I’m not blessed with. "Apparently the Centre has a secret division even we didn’t know existed."

Oh fuck. How many layers do we have to peel to find the rotten heart of this crap? "How do you know this?"

"Trey told him", Chelsea whispers with a cold voice before Raven even opens his mouth to explain. Not that any of the explanations he has would answer my questions… "Shit, do I have to put a metal-helmet to keep her out of my mind?" Though Raven snaps the question, it makes Chelsea smile and roll her eyes. A reaction I never in a million years thought he’d receive.

"It doesn’t work like that. I can hear only what you want me to hear. I’m not that good yet, but I will be."

Hold on. Hold on! Only know the conversation between those two is starting to print into my mind. The girl is a mind-reader and Raven knew that? I don’t understand… how? Someone hasn’t told me everything.

"What the fuck is going on?" From my point of view, I have every reason to be angry. It’s my life that’s going forward in front of my eyes, but still I feel like it was someone else’s. This can’t be what’s happening to me; this can’t be my life. Things never go the way you plan them to, do they? Something always has to come up, good or bad, doesn’t matter. Something. Life’s made of little icky surprises, some of them make you smile, some of them make you weep. How you take them is what defines how the moment will go on. Torture is torture and humiliation is humiliation only when you choose to suffer, just like one of the quotes on Trey’s arm says.

"I believe Trey is back at the Centre right now", Raven says shaking me back from my thoughts; back to him, "You need to leave, tonight. You’re not safe here. You need to take that smart-ass with you and leave for good." When I focus my eyes on the present again, I can see him holding two airplane tickets in his hand. They’ve planned it all without considering what I want to do with my life, haven’t they? Screw the fact they’re trying to protect me… what they’re really doing is making the decisions for me. And well, that’s something I can’t abide.

"So, you don’t really care what I want do you?" Childish, yes I know. But not knowing what’s the truth and what’s best for both Chelsea and me is driving me insane.

"It’s not like that and you know it."

Of course, I do, but… "But Trey…"

He cuts off my words by kneeling down in front of me and wrapping his fingers around my fists. "Whatever he’s told you, you can’t trust him. You think you love him, I know. I’ve known for a long time, alright? I’ve waited and waited for your confession and never got it. It’s fine, really, I would’ve been ok with it. But it ain’t that simple anymore. I’m not the enemy Romy, he is… I think that’s what he’s been trying to tell you all along."