Page 5 of Burning Your Lies

I already have friends. Friends that haven’t come to see me. Friends that believe his lies.

“I understand you’re starting group therapy next week. That might be a good chance for you to make some friends. It would certainly help you find a sense of normalcy here.”

Friends only let you down.

“You’ve been in a silent state since being admitted here.” He frowns. “What are you afraid to say out loud?”

He won.

And I lost.

I lost it all.

I pretend to sleep when the night nurse comes to check on me. When my door shuts, I’m alone again. Within the room, there is a single bed, a stiff reading chair, and a securely fastened drawer attached to the wall. The door far to the left leads to the bathroom, also serving as a wet room. The windows don’t open wide enough to let real air into the room. The pale blue walls are making me feel sick, but I never leave their confines.

A single tear drops to my pillow as I think about my mum.Who’s checking on her? Is she okay? Is she wondering why I’ve abandoned her? Does she think the bad men have taken me?

And then there is Elise. In a desperate attempt to escape Xavier’s clutches, we both remain chained to him. I wonder if she desperately craves the comfort of my arms, as I crave her warmth. I clench my trembling fists, nails digging into mypalms, as I bite down on my lip to stifle the scream rising in my throat. I would give anything to be with her.

The pain in my breasts has finally stopped. Those first few weeks, I experienced the agony of producing milk and having no baby to feed. Those days I cried from the physical pain.

But not tonight.

Tonight I silently cry for all I had and all he stole.

4

Huxley

“Are you sure?”

Mia and Jordan share a look. Unluckily for me, we are sat in my living room, scrutinising the picture of the supposed Elliot. Despite declaring their homes bug-free, we agreed my home was the safest place from Xavier. He’s the CEO, but my security is impenetrable.

Mia’s index finger stabs the image. “You’ve asked us a million times and the more I look at it, the more certain I am that it’s not Elliot. He looks too…” She hesitates. “Put together. I can’t explain it, but I just know that isn’t him.”

Jordan nods his head. “The tattoo is slightly off. Elliot had his exactly here.” He points to a spot on his neck. “From the angle this guy’s head is turned at, we shouldn’t be able to see the tattoo. That isn’t him.”

I nod my head. “Okay. You know what that means, right?”

Their gazes fall to the floor. “Yeah,” they whisper. “He’s dead.”

“Me and Sav when to his crematorium. If he got rid of Elliot’s ashes, how do we prove that he's dead?” Jordan asks.

I point at the picture. “We find him and ask why he agreed to play a dead man.”

Mia stands and paces the room. “This can’t be real. I mean, are we really talking about murder, imposters, and a stalker? I served him for years. He was always sonormal.”

Jordan scoffs. “I’ve seen that man up close and personal. There is something cold in his eyes. Elliot knew it. Savannah learned it. Look at where they are now.”

Mia stops her pacing and looks at me. “Speaking of which, why is Savannah not allowed any visitors?”

“What are you talking about?”

She shrugs. “I wanted to visit her and they said she’s not allowed any visitors for the foreseeable future. Did they let you in?”

Admittedly, I haven’t tried to visit her yet. I don’t know how I’m supposed to face her after I failed to protect her. I promised to slay the dragons for her. Instead, I let her walk straight into his flames. I can’t see Savannah until I have an ironclad plan in place. When I next see her, I won’t be showing up with another empty promise.

“I haven’t had the time to go.” I rub my temples, feeling a headache coming. “This has Xavier written all over it. He’s keeping her isolated.”

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