Could I truly love someone as I am now? Jordan and Tom died not long ago, and I still.. I still miss them. They were not bad people. The man who stands in front of me now is just my type and has said all the right words, and done all the right things. Yet I still suspect something. Am I being irrational or am I being cautious? I would be lying if I wasn't interested. I'll give him a chance, yes, that's the right thing to do. Jordan and Tom would want me to be happy. I took a deep breath and regained my composure, feeling the weight of the past lift slightly as I focused on the present. My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of nervousness and excitement coursing through my veins. I stiffened up, getting ready to respond to his genuine heart, my mind made up to embrace this new possibility despite the shadows of my memories.

She's flustered! I could've played it safe and over a few months slowly get closer to her, but with my new looks and attitude, barely anyone can resist. She opened her mouth, her voice trembling slightly, "I.. would be lying if I said I was ready for love.." No, not like this. I must think of something to say. I took my hand off her cheek, sensing her unease. "Sorry if I was too aggressive." She quickly interjected, "No, no. That's fine. I actually kind of liked it." She twirled her hair, a telltale sign of her nervousness and budding interest. I responded graciously, softening my tone, "If you're not ready for love yet, maybe we can go on a date to get to know each other better?" She raised her head, her eyes lighting up at the prospect, a shy smile forming on her lips. "Yeah.. that doesn't sound too bad."

I offered a handshake, hoping to solidify the connection. "Nice to meet you, Allison." She reciprocated, her grip firm yet gentle. "Nice to meet you too, Jake." Looking at her now, I saw beyond the initial flustered exterior. She seemed like a normal girl, full of potential and promise, and perhaps, just like me, seeking something real amidst the chaos of emotions. In reality, Allison was seated on a throne in a dilapidated dark room, the air thick with the scent of mildew and decay. The room, owned by a cult run by a murderer, was dimly lit by flickering candles casting eerie shadows on the cracked walls. She may not have been at the crime scene physically, but she was there mentally. If she didn't find out about Amy's existence, she would have never been a target.

I smiled at her, showing my good side, hiding the venomous satisfaction brewing inside me. She is flirting with her friend's killer. Technically, I am doing the same. I wonder how they're viewing this situation from Hell right now. If I were to garner empathy for these people, my revenge would be at stake. Every interaction, every word spoken was a calculated move in this game of deceit. I kneeled before her, the cold, damp floor sending a chill up my spine. I kissed her hand, "I appreciate your goodwill and will continue to do good things here," I said.

I looked her in the eye, my gaze unwavering, searching for any hint of doubt or recognition. "May I have your phone number to schedule the date? Of course, I'll pay, and you can decide where we go." I must be a gentleman, despite the darkness that surrounds us both, masking my true intentions beneath a veneer of politeness .She smiled, her lips curling up as she fished out her phone, her demeanor softened by my approach. "It's.." she began, her voice trailing off as she readied to share her number. She told me her phone number and I input her as a contact with the heart emoji. I texted her, "This is Jake." to see if it was the right number. Her phone screen brightened, and I knew it was hers. I told her, "I'm going to go home. Text or call if you need anything." She waved, "I'll see you soon." I descended the stairs and left the room, happy in my progress. I don't know when she would choose the date, but I could wait. The man who stood at the door guarding it said nothing and let me walk past him. It isn't any of his business to know what I did in there anyway. As long as I don't hurt her he would leave me alone. I also left the building, and started walking home.

A mile into my walk to my car, I noticed someone following me. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the suburban streets, illuminating the neat rows of houses and manicured lawns. I was still in this sort of neighborhood-like area, and it was bright outside. I didn't look back so they wouldn't get startled. Their footsteps were soft, a gentle tap-tap that indicated they weren't wearing sneakers. It could be heels. I turned right past this large fence where they couldn't see. The fence, adorned with creeping ivy and weathered wood, provided the perfect cover. I stopped and crouched down behind a thick bush, its leaves rustling softly in the breeze. I could feel the tension in my muscles as I waited for whoever it was to turn the corner. I do not want to attack them immediately. The town is still reeling from me killing Jordan and Tom. The memories of their lifeless bodies and the subsequent chaos still haunted the community.

I heard them walk closer, their footsteps growing louder. I prepared myself. Just as they were about to pass the fence, I dashed out from the side, ready to confront them. They jumped, clearly scared by my aggressive action. The fear in their eyes, the shakiness.. I got a good look at the person. It's a woman? Wait! It's that desk lady from the office! Her familiar face, framed by dark, wavy hair, brought back memories of our brief interactions. I asked, "Why are you following me?" Her hand clutched her chest, her breathing rapid. It was certainly racing. She said, "I think... I know who you are." Who I am? Sweat started to form around my face, but I played it cool. I said, "Who I am?" with a confused look on my face, raising an eyebrow in feigned ignorance. She said, "Oh, don't play coy. I'm on your side." I continued to play coy, "On my side?" She sighed, clearly frustrated by my act. "Ok, damnit! I know you're undercover, but damn. It's me, Miyako!"

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Ten years ago..

"Come in the water, Damon!" Miyako said, splashing around. Her laughter echoed across the serene lake, her happiness contagious. I stood on the dock, a bit wary to go in. Miyako and her brother, Niko, played while I tried to learn fishing. The dock creaked under my weight as I shifted uncomfortably, eyeing the clear, inviting water. Amy, with her boundless energy, patted me on the back. "Wanna play sand castles?" she asked, her eyes shining with excitement. I hesitated, "Hm..." I thought about what I wanted to do. Watching Miyako and Niko having fun in the water made me reconsider. "How about we join Miyako and Niko in the lake?" I suggested. "But I wanna play sand castles." Amy insisted, her voice now tinged with disappointment.

I crouched down to her level, offering a compromise. "How about we play it after, all together?" Her face lit up with a smile. "Ok!" I didn't really want to go in the water, but I felt a responsibility to keep everyone together and happy. Reluctantly, I took off my shirt, feeling the cool breeze on my skin, and slowly entered the lake. The initial shock of the cold water made me shiver, but Amy plunged in with no regard for the temperature. It's cold. My knees were submerged, and each step deeper into the lake made me more apprehensive. Miyako and Niko were kind of far out, splashing and laughing. If I went all the way out there, the water would be up to my neck. Taking a deep breath, I slowly continued forward, my determination soaring.

Miyako yelled, "Niko, come back!" I gazed over to them and saw Niko splashing around, uncontrolled. Was he drowning?! Miyako's screams grew more frantic, "Mommy, daddy!!" I turned to Amy, urgency in my voice. "Amy, go back to the shore!" She nodded, her eyes wide with fear, and quickly swam back. I abandoned all sense of cold or warmth and plunged in, swimming with all my might toward Miyako and Niko. As I got closer, I saw Niko's frantic movements slow, his strength waning. He went under the water. Miyako was petrified, frozen in place, her eyes wide with terror. I dove under, the cold water closing in around me like a vice. The icy temperature threatened to overwhelm me, but I pushed through, my focus solely on reaching Niko. The water was murky, and I strained my eyes to spot him. Finally, I saw his small figure sinking deeper. Summoning all my strength, I swam down, my lungs burning, and grabbed his hand.

I pulled him up from the depths, breaking the surface with a gasp. His eyes were shut, and he didn't respond when I talked to him. Miyako and I struggled to the shoreline, Niko's limp body heavy in my arms. As we reached the sand, I laid him down, my heart pounding with fear. Our parents finally noticed the situation, rushing over, their faces masks of horror and guilt. They had been neglectful, too absorbed in their own world to see what was happening. My energy was completely depleted. The adrenaline that had fueled me drained away, and the world began to blur. I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness, the last thing I saw was Miyako's tear-streaked face and Niko lying still on the sand.

Niko did survive that day, and Miyako was incredibly thankful. A few days later, Niko went back to the lake alone somehow and drowned. Her parents moved away, and our relationship ended like that. She's back here now. I can't believe I didn't recognize her. Didn't she have heterochromia? Miyako pulled off a contact lens, revealing her heterochromia. "This is why you didn't recognize me, I think." she said. Her eyes, one blue and one red, were as striking as I remembered. I always did like them. Miyako asked, "Do you remember me?" I nodded, my voice nostalgic. "Yes, you are my childhood friend. I'm sorry about Niko." She sighed, her eyes reflecting the pain of old memories. "It's a tragedy what happened to your sister as well. I know Arnold did it. Arnold also killed Niko." What? You drop that bombshell on me?! Of course it isn't just me who he has hurt! This bastard Arnold... I struggled to process this new information, anger and disbelief churning inside me. "Wait, he... you're doing the same thing as me?!" Miyako's expression hardened.

She said, "I don't have the strength to fight like you do. I've been gathering evidence of my own. I propose we work together." The offer was enticing. Us together... I know her, and she isn’t crazy. I hugged her, feeling a mixture of relief and resolve. "I know it was my fault that I didn't reach out to you, but now I can. If you need someone to talk to, I'm here. We will both work together... to bring this whole thing down!" She reciprocated the hug, her warmth and sincerity true. "Haven't seen you in nine years, but you're as kind as ever." I smiled, appreciating her words. "Right now, I want to take down Allison." At this point, I trusted her entirely. Sure, she had just shown up and dropped all this information on me, but there was something about her—something genuine and unwavering. Her presence soothed me, like an angel.

She kissed me on the cheek, her lips warm against my skin. "I kind of had a crush on you as a kid." The confession took me by surprise. We were close, but I hadn't realized it was like that. I looked at her, processing her words. "My... no, our path will probably not end well. Are you sure you want to do this?" Her eyes flashed with a mix of anger and determination. It wasn't directed at me, but at the people who had caused us so much pain. "Those bastards... right after you save Niko, he is taken away from this world. I will not let them live happily! I moved back here for college and to join this stupid cult. God will forgive me if I end these sinners." Her fierce resolve mirrored my own. It was like looking into a mirror, seeing my own pain reflected back at me.

She continued, "I have your phone number on the records. Text me on any plans you have." I nodded. "I'll keep you informed." I paused for a moment, then turned back to her. "Thank you for reaching out. I was sort of... getting upset at how hard this journey has been and will continue to be. If we both take on each other's burdens. Anyways.. Seeing you again made me truly happy for the first time in over half a year." A tear rolled down my cheek. I walked toward my car, slowly leaving her, I felt a heavy weight lift from my shoulders. She walked off in the opposite direction, her voice carrying back to me, "I'll continue to make you happy."