Ann stands there as Oscar and Ben leave the scene, wanting to chase after them she takes a few steps and then realises someone was waiting for her. She looked and sees Andrew staring at her, his expression both frightened and confused. She takes a deep breath knowing she has come explaining to do but is too concerned about her boyfriend and brother to think straight.

“Andrew,” Ann says. “You should go back to the apartment…”

“Ann, what was she talking about?” Andrew asks firmly. She looks at him unsure of what he wants to hear. She knows she shouldn’t have lied to him in the first place and despite knowing he might one day find out; she did not see this coming.

“It’s nothing,” Ann lies as she tries to walk away. “Let’s just go back, I need to find Oscar and Ben. They are probably…,” just then Andrew tugs on her arm and she now stares at him.

“Forget them!” the expression on Andrew’s face screamed rage as she now gets nervous trying to remove herself from his grip. “There is something you are hiding from me isn’t there.” Ann does not want to reveal the truth to him like this, a truth she herself has been ignoring. But with Fiona’s confession, she is left without words. “I asked you a question.” Andrew tightens his grip on her arm as she now lets out a soft cry of pain.

“You’re hurting me, Andrew.”

“Just tell me one thing, did you know about Nicholas killing those people?” The pain in Ann’s heart hurts much more than her arm as she struggles.

“Andrew please…” She closes her eyes tightly as she hopes she can close her ears too.

“Yes or no. It’s that simple. Just tell me, did you know or not,” Andrew pulls her closer and looks her in the eye repeating the question. Ann is unable to get the words out but her silence the look on her face tells him everything he needs to know. He abruptly lets her go as she lets out a sigh.

“I…”

“I knew it was too good to be true.” Ann looks at Andrew who is now on the verge of tears.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Andrew,” Ann says beginning to panic. “Let me explain, we did not bring you here to…”

“It didn’t make any sense that a stranger would let me live with them. The doctor told me there was something not right but I didn’t listen. I feel like a fool,” he says in disappointment.

“No Andrew, you don’t understand. We really did want to help you.” Ann says pleading desperately as she cannot bare to see Andrew cry.

“Please I can’t take any more lies. You thought I was Nicholas… that I was some killer,” Andrew now buries his face in his palms trying to control the emotional storm in his heart.

“No,” Ann replies softly. “Please Andrew, Nicholas was my ex-boyfriend and I loved him. Yes, he made a few mistakes but.”

“Mistakes?” Andrew says now angry. “Did he accidentally kill them or something? Wait, I don’t want you to tell me, you’ll probably just lie about it. I can’t take this anymore,” Andrew says. “That’s why your brother was so curious about me, why Ben always acted weird around me. You were trying to frame me?”

“No!” Ann says trying to convince him to hear her out. “There was no proof, Nicholas was innocent.”

“Innocent? Proof?” Andrew asks growing frustrated. “So, then what was this some kind of sick prank? A setup?” Ann begins to cry and tries to explain.

“When we first brought you in the cabin that day, I admit I thought you were Nicholas. But you are so different from him, he had a tattoo and different hair and just…,” Ann says trying to control herself. “I swear we just wanted to help you, then Oscar got involved and I think Ben might have.”

“They thought I was some serial killer,” Andrew says looking devastated.

“No,” Ann says. “They don’t know…”

“Know what! I am not a murderer, Ann!” Andrews’s voice echoes in the lonely night. “Tell me at least one thing,” Andrew steps forward and looks at Ann crying. She momentarily stops and looks up and sees his earnest eyes. “Did you at any point believe I was Nicholas?”

‘No,’ Ann’s mind lies but she remains speechless. Seeing how much he wants the truth she couldn’t bring herself to deceive him once more. After a few moments, she nods and he takes a few steps back.

“Thanks for being honest,” Andrew says softly as he begins to walk away. Ann takes a step forward but can’t proceed, she can offer him an explanation to stay, nor can she bring herself to lie to him. She stands there watching him leave and cries bitterly, trying to remind herself to find Ben and Oscar.

A few moments later someone approached her, with tears in his eyes Ann looks up hoping to see Andrew, but it’s Ben. He stands there looking at her emotionally, as she wipes her tears away, ready to comfort him. He comes closer and gently places his hand on her cheek as she looks up and notices his tears as well. Without a word, the couple embrace and cry.