When I go to leave the house and no one stops me, I get confused. They either want me to run because this is part of some plan or they really are trying to help me and are giving me space. I could go back and compel them all to tell me the truth, if that’s even possible. They might be resistant to mind control. I guess it’s worth a shot, and if it works, at least I’ll know I have a place to lay my head and food to eat. I turn around to head back and find Plath walking towards me.

“I was coming back. You don’t have to follow.”

“I wasn’t following. I was just-” He shakes his head, and his mouth forms a hard line.

“You were just what?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

I roll my eyes and walk past him. Once I get to the house, there is no one there. I look at Plath who followed me back.

“Where is everyone?”

“Out doing their jobs.”

“And that’s where you were going?”

He nods.

“Well, don’t let me stop you.”

I walk past him and into the living room. He leans against the door jamb and puts his hands in his pockets.

“I am doing my job. I have to babysit.”

Oh, nice.

I groan as I sit down on the couch. “I’m so confused,” I say more to myself than to him. I rest my head in my hands. I feel the couch cushion sink a little on the left and know he’s sitting beside me.

“I am too. Most days I don’t even know how to think.”

“How can you do this?”

“Do what?”

I almost look at him but decide against it. “Continually, time after time, be nice to me after doing so much to make me hate you!”

“Because contrary to what you believe, I have always been trying to help you. They have a plan to get you to cooperate with them, and I have a plan of my own to make you free. I may have done things to hurt you, but it’s because I had to.”

I look at him but only briefly before looking at the wall.

“I-”

I stop because I don’t know how to respond to that. I get up and go to my room. I shut the door and climb into bed. Sleep. I just want sleep.

I WAKE UP and look out the window. It’s still dark outside. I look over at the alarm clock and notice its 4:00 am. I get up and stretch but regret it. The pain medicine must have worn off. I fight through the pain and walk to the bathroom. It’s dark, so I open the wrong door. I quickly apologize to the tall figure standing near the window.

“Orion?” I hear Plath say quietly.

Damn. Of course it’s him. “I was looking for the bathroom. Sorry.” I go to close the door, but he stops me by touching my arm.

“Are you okay? Do you need some more pain medicine?”

I pull my arm away from him.

“I’m fine,” I lie.

“No you’re not. I’ll go get it for you.” He darts out of the room before I can argue. When he comes back, I’m standing in the hall.

I take the glass of water and pills from him and smile a little. “Thank you.”

He gasps sarcastically and places an exaggerated hand on his chest. “Did Orion Draper just tell Plath Emerson thank you?”

I can’t help but smirk. I shove the glass of water into his chest. He takes it and laughs. Damn, I missed his laugh. To be honest, I’ve missed him. Plath leans against the wall and shakes his dark shaggy hair out of his eyes. The smirk on my face leaves, and the numbness returns. Why do I want him so badly? Why do I feel like I need him?

“Orion, I’m on your side.” His voice is quiet and so damn perfect. I hate him for it.

“I’m the only one on my side, Plath. You’re a lying conniving asshole, and when I figure out a plan, you’ll be the first one I destroy. What I said earlier about having nowhere to run—I meant it. Every word.”

He laughs a little. “I don’t doubt that you will, and I don’t blame you. But I truly am on your side, and I think deep down you know that, but you just won’t admit it to yourself. No, let me rephrase that, you won’t allow yourself because you’ve been so burned by everyone. You play the ‘woe is me’ card well.”

I ignore his smart-ass comment. I’m not in the mood.

I huff. “Burned by everyone? More like drenched in gasoline and ignited in flames. Burned is too small of a word.” I pick at my non-existent nails that I’ve bitten to almost nothing.

He holds out his hand towards me. “And there it is. Woe is me, I’m Orion Draper. Everyone hates my fucking guts.” He rolls his eyes and puts his hands in his pockets.

“You are such an asshole!” I stare daggers at him.

He shrugs. “And you’re a bitch who doesn’t want to look at the bigger picture and see that I’ve been here all along trying to save your ungrateful ass.”

I scream at the top of my lungs and go to slap him, but he grabs my arm to stop me. I take a deep breath and hold it in. He stares into my eyes, and it’s almost impossible to look away. I let out the breath I was holding as I pull my arm from him and put distance between us.

“I dare you,” he whispers, inching closer.

I take a few more steps back. What the hell is he doing?

I raise a curious brow. “You dare me? Dare me to do what exactly?” I continue to inch further away from him as he advances.

He laughs quietly, keeping his eyes locked on mine. “Dare you to come closer. To stop being so afraid to admit everything you feel for me.” His expression is resolute, and his eyes are honest. “I want you to come closer. I want you to look at me like you did when you trusted me,” he adds in a whisper.

“I can’t. I shouldn’t.” I wrap my arms around myself and look away. My whole body is shaking. We went from throwing hateful words at one another to some strange version of playful, sickening banter. I place both hands on my head as it spins in confusion.

“The Orion I know hasn’t ever done anything she should.”

I let my hands fall to my sides and look at him. “The Orion you know doesn’t exist anymore.”

I find the doorknob to my room and turn it until it clicks open.

“And neither does the Plath you only think you know.”

“There are many sides to you Plath. Which part is it that doesn’t exist? Which part is real?”

His lips curl into a hint of a smile. “If you give me the chance, I’ll show you.”

I look into the room then back at Plath. “Trusting people like you and doing things I shouldn’t is what got me into this mess. You’re out of chances with me.”

“You were always in this mess, from the day you were born, and I think you know the last thing you said is a lie. Admit it.”

I look into my room again. “There’s nothing to admit. I’m going back to sleep.” I walk in and close the door. I rest my forehead against it and sigh heavily. I love him. I hate him. Which one is it? Or is it both? Definitely both.