Chapter 10 Ten

Chapter 10 Ten

As soon as the words left her lips everything inside me went completely stop, and a part of me felt like it got aggressively ripped out. I stood there staring at her unable to understand why the girl I had carried our memories for years seemed like a stranger.

“Waverly…” I called out again my voice coming out rough and heavy. My chest ached and begged she showed some familiarity towards me and nothing just make me a fool in front of strangers that seem to watch us like a type of entertainment.

But she didn’t move, she simply stood and looked at me blankly, with no sign of emotion, then she she exhaled slowly and spoke, “I told you already” she said calmly, her tone almost bored and out of patience.

“you have the wrong person” she finished.

Quickly I shook my head and took another step toward ignoring the way the tension in the room thickened.

“No” I stated firmly, my voice cracking a bit, “no that’s not possible because I would know you anywhere.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly at me, completely assessing me making me a bit uncomfortable under her sharp gaze like she was judging me

“You’re very confident for someone who clearly doesn’t know what she’s talking about” she replied calmly

“I know you…” I pressed quickly because if I stopped talking just for a second to think I might actually break form and I couldn’t afford to do that, not here, especially not in from of them.

“You hate thunderstorms, you always did…you used to hide under the bed and dead me with you because you said the sound felt like the sky was breaking and—“

“Stop!!” She cut in sharply making the air around us shift instantly. I couldn’t help but freeze in place, then it felt as though she was holding something back and didn’t want it to slip out.

“Don’t !” She added more quietly this time, though there was an edge to it.

“Don’t talk like you know anything about me” she grits out with a slight frown.

Suddenly a bitter laugh escaped me, “I don’t know you…?” I said slowly forcing each word out carefully, “I grew up with you” I poured.

My chest ached as silence stretched between us while she simply stood there unfazed, unaffected by my words and that hurt more than I could imagine. I had thought maybe that would have triggered something but it didn’t.

Then behind me, I felt a bit of movement and I knew without turning Asa and Ezekiel were still there watching and listening. I hated that they were witnessing this moment, this crack in me that I couldn’t hide no matter how hard I tried.

“You said you were searching for your sister” Asa smooth and calm voice suddenly came up.

“I was” I replied not looking back at him because my focus remained entirely on her.

“And now you’ve found her?” He asked.

“Yes!” I said firmly, even though the certainty in my words felt fragile.

Then a quiet scoff came from somewhere behind me and I knew instantly it was Ezekiel, “she doesn’t seem to agree” he said bluntly.

“Well I didn’t ask for her opinion!!” I snapped back before I could stop myself

Immediately everywhere went silent as they all watched sharply like they were waiting for something to happen. She then folded her arms over her chest as she spoke up

“This is so pointless “ she said dismissively her gaze flickering away from me for a brief second wrote returning colder at me, “I don’t know you and I don’t care to”

Her words hit me hard, like a brick thrown to my face and at that moment it felt quite hard to breathe.

“You’re lying” I said quietly because I didn’t have anything else to hold onto except that belief.

Her lips suddenly curbed into a simile but there was no humour to it, “ you’re delusional “ she replied.

And at that instant something inside me immediately snapped, “or maybe you’re the one pretending”, I don’t back my eyes narrowing as u stare at her trying to find something underneath the mask she wore perfectly.

“Because the last time I checked you weren’t this cold or empty”

In a blink of an eye I notice her jaw tightening then her gaze flickered for a second before she locked it back down again.

“Careful” Ezekiel suddenly warmed from behind me, his voice low and dangerous as he took a step closer like he was ready to intervene if it went any further but I didnt turn.

“I’m not scared of her “ I said quietly but I was more pain then I have ever endured.

Then she stepped forward closing the small distance between us and stopping just close enough for me to see every detail in her expression, every slight tension in her shoulder that she tried to hide.

“You should be…” she said softly and the calmnes in her voice made the warning feel more real than if she had shouted it.

For a moment neither of us moved as the air between us felt thick.

“You remember…” I suddenly said, my voice quieter now because I saw it, there was something buried beneath all that control and I refuse to believe it was nothing.

Instantly her eyes harden, “I don’t” she replied

“You do,” I insisted taking a small step closer despite everything telling me not to, “you just don’t want to admit it.”

Silence stretched again as the tension grew thicker, like something was about to snap if I pushed a little further.

Asa shifted slightly behind me and I could almost feel his interest sharpening like this had become more than just a situation to him it had become something intriguing.

“She’s not worth this,” Waverly said suddenly her gaze flicking past me briefly toward him before returning, “whatever you think she is, she’s not.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” Asa replied calmly.

Her expression tightened at that and for the first time there was clear irritation, “She’s a liability,” she argued.

“She’s useful,” Asa countered.

“For now,” Ezekiel added.

Then the tension shifted again moving away from just us and into something broader then I realized in that moment that this wasn’t just about recognition or denial anymore this was about positioning, about where I stood in all of this and whether I would be seen as something worth keeping or something disposable.

Waverly’s gaze returned to me once more and this time it lingered longer like she was trying to see something deeper something she didn’t quite trust.

“You don’t belong here,” she said quietly.

“Neither do you,” I replied without hesitation.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, “I earned my place,” she said.

“So did I,” I shot back even though I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant yet.

A small pause followed before she stepped back slightly creating distance again like she needed it like being too close to me was something she couldn’t allow.

“This conversation is over,” she said finally.

“No it’s not,” I replied immediately because I wasn’t ready to let this end not like this not without answers.

Her gaze instantly sharperened, “it is for me,” she said coldly.

She turned moving towards the door making it clear she was done, her mind made up and there was nothing I say that would change that. Panic unexpectedly surged through my chest because I couldn’t let her walk away like this, not again, not after everything.

“Waverly wait,” I called out and this time there was no hiding the urgency in my voice.

Then she stopped and the room went completely still as seconds passed slowly and painfully. I stared at her back waiting hopefully that this time something would break and make sense.

When she spoke her voice was quieter but sharper than before, “If you really believe what you’re saying,” she began slowly, “then you should start asking better questions.”

My breath caught.

“Like what?” I asked.

She didn’t turn fully but her head tilted slightly just enough for her voice to carry clearly across the room.

“Like why you were sent here,” she said.

A chill ran down my spine.

“And when you figure that out…” she added after a brief pause, “maybe then you’ll understand why I don’t know you.”

Her words settled in heavily and before I could respond and push other she walked out of the door without another glance leaving me standing there with more questions and a growing realisation that this far more complicated than I had allowed myself to believe.

Behind me Asa let out a quiet breath almost like a soft chuckle.

“Well,” he murmured, “that was interesting.”

I didn’t respond because my mind was still stuck on her words replaying them over and over again trying to find meaning in something that felt deliberately twisted.

Ezekiel stepped closer his presence heavy, “You’re either telling the truth,” he said bluntly, “or you’re both playing a very dangerous game.”

I finally turned slightly my eyes still distant, “I don’t play games like this,” I replied quietly.

Asa’s gaze lingered on me thoughtful calculating.

“No,” he said softly, “but someone clearly does.”