Chapter 32 A Spider's Alibi
My mind went blank. There was no way I heard correctly. My parents? My parents are making a mutant army? That didn’t make sense. They fought them. They saved people from them. In what world did they do such a thing? Maybe this was a trick? Maybe Ezra’s group was trying to trick people into thinking the heroes are the bad guys, and the bad guys are the real heroes. It wouldn’t be the first time that happened.
I was so focused on wrapping my head around what was being said. I didn’t hear someone approaching till it was too late. Hands covered my mouth and pulled me back. I reacted quickly and removed the body that was grabbing me. I turned to face my opponent, and shock stunned me for a moment. It was the blonde who reported to my mom. What was she doing here? My mind couldn’t process, I needed to get out. I could figure out this information later. It didn’t matter, but she seemed surprised by my appearance. Did she recognize me? There was no way.
“You are Ezra’s girlfriend? What are you doing sneaking around?” She asked, clearly not realizing who I really was. I could work with that.
“Yes, I know I am soooo sorry I…” I needed to figure out a plan. “Please hear me out, it’s really embarrassing…” A deep male voice cut in,” My pathetic teenage whining off.
“Lilly, you good?” Voice called out. I recognized it as the guard who was with her. If she alerted me, I would be doomed. I needed to find the truth and make sense of what Ezra said. I gave her the biggest, cutest eyes I could manage. Praying she wouldn’t sell me out and see me only as a pathetic teen girl, I felt like one now. I was so stupid.
“Yeah, a spider just spooked me.” She called back, not taking her eyes off me. She then mumbled, ‘Don’t make me regret this.’
“Alright, finish up and come do the rest we need to keep time.” He called out.
“Yup!” She called out quietly, “What are you doing here?”
“I thought Ezra was cheating on me! He ran off suddenly and hasn’t texted me back. Because I saw him in a car, I followed. My intention was to confront him, in case he was.” Doing my best to sound embarrassed and as pathetic as possible as fear and anxiety crawled up my throat. What I heard didn't make sense, so I tried to push it out of my mind for now. I needed to focus and get out of here.
“What did you overhear?” She watched me like a hawk. I tried acting like prey and not a predator. I could get out of here by fighting, but not without risk. I needed to leave.
“Nothing really. I could just hear male voices, but not the words” half-truths would likely help me get out of here. “I tried really hard, but I am not even sure what was said. Something about helping heroes?” I tried a bit of honesty when suspicion grew in her gaze. I fiddled with my fingers from anxiety. Lilly was quiet for a long moment before saying.
“Alright. You need to leave right now. I won't tell anyone you were here, and you won't either? It will cause trouble for both of us,” she sighed deeply. “Also, Ezra is not cheating on you. Especially if he is coming here.” She explained, and I acted relieved.
“I pinky swear I won't tell!” I excitedly replied.
“Alright, I am going to bring you to a closet, then I am going to have the guards out front help me fix this couch. When they come in here. You need to run from the closet straight out the door and run away from here as fast as you can. DO NOT come back here again. I won't help you. When I say ‘you're a lifesaver’ or something to the effect, that’s when you are in the clear to run off.” She paused again, looking at me. “Don’t make me regret this.” I smiled fully at her and readied myself in the closet. I could hear her giggling, talking to the guards out front.
“Oh my gods, you should have seen the size of the spider. I thought it was a mouse!”
“I doubt that Lilly,” The guard said to her.
“Well, believe it or not, but thank you for helping move the couch back. I think I pulled a muscle when I jumped from that thing.”
“Not a problem, let's do this quickly, boss doesn’t like any of the posts not watched.”
“Oh, of course, you are a lifesaver!” She told the guard, as she spoke the code word, that it was clear for me to leave. I didn’t hesitate and ran out as fast as I could. She didn’t lie; it was clear. Rounding the corner I ran down the street. I didn’t have time to enjoy it as I smacked right into a large chest and landed on my ass.
“Fuck, that hurt.” I groaned.
“Hawks, what are you doing here?” Griffin asked. As he held out a hand for me to grab.
I was a couple of houses away from where I was, so it shouldn’t be too obvious where I came from. I almost let him help me up. He helped Ezra. He was probably heading to the house he just left. In that moment, I didn't trust him. Right now, I honestly don't know what to trust. Without a word, I got up, darted around him, and left him standing there confused. I think he said something, but I wasn’t sure. I couldn’t hear anything over the thumping in my heart.
I ran down a couple of blocks. I didn’t really know where I was running to. Returning to either apartment right now was not something I wanted to do. Was mine okay? Or was it really dangerous for me to go there? As it were, I couldn’t trust anyone. I couldn’t trust Ezra, at least I didn’t think so. So I shouldn’t go to the apartment he put up for me. My stupid heart wanted to believe him. But my head needed answers. I also couldn’t keep running around town like this.
I needed to chill out somewhere and think. Maybe even talk it out? That was it. So I picked up my phone and called the only person I knew would be there for me. Plus, they had some questions I promised to answer.