Chapter 149

***KARA***

“You shouldn't have to go through blackmail silently sweetie. You could tell anyone about it,” Annika said as she massaged my scalp.

She had been over at ours for two days to spend more time with us before we left for Hawaii. During the space of two days, the blackmail became intense and I couldn't keep it to myself anymore because she was with me the whole time.

I sighed deeply. “Mateo knows about it.”

She stiffened, “And he's not doing anything about it?”

“Annika,” I said, “ he wants me to report to the police but I can't. I have no idea how those people know I'm in therapy and that I have altered. That's a lot of information and only people close to me know.”

She nodded, “I understand, Kara. I never knew you were in therapy too. You should speak up.”

“Then they'll clap back and release those videos. Sooner than later, everyone would think I'm just a crazy person who can't tell between her reality and the beyond,” I sat up and glared at her. “Someone close is onto me. For whatever reason, they want me down and I promise I'll make them crumble.”

She shivered and looked away from me, “Okay, that's scary. But then, what will you do?”

I smirked, “I could easily track them down but I won't. If they want to play this game, then I will play it my way. I barely have any friends so whoever is extorting money and threatening me with my alters is an inch close to me.”

Guilt was evident on her face as she got on her feet. She looked suffocated for some reason I couldn't decipher.

“Kara,” she whispered as she neared me again, “I don't want you to think I'm nuts but then, what if it's Mateo?”

“It's not,” I yelled abruptly and slowly reduced my voice to a whisper, “Mateo is not a blackmailer. He's my brother. He's your boyfriend too. Why would you think that about him?”

“He's not even your real brother!” she exclaimed. “Think about it. Anyone could switch up on you.”

“Enough!”

She sighed, “Kara—”

“Shut the hell up Annika,” I yelled, fury exuding me.

“Okay, I'm sorry,” she said as she rubbed her heated cheeks. “You said it may be someone close to you and you barely have any friends. Mateo is the closest to you,” she concluded.

I crossed my arms on my chest and arched a brow at her. “Why can't all fingers be retraced to you, Annika? You're also close to me.

“You think I'm behind all of this?”

I flashed her a dark look, “Are you?”

“I hope not,” she muttered and smirked at me then rapidly shook her head, “Okay, this is creepy. I don't like where this is headed. I'm suffocating.”

I laughed softly, “You aren't so strong Annika. But really it's not my brother.”

She nodded and got on her feet, “My thoughts were just running far and wild Kara. I don't know anyone close to you.”

“It's alright,” I said.

She twirled her hair around her hand and blinked at me, “Well, there's this guy I've been talking to. He's a friend and I've told him a lot about you—”

“A lot?” I said and contorted my face, “What do you really know about me? I don't think we’ve spoken that much about me.”

Annika sighed, “Kara, can you stop being difficult?”

I furrowed my brow at her, “Because I asked a question?”

“Mateo talks about you non stop Kara,” she started softly. “Before I met you, I knew you. And I'm sorry I told you about the friend. It seems this is such a wrong time to bring this up. I should leave.

I watched her pack silently, guilt gnawing at me for passing the aggression and frustration of the blackmailers onto her but I couldn't trust anyone. For now. I was too conscious about everything and my therapist had told me it was from within my circle.

“I'm sorry Annika,” I whispered as I sat up.

She threw her arms around me, her hug comforting and warm. “It's okay Kara. Don't be too hard on yourself okay? Get your rest okay.”

“What were you saying about your friend again?” I asked after breaking the hug.

She shook her head, “That he wants to meet you. I was thinking we could meet at the park but you're clearly against it. So it's fine.”

I smirked at her, “Text me the location and the time. I'll be there.”

Her eyes twinkled, “You’re not joking right?”

I shook my head, “It would be rude to turn down an invitation.”

“Great! I will see you later in the evening, right?”

I nodded, “You should get going. It's getting dark outside.”

She grabbed her bag and blew me a kiss, before leaving, “You’re the best sweetie.”

I chuckled, “Go away please.”

The moment she left, I threw myself on the bed and pondered what she said about Mateo. ‘When you check within the circle, also check outside the circle. Don't limit yourself, always think outside the box’ My therapist’s words came back right to me.

I sat up. Could Mateo… I didn’t want to think about it. He couldn't and he wouldn't. He was far too busy thinking of how to get us away. Why did he want us away? I was sure it wasn't me. I hadn't had my alters in a long while. I knew Mateo had other reasons why he didn't want me around but he wasn't willing to disclose. Yet.

I thought about Annika. Of all the people she could've pointed fingers at, why did it have to be my brother? Has Mateo mentioned anything about it to her? Why was she so pushy about it? And Mateo said he was never going to tell anyone, yet he snitched. He told Annika I wasn't his sister. He told her the truth and he didn't tell me he had.