Built on Lies

Built on Lies
"What do you mean that's how we will defeat that thing?"

I stood up and crossed my arms. Our daylight was soon to run out as the cold was starting to bite my skin. I shivered, not just because it was cold, but because I had a feeling of where this was going.

"This whole town was built on a foundation of lies. Big secrets that each and every one of you continue to bring here." Susan deadpanned everyone. She was becoming weird and I wasn't sure if I liked it. Or if I believed her.

"And what does that even have to do with that thing in the forest?" I was going to question everything until that thing was dead and no longer luring people in.

"Well sweet, innocent, Evangeline, that thing feeds on the lies of the people. It is quite literally fueled by the deception that you all give each other day in and day out. People who have the largest secrets to tell are the ones she wants the most. So what are you hiding Evangeline? Why did she want you over Serenity? Serenity has probably told more lies than any of us can cough, yet she chose you to bring into the woods."

Her stare never changed. Creepy.

"I don't have any secrets. I feel like you're lying to us. We were able to kill it once, we can always try that route again!" Deny. Deny. Deny.

I knew exactly what she was talking about. My parents. No one knows what happened that day. No one knows why I came here. Janet knows bits and pieces about how my parents passed. But no one knows the full story. No one will ever know.

"I'm lying? Why would I lie? I told you my secret, you heard her scream, she lost some of her power. Not much of course, but you, you could probably deplet a lot of her power. Turn her into nothing. Then you can truly kill her."

"Is that why she never wanted me?" Lily rose from the grass and stood beside me.

"I believe so. You were our lie. Everytime we entered the forest through the tunnel, we always felt her watching us. The first day we put you there she came after us. Never you though. That doesn't mean you don't have a lie to tell, it just isn't big enough to matter."

All of this was sounding like a big pile of bullshit. Lies? Was she serious? Maybe she hit her head on the way here or something, but this sounds ridiculous.

"As much as I would love to believe this, it sounds like a bunch of nothing! What are we supposed to do with that? Sit around the campfire and kumbaya with eachother?" I'm sure my words came out snarky, as I meant them to be, but Susan still never faltered.

"Almost exactly that. You can choose to believe me, or you can choose to die at the hands of the Temptress once she lures you back here. Just because you aren't near the forest doesn't mean you're safe from her calling. Now that you've been in those woods and have seen her, and her you, she will be waiting for you. She won't give up until she has you and can consume you fully."

A few people gasp around me. Oh hell no. I wasn't going to spew my secrets out to a bunch of randos, especially not Serenity and her goons. What would Finley think of me after? I truly believe I killed my parents that day. I swore I would never tell a soul.

"I can see the cogs in your brain turning a mile a minute Evangeline. Are you okay?" Finley was now in front of me, leaning down to my height.

"I-, I'm fine. Thank you." Another lie.

Another scream came from inside the forest and everyone cowered.

"Humor me Evangeline. If this doesn't work, we can all march in there and kill her ourselves." Susan was now smirking. But nothing about this was funny.

"If this doesn't work, you'll be going in there your damn self." Screw Susan. Screw the Temptress. Screw Lainey.

"Fine by me. Everyone gather round! It's time to play a game."