All the Lies (Lies & Truths Duet #1)(49)

The lights flicker before the locker room goes black.

I stop breathing.

No, no.

This can’t be happening. Not again.

My pulse spikes as I reach into my bag for my phone. This time, I make sure not to drop it.

I’m trembling all over, my fingers barely able to type anything.

I search for Asher’s phone number, but before I can hit it, there’s another rustling sound behind me.

I spin around, but it’s too late.

My face slams against something hard and my vision goes black.





This is what happens when you don’t play by the rules, Reina.

You lose.





Hands reach out for me as I run down a dark, filthy alley.

“Rai…”

“Go, Rai.”

“Run! You have to go.”

My heart thumps louder at that voice. I know that voice.

That voice has been caught between my heart and my ribcage for as long as I can remember.

I’ve been missing that voice from my life, and it has finally returned.

Reina?





I startle awake, my chest constricting with a frightening force.

“Reina? Are you okay?”

I’m disoriented for a second. It’s like I’m still in that alley, battling against the invisible hands coming for me.

It takes me a few blinks to realize I’m home, lying on my bed. Izzy sits beside me, wiping sweat off my forehead.

The back of my throat feels dry and scratchy. “W-what happened?”

Her brows furrow with concern. “Aren’t you supposed to tell us that?”

My throat itches as I speak. “What do you mean?”

A look of sympathy covers her features. “Asher found you passed out in the locker room at school.”

Memories crush down on my brain. Asher and me in the showers. We agreed to meet outside then…then the lights went off. Something collided with my head and then everything went black.

“Did Asher see what happened?” I ask Izzy.

“I don’t think so. He did report it to the administration, though.”

Not that they’ll do anything. They found no footage the previous two times. This one won’t be any different.

My fingers tremble as I pull the sheet up to my chin. The back of my head hurts and something in my body feels sour and beaten up as if I’ve been running the entire day.

“Where…” I clear my throat from the onslaught of emotions. “Where’s Asher?”

“He just stepped out,” she says with a tight smile. “He’ll be right back.”

I try not to feel betrayed that he left me in this state, but an ominous feeling gnaws at my insides.

Something is wrong. Completely wrong.

“There you are.” Jason steps into the room, his brows scrunched.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” Izzy scolds.

“It’s fine,” I say as he sits on the side of my bed.

Jason is most likely Cloud003, but as I watch his eyes, I don’t think he’s my attacker.

“Jason!” Izzy hisses. “Stand up.”

“I was worried about you.” He ignores his mother, his features hardening. “This is getting serious.”

“Serious?” I repeat.

He exchanges looks with Izzy, as if getting her permission.

“Don’t you dare.” Izzy stands over us like the Grim Reaper, glaring down at her son.

“She deserves to know,” he says.

“It’s not our place to tell her,” she argues.

“I deserve to know what?” I stare between them.

Izzy shakes her head frantically.

“Tell me.” I pull on the sleeve of Jason’s hoodie.

He finally breaks eye contact with his mother and meets mine.

“This incident, the one from the classroom, and even the one on the rooftop were all…” He trails off.

“Were all what?” My voice is as haunted as I feel.

“They’re similar to things you dared others to do.”

“W-what?”

“I think someone is taking revenge on you, Reina. They’re making you pay for what you’ve done.”

I try to breathe, but I can’t. Liquid streams down my cheeks, and it’s then I realize it’s tears.

This…can’t be happening.

“It’s increasing in intensity,” Jason continues. “What if next time—”

Izzy swats him, cutting him off mid-sentence. Before I can urge him to keep going, Asher appears in the doorway.

He glares at how close Jason is sitting to me then narrows his eyes on the tears streaming down my cheeks.

“What are you doing here?” he asks Jason.

“I told him to stay.” I sniffle.

Izzy pulls her son by the arm and nods in Asher’s direction. “We were just leaving. Get better soon, Reina.”

The door closes behind them, leaving Asher and me alone.

He stays at the entrance, watching with a shuttered expression, his thick lashes fluttering down on darkened eyes.

Something in me lightens at seeing him. He’s always been there after every atrocity. He’s not a white knight per se –black knight is more fitting, but the fact that he’s always been there makes my heart race.