The lie we lived

The shadow protocol

Rae slammed the bedroom door hard to rattle the door hinges. The echo bounced off the walls, loud and satisfying. Childish? Maybe but she didn’t care at this moment.

She stood in silence in her room, her breathing uneven, her fists clenched. Huhhh she sighed “what did he expect, he expected me to shut up and let them insult me like I’m some rat picked upped from the street.” She muttered to herself in anger.

Sleep was a joke at this moment, her thoughts wouldn’t shut up long enough long enough to let her rest anyway.

Were the shadows even concerned about her or do they think she’s already disappeared into an unknown island.

Or have they simply crossed her of the list like a failed experiment since she failed to do the mission and the deliver the information on time.

The idea dawned on her. If they thought she was dead, maybe that meant they didn’t plan to fix the assumption.

“Perfect just perfect Rae muttered to herself in anger.

She paced around in circles for a while, as she chewed her bottom lip before muttering something under her breath and grabbed her blanket. If the shadows won’t look for her then she will find a new way to get out because that’s how it has always been for years.

The halls of the Roth-more estate were meant to terrify. Long corridors, flickering lights and creepy painting on the wall. Rae moved fast but quiet, avoiding every camera angle the was.

She went around looking for something she didn’t quite know what it was until. She stumbled upon it.

A Garden

The garden looks like it’s just came out of a movie and the moonlight set the mood perfectly. Roses, lavender and night jasmine . It was like stepping into a dream.

Rae stepped into slowly ,taking in the beauty with every she step she took , her finhers brushing a cluster of dew laced flowers.

It was..peaceful.

Which of course ,meant it wouldn’t last forever.

She laid her blanket on the ground and watched the stars and how peaceful the night was.

She heard footsteps behind her and she already knew who it was.

They were confident but careful like those who knew every c***k of this estate, who could move through shadows without disturbing them.

Damien, she muttered to herself.

The air shifted whenever he was around; he had this quiet energy, a little haunted, a little smug, yet so mysterious. It was like he knew every answer but wasn’t planning on sharing until you begged.

“you have a habit of wandering around,” he said without greeting.

She didn’t look at him,” and you have a habit of showing up wherever I go. Should I be flattered or concerned?”

He didn’t laugh but he heard teasing in his voice. “that depends, are you planning to steal anything tonight?”

“only secrets,” she said, finally trying to look at him.

“Are you always this charming or is it just a full moon thing?”

You shouldn’t be here he said.

Neither should you she shot back, but here we are, look at us breaking the rules together.

Damien stepped into the silver light of the moonlight, his jaw clenched and an unreadable expression as always.

You're not making it easy for me, do you know that? He muttered

I never said this was going to be a walk in the park now did I she said, I'm here to play my part in this Romeo and Juliet play we're doing, get my check, and then leave.

Yeah so it's all for the money he said

What else do you think this is for sulfate, well I lost that ages ago, and besides your family isn’t so fond of me at the moment, they treat me like a ticking time bomb.

That’s because you are, I figured you already know that he exhaled glancing away.

Rae blinked. “wow, points for honesty I guess.”

You asked Damien said

I always ask but I never get any answers.

He stepped closer, voice low. “because some answers get people killed.”

Rae looked at him before she replied, “So does silence.”

Their eyes locked. Neither of them moved.

The tension was familiar now. Not exactly comfortable but the was something electric about it. It felt like standing on the edge of something dangerous and not knowing if the fall would kill you or set you free.

Rae tilted her head. You know for someone who's supposedly keeping me safe, you spend a lot of time looking at me like I ruined your life.

That’s because you're in the process of doing so.

Well, that’s dramatic even for you, she laughed.

Damien sat down on the edge of the fountain beside her, close but not touching His voice dropped to a whisper, do you want to know what they think?”

Rae stared at him, I wouldn’t be out here at 3 a.m. if I didn’t now would I .”

They think you are a wild card, too sharp, too curious and that could ruin the image they have built for themselves.

I didn’t realize that by just being myself, I automatically turn into a threat to others, she said.

In this family, those are major flaws.

She looked at him again with questioning eyes but what do you think? She asked.

Damien didn’t answer immediately, then I think you see too much and feel more than you portray.”

Rae was stunned, that was so unexpected of you.”

I think he continued, you are the most dangerous person in this place, you are straightforward forward and they have figured that out.

What about you?

I'm still observing, I don’t like making assumptions on little to no information, Damien said.

The moonlight carved silver shadows across his face. Rea wanted to ask him why, why is he trying so hard to impress a family that didn’t care, why, he kept pulling away every time she thought she had gotten closer to him and why is he was cold and secluded.

But instead, she said, you know if you were just a little less cold, I might like you and do what you want.

They sat in the garden a little while longer. No words, just silence as they admired the beautiful night sky.

Eventually, Damien stood up, “Come on let me walk you back.

“why because it's not safe or you want to act like my knight and shining armor.

No” he said, because I don’t want you wandering off again. Not after what you did.

She didn’t argue but just started walking.

At her door, she turned back. You didn’t have to follow me.”

From now on I will always follow you.” Damien said, then with a half smile, “it's protocol now.”

Ah,” Rae murmured. For your information, that’s what we call stalking nowadays.

He said nothing, just held her gaze for a moment, a little longer than intended. Long enough to feel like it’s a choice.

Rae blinked and just like that he was gone, swallowed by the shadows as if he'd never been there.

Rae stood still, replaying the moments of tonight's events then she went into her room and closed the door.