| C H A P T E R - 45 |

ANASTASIA:

My heart was broken.

Shattered into fragments, echoing the pain that resonated within me. Locked away in my room the next day, I wept before the picture of my mother. How could he? How could my father so callously forget her? How could he not make even one attempt to find her and instead accept her disappearance?

Why?

I couldn't fathom it. I could never release her from my thoughts. I had to know what happened to her. Why did she leave me? I was willing to do anything, absolutely anything to find out.

However, the town wasn't deemed safe, or at least that's what they said. News reports constantly highlighted the LarksVille Police's relentless pursuit of Miley. Another week passed in a blur. I could only venture outside under the vigilant watch of Xavier or Rio, who stuck by my side wherever I went.

I chose to dismiss the message from the unknown sender. I already knew who it was; there was no mystery for me. As expected, the message vanished like magic after being read. I wasn't prepared to engage in his cat-and-mouse game right now.

I'm concerned about Miley and what Sheriff Hampton and Russo might do to her. Her reputation has already been tarnished. I've been attempting to contact David for the past few hours, but he's been occupied. Likewise, Lara and Lorenzo have been in touch over the phone for updates. I miss them, and I miss Lorenzo even more. We haven't seen each other since my dad forcefully took me home and everything else has happened. 

I wonder if he misses me as much as I miss him. Well, he does. The calls clearly indicate that. We've barely been off the phone, like obsessed teenagers, since I confined myself at home.

It was almost evening, and I was trying to delve into the cases as much as possible to assist. To be honest, for a moment, I hated the Devil. Perhaps it was all him, forcing Miley to become someone like this, a criminal.

Now, no matter how hard we all try to save her, the crime branch has her name marked in red.

Tired from all the research I flopped on my bean bag. My mind flashed last week's incident and my heart aches every time.

My father later apologized, but the damage was irreparable. He had broken my heart. He tried to convince me that I was delicate, fragile, a person who could shatter easily, which is why he wanted me out of worries and any kind of trouble. He recounted the accident from twenty years ago when, at the tender age of five, I had fainted due to shock due to fire caught up from my marshmallow burning my hands. Ever since, panic attacks haunted me.

But that didn't earn him my forgiveness.

It never could. 

No matter what, I will find information about my mother, who has been missing for more than twenty years, and no one bothered to search for her. Now that I am capable enough, I will.

****

David became deeply involved in his work. Russo's influence on the case was clear, and Chief Hampton aligned himself with Russo's requests. David struggled to handle the case fairly, but I felt the growing difficulties he faced.

I understood how Russo could manipulate situations.

Every day, Lara, Lorenzo, and I talked over the phone as our in-person meetings became less frequent. Fortunately, they kept me informed about David and the ongoing investigations.

Although Lorenzo never brought up the day when my father forcefully took me away from him, I could sense the anger brewing within him. I could see the resentment every time we discussed my father.

All I could do was wait, passing the time until an opportunity came for me to slip away. Until I see him again and find a way to make him realize that no one can truly take me away, and no matter what, I will always fight for us.

"Miley was spotted near Oliver's house last night," David's voice resonated through the conference call. "She was armed with an axe, caught on CCTV. Luckily, when the alarm rang, she was fast enough to hide in the darkness."

I frowned. Miley was on a wild hunt, and we have to save her from committing another crime.

"Wasn't Oliver's mansion surrounded by guards?" I asked.

David nodded. "Well, yes. Especially after Mia's death and Miley's confession book. Although the crime branch wanted to take action against Oliver, Russo is trying hard to save him by pointing fingers at Miley." He looked utterly phased as he spoke. "But from the footage, we could conclude that last night wasn't really a hunt for Miley. It was merely a troll for her, to find a way in and analyze what kind of security Oliver has around him."

"How are you so sure?" I asked. Preston was on a fifteen-day holiday mourning the deaths of the students, and here we are stuck at home with no other option than to find a solution through digital means.

David inhaled sharply before he continued, "Because, looking at the footage, it's clear she wasn't there to attack, even though she had an axe in her hand." We all listened to him quietly. "She was successful in breaking into the cyber security and only got caught by the alarm Oliver had just before the main entrance on her floor. Until then, it is clear how calculated she is in her moves."

"Holy mother," Lara gasped. "I had no idea a timid girl like Miley could turn into such a dangerous assassin." Scoffing, she continued, "I wonder how long she had been planning this!"

"Even though we know how she has been pushed to her limits, I am worried that she might have had a connection with the Devil long before becoming a vigilante," David commented, taking a note.

Lorenzo and Mark were calm at the meeting. However, Lorenzo finally thought to break the silence. "When a timid person is pushed to their limit, it only takes a breath for them to turn into a devil," he commented, his voice surprisingly calm and collected.

It was the truth. I couldn't deny the fact that how she has been treated by Oliver and his gang and turning into what she is, isn't completely her fault, and neither was the Devil's. Gathering our thoughts, he chuckled once before continuing, "Because even we forget, it was true as hell that once, devils were also angels."

Lorenzo was hypothetically right. Miley had transformed into this monster due to what they did to her, and her pain had turned her into something she never imagined becoming. A monster seeking revenge. 

However, David scoffed as he debated, "That sounds nice in books, Mr. Jonas. I would have agreed if I hadn't seen the video of her trying to break into his house last night. Luckily, the alarms went off." He paused, his voice heavy. "I saw her eyes, filled with something demonic, possessed. She had become a criminal. And a criminal's mind can never be compared to that of an angel. They are nothing alike. They are pure devils seeking sympathy for their unhealed wounds. She was trying to link her pain with the psychopath Devil to commit these murders. She really has become one she has been idolizing."

"What do you really know about devils, Mr. Barnes?" Lorenzo's voice turned icy, the tension palpable. For a moment, it seemed like they might come to blows, but after a tense silence, Lorenzo backed off.

"Um, instead of fighting amongst ourselves, we should work together, Dave, Lorenzo," I interjected, observing their reluctant agreement. It was clear Lorenzo wasn't the most sociable.

I sighed but didn't give in to defeat. Taking a sharp breath, I continued, "Alright... fine... Now that we're a team, we need to come up with a plan."

"What kind of plan?" Lara inquired.

"Now that we know Miley is behind all this and has allied herself with the infamous criminal Devil, we need to catch her before she harms anyone else. After that, maybe we can convince her to surrender and get her statement to bring Oliver to justice."

"Sounds like a plan!" Lara scoffed. "But I wonder how effective it'll be. Not to forget she is now associated with the Devil, who isn't just a psychopath killer but with a mind of intelligence, that could really help her to hide in the shadows."

"Well, you seem to be a fan of him, huh?."

"Well, you seem to be a fan of him, huh?" I teased to which Lara rolled her eyes. 

"I am just stating the fact, Ana." She replied. 

She wasn't wrong though. It wasn't like we were facing a timid girl here. We can't forget who got her back. But still, in order to save her from the hand of the law, we have to try. "We have to help her."

David sighed, finally relenting with a begrudging tone. "Fine." We all agreed one by one, and then we waited for Lorenzo's response. His silence hung in the air.

"Lorenzo?" I called out softly, and after a moment, he too relented.

"Fine," he replied, and I couldn't suppress my smile. The unlikely alliance had been formed, born out of necessity and shared purpose, and now, we had a mission to accomplish.

With our team solidified, we needed to craft a plan that would stop Miley from committing further murders and have her help us apprehend Oliver instead.

"So, what's the next step?" Lara asked.

"I think since Miley is on the run, she might try to reach out to Tony and Oliver. They are her next ultimate target. So, If we can keep a close eye on them, we might be able to catch her."

Lara and David agreed with my plan.

"Then, I believe we need to infiltrate Oliver's party tomorrow!" Lorenzo said in his slow deep voice informing us.

****

Looking out from the window, I noticed the guards patrolling around the mansion. My heart pounded; I had to get out of here. It was already ten-thirty and Lara and Lorenzo were waiting for me just a few steps ahead of my mansion.

David will join us soon.

Dad and Ava have slept already. Luckily Dad had a very tiring day at the office and Ava... she has always been in her room. Resting.

My father's instructions had been crystal clear: stay away from any potential trouble. Which was equal to, Oliver's engagement, which unfortunately wasn't happening!

Carefully, I descended the staircase. The house was eerily quiet, with everyone fast asleep. I needed to reach Lorenzo and Lara as soon as possible

FLASHBACK:

"Dad, please, let them go. They are innocent," I pleaded with him.

Despite my anger toward him, I knew he was the only one who could help Lara and Lorenzo. They had been taken on false accusations, all because my dad wanted to protect me.

"Ana, I told you, you need to stay away from all this trouble. You need to stay away from that boy and Oliver."

Anger flashed inside me. "But Lorenzo is innocent—"

"Lorenzo is a troubled kid," my dad replied. "He's been warned to stay away from all these illegal activities, but he never listens."

"What about the proof? You promised you would look into the matter if I brought you proof."

"I know what I said, Ana," he replied, his gaze averted. His study room was vast, with a window offering a view of the entire mansion's grounds. "And I will look into the matter. But not now, not when you could be in trouble and..." His voice trailed off. "This town is in a mess."

"But that's wrong!" I retorted. "I went to great lengths to get that proof. I got them involved!"

"I'm well aware of that, Ana," he said in a calm voice. "I'm just protecting what I need to." With that, he dismissed our conversation, and I knew no matter what, he wasn't going to help me.

He even ordered his men to keep an eye on me, ensuring I couldn't leave the house. All he said was, "Don't worry too much; they'll be released after a few questions."

With each step calculated, I approached the front door. The guards were stationed right outside, so I had to use the back door. A small path through the garden led to the main gate, typically used by the servants of the house. I took that route.

I won't say it was easy to evade the watchful eyes of the guards. They were formidable, towering figures, armed and trained to respond to any suspicious activity with force.

Fortunately, through crawling, hiding, and narrowly avoiding detection, I reached the main gate. The guard on duty was thankfully dozing off. Seizing the opportunity, I made a run for it.

"Lara!" I exclaimed when I saw her, and we immediately embraced. She didn't look particularly well, her face tired and marked by what seemed like a lot of stress. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am—" she began.

"I know," I replied. "It was my father who got you and Lorenzo in the case. I am so sorry." I felt very little and ashamed at the time. But she gave me a hug and I melt at her forgiveness.

"Where's Lorenzo?"

"There," She pointed out.

The road stretched endlessly before me, bathed in the soft glow of a few scattered streetlights. And there, just a short distance away, I spotted him. Lorenzo, standing by the side of the road, his back to me.

"Lorenzo!" I called out, my voice trembling with a mixture of relief and anxiety.

In a swift motion, he turned around, and a pang of sorrow struck my heart as I saw the painful bruises marring his handsome face. There were cuts around his brows, bruises around his eyes and a small cut on his lips. His dress was all ragged and dirty. My chest tightened with guilt. He had suffered, and endured torment, all because of my relentless pursuit of the truth.

"Ana?" he responded, his voice laced with exhaustion and a hint of surprise.

Our gazes locked, and in that instant, it felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck my heart. There he stood, right before me, a pillar of unwavering support who had willingly shouldered the blame unjustly placed upon us by my own father. All because he had chosen to stand by my side, to fight for the truth. To fight with me.

Without hesitation, I sprinted toward him, closing the distance between us in the blink of an eye. My arms wrapped around his sturdy frame, pulling him into a fierce embrace. I drank in the comforting scent of earthy woods that clung to him and felt the reassuring rhythm of his heartbeat against my chest. At that moment, I knew that I wasn't alone in this battle. A pair of arms enveloped me, creating a protective cocoon of love and support that seemed to shield me from the world's cruelties.

"I am sorry" I murmured. "I'm so, so sorry." I kept repeating. "It's my fault!"

And in return, he only replied, "Shhh... I got you piccola."

"We have more important things in hand," Mark commented as he came to the light. A small smile crept on my lips that tonight I wasn't alone. Together tonight we went on the biggest mission. 

A/N: Truths are perpetually concealed beneath the guise of lies. All one needs to do is discern beyond the concealed layers.

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