Chapter 27: The Scammer’s Truth

A few days in the village passed within what felt like seconds. Erica was secretly enjoying all of the memories being made with her cousins and a merchant she just so happened to run into at the very start of this experience. A sly merchant who was good for nothing—or maybe was good for something—but Erica wasn't going to explore that avenue.

Sydney, for once in her life, was under the weather. She spent the third day in the village resting at the inn while Erica and Sid wandered the streets, exploring whatever they could before it was time to move on.

Lee, as usual, slipped in and out of the group, disappearing without explanation and reappearing with the same carefree grin. Before now, Erica hadn't cared. If anything, she had welcomed the lack of his presence. But now, an unfamiliar and unpleasant feeling swelled inside her chest whenever she noticed he was gone.

"He causes me problems even in my head," she muttered to herself, irritated.

Sid suddenly stopped awkwardly in the middle of the street, his body stiff as he looked ahead.

"What is it?" Erica asked, following his gaze.

It was Lee, standing with a woman, holding her hand as he made a grand, exaggerated gesture with his free one. The same shit-eating grin Erica had grown accustomed to was plastered on his face, and the woman—clearly charmed—was hanging onto his every word.

"What a shame," Erica said, voice devoid of emotion, before turning on her heel. "Let's go."

Sid hesitated but quickly fell into step beside her. Erica grew bored of their surroundings, but now, agitation colored everything she laid eyes on. The village, the people, even the air felt suffocating.

By the time Lee reappeared, greeting them with his usual lighthearted tone, Erica had already reached her limit.

She scoffed loudly.

Lee paused mid-sentence, his usual smirk faltering as he turned his attention to her. "Alright, what's your problem?" he asked, his tone teasing but with an edge of genuine confusion.

Erica exhaled sharply through her nose. She had been patient. Too patient with this man who led them from village to village, making promises and dodging questions. He was a scammer, just like the first time she met him, and she had allowed herself to forget that.

"I am so sick of you putting us through this," she snapped, voice rising in a way that startled even herself. "You said you would take us back. Have you ever said anything that was true? You are nothing more than a cheap, lying swindler, and we should've never agreed to follow you!"

Sid flinched, looking between the two of them with wide eyes. Erica turned to him sharply. "We're leaving."

Her tone held the same chilling finality she had used before, the one the twins feared more than anything.

Lee, however, didn't back down. He watched as Erica turned away, as Sid hesitated, as their steps took them farther from him. And then, before he could think better of it, the words spilled out of his mouth.

"My real name is Leon Perkins."

Erica's steps slowed, but she didn't turn.

"I am a 23-year-old who scams for a living," he continued, voice unwavering despite the tension in his throat. "I have a phone, I don't live here, these areas are just the easiest ones to get away with what I do. I do know how to get out of here, I just dragged you along because it's been so long since I enjoyed anything more than money."

Silence followed. Then—

A memory surfaced. A younger Leon, sitting alone in a cramped, run-down apartment. A college withdrawal form in front of him. Debt collection notices taped to his door, piling up with each passing month. A gnawing, endless hunger in his gut—not just for food, but for something more. Something that money had never quite filled.

"I'm sorry," Leon said, and this time his voice cracked. "I'll take you back to your car. Just… Please don't leave."

Erica stood frozen. She had expected excuses, deflection, maybe even mockery. But not this. Not raw, desperate honesty.

She clenched her fists. Her mind told her to keep walking, to ignore him, to let him drown in the consequences of his own lies. But something inside her—a feeling she refused to name—kept her rooted in place.

Ages of silence passed before she finally muttered, "Do what you want."

And then she walked away.