The Road to Truth

Mirror Crown

The night air was crisp, the kind that made everything feel sharper, more alive. Xavier sat in the driver's seat of the Classic Edition C1, the engine purring like a beast beneath him. The car, sleek and silent, felt like an extension of himself—fast, powerful, and untouchable. He glanced over at Tasha, who was seated beside him, her eyes wide with awe as they cruised through the city streets.

"I can't believe this is actually happening," she said, her voice filled with excitement. "I mean, this car… it's like something out of a dream."

Xavier smiled, but it was more a mask than anything genuine. He wasn't sure how he felt about the car—it had been a symbol of power, of status, of something he hadn't asked for. But now, in this moment, with Tasha beside him, it felt like he had finally reached a point where he could control his own destiny. Even if it meant pretending to be Christian.

"Yeah, it's something," he said, his eyes focused on the road.

The ride was smooth, and for a moment, the world outside the car felt distant—like they were in their own bubble, floating above the expectations and pressures that usually followed him. But as they approached the outskirts of the city, a set of flashing lights in the rearview mirror caught his attention.

"Uh-oh," Xavier muttered under his breath, his heart rate picking up.

Tasha noticed too, her hand instinctively reaching for the door handle. "Is everything okay?"

Xavier frowned, his grip tightening on the wheel. The police cruiser followed closely, the lights flashing red and blue. He wasn't worried about the law—he could afford any fine or ticket—but it was the identity he was hiding that worried him. He had never thought about how things could go wrong, but now it seemed like the universe was reminding him just how precarious his position was.

He pulled over, the sound of tires grinding against the asphalt as he parked the car at the side of the road. The police officer stepped out of the cruiser, his silhouette tall and imposing in the dim streetlight. Xavier's stomach tightened.

"Stay calm," he whispered to himself, trying to steady his racing thoughts.

The officer approached, tapping his flashlight against his hand. Xavier rolled down the window, trying to project an air of confidence, even though he was anything but. He smiled, hoping it would mask his anxiety.

"Good evening, sir," the officer said, his tone professional but firm. "Do you know why I stopped you?"

Xavier swallowed, his palms slightly sweaty. "Uh, no, officer. I'm not sure what the problem is."

The officer raised an eyebrow, leaning down to get a closer look at him. "You were speeding back there. You were going a little too fast for this area. May I see your driver's license and registration?"

Xavier's heart skipped a beat. The license. The one that belonged to Christian Classic, not him. He hadn't even thought about that part—how it would look if he was caught without the proper ID, or worse, caught with a fake.

"I… uh… I left it at home," Xavier said, trying to sound casual, though his voice was tight. "It's in the glove compartment. I must've forgotten it in the rush. I can get it for you."

The officer's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Xavier thought the jig was up. Tasha was sitting quietly beside him, her eyes flickering nervously between Xavier and the officer.

"Alright," the officer said slowly, his tone skeptical. "I'll need you to step out of the vehicle."

Xavier's pulse quickened. This wasn't part of the plan. He wasn't sure how long he could keep up the act of being Christian, especially when faced with real authority. If the officer checked his ID and found that it didn't match the name on the registration... everything could unravel.

"Just… just a moment," Xavier muttered, trying to buy time. He glanced at Tasha, who was silently watching him, wide-eyed.

"Xavier," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What's going on?"

Xavier quickly assessed the situation. He wasn't sure how to get out of this. He could lie—say he was Christian Classic. But would the officer believe him? Would anyone? Or would this be the moment everything came crashing down?

He needed a way out—fast.

Then, an idea hit him, the kind of reckless idea that only a person who had nothing to lose would consider.

He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as he made up his mind. "Officer, I'm sorry for the inconvenience," he said, his voice steady now. "This is a private matter, and I'd appreciate it if we could resolve this quickly. I'm in a hurry to meet someone important. Can we just call it a warning this time?"

The officer stood there for a moment, clearly sizing Xavier up. Something in his posture seemed to soften, but Xavier knew he wasn't completely off the hook yet.

"I can't just let this slide," the officer said, his voice firm again. "You're going to have to provide me with some form of identification before I can let you go."

Xavier's mind raced, but he knew there was no easy way out. His instincts told him to stay calm, to keep it together for just a little longer.

"Alright," he said, finally nodding. "I'll step out, officer."

Tasha, now visibly worried, turned to him. "Xavier, don't—what's going on?"

"I'll be fine," he reassured her, though he wasn't entirely sure of that himself.

As Xavier stepped out of the car, the cool night air hit him like a slap to the face, snapping him back to reality. He knew this could be the moment everything changed. But somehow, he wasn't afraid anymore. Not of the officer, not of the lie he was living.

He just had to keep moving forward, and trust that somehow, he could keep up the act.

After all, the world was watching, and there was no going back now.