Chapter 4

A distant ringing. Shouting.

I drifted in and out of consciousness. Pain was a constant, throbbing companion.

Then, her voice. Sophia.

"What in God's name happened here?"

Her tone was ice. Pure, cold fury.

I tried to open my eyes, to speak. Only a moan escaped.

"Sophia, thank God you're here," Rick's voice, suddenly choked with emotion. "This... this animal... he attacked me."

Lies. All lies.

I felt myself being roughly dragged, then dumped. The smell of dust and old wood. A closet.

The door shut, plunging me into near total darkness.

I heard Sophia's sharp, commanding tones outside.

"Explain this, Rick. Now."

"He was here when I arrived," Rick said, his voice breaking. "He said he knew you. He... he tried to imply things. That you and he... He got violent when I told him to leave."

A pause.

"I think he's some kind of stalker, Sophia. Or someone trying to extort you. He kept saying he was your brother, Evan."

"My brother?" Sophia's voice was dangerously soft.

"Mac," she called out. "What do you know about this?"

"Ma'am," Mac's voice, respectful but firm. "This man, he calls himself Ethan White. We found ID on him. He claims to be Master Evan. But the details don't match what we know."

More lies. Mac was being fed Rick's version.

"He looks nothing like Evan," Rick added, his voice filled with false sincerity. "I was scared, Sophia. I thought he was going to hurt you. I... I lost control. I was just trying to protect you."

The closet door creaked open.

Light flooded in, blinding me.

Sophia stood there, her face pale, her eyes wide as she took in my battered form.

For a moment, she just stared.

Then, a sound, a tiny, choked gasp.

Rick was beside her, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"Oh, Sophia, darling, I'm so sorry you have to see this. I never meant for it to go this far. I was just... I love you so much. The thought of anyone threatening you..."

He was crying. Actual tears.

Sophia didn't look at him. Her gaze was fixed on me.

My lips were split and swollen. I tried to form words.

"So...phi...a..."

Her eyes, the same brilliant blue as mine, searched my ruined face.