I was just about to slip off his mask when—ring ring—my phone blared to life.
"Of course," I muttered under my breath, snatching it up. Percy's name flashed across the screen. I stepped outside, irritation prickling in my chest.
Call:
Me: "What do you want?" (half groaning)
Percy: "Hey, baby sister! Did you miss my beautiful face?"
Me: (laughing) "You? Beautiful? That's the joke of the year."
Percy: "Rude. Anyway, I just wanted to say good night."
Me: "Aww, my big brother actually cares about me. Good night, Percy. Bye."
I hung up, smiling faintly, but the warmth faded as quickly as it came. What was I doing? Right—the onyx.
The door creaked as I stepped back inside. The air was colder now, like the room itself was holding its breath. He was still there—still and quiet, his chest rising in slow, even rhythm.
My hand hovered above him, trembling. I didn't know why my heart raced so fast, or why fear and longing felt so painfully similar in that moment. Something deep inside whispered, don't look, but I had to. I had to know.
My fingers found the edge of the mask. With one quick motion, I pulled it away.
The mask slipped from my shaking hands and hit the floor. My world froze.
Mark Keifer Watson.
His name echoed in my head like a scream. Tears welled without permission, blurring his face—the same face I swore I'd never see again, the one that had told me I used you, Jay. I never loved you.
I stumbled backward, choking on a sob. "No… no, it can't be."
Memories flashed—his touch, his laugh, that final moment when i walked away, when he broke me with words.
"Why?" I whispered into the silence. "Why?" I said louder
My vision blurred completely. The room tilted and spun; the floor felt miles away. I tried to steady myself, but the weight of realization—the truth, the pain, the love I'd buried—hit too hard.
My knees gave out. The last thing I saw was Keifer's still face as darkness swallowed everything