THE RETURN Of the LEGENDARY KING of WAR

The Truth Or A Trap?

The last thing she wants to do at that moment is walk into the apartment. Not when she is still unsure of what could happen, but she is left with zero choices.

Lizzy's steps are slow, but deliberate as they approach the porch again, this time more carefully than the moment earlier. It is almost as though she has this fear that anyone could pop out of nowhere.

Till that moment, she has no idea of who it could be and that makes her more furious. Her heart sinks. As she reaches for the door, her mother suddenly holds her hands, shaking her head.

“Are you sure about this? You know we can always go back and get the cops, right?" She suggests.

“And tell them what?" Lizzy queries.

Shrugging with no answers, her mother stayed close, neither of them saying a word. The light inside cast long shadows through the blinds, leaving their hearts in panic and anxiety. Both women take another step, worried.

This time, Lizzy opens the door quietly.

“Oh my God! You two scared me!" A feminine voice filled the air.

The woman stands in the living room, just by the window, arms folded over her chest almost as though she has been watching them.

Anxiety and shock fills both their minds. Lizzy looks away because her coat is damp, her hair slightly frizzed from the rain. She tries all she can do to understand the situation, but it seems useless as she looks... calm. Too calm.

“Where have you been? we've been out looking for you." Lizzy's voice is filled with fury as she speaks.

First is the fact that she got scared out of her bones, and now this?

“What -"

“I—I just needed air,” the woman cuts her off before either of them can speak. “I didn’t mean to scare anyone.”

Lizzy's mouth parted, but the words got stuck in her throat while they were about to slip out.

Her mother walks away only to return with a cup of water that she downs quickly. Her fingers twitch at her sides, itching to shake answers out of the woman, but instead she just sits down, or else, she might kill this… this rat.

Lizzy watches her mother try to catch her breath. Well, there wasn't much that she could say as well. She was in the same state as well.

“You vanished.” Lizzy mutters, clenching her fist.

“I know. I didn’t think it would be a big deal. I only needed a walk. I left the window open in case I got locked out.” She gives a half-shrug, but there is something unusual about that.

Matter of fact, all this felt crazy, and she is trying not to succumb to that feeling of anxiety that is looming deep in her chest.

“You could’ve said something,” Lizzy's mother cut in, voice softer, but eyes watchful. “We’ve been driving around for hours. You scared us.” she chimed in.

It is the first words she has said all this while, but it had in it… waves of her temper.

The woman lowers her gaze, shame briefly shadowing her features. “I’m sorry.”

Lizzy stepps forward, her eyes sharp. “You said you didn’t know where they took you, didn’t recognize any faces. You’ve been through trauma. And after all that, you just walk out into the night? Alone?” That was it-

That one statement was the answer to all the doubts she had. The woman was acting unusual…Too unusual.

The woman didn’t respond right away. She simply hugged herself tighter like a cold-stricken kitten. But somehow, it feels like she can understand their fears. “I felt trapped here. Like I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.” she mutters. “I understand that it is hard to believe, but trust me, that is all that happened."

Lizzy’s instincts scream loudly… Her mother steps forward, placing a hand on her shoulder, but she doesn't pull her away. She is letting her lead this now.

"Tell me the truth," Lizzy says, her voice a near whisper, but cutting like glass. "Were you sent here?"

The woman flinches. For a second, it feels like a prang in her chest. Were they doubtful of her now?

Moments raced, turning into seconds, still she says nothing. Lizzy's eyes darted to the corner of the room, as though checking something. It is almost as if she is certain someone is there lurking in the dark. A camera maybe. Recorder? Anything!

"No. I swear." She forces a smile, eyes glassy like she is just about to cry. "I'm just someone who needed help. You said I could come."

Lizzy nods slowly, she still couldn't pin her mind over what it was, but something felt unusual, something that doesn't add up.

“We’ll talk more tomorrow,” she finally says, voice neutral. “You should rest. And don’t leave again without telling anyone.” she mutters as an afterthought.

The woman nods, and quietly steps back into the guest room, the door clicking shut behind her. Perhaps, she is happy all this came to an end. It was uncertain.

Lizzy turns to her mother, eyes still locked on the closed door.

“Something’s off,” she whispers. “I don’t care what she says, she’s hiding something.”

Lillians exhaled, rubbing her temples. “And if she is, what do we do?” she asks.

Lizzy’s jaw clenches. “We watch her. We wait. And the moment she slips, we'll be ready.”

Her mother nods grimly. “Then let’s not sleep tonight.”

Lizzy didn’t know if it was right that she agreed with her mother, but in a way, it felt like the only solution.

She stands near the kitchen counter, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the hallway where the woman had disappeared.

In a way, she thought about searching around for clues, but changed her mind.

She looks around the room that is dim, except for the overhead light above the fireplace. Her mother stands near the window, fingers nervously drumming against the glass pane like she is certain someone is outside watching.

“I don’t buy it,” Lizzy mutters, finally looking up.

Lilliana turned. “Neither do I.” she sighs. “But what can we do?"

They stare at each other in silence. The air felt heavy with unspoken words both were scared of saying.

“She’s either lying,” Lizzy begins, “or she’s being watched.” she adds quickly.

“She left without a word after practically falling apart in front of us. That’s not just panic. That’s something…”

"Unusual?” Her mother asks.

Lizzy nodded. “I was going to say unstable, but exactly. And now she’s just… back, walking around like she owns the night. She could have led someone here.”

Lillian’s voice drops to a hush. “Then we shouldn’t let her stay.”

Lizzy blinks. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” Lillian replies coldly, “we should get rid of her before she gets us killed. She’s no use. No names, no direction, not even a damn clue. She could be the bait, Lizzy.”

“We can’t just throw her out,” Lizzy snaps, though her tone lacks conviction.

“She’s not a stray cat, Lizzy. She showed up with nothing and we’ve already risked enough keeping her here. What if Verizon’s watching? What if she has a tracker? What if she’s already told them everything?”

Just then, the sound of a door creaking open interrupts them. Both women tensed, their gazes snapping toward the hallway. The woman was standing there barefoot, her eyes sunken and exhausted, but alert. She had heard everything.

“I didn’t lead them here,” she says, voice shaking. “I swear to you—I’m not working for them.”

Lizzy didn’t speak. All she does is watch the woman that is walking to where she was. Apparently, she had been listening to their conversation.

“I heard what you said,” she continues, stepping closer. “You think I’m useless. But I’m not. I can still help you.”

Lilliana scoffs, arms crossed tightly. “Help? You can’t even tell us where you were taken. How good are you?”

“I can get back in,” the woman says suddenly, with a breathless kind of urgency. “I can sneak back into Verizon.”

Lizzy blinks. “What?”

“You heard me.” Her voice steadied. “They don’t know I made it out. Not officially. If I show up again, they’ll think I was dumped or returned. I can pretend.”

Lillian rolls her eyes. “That's not going to work.”

“Maybe. But I owe you that much. You took me in, and I ran. I panicked. But if you give me another chance. I can be useful…Just let me stay…”

Lizzy looks at her hard, her eyes searching for anything that could give her away. “Why would you risk going back?”

“Because I know things. Maybe not names or coordinates, I can't get you proof. I just need one more shot.”

Lilliana looks skeptical, but Lizzy appears torn between two truths… As she was, she felt that sharp tug of instinct again.

Was this a Truth or a Trap?

“If we do this,” Lizzy says finally, “you won’t go in alone. We’ll have you wired. Tracked from the second you leave. The moment we sense anything’s wrong…”

“You pull me out,” the woman finished. “Deal.” she concluded.

Lilliana steps forward. “We’ll be watching you every second. If you slip up, if you betray us…” Her voice drops to a warning octave. “There won’t be a second chance.”

“I understand.” The woman reassures.

Lizzy doesn't say anything more. She just stares at the woman, her mind already spinning with questions and silent prayers.

Because whether this works or not, everything is about to change.