Luca tried to get away from him. Her whole body was acting on its own, telling her that everybody is bad, that they'll hurt her. Kill her.  Matteo is one of them. He'll try to kill her too. He'll hurt her too. Matteo kept his hold on her though, making her shake her head and let out a pained whimper. Luca looks at him pleadingly and immediately saw the hurt in Matteo's eyes.

He kept his hold on her.

"M-Matty... " She pleaded weakly at him. "Matty, please. Please..."

She doesn't want to hurt Matteo just because she's scared. Papa told her to be brave and she's already being mean to her only friend because of what? Because she's scared?

But she's lost and confused in a room that smells like the blood of Mr. Pierre. The dried blood, the tainted floor, the people, the strangled screams, the joyous laughter that echoes in the room. It reminded Luca of the cold room, the heavy weapon, it reminded her of the ringing in her ears when she fired it, it reminded her of the desperation, the fear, the helplessness, of Mr. Pierre so close to death.

People would've told us to hang in there...

But what if there's nothing left to hang to hang to, Luca?

They don't understand this

It hurts, doesn't it?

Pierre's words whispered in her ear, making her remember. Remember the things that was supposed to disappear. It was supposed to disappear. He was supposed to  disappear.

But even here, why does the nightmare follow her around?

It hurts, doesn't it?

It burns.

I'm scared and I'm lost.

It burns and it hurts.

It hurts so much.

Luca closed her eyes tightly and she didn't even know that she was hyperventilating until Matteo softly ordered her to breathe with him. His soft touches. His voice. His scent. His warmth. The familiarity. It calms her somehow, even though she shouldn't trust anyone here.

Even Matty...

Her dummy...

"There you go... " Matteo ran his fingers through the little girl's hair, unable to keep his expression in check. He's so worried. This is the first time that he saw her this scared and so frightened to the point of hyperventilating. "It's going to be okay... It's okay, Lu-Lu. You're okay. I got you."

"What is this place, Matty?" She whispered, putting her forehead on his shoulder, feeling drained and tired. Her voice was lacking the usual, cheerful chirp.

Still, that didn't stop Matteo's surprise. Most people, normal people maybe, would've screamed at the horrendous sight before them, they would've probably fainted too or maybe ran at the scene, called the police. Luca didn't cry though. She just whined and whimpered, keeping her tears inside. She may hyperventilated but she didn't scream or asked for help. She just asked to be held.

Even though it wasn't the right time, he felt awe and disbelief and amazed at Luca.

He expected her to be someone weak. Someone who'd puke at the smell of blood, someone who won't even hold a weapon, someone who would cry easily.

But she wasn't.

And that's what amazed him.

"It's an organization." Matteo found himself saying. He just couldn't lie to her. He just couldn't. She deserves to know or else she'll get eaten alive here. People are already looking at her like she's some kind of peculiar display. He pulled Luca into the farthest corner of the room where there's a leather couch for them to sit on. Luca just let herself be dragged off as she waits for him continue.

"Someone controls it, someone higher than all of us here. He makes the plans. He makes the decisions. He decides who's useless and who dies. It's an organization where people who holds power have to join. Have to, Luca. This isn't an alliance, they're enemies, we're enemies, but we can help each other when its needed." Matteo said, trying to explain it and Luca was just patiently listening. "You were supposed to be acknowledged as soon as you turned one but Achilles tried to hold it off and he did a good job but if you're not going to be known soon then it counts as betrayal and..."

Luca clenched her little fists to stop herself from shaking. It was too much.

Too much...

"And I'll get killed?"

You can't escape.

You'll never escape.

"I'm sorry. I wish that you wouldn't find it out like this, Lu... "

She shakes her head in denial. "I'll never get to leave? I-I'll be stuck in this... "

"This world, this place, this people. Betrayal death, grief. They won't leave you. They'll never leave you. You won't really get to leave this world. You can't. You won't get to forget the smell, you won't get to lessen the screams and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Lu buy it's this or you'll get executed."

Luca gasped, trying to find air.

Why was it—

They lied to you.

They're promise.

Their words.

They lied.

They were liars.

They were the bad guys.

They lied...

"You..." She couldn't find the words due to horror.

They promised.

Matteo's face hardened, he smiled and took her hand. "You don't know me. You don't know what hell I've been through and even though I enjoy our friendship, it's best if you doubt me. It's best for both of us. See me as both an ally and an enemy. Don't see me as your friend. It's for the best."

"We're business par'ners and as par'ners, I need tah know your name!"

"I'm...Matteo."

"Hi, Matteo. S' nice to meet you. I'm Luca."

Luca wished to turn back the time to reset all this. She wouldn't have entered this place. She wouldn't have called this manor beautiful if she knew it what dwells inside.

But hearing Matteo say that  makes Luca tear up and her chest aching painfully at his words.

"Y-You're such a mean old grump." She weakly punched his shoulder as she glared at him. "I don't care, you dummy! I don't care if you're a bad guy! For me, you're still my precious friend. My greatest friend that I wouldn't trade for the world... "

I don't care if my family's a bad guy or a liar or some monsters.

I don't care.

They're still family.

My only family.

Matteo blinked.

She then hugged him, burrowing her head on his shoulder with desperation that Matteo was too scared to dissipate it.

"Luca... "

"Don't leave me, okay?"

"Oh, Lu."

"Just...Don't. Please." Luca whispered. "Please... "

"You overly friendly mush... "

Matteo wrapped his arms around her and nodded, feeling the burning tears in his eyes.

Great. How lame of him.

"Stupid. Now you'll make me cry."

"Promise me, stupid." Luca looks at him pleadingly. "Promise me."

He hates the word. He hates making promises because if he made one, he'd have to keep it.

"I'll never leave you." Matteo said firmly. "I promise you, okay?"

After that, Luca finally sobered up, feeling a bit better after she entered. She still couldn't stand the smell in the room but at least the nightmares that follow her has lessened slightly.

"Was mama executed?" Luca found herself asking. She had an inkling feeling about it. That there was more to the story. About Athena Hale and her family. There's a story.

"It's not really my story to tell." Matteo tried but Luca wasn't having it.

"Who killed her?"

"Luca... "

"Who killed her?" Luca pressed on with so much intensity that made Matteo cave in.

"Achilles."

Why did he do it?

Luca sucked in a breath, preparing for the worst.

"Why...?"

"It was actually the Hale family who told the higher ups that Maria had you in hiding. Maria wanted to hide you away and they counted that as betrayal, Luca. Like I told you, you were supposed to be acknowledged at the age of one, maybe even younger, and your mother didn't want that." Matteo said, giving her a straightforward answer. "But, that counted as a violation. It was you or her and you know who she chose... They made Achilles do it. If he don't abide then you die. He didn't really have a choice, Luca. He couldn't escape."

That can't be.

Luca doesn't know what to think.

It was too much.

Too much...

"Don't lie." Luca whispered, glaring weakly at Matteo. "D-Don't do this."

"A lie is a far easier pill to swallow than the truth, Lu."

I'm sorry, papa.

I couldn't stay brave.

_____

"A lie is a far easier pill to swallow than the truth."

I just gave you guys the truth.

What do you think?

What did you feel?

I hope that you guys enjoyed this.