"Trust thyself: Every heart vibrates to that iron string." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Life is a game. And humans are the pawns, while God is the king. There are many people you know, many people you do not know. Who are they to you?

As Carter gets dragged down the streets of Union Valley by a girl known as Alessia Nora, he struggles to understand who he can trust. What does he know about the person that stands before him?

"Where are we going now Nora?" He asked catching up to her side once he was let go.

"To not go visit Zara like my dear friend suggested I do." Alessia paused.

"And my name is Alessia. Do not forget that Carter." She said narrowing her eyes at him. He just grinned at her and hummed to himself.

"So, would you like to tell me about Zara?" He asked wanting to break the silence.

"No." She said deafening the silence once more. He sighed.

Why won't she tell me anything about Zara? Who is she to her? I'd have to find these answers myself.

Carter was determined to find out anything about this Zara person. Who was this person why did Ana make it seem like that she wanted him so far away from Zara? These questions were haunting him. And he didn't know why.

Alessia continued walking down the sidewalk until we reached the piers. Where a large group of kids were talking and hanging out.

"Hey Alessia!" A voice called us over, Nora stopped in her tracks and glanced over at the guy who was walking towards them. Carter turned as well.

"Hello Nathan." Alessia said as he came within earshot.

"Whose this you got here?" Nathan asked.

"This is Carter Finch, he's an outsider. Carter this is Nathan Black." Nora introduces us.

"Finch huh? Your grandmother is famous in this town." Nathan said.

"Really? I didn't notice." Carter said sarcasm dripping off his words. He looked this guy up and down, he had black hair smoothed back and some of it in the back was shaved off. A lip piercing on his lip shown in the sunlight, his green his gleamed with mischief as he glanced between the two of us. He was wearing black jogger pants and a Nike dark blue shirt, that clearly showed his muscles.

"It's nice meeting you Finch. And Alessia, Zara has been looking for you." Nathan said as he glanced over to her.

"Gah! What does that insistent woman want with me. Haven't I already given her enough?" Nora hissed out.

"She knows how much you have done for her, and she would really like to meet the outsider. You know that she's obsessed with them. You know how she reacted when Valero came." Nathan said.

"Don't. Bring his name into this." Alessia snapped her anger was peaking. If she had a gasket it's probably have blown up by now.

"Why are you so protective of him?" He asked Nora. His eyes slightly changed a different color but it was gone before he could get a glimpse. Carter was surprised by this exchange between the two citizens. Not understanding of where this conversation was going. And he could already tell it was going in a bad way. Something that Nora doesn't want to talk about.

"That's none of your concern. Now, if you'll excuse us Nathaniel me and Carter have unfinished business to attend to." Alessia said. While grabbing his hand and turning him towards a lounge building where teens must hang out after school.

"You know she doesn't like to be kept waiting Sia! She'll come find you herself!" Nathan called after them.

"God, I want to kill him." Nora growled out.

"Let her find me! I don't give a damn. Her ass must be sore from sitting on that throne all day!" Nora called over her shoulder. That sentence made Nathan bust out laughing. Carter frowned at her. Not understanding anything that just went between the three. Everything was confusing, it was as though they were all dodging a specific topic that they'd like to hide from outsiders.

It's like their game of clues. Making outsiders put the puzzle together but never able to figure it out.

This town is certainly fucked up.

"What's the matter Carter? You seem lost." Nora said once they climbed up the stairs on to the deck before entering the building.

He sighed. " Everyone's so confusing. What are you guys hiding from me? If you don't tell me now I'll be sure to find them out by myself if you're not going to help me at all."

"Well, we can't say anything because... we'll be cursed or worse stripped of something that is most dear to us, that keeps us alive. That is all I'll tell you Carter. Because I plan to keep that secret until the day I die. If you happen to find anything out about this town, it'll mean that you'll be one of us. You'll be stuck here. Reason being is because you must be protected." Alessia said.

Carter's eyes widened and the new information. He wasn't too sure what he would do about it. Saying no more Sia opened the door to the building a bell chimed signaling their entrance. A lot of people turned to see who had entered, especially the three people at the bar. One of them, was a slender woman. Two of them were well built men. Well one of them at least. The other looked strong yet scrawny.

Carter assessed his surroundings tables everywhere facing a stage where a microphone and a Guitar and a keyboard laid.
They must have open mics here. I wonder if they even have parties.

The Lounge was pretty quiet once they entered some teens were hanging out in a group on the love seats in the back corner. Lights hung from the ceiling and the few pillars that were in the room. The ceiling was a bit low, but still enough room to stand up.

"Ah, how lovely for you to finally show up." The slender woman said turning to face towards us. Her hair was black and long and straight, her eyes were green and her skin looked slightly pale. Her lips were full and she had a tight dress on. Her green eyes piercing the both of them.

"Zara. What are you doing here?" Alessia gritted out.

"Here to see The Outsider of course." Zara said glancing over at him giving him a once over.

"Well he doesn't want to see you." Nora snapped.

"I tried telling them to not be here Alessia I promise." A mans voice says from behind Zara a British accent.

"No matter Leo, I'll deal with it." Alessia said. Glancing over at the poor man. But then she steered her eyes to Zara.

"You know what this place means to me. You know you're not wanted here. Yet, you come here anyways. Why can't you leave me alone?" Alessia said a pleading was in her eyes. But it went away before he could say anything about it.

"What I would like to know is what's going on here." Carter whispered to Alessia. He saw a shiver run down her spine as his breath hit her ear.

"Soon." Sia hissed Under her breath.

"The reason I am here is because you know very well. I just want a few words with Carter here. And you can have a word with your dear friend." Zara said while a glint of something lit in her green eyes as footsteps rounded the corner. Nora's eyes widened as she recognized who it was.

It was as though he hadn't changed a bit since the last time she saw him. Once he rounded the corner he locked eyes with her.

"Alessia."

"Valerio."

The exchange between them was interesting. It held so much emotion that he thought the room went quiet.

"A trade, a conversation for a conversation. You with Valerio and me with Carter. What do you say Sia?" Zara said interrupting the moment between the two. Carter glanced over at Nora who blinked her eyes and looked at Zara.

She looked conflicted, she wanted to stay with Carter, to protect him from Zara. But she also wanted to catch up with Valerio. She knew if she did so, Carter's safety will be in danger.

"Time is ticking Sia. I don't have all day." 

Nora took a deep breath as she had finally come to a conclusion. "Fine, I will let you speak with Carter, but you have twenty minutes to do so. And I will have Nathan watch you from a distance. But you know how he is Zara."

"Of course my dear." Zara said grinning and clasping her hands together as she gazed at me.

"Sia. Come walk with me. We have a lot to catch up on." Valerio said as he held out a hand. Carter suddenly grabbed her wrist.

"Are you okay with this? Letting her talk to me?" He asked worry had clouded his gaze at this sudden notion.

"Yes, Nathan will be watching from a distance. Your grandmother will be furious with me for letting you go with Zara. But I need this moment." Nora whispered to him.

He sighed and complied to letting her go. He didn't want her to go, he felt a need to protect her from whatever was about to happen. Whatever he and Zara were to speak about.

A/N

Oh boy. Something juicy is going on here. What do you guys think that is?

What is the connection that Zara has with Alessia?

What is the connection between Valerio and Alessia? Something fishy is stirring around in this town indeed it is. I hope you guys enjoyed this lovely chapter and have a happy Valentine's Day!

Treat yourself if you don't have a Valentines! Nothing but a good book  and some chocolate to relax.

Much love
-Hannah