IAN'S POV

I glanced at Genevive. She too looked so taken aback by Elijah's revelations. Well, who can blame us! What would you do if you came to realise that all these while your life was nothing but lies! BIG FAT LIES! I wanted to just run away and hide. Asa patted my back in a reassuring way. Boy, was I glad to have him!
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Few Minutes Back.

'Ok, so first you guys gotta promise you won't go all hyper after listening to what I am about to say. And as I already told, I had been wanting to open up to Gen's mom and Ian's dad about this for sometime but then I thought I would expose Delano and then make moves accordingly. So now after I tell you everything, I want you to co-operate with me and finally let the truth come out. Is that a deal?'

We all nodded. I gulped. Getting ready to hear whatever shocking news it was that Elijah was about to say.

'So, many years back, not like thousands of years or anything but like a little 'many' years back, Delano used to be a good guy. But after Lucas Miller, his son, died in an accident, Delano has been a whole new story. Lucas and Oliver Johns were engaged in a car accident. Oliver only had some injuries and was hospitalized for one to two days whereas Lucas died at the spot. This whole accident was Lucas' fault . He was drunk but Delano thought Oliver had killed his son. So Delano himself killed Oliver. The police still aren't aware of the fact that Delano killed him. They are still searching for the culprit. And since then, Delano became more and more greedy for money and he cheated Asher Owens, Genevive's dad, into signing over the company to him. Then he started contacting undercover drug dealers and made us engage in it. So when Mr.Asher, Mrs.Carter and some other staffs of the company including myself threatened him to let the police know, Delano made sure to scare us by telling he'd harm our families. But even then, Mr. Asher and Mrs. Carter were adamant on letting the police know. So Delano -'

He paused and glanced at us. I nodded at him signalling to carry on. We were all getting impatient.

'Delano asked me to kill Mr. Asher and Mrs. Carter. '

I froze. He didn't kill them? He wouldn't do that now, would he? No! He wouldn't. I looked at him. And he was shifting uncomfortably in his seat. My heart was beating wildly. Elijah opened his mouth to carry on.

'Delano threatened me that he'd kill my wife and kids if I didn't obey him. But my heart did not let me betray someone who trusted me all their lives. I wasn't that filthy. And so, I told about the entire situation to my wife, Mr. Asher and Mrs. Carter. My wife and I asked them to stay in my house without anyone else knowing. I took them to my house and told Delano that I had killed and buried them in a lonely place. I told him he had nothing to worry about. But he never trusted me fully. All these years and he is still trying to stalk me and find out if I'd been lying to him. That was why I wanted you all to stay away from me. So that you kids wouldn't be in trouble. I had lost my peace since long and I won't be able to live happily until that man is exposed. He is a psycho. He would go to any extent for money. He wouldn't care if it hurts other people. Heck, he wouldn't even mind killling innocent people for money. I had told Genevive's mom and Ian's dad about some things being kept in the dark and about letting the truth out after a certain thing was done. It was this that I had told them about. And I guess it was that letter that you kids found. The one in which I told that we had to wait for the right time to expose things. They don't know all these but they are aware that somethings has been kept away from them and they were ready to wait till the right time unlike you kids.' Elijah said with a small smile.

I was too shocked to even think. So I asked Elijah to carry on without further conversations.

'And so now, Mr. Asher and Mrs. Carter are alive and safe. Well, not completely safe, if you ask me, but out of danger. Neither of us are completely safe to be honest. Delano is still suspicious as I said. And he might find out all these any second. And if that ever happens then wohooooo! We'll all be dead. Now I want to ask you for a favour.' Elijah spoke in a 'no nonsense' tone.

We all looked at him curiously.

'I want you kids to co-operate with me to expose Delano. To let the police know about his actions while not giving him the slightest clue that we're doing this. Because if he finds out anything about this, he won't hesitate to kill us all. And unless you all are eager to die so soon, you guys can co-operate with me and we shall finally have some peace! Is that clear?'

'Yeah, but  can we not see them?' - Gen asked him and I knew what she felt.

'Am sorry dear, now is not the right time. We shall wait and then we'll all have eternal peace. Or else things may go downhill again!'

We nodded again. We were not at all in a state to speak. He then asked us to take care and left. He told he'd give us space and time to digest all the information and then he'd contact us and we could make moves accordingly.
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PRESENT

I mustered a small smile and gave Asa's hand a squeeze. He's such an amazing person at heart. Although Kamri might give you an entire lecture on how bad he is to her, Asa is a true friend. But you don't mess with him lest you'll know how much of a rude boy he is. He was always the type to not mingle with people much. And girls and love were never his thing. Those weren't my thing either. But anyway I decided we'd need some drinks to cool down.

I clapped my hands in an attempt to draw my buddies' attention. They all looked up at me. I gave them a small smile trying to lighten up the mood.

'So shall we have some drink?'

'Sure! Some latte would be perfect!' Kamri exclaimed.

I laughed at her. Her obsessions with coffee has always been a hot topic among us.

We ordered drinks for us and waited patiently. But unfortunately, Asa and Kam decided to fight at that moment. Wanna know over what their precious fight was? Over a tissue paper! Can you believe it? Over a TISSUE PAPER!!

'I was about to take it! And that was the last tissue paper on the holder.'

'You don't get something because you were about to take it! You have to take it before someone else does.' Asa retorted back at Kam.

Gen and I snorted. This wasn't new to us anyway. So we watched them bicker.

'Just shut up that good for nothing mouth of yours!' Kam snapped rudely.

'Oh please! Everybody knows what is useless and what's not.'

'Asa, I swear!'

'You swear? ' Asa was clearly enjoying.

'I swear I'll punch you so badly that you will even forget your name.'

'Wow! Exaggeration at it's peak.'

'Asa!'

'Kamri!'

'Can you let me breathe for a second?'

'Sure! I'll come back to you after a second.'

'Oh my god! Just kill me!'

'Shall I already?'

'Just shut up!'

'Not anytime soon!'

'Of course! '

'Oh and yeah Kamri-'

'What? '

'I am going on a date tonight.' Asa said and I eyed him with confusion.

He was just trying to see how Kam would retort back. Because, Kam and him always fights over Asa's looks.

'So? Anything I can help you with?' Kam smirked.

'I was just showing you that all these girls are running after me! '

'To punch you and kick you right in the -'

'Eww! Don't you even dare complete that disgusting statement!'

'Asa for god's sake just shut up! How is he even your best friend Ian? ' Kam looked at me with pure sympathy and I laughed at her.

Soon after that, our drinks arrived and we had a great time afterwards. We deserved it after all! (Except for the Kam and Asa fighting part, as usual.)

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'Change that song please! It seems to be adding to our dull mood.' - Asa said as I leaned in and changed the song.

We were now in my car and I was about to drop him off at his house. Kamri and Genevive had gone to their respective homes as well.

After a little while, Asa's house came into view. As I pulled at his driveway, I looked at him.

'Ian, make sure not to stress yourself. I know things are a mess right now but they are going to be alright soon! Ok? And always remember, your unique and extra ordinarily talented best friend is always here for you!' Asa spoke and winked at the end.

I laughed at him and gave him a thumbs up sign.

'You sounded like a girl Asa!'

'Eww! I was just being nice and supportive.' he laughed and gave me a final wave before walking away.
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'Hey dad!' I got into my house and was greeted by the sight of my dad searching for something.

'Ian! How was your day? '- he smiled at me.

'Pretty hectic! How was yours? '

'Busy as always. I came here to search for a file. I have to go back.'

'Oh.'

'And don't worry young man! We shall hang out this weekend! ' He said and gave me a high-five.

My dad and I were always the best of buddies. Even though both of us missed mom dearly, he has always been there for me even in between his busy schedule.

I smiled at him and waved him a good- bye as he found his file and went back to his office.

Suddenly, an unknown desire came into me. Ever since my mom went missing, I had never examined her belongings or anything.

But now I felt like I had to do it. After all, I just realised she was safe and alive. I went up the stairs and went to my parents' room. I opened her cupboard and rummaged through her stuffs.

As I was observing many things, a grey coloured file caught my eyes. It was tucked-in in a weird postition. I opened it up and looked through the documents inside it. As I saw a different looking paper, I took it and realised it was my birth certificate. Knowing there was no harm in reading it, I just went through every detail.

But as I was done reading it, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. Call me weak, but it was just too unbearable! What was I? A plastic doll that was the target of every stone being thrown? I gulped hard and sat down!

If the revelations a few hours back had me shocked, this one had me beyond that! Who knows I might even get a heart attack!
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                   ~Daneen and Falaq