"The best part of 'believe,' is the lie that echos within."

➳ ➳ ➳

The bedroom door creaks open and slow footsteps we heard in the quiet room. The little girl lying beneath the sheets had opened her eyes slowly as she realized someone got in. She raises her head to look at her mother's slim figure walk towards her with a worried expression on her face.

"Mom? What happened?" The ten-year-old Angelina asks, still sleepy, rubbing her eyes. Her mother sat on her bed beside her and caressed her daughter's cheeks lovingly. She opened her mouth to speak, but a loud noise echoed throughout the house, and Angelina's eyes widened, sitting up immediately.

"What was that?" She panics. Looking behind the closed door, her mother lets out a shaky breath.

"Don't worry honey. Dad is going to take care of it." She tried to reassure her, but Angelina just knew by the sound of her voice, something's very wrong. Was her dad in danger? What's going on?

"Mom, what's wrong?" Angelina asked again as her eyes filled with tears.

"There's nothin-"

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Her father's loud and angry voice interrupted her mother. She jumped in surprise and wrapped her arms around her mother's waist, burying her face into her chest.

BANG BANG

Two loud gunshots. That's all it took. A sob left her lips, and her mother instantly put her hands over Angelina's ears, but it was not much help. She heard everything.

"Mom, dad's in trou- ... I'm scared." She couldn't finish her sentence and cried against her mother's chest.

"Listen to me. Go hide in the closet and don't you come out until I say, okay?" Her mother asked her, looking into her eyes. Angelina just nodded and shook a bit.

"You will be back?"

"Yes, sweetheart, I'll be back. I won't belong, but you have to promise me you won't come out. I love you." She kissed her head and then stood up to walk out of the bedroom. Angelina's unsteady balance carried her to the closet where she closed the door and sat on the ground, hugging her knees together, waiting for her mother to come back. Waiting and waiting.

BANG BANG

"Were here," Ethan said, shaking my shoulder to catch my attention. I looked at the house in front of me and nodded my head. I felt tired, like all the energy I had was drained away as my brown eyes meet his light ones.

"I better go," I told him and turned around to open the door before I did, he reached out his hand to stop me.

"I know it's too much to take in, but believe me this time when I say I'm going to tell you the truth for the first time since I've known you." He said and paused. He was waiting for me to look at him and say something, but I stood in my position and opened the door where I get out quickly and shut it behind me. Not a single word from me. What was I supposed to say to that? I am still shaking, but not of fear. I was angry. Angry with everyone, especially with Nick. If he has done what Alexander said he has done, I will stop at nothing to make sure he gets what he deserves. I already agreed to help Alexander, but I'm going to do a little research myself. Ethan handed me a cold, hard block when he approaches me on the side of the car. I looked at it and realized it was a cell phone. I furrow my eyebrows and look at him.

"What is this for?" I asked curiously.

"It's for reports. Alexander wanted me to give this to you. The phone only has one number saved on it, his. And nobody can call it but him since he administrates it."

"Okay..." I said, but I still think they are both sketchy. I took the phone in my hand and into my sweater pocket.

Ethan drives away now, so I walked to the back door where I came out of and got inside the house, which looked dark and empty. I walked down the narrow corridor and reached the big living room. I saw that Nick's office was opened and a dim light came from the other side. Is he there? I expected him to be upstairs enjoying his night with his lady friend. I turned around to start walking upstairs when I hear someone speak.

"Where were you?" Nicholas asked from behind me and his voice full of authority. I immediately at the sight of him, narrowed my eyebrows and clenched my fists, it was suddenly hot. I was already angry with him, and I don't even turn to look at his face. Instead, I say the words I've wanted to say to him all night.

"You can go straight to hell, Mr. Snow," I snarled and ascended the stairs quickly. I heard heavy footsteps behind me, but it never stopped me, not until I reached my room. When I did, I opened the door and was about to walk in when a steady hand grabbed my wrist and soon enough, my body collided with the door, taking me by surprise. Nick was in front of me, looking pissed as he held me securely in place, but my anger did not compare to his. I was boiling, and I was ready to burst out at any moment. He took my chin in his hand and forced me to look at him.

"What did you just say to me?" He asked through gritted teeth, his eyebrows knitted together and his nostrils flaring. I bet mine was flaring even more. But instead, I take the turn and smirk at him.

"I think you heard me very well, Mr. Snow."

"Don't." He warned me.

"Go to hell, Nick," I said, provoking him. He groaned in frustration and opened the door immediately pushing me inside the room. I couldn't tell what was happening, but the door locked with a click and found myself laying on the bed with my legs barely touching the floor and Nick's face is all I see. He had me trapped underneath him, and his hands were holding my wrists above my head, preventing me from moving them. My breathing was unsteady, and my heart beats faster, and I glared at him with cold eyes.

"You have crossed the line, Angel" Nicholas hissed, bringing his face closer and I could feel his breathing, so I squirm around to free myself.

"Get away from me!"

"Not until you tell me what your problem is." He said, looking down at me with those piercing green eyes. How could he? He was just a boy. How could he kill my parents in such cold blood? He is a murderer. He is a really fucked up man.

"I'm not in the mood Mr. Snow," I told him truthfully.

"You left the house without permission, and you broke the rules!" He yelled, tightening his grip around my wrists, which I couldn't even feel anymore.

"Leave me alone. You don't own me!"

"But that's just it, darling. I do what I want, I take what I want, and actually, you are mine, so you do as I say, or don't you remember?" He said, smirking at the end and his forest green eyes trailed down to my lips. I gulped at his words and closed my eyes briefly taking in a sharp breath.

"Get off of me," I told him calmly.

"You didn't seem to want me to do that earlier." He said with a wicked grin. My lips parted at his words. Many things happened since then.

"It was a mistake."

"Oh, is that right?" He asked me with raised eyebrows, and his voice dangerously low.

"Yes. Now please get off of me, go run to your girlfriend." His hands loosened their grip on my wrists, and he stood slowly, giving me the space I needed that wasn't there before. I stood up too, rubbing my wrists before I cross my arms over my chest. He chuckled.

"That's what this is all about? You're mad because I fucked you and had dinner right after with another woman." He said, approaching me. He took my chin in his palm and tilted up my head.

"Darling, you know better. I admit, yes, you're great but don't expect more. It's not how I work. I warned you. I wanted to keep what we had professional, but I didn't mind having a little fun." He said, bringing his lips to close enough to give me a quick peck on the lips.

"See you tomorrow, oh and don't ever talk to me like that again or bad things will happen. Goodnight, Angel." With that, he walked out of the bedroom, leaving me there with wide eyes in surprise.

What is he implying?

"And just so you know-" Nicholas took a step back into the room with a disturbed face.

"- She is not my girlfriend; she will never be my girlfriend!" The door slammed shut, and that was it. Once he left, I quickly ran to lock the door and rested my back against it, breathing heavily. Christ, he has no chill, even after everything that happened.

A few tears fell from my eyes, and I groaned in annoyance as I moved towards the table and pushed all of the things on top of it, down. The little perfumes, a small mirror, and everything crashed on the floor making a mess, but I don't care. I am angry, and I had to get it all out, it didn't even help that much.

I wiped my tears off and headed towards the bathroom, taking off my clothes and getting ready to turn the water on. I wanted hot water, and I wanted it to burn my skin. The bathroom was full of steam, and the mirror was fogged. I rubbed my arms hard with the hot water, wanting to erase every fingerprint he left on my body; every kiss, every mark. My skin had turned a light shade of red, but it didn't stop me because I can still smell him on me. The tears ran freely.

Why? What have I done?

I closed my eyes, pushing my hair back and slipped down the wall sobbing quietly to myself.

~ ~ ~

I was looking out the window at the grey clouded sky with my back resting against the wall. I observe the raindrops falling on the window with force and then slowly slipping down. I hadn't moved from this spot for hours; I couldn't. I felt weak.

I am weak

Conversations from yesterday replay in my head and I couldn't shake them off. Alexander sounded so believable saying those things to me, and I know Nick is no saint, still, could I trust him? Is Nicholas really the one who caused me all this pain? I don't know what to believe anymore.

I sighed deeply and walked out towards the door. Maybe some interaction with Sandra or Agnes will help me get my mind off of things. Once I approached downstairs, I spotted Sandra come out of the kitchen with a tired expression on her face. I waved at her, and she stopped in front of me, smiling weakly.

"Hey, I see you finally decided to come down from your room."

"Yes," I say, looking down at my feet.

"I was going to bring Mr. Snow his coffee, but I really wanted to sit down and rest my feet for a bit. Would you do me the honors?" She pled to me.

"I don't know. I don't want to see his face yet." I told her truthfully.

"Oh, don't worry. He hasn't come back yet, but he will soon."

"Fine. Give it here." She smiled wider at me, and I groan exaggeratingly. She hands me the hot cup of coffee she was holding and turned around, going back into the kitchen.

"Come back when you finish so we can chat a bit." She said in her musically English accent.

"Will do."

I approached Nick's office where the door was open and stepped inside carefully making sure not to spill anything and make a nasty, brown stain on the white carpet. I set the cup on his desk and saw the computer was open and papers were messily on top of it. Just then, my phone rings. I jumped in surprise over the loud noise in the quiet room.

"Alexander?" I asked when I answered the simple cell phone.

"Hello, Angel. I just wanted to make sure you're following up with the plan."

"I'm not so sure about it. I don't think I can do what you're asking me to do." I told him, running a hand through my hair. I hope Nick doesn't come in right now. I walked to close the door and slowly made sure no one was outside to see me.

"Listen to me and listen good. You are going to do what we say if you want to be set free again, right now you are a Doll, and you will act like one. I don't care what you have to do, seduce him, make him want you. Make him trust you, find his secrets, and then tell me everything you know!" He yelled angrily, and before I could respond, the line went dead. He was gone.

I bit my lip looking around me, I have no choice at this point but to do what Alexander tells me. Not because I am scared of him, but because I am done with the Dollhouse, and I'm done with Nick. I quickly approached Nick's desk and started looking through the papers. It's not like I was looking for something in particular, I just wanted to see if I could find something that would seem useful. I glanced down and kneeled to open the first drawer. No papers. Only pens, keys, and a few small things he owned like paperclips and rubber bands. The second drawer had a large white envelope.

What could this be?

He had made sure to hide it under other paperwork on top of it so it must be important. I opened it carefully not to rip it and took the papers inside in my hands. My eyes observed the letter and the words written on it while my eyes widened.

An adoption paper?

I see the bold name on the top.

Nicholas Evan Snow.

At that moment, there was a noise from outside the door, signaling that someone was coming inside. I quickly put the papers back and stood up. I was panicked. Nick was coming, and he would find me red-handed in his office. My eyes met the doorknob and watched it move, and the door pushed open slowly.

Fuck.