Echoes of Deception
The Boss turned toward Jake, stepping closer. He scrutinized him with intense, cold eyes. His skin was bronzed, and his thick, curly black hair fell to his forearms. He wore an all-black robe that seemed to swallow the light. Every step he took echoed with a heavy, ominous weight.
Jake clenched his fists tightly, bowing his head in submission. "Forgive me, Boss."
"Raise your head, Jake," the Boss whispered.
Jake obeyed, but his gaze remained fixed on the floor, avoiding the Boss's eyes.
"The losses weren't significant, so I will overlook your negligence this time," the Boss said, his voice cold and sharp. "But I see you are faltering in your duties. Fix what has been corrupted here, and bring me the one responsible for the fire: Clarity Smith."
Jake’s eyes widened in shock. He stood frozen for a moment, then turned to one of the men nearby. "What does Clarity have to do with this?! What kind of sick game are you playing this time?!"
The man smirked. "Ask Apollo."
"Apollo saw that boy, Clarity Smith, in the warehouse pouring gasoline and lighting the fire," the Boss interrupted, his tone chilling. "I’ve heard he’s been trying to shirk his duties and even leave us." The Boss stepped forward, placing a heavy hand on Jake's shoulder. "He knows very well that the house he lived in belongs to me, doesn't he?"
"He knows," Jake replied, his voice strained. "He already left it, but... Boss, Clarity would never do something like this."
"Jake, I already overlooked his attempt to smuggle Aaron out. Don't ask me to overlook this. Besides, he hasn't offered the gang anything of value! I don't know him as well as you think. Bring him to me so I can see him... and then I will decide his fate."
"But he isn't the one who did it!"
"Prove it to me. Until then, stay out of my sight. And consider yourself stripped of your command over this district. Dismissed."
At the hospital, Clarity stepped out of a room and ran into the same doctor he had spoken with earlier.
"Ah, Clarity. About Mrs. Mary—we’ve found someone who will provide her with everything she needs, from housing to treatment, until she’s fully recovered."
"Really? Who is this person?"
"It’s a charitable foundation for the needy," the doctor whispered, leaning closer. "It’s run by Miss Eve Konar-Thomas, the granddaughter of the High Governor. You should be grateful."
"I am, truly. I’m sure she’ll be in good hands."
As the doctor walked away, Clarity stood there, lost in thought about where he would sleep tonight, before sighing and heading back into his neighbor's room.
At that exact moment, Jake walked past the door, glanced at the room number—104—and continued to room 105. He entered quietly, scanning the beds until his eyes landed on Apollo, who was heavily bandaged.
Jake approached, his voice low and dangerous. "Is this a new game?!"
He took a deep breath and pulled up a chair. "How did the fire start?"
Apollo raised an eyebrow, smirking as he turned his head away.
"I asked you, how did the fire start?"
"Why tell you? You’ll just call me a liar, as usual. Maybe when you see me dead, you’ll finally believe me."
"What does Clarity have to do with this?"
Apollo turned back, his gaze cold. "He’s the one who burned the place down."
"Your proof?"
"My own eyes. I was in the warehouse cleaning weapons when he walked in. He looked suspicious—he hadn't been seen for a week—and he was carrying a bottle full of gasoline. I hid, watching. He splashed the fuel, lit the fire, walked out, and locked the door behind him."
Jake clapped sarcastically. "A beautiful performance. But where is the real evidence?"
"I have no proof other than my own eyes. Believe what you want. Now get out, I need to rest."
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Jake leaned in, wrapping his hand around Apollo’s throat, and hissed, "Mind your manners, you bastard."
"I’ll call the nurses! Get off!"
Jake stormed out, only to find Clarity standing right in front of him.
"Jake! What are you doing here?"
"That’s my question for you!"
"My neighbor is sick, so I brought her here. What a miserable coincidence."
"Clarity, tell me... did you go to the weapons warehouse?"
Clarity smiled bitterly. "Why would I? I told you, I’ve left the gang and everything related to it."
Jake grabbed Clarity by the collar, pulling him close. "So you didn't burn the warehouse as revenge against us?!"
Clarity shoved him away, shouting, "What are you rambling about?! What fire are you talking about?!"
A nurse approached Clarity. "The lady would like to speak with you regarding Mrs. Mary."
"Fine, I’ll be right there," Clarity replied. He turned back to Jake, whispering, "I want to live my life far away from you and your kind. Let the gang go to hell; I don't care anymore."
In one of the hospital offices, Clarity looked up as Miss Eve approached. She moved with graceful precision in her blue dress. She sat down calmly across from him.
"You’re Clarity?"
"Yes, that’s me."
"I’m Eve Konar. You might know me—I’m somewhat famous. By the way, you have a unique name."
"Thank you."
"I love your long hair, those waves. I’ve always thought long hair looked wonderful. I tried to convince my brother, but it was useless."
Clarity looked puzzled. "Thank you. But there’s something you wanted to discuss regarding Mrs. Mary, my neighbor?"
"Ah, yes. The hospital called me, and I happened to be free today. Since she will be a new addition to our 'family,' tell me everything you know about her."
"She’s just my neighbor. I don't know much, but she has three children who have all left town, so she’s alone. And... well, she can be very temperamental."
"Irritability is natural at that age."
"Even if she scolds everyone she sees?"
"That’s because her view of life is different from yours. As people get older, they feel abandoned, as if they no longer belong to this world."
"I feel that way, and I'm still young. But I try to control myself."
"Like I said, you are different from her. You have a great capacity for emotional control. Whatever difficulties young people face, they have the resilience to endure them. Humans only lose their patience at two stages of life: adolescence and old age."
"Fine, I don't like these kinds of discussions. Let’s stop here." He stood up. "Thank you for agreeing to take care of her."
"Wait!"
Eve stood and moved toward him, lowering her voice. "Your adolescence was full of lost patience, wasn't it? Since you got irritated, it’s clearly a sensitive subject."
"It is. So no need to ask, Miss. I’m still going through that phase, so I’m afraid I might lose my temper at any moment. It seems you love prying into other people’s privacy."
"Guilty! I truly love it. I want to know why I saw you sleeping on the side of the road, and what happened to that dog."
Eve’s eyes sharpened. "I’m curious. And my curiosity has helped many people—including you."
Clarity pushed his chair aside, retreating a few steps, trying to process her words. "I’m sorry... and thank you for helping me." He turned and walked out.
Clarity left the hospital, his mind spinning. So, Eve is the one who saved me and paid for my treatment? And she’s Aaron’s sister! He stopped, his voice rising in realization. And she’s the Governor's granddaughter! That means Aaron is, too!!
Clarity stood in silence for a minute, then shouted, "Wait! If that’s true, how could the Boss kidnap the Governor's grandson, and how could he kill his fiancée, Ari?! What kind of country is this?!"
"Patriotism is a wonderful thing, kid," a voice sneered.
Clarity spun around to find Eric standing there.
"You!" Clarity felt the familiar, suffocating tension.
"Heh. Did you come to see Apollo? Do you enjoy seeing him in pain?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Ah, looks like you burned the warehouse without knowing he was inside."
"What are you talking about?!"
"Little Clarity... it seems Jake didn't come to hunt you down. Is he going to disobey the Boss? I really thought he’d bring you here. In that case, I’ll do what the Boss ordered myself."
Eric stepped toward Clarity—only to be stopped by Jake, who stepped firmly between them.
"Back off, Eric," Jake said. "Clarity isn't the one who did it. I’m handling this, so get lost."
Eric retreated, sneering. "Handling it, are you? We’ll see what you’re capable of."
He turned and left.
Clarity looked at Jake, panicked. "What about the warehouse? Why are they accusing me?!"
"It burned down, and Apollo claims you did it."
"And the Boss wants me?"
"Yes. But I know you didn't do it. I’ll tell him that, and he has to believe me."
"I wish I had the guts to burn that miserable place down," Clarity whispered. "But as I told you, I’m done with the gang. I have nothing to do with this."
"Clarity, you’re overreacting. We aren't a group of mindless killers. You know we have a goal."
"And what is that goal? Reaching for power? Are you kidding me? Why should I blindly follow someone just because he helped me once? I can’t go on like this. The way society looks at me... the idea that I work with a group that treats human life as cheap—it’s killing me. Let me go, please. I’m old enough to choose my own path. I’ll be a normal citizen, work hard, and find a good job."
Jake closed his eyes tight. "You’re dreaming," he whispered. "If you can really get that, I’d be happy for you. But I know you’ll come back to me, regretting everything, just like before. You’ll come back to me and the Boss. This city and its people are selfish; they are the worst."
"Not everyone, Jake! In this world, there is good and bad. 'Being evil to face something worse'—that way of life doesn't suit me. I’m leaving."
"Stop!"
Clarity paused.
Jake walked a few steps away, whispering, "I’m leaving first. I don't like watching your back as you walk away from me."
Clarity smiled. "Thank you."
Jake stopped and looked back. "For what?"
"Thank you for continuing to believe in me. You proved to me this time that you won't stand in my way, even if the Boss orders you to. Thank you for your trust, and for letting me do what I want."
"I’m not letting you do anything, kid! I’m just letting you realize the truth of this world for yourself."
"The truth has many sides," Clarity replied. "I hope you realize that, too."