In "Family Ties," the Moretti family is everything, or so they thought. But beneath the surface of loyalty lies a web of betrayal and lies. In the heart of this tangled mess, the Morettis struggle to find their footing, torn apart by secrets and dec...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I finally made it to the cabin, my breath catching in my throat as I reached for the door. It was locked. Of course, it was. I pulled out my lock pick, the metal cold in my fingers as I began to work on the lock. My hands moved with a practiced ease, and soon enough, the door clicked open. As I stepped inside, the air was thick with the scent of pine and something else—something faintly metallic. My eyes quickly scanned the room, landing on a bag tossed carelessly on the bed. I took a cautious step forward, the old wooden floor creaking beneath my weight.
Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of a shotgun being pumped filled the room, freezing me in place.
"You have five seconds to get out of here before I shoot," a voice commanded, sharp and full of tension. I turned around slowly, heart pounding in my chest.
"It's me," I said, pulling back my hood to reveal my face.
Athena lowered the gun, her eyes narrowing in confusion. "How did you find me?" she asked, the weariness in her voice evident as she put down the weapon.
I took in her appearance, noting the way her face had healed since the last time I'd seen her. She looked different—her makeup-free face exposed a vulnerability I hadn't seen before. Her hair was pulled back in a slick bun, a stark contrast to the long, luxurious wig she usually wore. The simplicity of her appearance made her look almost like a different person, someone closer to the real Athena. The one who bared her soul in the journals I'd read, not the glamorous façade she typically presented to the world.
"I read your journal, remember? I know this is where Elias gave you the necklace. You said he saw it as a safe place, so I put two and two together," I explained, hoping she would understand.
"You need to leave," she said, turning away from me, her voice carrying a resigned exhaustion.
"I can't do that. Elias needs you," I replied, stepping closer to her, trying to bridge the emotional gap between us.
She let out a humorless chuckle, shaking her head slightly. "Doesn't he always?" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, as if life itself had worn her down to the point of despair.
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "Look, I'm going to be very transparent here... I'm scared, okay? I'm not used to this—having people that I care about, and who care about me. I'm used to being alone. I usually run when I start to care because it only leads to disappointment. But this one time, I'm trying to keep everything together and stay and fight, but it feels like everyone is giving up. Athena, you cannot give up on me too... not again." My voice cracked slightly as I spoke, the weight of my words pressing down on me. "This family needs you. You're the only one who can stop Elias from getting himself killed. You have every right to want to keep running, and I don't blame you. But if you run, not only do I lose my mother, but my father and my brother too. And that sucks because I was just starting to like you guys," I added with a weak chuckle, trying to lighten the mood, even if just a little.
