Shattered Heart's Plea

Chapter 03: Trust Issues

Chapter 03: Trust Issues

***

Zoe awoke to the clang of metal on her bedside table. She sat up in bed, the smell of freshly cooked waffles and the sweet aroma of maple syrup filling her nostrils. Adrenaline rushed through her, the sensory overload lifting her spirits.

The smile slowly curled at the corner of her lips and vanished when she looked up and saw her mother serving the food. Zoe abruptly stood up from her bed and hurried into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

"Zoe," Claura called. "Can we talk?"

"No, Mom, we can't," Zoe stripped her clothes and went under the shower.

"Just for a moment, Zoe. It's about—"

"Actually, Mom! I'm running late for a training with Khlea!" She shouted from the shower space.

Zoe continued washing under the flowing water, ignoring her mother's voice as it droned on from behind the bathroom door. Once finished, she put on a robe and stepped outside. Her eyes immediately scanned the room, hoping her mother had left.

She was about to enter her closet when she heard the creaking of the door hinges. Her eyes rolled as she heaved a sharp exhale.

"I thought I said I don't want to talk?" her voice was sharp, dismissing.

"I don't remember you saying that to me,"

Zoe turned abruptly when she heard her sister's voice. She eyed Khaelie who entered her room and sat at the edge of her bed, cocking her head to the side as if waiting for Zoe to say something.

"I dismissed Mom. I know. I'll apologize later," Zoe's expression was closed as her tone.

Zoe opened her wardrobe and scanned the rows of neatly folded garments until she found her training attire. She pulled out a pair of loose, dark trousers and a fitted tunic, laying them on the center table. She then reached for a linen undershirt, slipping it on before donning the tunic. Next, she pulled on the trousers, tying the drawstring waist securely.

She grabbed a pair of leather boots and moved to sit on the sofa in front of her bed. She laced the boots until they were snug yet comfortable enough for flexible movements. As she finished, her eyes settled on her sister, who was still sitting on the edge of her bed with a wistful stare.

"You should stay here. You should move back here," Khaelie surveyed Zoe as she moved about the room, preparing to leave.

"Yeah? Should I? Because you and Jayke live here? Because if everyone's here, we'll be a small, happy family?" Zoe snarled. "You don't even live here anymore. You've escaped. So don't tell me to come back when you know damn well why I left in the first place." Zoe stared indignantly at Khaelie.

"Things are changing, Zoe. You need people you can trust around you when the inevitable comes—"

"And you just expected me to trust Mom and Dad, or you, or Jayke?" Her brows furrowed. "Why would I trust you when you couldn't even trust me with something I specialize in? The documents. That's my job, my profession, and you compromised it by lying about it."

"It's not that simple—" Khaelie's voice failed her as she faltered.

"Yes, I know," Zoe cut through the silence. "I understand. It's all I can ever do."

She turned on her heel and headed for the door, leaving Khaelie behind without looking back to see if she would follow. Zoe descended to the first floor, and as she approached the exit, she saw two men emerging from her mother's office, fully dressed in black. They didn't stop to look at her and casually made their way out of the house.