The All-Seeing Eyes

Chapter 18

Kylie's POV

He told me I would be picked up from Bridgeside Academy soon, but was worried about encountering familiar faces. Today's update better be worth my time. Keeping up this disguise is stressful. I'm aware of what will happen if our plan falls through the cracks and not at all excited to have him be the reason. Ten minutes later, his black Chevrolet with tinted windows pulls up. A deep sigh escaped my mouth as I opened the passenger side door.

"I was starting to think you wouldn't be here on time," I said, taking off the pink wig and tossing it to the backseat.

"I'm always reliable, Leah."

"What was so important that I had to get out of class early? It seemed urgent."

"Somehow, Elena got footage of you and John kidnapping Tyler."

"That's not possible. We went to the street corner, where you said he would be, and John knocked Tyler unconscious. I opened the back doors to the van to retrieve duct tape and rope, when I heard a faint beeping noise. As I got closer to the tree, the beeping intensified. I spotted the camera in the leaves overhead. It had been recording us for a while, but..." I trailed off, shaking my head in disbelief.

"What did you do?" he demanded.

Flashes of that moment came back into my mind. I could once again feel the ridged bark against my hands as I climbed quickly up the tree. After moving a third of the way towards the object, I looked down. That was the worst mistake I ever made. Heights never gave me an adrenaline rush. They only reminded me to not let go in fear of the hazardous consequences. The next rendered image, was removing it and seeing the crushed wires start to spark. They casted an eerie white shadow. The crash of metal against cement continued to bombard my ear drums.

Telling him that I'm afraid of heights wouldn't accomplish anything. People regarded by others as bad for society can't openly share their problems whenever they want. We're not welcome to show the vulnerable side of us because the ones who have been deemed good can't accept that we feel pain too. I choose to keep my suffering internal as every other criminal before me.

Instead, I responded calmly, "The camera was destroyed before we left. I don't know how anyone could have got their hands on the evidence."

"It's more than a minor setback. Hellion will be mad at us for not tying up all loose ends."

I laughed at his comment.

"Us? Does he really want to ignore that I work harder? Maybe grouping our efforts together makes up for his incompetence?"

He would be the only one going down. Even when I fail, he pretends that he took part in it. Be the conceited jerk you always are.

"I did my  job, Steven. Success or not. You need to finish yours before you have a right to judge me."

"Don't worry. It's already in motion."

"Uh huh. I guess that's all I'll get until Hellion says otherwise in a week."

I averted my attention from him to retrieve the pink wig, but Steven grabbed my arm.

"Wait, a week? I thought he said I had longer. Is Hellion trying to sabotage me?"

"Oh, now this is about you? He finally caught on to your laziness and found the weakest one. Have fun!" I said sarcastically while throwing the car door open.

"Leah, I used to not understand why you gave me the cold shoulder. Now, I think it's because of your trust issues. Stop living in the past," he shouted.

I tried my best to ignore him as I repositioned the wig and channeled Kylie Barnes' fake lifestyle again. This is what it came down to: Creating a new personality because my own family didn't like the old me. However, Kylie fit in with everyone. She was accepted when none of it was real. That boy wouldn't be able to relate to my problems even if I reached out. He was raised by a caring family. My childhood could have been different with that missing piece.