|| The Last String||

||2||

" There are no secrets that time does not reveal "
                                   Jean Racine

The next day drawled on for what seemed like forever. Alexus decided to skip school and instead go through the list of people she suspected. It was not like she could face anyone after what had happened.

Alexus had hidden the letter under a pile of clothes. The last thing she wanted was to rip it apart. She had to keep the evidence incase all this got out of hand. Incase she had to take the final path and involve the police officers.

"Alexus ! Are you sure you're not up for a visit to the doctor ? The cough will just keep on getting worst. " Rosalia Martin asked.

Rosalia was the only family Alexus had now. She originally lived in a beautiful lake view cottage on the outskirts of the city. A fence behind the cottage drew a line between the forest and the town. However you could see a few animals stop by and watch the human settlements every now and then.

Winters spent there seemed to be even more delightful. Waking up every morning to see the snow covered tree tops. The frozen lake glistening and ready. The smell of pine wood and freshly baked cookies. The happiness in the air as the decorations are put up in all the houses and tiny shops.

" I'm fine. Just a little hot tea would be good. Thank you so much grandma." Alexus yelled back.

Alexus waited till the sound of footsteps on the stone floor died away. She had to inform someone about the letter. Someone who she could trust and who trusted her. She had to hold back her self pride as she frantically began to search for her phone.

The letter had been a living nightmare. Like being tied up in a dark room with the devil. Having him whisper all you're sins in your ear as he promised you eternal fire. Like it felt to walk over hot coal.

" Marco better be at home. The last six times he ended up switching his phone off because he wanted to sleep in." Alexus told herself.

Alexus found her phone under a heap of old clothes. She had wanted to give them away but never got around to doing it. In the end she would have to just make more place in this cramped up room. Clothes before it all was the motto she lived by.

Alexus unlocked the phone and dialled her best friends number. He picked it up after a few rings and whispered a good morning. It sounded like he had been asleep after all. It did not matter to him if his best friend just disappeared from the face of the Earth.

" Hello to you too. Mind recalling when was the last time I texted you? " Alexus asked.

Marco hummed into the phone. His last text had been about a week ago. It had only been a few words and then goodbyes. The two of them had been drifting apart lately. Moving away to search for something new. Maybe in another person or maybe in themselves.

" What's been going on? It's not like you've been kidnapped. It's not like a monkey has taught you how to dance this week." Marco teased.

Alexus rolled her eyes. She did not know if she wanted to tell him the truth anymore. It was not like he would not believe it. He just did not know a whole other part of her. A side that she kept locked away. A part of her hated herself for being that way.

She hid behind a mask all along. She could not live up to who she truly was. She did not accept herself and yet she expected others to accept her. Accept a part of her that could only fake the perfections. Cover up the flaws with a few silly remarks.

" Look I- " Alexus started.

Alexus had rolled over and was now sitting cross legged. Her breathing became uneven as she watched. Still as the night. Terrified as a little bird who was about to take flight. Silence was all it took to turn the tables.

" Meet me in an hour. Outside my place." Alexus whispered into the phone