TWENTY TWO

LAUREL’s POV

“Come out, Laurel.”

Helios calls for me and I take a deep breath to soothe my nerves. The time has come to put an end to Jamie's facade.

I get up from my hiding place, ignoring the dizzy spell that washes over me. My blood pressure drops and for a moment, I feel woozy. But nothing will stop me from facing the very person who stole my identity from me.

And with one bare foot at a time, I step out from behind the painted screen to face Jamie.

Sister, imposter, murderer.

Slowly I move towards her, until I stand right in front of her kneeling form. And for a full minute, neither of us speaks nor moves...it is as if time has come to a standstill.

Memories stir within me. Memories of a better time; of Jamie’s first steps as a toddler towards me, of Jamie laughing as she played in the fields near our house, of Jamie soothing me as a child when I cried from the pain of mother's flogging. Memories of how innocent and full of love she was before she changed.

Into a monster.