chapter 6

Ricardo's expression shifted to one of shock as his eyes locked onto Beatrice. A whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind. What on earth was she doing here? Ricardo thought as he realized he wasn't wearing his silicon mask when his gaze went to the mirror in front of him, which meant she was now staring at his real face.

"You... What's going on, Ricardo? Why do you look like that?" Beatrice's voice quivered as she stepped further into the room, her gaze focused solely on Ricardo's face. Shock didn't quite cover what Beatrix was feeling right now.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking the questions in this situation? Because you're the one trespassing, " Ricardo said, his irritation evident in his tone and eyes.

"I... Why do you have two faces? Sorry, forgot I asked that because you can't possibly have two faces. What the hell is going on?" Beatrix said to Ricardo as she continued to stare at his face, her confusion. Ricardo, still miffed by her intrusion, couldn't predict her next move.

Suddenly, Beatrix slapped herself across the face as if to confirm that this wasn't a dream and that she was indeed seeing two faces, one fake on the table and the real one on his face, Beatrix found it crazy freaky as she stared at the fake one.

"Sit down before you pass out on me," Ricardo said, his tone more composed as he guided her to the nearest couch.

"Explain yourself?" Beatrix demanded, her eyes fixed on Ricardo, her curiosity mixed with a hint of anxiety. Why was he using a fake face? Beatrix thought to herself as she sat in silence, waiting for him to reply to her question.

"Do you think you have the right to be demanding answers from me when you're the one who followed a complete stranger you just met today to his house?" Ricardo asked as his gaze bore into her.

"Okay, maybe it sounds crazy when you say it, but I did have good intentions when I came here," Beatrix added, her voice softening.

"Okay, what were your good intentions?" Ricardo inquired, his intense gaze still fixed on Beatrix, making her increasingly uncomfortable.

"I was concerned for your well-being, given that you're new to this environment and all. I wanted to look out for you," Beatrix explained, hoping he would believe her partial truth because she couldn't tell him that even if she had just met him today, she craved to know more about him.

Ricardo studied Beatrix for a moment, weighing her words against the situation at hand. He could see the genuine concern in her eyes, but trust wasn't something he gave easily, especially at this moment when he could hardly afford to trust anyone because he didn't know who was watching.

"You have an interesting way of showing concern," Ricardo finally said, his expression softening slightly. "Most people would've called or sent a message. But I'm not surprised because the moment I met you I knew you weren't normal."

"Hey! I'm quite normal, thank you. It is you that is wearing the face that isn't normal, " Beatrix mumbled to herself as she glared at Ricardo, who was staring at her with an amused expression.

"Really, don't play smart with me, and don't change the subject," Ricardo said.

"I couldn't call obviously because we didn't talk long enough for me to get your contact information, and you didn't even give me the time of day during training, so I decided to take matters into my own hands" Beatrix explained as she played with the hem of her blouse avoiding Ricardo's gaze

"So you decided it was a good idea to follow me alone in the dark to the shady part of town," Ricardo said as he stared at her with a questioning look.

"Yes, I will admit it wasn't a good idea, but I was desperate," Beatrix confessed

"Why were you desperate to know more about me? What if I was a serial killer?" Ricardo commented.

"You don't look like one," Beatrix said

"Ted Bundy also didn't look like a serial killer," Ricardo said with a hint of amusement in his tone

"Okay, maybe I made a stupid decision, but it worked out, and you've established you're not a serial killer."

"Are you sure? I'm not a serial killer, " Ricardo joked, causing Beatrix to hit him on tears, shoulders

"Stop joking, I'm being serious," Beatrix said

Ricardo hesitated, his gaze shifting between Beatrix and the silicone mask on the table. He knew he had to tread carefully. "This is a complicated situation, and I can't reveal everything. But I'm not a threat, Beatrix. You stumbled onto something you shouldn't have, and it's not safe for you to be involved, so it's best you leave now and not get involved with me. "

Beatrice's eyes widened, a mixture of fear and curiosity in her expression. "Involved in what? What are you mixed up in, Ricardo?"

Ricardo sighed, realizing he had to provide some answers because she forcefully made Ricardo's business her business by coming here with him. "Let's just say I'm not who I appear to be. That mask is just a small part of it. People are looking… I'm looking, at people who wronged me, and I must get my revenge. "

Beatrix's mind raced as she processed his words. "So, you're in some kind of trouble?"

"I wouldn't say I'm in immediate trouble, but along the line, I might get into a little bit of trouble," Ricardo explained, his words laced with uncertainty, while a worried expression crept across Beatricx's face as she gazed at him.

"Are you certain that seeking revenge is truly worth it?" Beatrix asked, her concern evident in her eyes and tone.

Ricardo paused for a moment, contemplating Beatrice's question. Of course, this revenge was worth it. They took his sister away from him, and they will all have to pay for killing her

"I've thought long and hard about it," he finally replied, his voice tinged with a mixture of determination and doubt. "What they did... it can't just go unanswered. It's more about justice, not just revenge."

"And what did they do?" Beatrix asked, dreading his answer

Ricardo let out a pained sigh as he stared at Beatrice, who looked genuinely concerned about him. If he told her now, their fates would forever be tied together. Did he truly want to involve her in this mess?

"I'm waiting," Beatrix said curiously.