FHC B3 Chapter 55: Liar Liar

“Why? Why are you trying to start something?” I shouted.

Garret continued to hold his stare, the same stupid smile plastered on his face. I nearly shoved Alice out of the way, but I kept myself contained and squeezed down on a nearby table.

“Not even denying it. See what I mean?” Garret teased.

Alice glanced over, confusion evident. But she remained still, her face too neutral to give me more than knowing she was getting frustrated.

“You realize that if you’re calling me a liar for what I think you are, that means you are one too?”

Garret laughed and licked his lips. “Certainly. But I’m not pretending to be something I’m not. Right, Cain? Unlike me, you’re supposed to be her friend. I’m just the asshole who dated her brother. I kept his secrets plenty. What about you? What’s your excuse?”

Frustration grew and I let a cold plunge of shadow mana pierce my chest. It centered me, grounded me. But Garret’s eyes never stopped glowing, his finger still raised.

“I’m tempted to break that hand,” I growled.

“I’d like to see you try, pup. I’ll take your arm.”

“Almost worth it,” I retorted.

“Cain?” Alice asked calmly. Even the minor tics that I could have recognized were banished. She stared with cold eyes. “What is he talking about?”

“Oh yes, tell her. Tell her and expose another lying jerk in her life. What’s one more for the pile?” Garret sang. He briefly flexed his hand, and a shadowy claw slapped the Grobul’s Brew into his hand. He uncapped it and took a swig before leaning back, the damnable smile growing. “Not that it even matters. I think I’m wrong anyway. Elias, Devon, the Prime. Hell, all the hunters from the raid. Traitorous bastards, every one of them.”

Alice snatched the bottle and tossed it at the far wall where it shattered. Garret growled, but Alice had already turned away. Instead of spewing more nonsense, he rubbed at his chin and licked the droplets of the concoction before grunting.

“Always told him we’d never finish the bottle. Too bad I can’t collect a meal from his corpse,” he grumbled.

“Cain. What’s the idiot talking about?” Alice prompted.

I felt like screaming. This wasn’t how I had things planned. I wasn’t prepared.

Just burn his face off. Some green flames and pop go his dumb head! Why Garret?! Why?! Aaaargh!

“Alice,” I said slowly. “I was going to tell you.”

“Tell me what,” she slid closer, her eyes fighting to stay brilliant blue as the crimson fought for dominance in her eyes. “You’re not telling me he’s wrong.”

“That’s because he can’t. Another liar, just like everybody else. Even me! Even you!”

“I swear on your fuzzy behind; I’ll have Freki tear your balls off. Why Garret? Why today? You care so little you’d ruin his memory? The one day where she can grieve so that you can get a laugh? And why? All I did to deserve this, is not die. I’m sorry I was taken from my world, shoved into a cage, and saved by a monster! That’s my only crime, and you started shit because you’re an asshole, is that it?” I shouted, finally pushing past Alice to loom over Garret.

He cocked his head and smiled through bloody teeth. “You took away the only thing that made me happy. You should have died. Not him. It’s the least I can do.”

I reared up a punch and he spread his arms and leaned forward, but something restrained me. I looked back and saw Alice’s claws gripping my elbow.

“Answer me,” she demanded, the calm no longer present in her voice.

“Yes, do go on. Tell her. Reveal the lies, expose yourself,” Garret chuckled. He leaned around my body and waved at Alice. “Did you know? I told him all the way back when we first met in the city. And you still don’t know? What a guy.”

“I’m not crazy for not wanting to die! Blame the Reds. The monsters, the system! Blame Devon for all I care!” I grabbed Garret’s shoulder and pulled him closer. “But don’t sit there and hate me because you weren’t there. I granted Elias a victory. Gave him someone to say his last words too. You did nothing. And that’ll never change, no matter how much you despise me.”

Garret’s eyes widened. His lip quivered and for a second, he looked like he was about to launch himself from the chair and rip my throat out.

But his eyes dimmed and his muscles grew slack underneath my grip.

“I know,” he whispered—a brief chuckle escaped; one that rang hollow. “You are a nobody. I was his love and promised soul. Yet you were the last to hear his voice, not me. Not even her. Pathetic. Go on then, hit me, I deserve it.”

My jaw dropped.

What? What?!

I was going insane. He was driving me insane!

Garret’s face scrunched and he yanked his shoulder free before standing up. He reached for a shirt hanging off a nearby shelf and slid it on without looking our way.

“If you’re too much of a coward, then so be it. I’ll see you at the rite, Alice. Sober. I promise.”

He started walking away, but a spike of ice slammed into his knee and he stopped. He turned around to Alice, lowering her hand.

“You can’t say what you’ve said and just leave,” she growled.

“Yeah? Too bad because I can, and I will. I gave him the chance to hit me, and you’re not strong enough to hold me back. Trust me, girl. You’ve gotten better, but it's not enough. Not yet.”

The ice extended over her claws and they held their staring contest long enough for the ice to spread over her shoulder. Eventually, Garret snorted and stepped over the spike, marching away uncontested.

Alice watched him leave. When the door slammed shut, she turned around and glared.

“Start talking.”

“Alice…” I started.

The ice didn’t recede, neither did she aim her claws my way. But she didn’t move back, and her eyes continued to bore down on me.

“Cain. What did he mean about a lie?”

I bit my lip and breathed in deep. “It’s not a lie. But… It’s not good either.”

“Spill.”

My eyes closed and I sighed, attempting desperately to shunt out the turmoil in my gut. Trying, and failing severely.

“Fine,” I relented. I opened my eyes and gestured to the door. “But don’t say anything till I’ve explained it all. Including my reasoning.”

“Cain. Answer me already.”