« Deception » Book 1: City of Secrets

"Well, I've got your back. I'll make sure they don't come near you," Mark offered with a winning smile, although suddenly feeling awkward. "The girls who fawn over me either all approach me in packs and then fall over giggling and run away, or try to flirt as much as they can on their own until I make an excuse to go fix my bow and arrows or something and escape back inside."

Lilly grinned. "Thanks. I can shoo them away with a devil-like stare, if you like." Lilly looked at him. "Bow and arrow?"

"Thanks," he smiled. "Oh -- archery," he explained.

"Right. I love archery. Practice sometimes- I've got a lot of time to," she explained.

"Cool, we should arch together sometime."

"Yeah, we should," Lilly agreed. "So, do you know the other people around here? Pretty bad I don't know my own neighbors..." she chuckled darkly.

"Yes, a lot of them. They're like normal people, most of them, but we all have a dark secret."

"Everyone here has one. It's pretty much the point of being here... no one knows...."

"Exactly. Some people are really weird and secretive, but others you could easily mistake for being normal. It's interesting, really."

"Yes. Almost spooky, in a way. You never know who's telling the truth... what their past is..." Lilly shook her head. A bit disturbed by the subject. "So, do you know anyone here? Like, have any friends?"

"I have a few... I guess you could call them friends. I don't really trust anymore."

"Yeah, you can't really trust anyone around here.." Lilly agreed.

"That's why I'd rather not fall in love... everyone here is so good at keeping secrets, you can't trust anyone, and a relationship is all about trust, eh?"

"Yeah, you're right. I can't be sure you're not going to kill me now," she paused, then added, "I've lived here all my life, and some of my closest 'friends' were the ones who killed my parents. It's part of the reason why I don't trust anyone."

"Oh, I'm so sorry..." Mark gave her a quick hug again. "And, I'm not going to kill you. Although, if I were a murderer, I would have given the same response..." he sighed. "But I promise you I wouldn't even dream of it."

"Thanks..." She shook her head. "No, not a murderer. Er... robber... I then escaped from prison..."

"Same here," Mark smirked.

Lilly smiled. "Cool. It really wasn't hard to escape."

"No, not at all. Prison guards are so stupid..."

"They really are." She looked around absently. "So, er, who are the people you tend to stay away from?"

"Lately? Everyone," Mark shrugged. "But the rapists, the serial killers, and the psycopaths are probably not the best people to socialize with."

"Yeah, I can see why. I'd say the two of us -from what you're saying- are the more toned down ones, around here,"

Mark nodded. "At least we've got our sanity."

"Yeah. But, if I stay cooped up, not sure how much longer I'll have mine..."

"Then you've got to get out more," Mark smirked. He got up and headed for the ladder. "C'mon, let's go somewhere else."