Truth be told

Al and Marco reach his old front door, the house he supposedly was living in.

He grabbed the door knob and took one last sigh, "please, just don't be mad at me when I'm done explaining, I didn't choose this life, it was forced upon me..so please, don't be mad at me."

Marco looks into her eyes before swinging the door open, hoping he can see forgiveness behind her pupils, but of course all he could see was the flames of rage burning brighter in her eyes as she gave him a nod. He felt that he just might have a chance.

They walked into the house, Marco leading the way. As she looked around the first room they entered in from outside, all the walls were covered in some kind of black ooze, furniture was either knocked over or broken, some were even both. In the kitchen, all kinds of dishes from pots and pans to forks and knives were spread throughout the room, unsure to if any of them were clean. They went into his bedroom, which still had a twin size bed with a pillow and blanket neatly made and little kid posters on the wall of "Tim and Larry". She smiled as she seen them, knowing that was his favorite cartoon show growing up, he would always come over 8 in the morning just to wake her up to watch it with him. Then it crossed her mind, was it all a lie? Did he really do those things with her or was it all pretend? Her chest began to pound. Calm down, calm down, let him talk. She thought to herself. Marco could feel her pulse increase in her hand, he began to squeeze it tighter, startling her.

He sat down on the bed, looking down at the floor. Al took a deep breathe and sat next to him.

"When you're "ready", you can start." She threw her hands up to do the air quotes when she said the word 'ready.'

"When I was a little boy, my dad walked out on us, never saying a word to us again. My mom couldn't take the pain, she started to drink. One night, she said she was getting beer and never came home. I later found out on the news that she apparently fell in the pond while walking to the store. They deemed it an accident, later the truth was revealed someone drown her. The day I found out on the news, a man with a black cloak came to my house. Told me that my father put me in his custody when my mother passed away. Which didn't make sense to me since my dad left us. That was when I moved here next to you, apparently this had been his hideout for some time now.

The man said to keep it eye you, don't say a word about him until it was time. You didn't need to know he existed, let alone know me. That i just needed to keep you out of harms way until you were old enough to be his queen. At the time, I did as he ordered, when I first seen him, his cloak covered in blood and dirt, I wasn't strongest to take him, so I became your friend and made sure you didn't hurt yourself or others hurt you. What I didn't know then was how amazing of a person you are and ended up being my best friend. A couple months ago, the man sent another henchman to collect me, forcing me to leave here. I was told not to have any contact with you." He looked over at Al, who had her legs crossed and elbows resting on her knees while her hands on her chin. She was trying to process everything he said. Not knowing if it was still the truth or not. He still didn't explain to her who this man was or why he made Marco watch her.

She opens her mouth, but closes it again, as if she were going to say something. A few seconds later, "Where are you taking me?"

Marco unsure as to why she didn't ask about anything, explained to her, "We have to take a train for a few days down to Cape La Lou then meet at the pub hideout to go through the tunnels to reach the underground city, UnderWorld. There you will be escorted to the man's throne where he will make you his bride of the UnderWorld."

"And you're just gonna let him take me?" Al crossed her arms.

Marco shrugged his shoulders, "You want me to die or try to figure out a way out on the way this?"

Her face expression got angrier, "You really haven't figured out a way after all this time?"

"I was trying not to die, it's like he knows what I'm up to before I can even get it done, he tells me if he didn't need me already I would have been dead a long time ago for loving you." Marco through his hands over his mouth, but he knew it was too late, the world hear him.

Al's expression saddened, of course she didn't want that, but she didn't want to be this creep's bride either. Her thoughts began to swirl out of control.

"So when do we go?"

"As soon as possible with your 18th birthday in a week, we have to get you to the UnderWorld a few days before then. The man said it's to get the final measurements before the big day. I guess we will pack your bags and leave." He told her.

Al finally spit one of her concerned questions out, "why do you keep calling him 'The Man'? Don't you know his name?"

Marco looked at her, trying to find an excuse. "Well, that's all I'm allow to tell you."

"But the letter said you will tell me all I need to know, don't I need to know the name of the man I am to marry?" She cried out.

He grabbed her hands, "You already know the name, Marco Bailey."

She looked at him with her puppy eyes and a smile across her face. "Anyway we can stall?"

"I wish we could." Marco got up, breaking the connection between them and walked out the bedroom door, heading towards the front door.

Al put a hand on her forehead and rubbed back and forth,"okay, let's do this."