Ok..Here's the last one for the night. Let me know what you think.

Oh and the shits about to hit the fan...in a way :) Enjoy!

Chapter 29: She Knew!

Spencer's POV

Have you ever had that dream where you're falling from some high place, plummeting to the earth below you? A million thoughts running through your mind. You keep falling faster and faster and the earth never seems to get closer. You wonder: Is this it? Is this what my life has come to? And as fast as the dream begins you are jarred awake before you ever get the chance to hit the ground. You wake up a little scared because you don't know what just happened. You don't know what that dream means and then all of a sudden you come to a realization. You realize that you're having that dream because of something else that is going on in your life. Because you feel like at some point, you lost control of your life and now you are conveniently spiraling into this big abyss, with no end in sight.

I know you've had that dream at least once and for me, it's like a recurring nightmare. Somewhere along the way I lost control. Somewhere along the way I let reality slip away from me. Somewhere in this whole mess, I've managed to lose sight of the very thing that I came here to do.

I don't know why. I don't know where everything got so messed up and it's beyond frustrating. That dream has transferred from my unconscious state of mind into my waking hours and I feel like I have become a weightless mass suspended in time. I don't know what to think anymore. I don't know what's true and what isn't. I think that I've spent so much time focusing on how this town did me wrong that I didn't pay attention to the signs and realize that there was something more going on. I mean how could I even begin to see a lie buried so deep in this town's core that I became blind to the truth that was right in front of me the whole time. The truth that I didn't want to see.

I don't understand how a group of people could be so naïve. I don't understand why they insist on protecting the very person who terrorizes them on a daily basis. Is it the security in knowing that as long as they keep their mouths shut then nothing will happen to them? Is it the false security that they are immune to the true evils that exist in the world today? I just don't know anymore. And since I woke up this morning I realize that I'm not so sure I ever really knew anything at all.

Maybe Kyla did. Maybe she just thought that if she could kill me, then I never would have found out. Maybe that's what they all wanted. And I don't even know how many people really know the truth. I don't know how many people could be sick enough to keep a secret like this and act as if nothing had ever happened. How they could walk around acting as if it was just another day that they needed to get through. Another day that was simply marked off their calendar as just another twenty-four hours that they have spent on this earth. Twenty-four hours that has brought them closer to the end of their own time here. And all it makes you do is see that these people really don't care about anything other than themselves.

To say that I am simply angry would be an understatement. To say that I am beyond pissed would not even begin to cover it. I wake up this morning to find out a devastating truth that apparently isn't that devastating at all to most of these people. I wake up facing another day of contemplating the fact that my sister probably would have killed me and then this happens. I don't even know where to start. But, that doesn't mean that I won't try.

I woke up this morning like I have every day for the past week. Tired, withdrawn, irritated, and even more vengeful. I still can't seem to wrap the notion around my head that Kyla probably would have killed me if she hadn't been shot first. I mean who would even be able to imagine their own flesh and blood trying to kill them? Who would be able to just brush something like that off without a second thought? I mean you'd be insane if you said that it wasn't at least a little disturbing. Wouldn't you?

I guess you could say that it's been bothering me because I can't figure out why it bothers me so much after all the pain that Kyla has caused me. But even that's not important anymore. To be honest, the only thing that matters to me now is showing these people what hell on earth really is. The only thing that matters is finishing what I came here to do because now I see what true deception is all about. Now, there is no sympathy to be had.

For the past week Ashley has been staying with me. I think she's afraid that I might do something stupid. I mean it's not like I've actually talked to her all that much since the incident with Kyla and Aiden. But, I've never really been one to talk about the things that bother me and I didn't even know how to explain the way I've been feeling. But, she's been here every day, whether it's just sitting beside me on the couch or walking silently through the streets of town. She's been there and that means something to me.

That's why I knew that Ashley had probably gone out to get her morning coffee like she always does and I went downstairs to make myself some breakfast like I always do. When I got to the kitchen I looked at the clock on the wall and noticed that it was nine in the morning. I took a pan out of the cabinet to make some pancakes and I heard a knock at the door. I cursed whoever was at the door because I wasn't really in the mood to see anybody. But, when I looked through the peephole, no one was there. I took a deep breath and opened the door only to find the hallway empty. I went to walk down to the elevators when I was stopped in my tracks by my foot hitting a plastic bag on the ground. I noticed that there were papers inside the bag and deciding against looking for whoever interrupted my peaceful breakfast, I picked up the bag and brought it into my apartment. Securely closing and locking the door behind me.

I put the bag on the coffee table and went into the kitchen to get a glass of orange juice. I stood in back of the counter and drank the juice while my eyes remained fixed on the plastic bag filled with papers. I was thinking about all the things that it could be. I was thinking that this was just another ploy in their attempt to get me to give up and just accept things as they are. I was thinking that this was just another attempt to get me to reconsider. But, I never thought that it was an attempt to send everything flying out of control. I never thought that what was in that plastic bag could throw everything that I ever thought I knew right out the window. But I couldn't have been more wrong if I tried.

I refilled the glass with orange juice and brought it over to the couch. I sat down holding the glass with both hands and my eyes never leaving the bag that lay in front of me. I placed the glass on the table and took a deep breath before I reached over and lifted the bag off the table. Obviously there was something there that someone wanted me to see, so why not honor their request? Right?

I flipped the bag upside down and the contents came spilling out until the bag was empty. I took the newspaper that lay on the top of the pile and flipped it over to see the front page. And there was my mistake. As I looked at the front page I froze. Everything after that happened in slow motion. The paper dropped from my hands back onto the coffee table and the sound echoed in my ears. The sounds of the town outside were drowned out by an incessant ringing as my eyes remained fixed on the picture in front of me. I looked at the date of the paper and the realization that it was from today made me realize that I wasn't dreaming. It made me realize everything had changed.

It felt like a dream. So many emotions passing through me in a matter of minutes and all I could see was a past that I knew nothing about. After a few minutes I looked at the rest of the papers contained in the plastic bag and I realized that nothing is ever what it seems.

I scanned those papers for a good thirty minutes trying to figure out how they had done this. Trying to figure out how they managed to alter the documents and the morning paper because it had to be a lie. It had to be a setup because I would have known. Someone would have let it slip by now. This couldn't be happening. Not now.

I heard the key in the lock and I knew that it was Ashley. I also knew that the entire town was probably acting a little strange after seeing the latest edition of the Riverview Times. Therefore, I knew that she would have questions. I sat back on the couch and waited quietly for her to enter the apartment. She closed the door quietly and slowly made her way over to me. When she walked in front of the couch I saw her look questioningly at the papers on the table and then her eyes locked with mine as she placed a soft kiss on my forehead and sat down next to me. She places her copy of the paper down on the table and as soon as I see the front page I know that all of this is either some kind of sick joke or it is really happening.

Ashley's eyebrows raise and she gives me a confused look as her eyes meet mine once again. I can see the questions in her eyes and the sheer curiosity of what is going on in town today and I know that everyone has been acting way too out of character for their behavior to go unnoticed. I continue to stare into her eyes as she takes a sip of her coffee.

"You wanna know why everyone's acting weird…right?"

Her eyebrows raise and furrow in a state of slight confusion. I bet she's wondering how I knew what she was thinking.

"The thought crossed my mind once or twice on my way back here." She replies taking another sip of her coffee.

I nod my head slightly and turn my attention back to the papers lying on the coffee table. How the hell do I even begin to explain this? How do I begin to tell her something that I can't even wrap my head around? This is insane! It's fucking crazy! But I have to try. I have to try because on some level she deserves to know. I continue staring at the picture on the front page of the paper. My throat is dry and the words are there but they just don't want to come out. Saying what is on the tip of my tongue will make it true. It will make it real and I'm not so sure that I want it to be.

"Spencer, what's going?" She says softly.

I turn my head and my eyes meet hers once again. I can see the confusion and concern that is laced in her beautiful brown eyes and I know I have to say something. I just wonder if she can see the confusion and pain that is laced through my baby blues and etched all over my face.

"Well, it's a bit strange…" I start slowly. "…and I don't even know if I understand it. But, here it goes." I say letting out a deep breath.

She reaches over and places her hand over mine.

"Whatever it is Spence. I want to know. You can tell me." She says giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

I nod my head slightly and swallow hard. I wonder if she'll be singing the same tune in a couple minutes.

"It's about the picture." I say looking back at the paper.

She looks at the paper and I see her brows furrow as I look at her out of the corner of my eyes.

"They say a picture is worth a thousand words…and this one is worth more than that, Ash. This one changes everything."

"Spence…I'm not following." She says confused. "It's just a picture with some stupid article that doesn't mean anything."

I look at her and I can tell that she's trying to defend something. Does she know something that I don't? She doesn't even know what I'm talking about so why does she feel the need to explain herself?

"What are you talking about Ashley?"

"You were talking about the picture. I was just saying that the article doesn't mean anything. I'm not going anywhere."

Uhh…what?

"I don't understand. What does this have to do with you?" I say pointing to the picture. "Do you know who this is?"

Hey, if she's going to defend it I might as well know if she knows anything.

"Well…yeah." She says slightly confused.

I get up and walk over to the fireplace.

"Who is it?" I ask softly.

"What?"

"You said you know who is in the picture." I say turning around to face her. "So tell me who it is."

She stands up from the couch and stares deeply into my eyes. My anger is growing by the minute and I'm not sure why because there's no way she could know. After a few minutes she breaks the silence.

"Spencer, what's going on? Why does one picture have to change anything?"

"WHO IS IT, ASHLEY?" I yell a little louder than I should have, causing Ashley to flinch and step back.

I calm my nerves a little and continue in a slightly softened tone.

"Clearly we are talking about two different things, Ash. I just want to know what you are talking about and then I'll tell you why it matters." I say taking a tentative step closer to her. "So please, tell me."

Ashley grabs the paper off of the coffee table and holds it up in front of her. She looks at the front page for a few seconds before letting out a deep breath and turning it around so that I can see it. She points to the woman in the picture and looks into my eyes.

"My mother is building a new complex in Boardman. This is her and her business partner, Dave Moreno. They're supposed to be there for the groundbreaking." She says softly.

She lets the paper drop back onto the coffee table but never takes her eyes off of me. She really has no clue.

"But Spencer, just because she's building a new complex doesn't mean that I'm going anywhere. I already told her that I didn't want to live there and that I wanted to stay here because I want to be with you." She says stepping closer to me. "Besides, that doesn't explain why everyone's acting all weird today."

I let out a slight chuckle and shake my head because she obviously has no idea about anything that's going on. This is all so surreal and I can't help but feel a little sorry for her. I can't help but feel that for one reason or another this man has made some sort of impact on her life and that's the problem. She has been putting trust in a man who doesn't deserve her trust. And what's even more frustrating is that she knew. Her mother knew and she didn't say anything.

"How long have you known him, Ashley? How long has he worked with you mother?" I ask.

"I don't know Spencer…" She says clearly aggravated. "…around fifteen years." She's definitely frustrated and confused. "Why does it matter?"

I walk over to the desk and take out a picture from the top drawer. I clutch the picture in my hands, with the front facing my body as I make my way over to her. My eyes go between her and the picture in my hands as I take a deep breath and lock my eyes onto hers.

"Ashley…" I start slowly. "…that man isn't who you think he is." I say softly.

"Then who is he, Spencer." She says exasperated.

I place the picture down on the coffee table next to the picture on the front page of the newspaper. I see her eyes go wide and I think she's a little in shock as she looks back up to me.

"He's my father."