Dreams Outgrow Rooms Built From Other Peoples Fears by Niro Mason 38

38 Contradiction 

38 Contradiction 

Tori narrowed her eyes. “What?” 

1 

“Athena’s bad news, and she may come on sweet and bright, but she’s not; she has a… um…” 

“A what?” 

“Missing screw in her head, and I experienced it firsthand.” 

Tori blinked, mouth moving, but the words didn’t 

form. 

“I just need you to trust me on this.” 

“Wow! I was hoping you would say something like… Don’t hang out with your boss sister, don’t forget this is a contract and there are loose ends.” 

“Tori…” 

“But a missing screw, really? You’re basically calling her insane.” 

12:09 

1/11 

38 Contradiction 

: 

“You don’t understand.” 

“Then make me understand because I really want 

to.” 

“Okay…” I shuddered in breath, but wavered. 

What if I told her what happened at the equestrian, and Athena finds out? What will she 

do to Tori then? 

“Well… waiting, munchkin.” 

“Y–You’re right, I’m not making any sense.” 

She scoffed at my words. “Seriously, Cat, you don’t go saying someone is crazy because your girl hangs out with another person.” 

“I didn’t mean-” 

“I get it if we don’t want me to. I, for one, do not want a King in my life. Athena’s lovely, but I’d 

really appreciate it if my best friend were truthful with me and not make up things.” 

12:09 

2/11 

38 Contradiction 

I swallowed back whatever I wanted to say. 

Tori sighed, turning to leave. I wanted to stop her and tell her everything, but I didn’t. I realized 

now I didn’t want to drag her into my mess and make things worse. 

Tori said something to Athena and disappeared into the back. 

With clenched fists, I strode to the booth and sat 

down. 

“Whatever you’re doing, I want you to stop.” 

Athena looked at me, bewildered. 

“Don’t toy with me!” 

“I’m bonding with your friend, I thought it was the right thing to do since you’re too busy with my brother.” 

“Stay away from her!” I seethed. 

“Now that’s not very nice. You should be thanking 

12:09 

3/11 

38 Contradiction 

: 

me that I didn’t choose to delete her.” 

Delete her? What the fuck? 

“Look… I have had a hectic day, being followed by a car, and I’m under a lot of stress; the last thing I want is you trying to destroy my friendship.” 

“Followed? Followed by whom?” 

That was only what caught her attention, rather than the fact that she was inserting herself into my life forcefully. 

“None of your business.” 

“Cat…” She reached to take my hand, but I took it 

off the table before she could. 

I swore I saw a hurt there, but that could be her 

trying to deceive me again. 

“Why are you so obsessed with making my life hell?” 

“I don’t want that,” she replied with a sad 

12:09 

4/11 

38 Contradiction 

expression. “I–I admit I wasn’t really nice on our first meeting. I was just being a sister.” 

“A sister? You mean chasing me through the woods for an hour, thinking you would kill me when you find me?” 

“Oh, Cat, I’m sorry, okay? And I shouldn’t have hidden the ring.” 

“Hidden the ring? What are you—” I froze. 

She pinched her mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that. But Ares found it didn’t, he?” 

“Is this some kind of sick game or something?” I asked in disbelief. 

“Absolutely not! It’s all changed now that I know it’s you…” She gave me a bright smile. “And I want nothing more than to be friends; I have always wanted to.” 

She’s starting to speak like crazy now, and she was responsible for the ring. 

12:09 

5/11 

< 

38 Contradiction 

I rubbed my forehead. What kind of web have I 

been caught in? 

“The ring…” I began. 

“Hmm?” 

“You hid it, why?” 

“Why do you keep opening past wounds? It’s not good. If I do that all the time, I wouldn’t move forward.” 

“Why?” I urged, getting impatient. 

“Well, because I didn’t like you at first. I shouldn’t 

have hidden it in a place where Ares would look. Honestly, I didn’t think he would go back for it.” 

Neither did I. 

It was things like this that got me baffled about Ares, one minute he’s cold like Iceland, and next he does things that contradict his personality. 

“Oh, here comes the bodyguard!” 

12:09 

6/11 

38 Contradiction 

I turned as Reed approached us. 

“Mrs. King, Ms. King.” 

“Hi, handsome,” Athena said huskily. 

“Mr. King called me.” 

I froze. “H–He did?” 

“Yes.” 

Reed’s pressured expression spoke volumes. I’d switched off my phone so that Ares wouldn’t call me. Fuck! 

I rose to my feet, pausing when Tori came in 

view. 

“Leaving already?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Well then, off you go.” 

“Tori…” 

“We will talk when you’re ready.” 

12:09 

7/11 

38 Contradiction 

“Yes, we will,” I said, before leaving the club. 

I got into the car, sighing out a frustrated breath. 

“Are you okay?” 

“I hope I will be.” 

“Do you want to talk about it?” Reed questioned 

as he started the car. 

“I wish I could, but… I’m in a situation where I have to keep things from my best friend. I’m not usually like that… but I think it’s-” 

“The right thing to do.” He finished for me. “I understand, and I’m sure she does.” 

I forced a smile. “Yeah, I hope so. But this is Tori, 

she’s black and white.” 

“I can tell…” he agreed. “I’m somewhat like that 

too…” 

“Really?” 

“To an extent.” 

12:09 

8/11 

38 Contradiction 

I raised an eyebrow. “An extent? That’s-” 

Out of nowhere, a car blocked us when we made. a turn towards a lonely street. 

“Fuck!” Reed cursed about reversing, but another came behind. 

“You changed the car, didn’t you?” I asked as the fright grasped me. 

Reed didn’t waste a single breath as he took out his gun, eyes going cold like he had gone soldier mode. 

I had a feeling this was gonna get ugly, but I wasn’t ready for it. 

The door to the Bentley opened, and a man stepped out. 

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Reed mumbled under his breath. 

“What? What’s wrong? He is like an assassin or 

 

something?” 

I almost slapped myself on the face for saying such a stupid thing, but it wasn’t far–fetched, given that they have been chasing us ever since. 

No one told me becoming Mrs. King came with a 

hit list! 

“Stay here. I’ll handle this,” Reed said, shoving his gun into his coat. 

Why… Why did he do that? Aren’t they dangerous?