I held the blade out in a taunt. They retracted in a synchronized motion. “Don’t fucking try. Don’t even.” I spat between my tense lips. Lui held his hands up. “Kate? Let’s talk about this. Please.”

He walked closer to me, taking small steps. Inevitably, the gap between us becoming less and less. Kaylee and Koralin lingered behind him, stiff and careful.

“Kate?” Lui repeated. “It’s okay.” His voice was calm and collected, and it came out like water. But, his hands moved to mine.

Out of instinct, I slashed the knife I held toward him blindly once or twice. I closed my eyes in fear. I couldn’t stare at him as I did it. Lui was different. He made me feel something.

I opened my eyes. Blood seeped through a deep wound across his eye. It trickled down his face as ifit were a tear. I looked down at the weapon I held.

Blood was present on it. All this time, I thought he was the villain. I believed he was out to get me. But he just strived for me to feel closure with him. It was all a matter of perspective