FRACTURED LIES

Prologue: The Sound of Sirens

The harsh red and blue lights of the sirens

sliced through the curtains, spilling over the

chaos in the room like an unholy reminder of

what had just transpired. Blood soaked into

the carpet, staining it a dark crimson, a stark

contrast to the coldness of the night.

Mark lay motionless by the doorway, a pool of

blood spreading beneath his temple, his once

vibrant eyes now dull and unseeing. His body,

crumpled and lifeless, was an unforgiving

testament to the violence that had erupted

moments before.

Lily, slumped against the wall, fought for air,

her shallow, jagged breaths echoing in the

silence. She clutched her abdomen where

blood seeped through her trembling fingers,

her face twisted in pain and disbelief. Her

tear-streaked eyes, once filled with warmth,

now reflected nothing but betrayal.

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Kevin stood at the center of the room, the gun

in his hand heavy, its weight pressing down

on him like the weight of his own guilt. It felt

like molten lead, cold and suffocating against

his palm. His heart thudded in his chest, a

frantic rhythm as his mind spiralled through

the whirlwind of choices that had led him

here. None of them made sense. None of them

could justify what he had done.

Behind him, Richard groaned, clutching the

wound in his abdomen. Mark’s bullet had

found its mark, and now Richard’s voice, laced

with anger and desperation, dragged Kevin

back to the present. “Fix this,” Richard hissed

through gritted teeth, his tone hoarse, his

words thick with venom. "You're the reason

we’re in this mess."

The sound of the sirens grew louder, closing

in. The wail of the approaching police vehicles

sliced through the thick, suffocating silence of

the house. The flashing lights painted the

walls in an eerie rhythm, growing closer,

growing inevitable.

Kevin’s gaze flickered from Lily’s tear-streaked

face to Mark’s lifeless form. His hands,

trembling uncontrollably, clutched the gun

tighter. His mind raced, his thoughts

splintering like broken glass.

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“What have I done?” he whispered, his voice

barely audible, strangled by the weight of his

own actions.

A single question echoed through the

wreckage of the night, reverberating through

the dark corners of the room and through the

shattered fragments of his soul.

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Episode 1: Shadows of Betrayal

Scene 1: Kevin’s Plan

Three weeks earlier, Kevin had convinced

himself he had it all figured out. Heartbroken,

seething, he paced his room, replaying Lily’s

betrayal over and over. She had lied to him,

broken his trust, and—most painfully—been

with Mark. The words Tom had said echoed in

his mind like a sick chant. "They’ve been

spending time together… behind your back."

Kevin’s jaw clenched as anger simmered just

beneath the surface. The betrayal stung, but

deeper still was the humiliation. He had loved

her. He had trusted her. And now, she was

with the one person he thought would always

have his back.

The party had been his idea. He’d invited

everyone, including Lily, pretending to want to

patch things up. But deep down, Kevin knew

it had one darker purpose: revenge. He’d invite

them all into his house, let them think

everything was fine, but his plan was simple.

Humiliate her. Make her feel powerless, just

like he had.

“Don’t do something stupid, Kev,” Mark had

warned earlier, a rare edge in his voice.

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Kevin had sneered at the warning. "Stupid?

She deserves this, Mark. You don’t get it."

It wasn’t just the betrayal—it was the way she

had tossed him aside without a second

thought. The way she had made him feel

small.

The house was alive with music and laughter.

Kevin’s parents were away, and the party had

spilled into every room. The air was thick with

the energy of youth—carefree and loud. But

Kevin was far from enjoying it. He sat in the

shadows, his fingers clenched tightly around

his phone as he reread Lily’s last text to him.

His heart was a storm of rage, confusion, and

an insidious need for control. He had given

her everything. She had thrown it all away.

Mark found him sitting in the corner, his

expression unreadable. “You okay?” he asked,

his voice soft, a quiet concern threading

through the words.

Kevin forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Yeah. Just… thinking.”

Mark lowered himself into the chair beside

him, sensing something was off, but unwilling

to press. “About Lily?”

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Kevin’s jaw tightened. “She’s history.” His tone

was sharp, like a door slamming shut.

Mark didn’t believe him. He couldn’t. There

was something darker in Kevin’s voice,

something beyond heartbreak. But Mark

didn’t know what it was. Instead, he let the

silence stretch, unsure whether to stay or

leave. But something gnawed at him—a feeling

that his friend was retreating, slipping into

something dangerous.

Unbeknownst to Mark, Kevin had invited Lily

under false pretenses. It wasn’t about

reconciliation. It wasn’t even about closure. It

was about making her feel the same gutwrenching betrayal he had. He told himself it

was the only way to regain control, to reclaim

the pieces of himself she had torn away.

Scene 2: The Switch

The party raged on, but for Kevin, it had

become background noise. The music felt

distant, muffled, as though it were happening

in another world. He felt like a spectator in his

own life, disconnected from the laughter, the

movement, the chaos.

His eyes locked onto Lily. She stood by the

punch bowl, her expression distant and

unreadable. For a moment, Kevin saw

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something flicker in her eyes—regret, maybe—

but it only fueled his anger. She didn’t get to

feel sorry. She didn’t get to regret. Not after

everything she’d done.

“She’s here,” Kevin muttered to Mark, his

words cold, biting. “It’s time.”

The kitchen was quiet for a moment as Kevin

reached for the bottles of alcohol. His hands

trembled ever so slightly, but he masked it,

screwing open the cap of the sedative vial. The

drug lord’s warning echoed in his mind like a

warning bell, but Kevin silenced it. It was too

late to back out. This would be his moment—

his victory.

He poured one drink for Lily, carefully dosing

it, his gaze fixed and unwavering. But just as

he finished, Mark walked into the kitchen, his

brow furrowing in suspicion.

“What’s that?” Mark asked, voice heavy with

doubt.

Kevin’s pulse quickened, but he masked it

with a casual shrug. “It’s just vodka.”

Mark’s eyes narrowed. “Right.”

But before Kevin could turn away, Mark

reached for the drinks, switching them with a

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flick of his wrist. Kevin didn’t notice, too

focused on his own plan. He didn’t know Mark

had made the switch. But both drinks were

spiked now.

Scene 3: The Incident

The night dragged on, the music blurring into

a distant hum. Kevin could feel the drug

taking hold, his limbs heavy, his vision

warping. He stumbled to the couch, sinking

into the cushions, the world spinning around

him. It was like being caught in a storm, but

he couldn’t escape.

Just then, his Uncle Richard arrived. He

staggered through the front door, breath thick

with alcohol. “Didn’t go on vacation, huh?” he

muttered, scanning the room with a grin that

didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Kevin, too disoriented to care, gave a halfhearted nod. “Yeah, just a little get-together.”

Richard’s eyes gleamed as he spotted Kevin,

sprawled on the couch, looking like he was

half-passed out. “Your secret’s safe with me,”

Richard chuckled, sitting down beside him

with a knowing smile.

Meanwhile, Lily stumbled upstairs, her steps

unsteady, vision swimming. Mark, sensing

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something was wrong, followed her. But before

he could reach her, Richard stepped into the

hallway, blocking his path.

“Don’t worry, kid,” Richard said, his voice

unnervingly calm. “I’ll take care of her.”

Mark froze, confusion and dread flooding his

chest. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Richard’s grin stretched wider, his eyes cold.

“You’ll thank me later.”

Mark’s gut twisted, but something heavier

weighed down on him—guilt, confusion,

helplessness. He stood frozen in place, unable

to act, unable to even move. He could only

listen as Richard slipped into the room with

Lily and closed the door behind him.

The muffled sounds from the other side of the

door would haunt him forever.

Kevin’s eyes flickered open to the pale light of

dawn, his head pounding as though it were

splitting in two. He groaned, disoriented, and

took in his surroundings—empty cups, spilled

drinks, and the remnants of a night he

couldn’t quite piece together.

Panic gripped him as his gaze fell on Lily, lying

next to him, her bare shoulder exposed, her

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body partially covered by a sheet. Her tangled

hair framed her face, which appeared

peaceful, vulnerable. His stomach turned.

Kevin’s heart hammered in his chest. No… no,

no, no. His mind raced, trying to make sense

of what had happened. His memory was a

haze—bits of the party, Mark switching the

cups, then darkness. The cold reality hit him

like a slap in the face as he noticed the

bruises on Lily’s wrist.

He froze. What did I do?

He scrambled to gather his clothes, moving on

autopilot, his mind a maelstrom of panic and

guilt. His breath came in short gasps as he

rushed to leave the room, unable to face what

he had done.

He found Lily downstairs, groggy but safe,

sitting quietly on the couch. He couldn’t look

her in the eyes. He couldn’t face her—not yet.

Without saying a word, he called her an Uber.

“Get home,” he told her, his voice hollow. He

pretended everything was fine, as if he hadn’t

just shattered both their lives.

Lily didn’t respond, her gaze distant as she

nodded, a silent understanding passing

between them. As she left, Kevin stood in the

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doorway, watching her go. The door clicked

shut, and the weight of the night settled

heavily in the silence.

The camera lingered on the closed door of the

room where the truth lay, the sunlight

creeping in like a cruel reminder. The secrets

of that night were buried, but for Kevin and

Mark, they would never be forgotten.