The Recall Trials
Chapter 50: Everyone Saw a Villain

Chapter 50: Everyone Saw a Villain

She smiled gently, like she was enjoying this more than she should’ve been. "Come on, Vincent. You exploded in front of everyone. Screamed at Zaara. What was the fight about, really? You and Zaara seemed... intense."

I didn’t answer.

"That was... dramatic," she said.

I straightened a bit. "It’s not a big deal, leave me alone."

"Oh, I think it is," she said. "You know why?"

I didn’t answer again.

She stepped closer, too close, resting a hand lightly on my arm. "You know," she said softly, "I think I’m the only one who really cares about you in here."

That made me flinch.

I turned to her, but she just smiled...

Like she was pleased.

Like something about all of this...the yelling, the chaos, the punch...thrilled her.

"I mean, look around," she murmured. "You think Zaara’s going to come over and hold your hand after that? She already got her little fan club. Theo’s playing knight-in-shining-cliché. But I’m the one checking on you. I always do."

My jaw clenched.

She was twisting the knife and pretending it was affection.

I pulled my arm away, gently but firm. "Thanks," I said. "I’m fine."

But she didn’t budge. She leaned in just enough for only me to hear.

"You’ll see. When it all falls apart...and it will, I’ll still be here. I’m not going anywhere."

I looked back across the room.

Zaara still hadn’t looked at me.

Theo still sat beside her on the edge of the bed like he belonged there, smiling like an idiot. Basking in his fake hero moment, checking in on the "poor girl" he just rescued.

I really wanted to punch him again.

He looked so pleased with himself.

Even though I knew the whole fight had been a setup. Even though I knew Zaara wasn’t scared of me, that she had agreed to every second of it.

That didn’t matter now.

Not with the way Theo looked at her.

Not with the way she didn’t push him away.

"I told you," Nomi said, pulling my focus back to her. "She’s not who you think she is."

"Shut up," I muttered.

But she kept going. "You saw it, right? The way he ran to her? Like you were the monster and he was the savior. The hero. He probably cares about her too."

I didn’t say anything.

Because I agreed. And that made it worse

And Zaara..

She was still silent.

A thousand miles away.

I wanted to go to her. Shake her. Tell her it was over. That Jojo was gone. That it worked. That we should feel proud, not wrecked.

I wanted to hurt something. Theo had no right to comfort her.

Nomi was enjoying this. The fallout. The fractures. The chaos. Maybe she didn’t start the fire, but she sure as hell was loving the burn.

She reached out and gently touched my bruised cheek. "You don’t need to be anyone’s villain, Vincent. Not when you could be someone’s favorite."

And with that, she stood up, smiled again, and walked away.

I exhaled, my chest heaving like I had run a mile in place.

I knew this wasn’t over.

Not with Theo.

Not with Nomi.

Not with whatever the hell Jojo was doing out there in the dark.

Everything felt like it was breaking apart. The plan, the game, the people. All of it

Jojo, wherever you are, please be okay.

And Zaara...

Please still look at me the same when the fog clears.

Because I couldn’t take it if she didn’t.

So when I saw her get up and quietly head toward the restroom hall, I waited five seconds...then followed.

I kept my steps quiet.. Like I was sneaking up on something.

She didn’t hear me at first. She was standing by the sink, facing the mirror, her hands gripping the cold metal edges. Her reflection looked tired...like she’d been crying but didn’t want anyone to know.

I stopped in the doorway.

"Zaara."

She jumped slightly, like she didn’t expect me to be there.

Her eyes met mine in the mirror, and for a second, I saw it that flicker. The one that always gave her away. The one that told me she cared, even when her mouth didn’t say it.

But it disappeared just as fast.

"Heyyy" she said.

I stepped in slowly. Closed the door behind me.

"You haven’t looked at me all night," I said, voice low. "Not once."

She turned around, arms crossed over her chest. "I was trying to make sure no one else got suspicious. That’s what we wanted, right?"

"That’s not what I’m talking about."

She stared at me.

"Why’d you let Theo stay with you?" I asked. "Why’d you let him sit there like he was your freaking savior?"

Her jaw clenched. "Because if I pushed him away it would’ve looked fake. I had to play along..same as you."

"No," I snapped, louder than I meant to. "That wasn’t playing along. That was letting him act like he mattered."

She stepped forward now, her voice sharper. "Are you serious right now? We just risked everything. Jojo’s out there alone. We’re in here trying not to get exposed and you’re mad because Theo sat next to me?"

"I’m mad," I said, stepping closer, "because you looked at him like he was the one protecting you. Because you let him look like the hero while I looked like the monster."

Her eyes flashed. "You think this is about image?"

"No. I think this is about us," I said. "And for a second, I couldn’t tell if we still had one."

She stared at me. Her shoulders dropped just a bit.

"I was scared," she whispered.

I blinked. "Of me?"

"No," she said quickly. "Not you. Of... everything. Of how real it felt. Of how easy it was to pretend you hated me." She looked down. "And maybe... of how much it hurt."

That hit harder than I expected.

"I hated seeing him touch you," I said, quieter now. "Even if it was just for show. Even if I knew you didn’t mean it."

Zaara let out a shaky breath. She looked back up. "You think I liked hearing you scream at me? Saying things like...don’t pretend this doesn’t mean something?"

I stepped closer. "I only screamed because I knew it does mean something."

Silence.

"I didn’t ignore you," she said. "I just didn’t know what to say. I was scared I’d break character. Scared I’d run to you and ruin everything."

I nodded slowly. "Well... you didn’t. You held it together. You were amazing."

She gave a small, bitter laugh. "Then why do I feel like shit?"

I reached out, gently touched her arm. "Because this place is designed to rip us apart. And we’re still here. Still trying."

Her eyes met mine again. This time, there was no anger. Just exhaustion... and something quieter beneath it. Something real.

"I didn’t want to sit with anyone else," she said. "I wanted to be here...with you. But I couldn’t. You know that, right?"

"I do," I whispered.

She stepped closer to me. Her arms wrapped around my waist, and my chin rested lightly on her head as I held her tight.

"I’m sorry, I just hope jojo’s safe," she mumbled.

"Me too."

We stood like that for a while. In silence. Holding on. Breathing together.