The cake sticks in my throat as my own memories of that day come rushing back—the memories I remember, at least, even if they’re not real. Because regardless, they still feel real. I’ve lived with them for nearly three years, the guilt of them, the pain of them. Even if I manage to uncover the truth, I’ll never forget the dark days of Lengard when I believed without a doubt that I’d killed my own parents.

“I know that seeing all that made you jump to the conclusion that I was responsible for what happened to them, that I Spoke the life out of them,” I continue. “But I’ve since discovered that my ability doesn’t work like that—that I wouldn’t have been able to summon the kind of intent that resulted in their … in their murder.”

Even the word is horrific, let alone the implication.

“So I’m trying to figure out what really happened that day,” I finish. “And I’m hoping you can help me.”

Liana’s face is perfectly blank, her body perfectly still.

I squirm in my seat.

Finally, she speaks. And when she does, my world implodes.

“I’m sorry to tell you this, Alyssa Scott, but that vision never happened.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

That vision never happened.

I feel like the walls are closing in on me.

“I’m sorry—what do you mean?”

“Everything you just said, none of that came from me,” Liana says.

“But … But it must have,” I argue, my voice higher than normal. “That’s how you—how the Remnants—found out about me. That’s how you knew I ended up in Lengard. That’s how you’ve been following me all these years.” I scrunch my forehead and amend, “I mean, Kael’s known about me since I was a kid, but that vision …” I trail off, lost for words. “He told me … He told me …”

Everyone is lying to you, Six-Eight-Four. Everyone.

Ward’s words hit me like a punch to the stomach.

Why would Kael have told me about a vision that never existed? How would he have known about what happened to me if not for having heard the details from Liana? It doesn’t make sense—she has to have witnessed something from that day.

So … that means she’s the one who’s lying.

But … why?

A horrible thought hits me.

What if—What if Vanik has gotten to Liana? What if, like Ward, she’s under his control? What if he’s commanded her to act this way, to say these things?

Or … what if it’s not Vanik at all? What if my mother has somehow reached her and modified her memories, like me, like Riley, like Kael—and who knows who else?

There are too many unknown factors. Too many impossible loose ends.