I couldn't believe Anna had made such a stupid mistake. I looked at Henry with anger and disappointment. He passed on my feelings as he looked at Anna the same way.
Anna said, "I can explain. Before you guys grill me for making this decision let me tell you one thing. This woman sitting across us is scared. She has been used and discarded just like all women are. She has enough on her plate. Look at how she can't even face us. Her head is pointed down with shame. Let us talk it out before we start pointing fingers, okay?"
It was absolutely not okay. I was risking every single person's life by just showing my face to the game master's mistress. I said, "you made a mistake Anna. She wasn't supposed to see us. This was never the part of our plan. I respect her and I am truly sorry for what she is going through, but what you have done today puts every body's lives in jeopardy. I know it wasn't your intention but if she tells all of this to the game master, we are dead. I was scared enough dealing with you. I trust Henry and Henry trusts you. I can't risk losing everyone else over a stranger. There is no going back after what you have done Anna. You brought a murderer amongst us and we are as good as dead."
Henry continued, "my dear, what have you done. I am sorry but Neil is right. You shouldn't have brought her here. I watched her murder Lila in front of my eyes. She is not a good person. She might have done it out of her love for the game master, and she might do it again. Once you love someone, you cannot unlove them, no matter how hard you try. You and I know that better than anyone. You were given the option too but you resisted his wild urges for your dignity and for the love you had for me. This woman cannot be trusted. You have already killed us, Anna."
Anna felt sorry for making this abrupt decision without us. How ever, she stayed determined. She said, "I know what she has done. I know everything. I am willing to risk my life to save this woman. I trust her. Her eyes have been opened. She isn't the murderer that the game master made her anymore. She is a woman who has suffered great losses. She lost her respect, her dignity, her humanity, her soul, her everything because of that man. She will never betray us. She knows better than that. At least allow her to explain herself."
The other woman was wearing a white long dress, exactly like Anna's just in a different color. They looked like they were about to star in a black and white movie. The other woman was pretty. She had a mask on her face and her hair were hidden under a cap. She was trying to hide her identity just like us. She didn't want us to know who she was. She had a beautiful body. Her curves complemented her right. I wondered what her face would look like. I wondered what her voice would sound like. She had been quiet this whole time. I really wanted to trust her out of humanity and a little pity, but after all the people I had lost, I couldn't risk it. I wanted to help her but I needed to make sure she was a good person. I would hate to have my nightmare come true. As I tried to trust her, the faces of my loved ones, Sammy, Jane, Emilia and Daisy flashed before my eyes. Were their loves worth risking for the life of a stranger? I hated to be selfish but I couldn't lose them. Not after all the hope I had given myself about finding them. As I fought the battle inside my head, Henry looked afraid too. He was afraid his love for Anna would end up causing a drift between him and I.
I assured him, "don't worry Henry. I trust Anna. If she says this woman is safe to trust, I am with her. Don't doubt your love no matter what. Even if Anna's judgement turns false, we will figure it out. Till the end of the road, I am with you. you have helped me get through the toughest time of my life and I owe you my life. Anna is amazing too. If anything were to happen, I need you guys to know how much you mean to me."
Anna and Henry grew emotional. All of a sudden, the lady in white said, "nothing will happen, Neil. I am no stranger. Before you judge me, before you all judge me, I need you to know that I believed this was my only option. I strongly believed that for the longest time. With time, I grew closer to the game master. He was all I had left. I had no choice but to love him. I envied Anna for being here for so long and still not falling for his lies. I was blinded by love. I hate him. He made me the devil."
I recognized her voice. I couldn't place it but I knew it so well. It played at the back of my head again and again. I was so familiar to it. The room grew silent and everyone was looking at me. they needed me to decide whether the woman was to be trusted or not. They needed me to make the tough call of whether she should be a part of our plan or should she be left to her conditions. I tried to remember where I had heard that voice. I stressed my brain out but all the tension in the room wouldn't allow me to remember.
The woman in white unmasked herself to show her true involvement in our mission. I was in shock. My ears went numb and my eyes were blurred with tears. For the first time ever, I had no idea what to say. I knew her. I knew the woman in white. I would recognize those dimples anywhere. My culprit sat across me; those beautiful almond eyes stared at me as I watched closely with disbelief. My Daisy, the most divine person I had ever known, sitting across me, possessed by the devil himself.