Page 7 of Tangled Hearts
A while later, we stand in the darkened circus ring, facing the high wire. I insisted on taking the night shift with Jasper—we’re in this together and I’m committed to seeing this through to the end.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jasper says, his voice steady. “I think it’s a bad idea.”
I nod, swallowing my fear. “I need to do this. Besides, you inspected it. It’s fine, I’m sure.”
My first steps are shaky, the wire creaking beneath me. Each movement is a battle against my instincts, but Jasper’s presence below is a steadying force. “You’ve got this, Lila,” he calls up, his words wrapping around me like a safety net. I can hear the nervous tension in his voice, but I refocus my thoughts on my next move. My steps grow more confident, the fear ebbing away with each forward movement. When I reach the other side, Ifeel a rush of triumph and relief. I descend, landing in front of Jasper, his proud smile lighting up the dim space.
“We make a good team,” he says, pulling me into a brief, fierce hug.
Our hushed breathing grows ragged with the chemistry that thrums between us. We’re not just fighting accidents; we’re fighting a calculated attempt to destroy everything we love. And for the first time, I realize, I could love this man. Maybe I already do. And with love, all things are possible.
Chapter Six
Jasper
Lila and I are elbow-deep in papers in the security tent, scanning for any clue that might lead us to the mastermind behind the attacks. Lists of previous performers and acquaintances are spread between us. The dim light of the lantern casts a warm glow on her face, highlighting her focused expression. My fingers skim over a background report, and something catches my eye. A name. A name I thought I’d left behind in my past.
“Alexander Grey,” I mutter, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.
Lila looks up, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “Who’s Alexander Grey?”
“Someone I used to know. Ambitious, brilliant, and dangerously resentful. He was part of the same military project I told you about. The one with the mind control.”
Her eyes widen, realization dawning. “You think he’s behind all this?”
“It makes sense. He always hated that I left. Thought I was a coward for not sticking it out, for not using the techniques to their full potential. He always seemed a little…unhinged,to say the least. I don’t even know how he passed the psych evaluation to get into the military. Some days he seemed okay, but other days it was like a totally different person was eating breakfast and performing experiments alongside us. He was always a loner–that always struck me.” I shake my head, the memories flooding back. “If he’s here, I bet he’s using those same techniques to sabotage the circus.”
As we step outside, the night air is cool against my skin. We move silently towards the main tent, our footsteps muffled by the grass. The circus is in full swing, the sounds of laughter and music a stark contrast to the tension simmering between us. In the shadows behind the main tent, we spot the stagehand, Malcolm. His eyes flicker with recognition and guilt as we approach.
“Tell me about Alexander Grey,” I demand, my voice low and commanding.
Malcolm’s eyes dart around, searching for an escape. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammers, but the tremor in his voice betrays him.
“Don’t lie to me,” I growl, stepping closer. “He’s been manipulating you, hasn’t he? Using mind control techniques to make you sabotage the circus.”
Malcolm breaks down, tears streaming down his face. “Yes–I–I think so. He made me do it. I didn’t want to, but he—he got inside my head. He threatened, it’s like I couldn’t resist.”
“Where is he?” Lila asks, her voice soft but firm.
The stagehand points towards a secluded area of the circus grounds. “There’s a hidden tent. That’s where he operates.”
We move swiftly, the Malcolm’s confession propelling us forward. In the darkness, we find the tent, its entrance barely visible among the trees. Inside, strange equipment hums softly, and notes are scattered across a makeshift desk.
Lila’s sharp intake of breath echoes my own shock as we take in the scene. Diagrams of the circus, hypnosis tools, and a detailed map with key sabotage points marked. It’s all here, laid out with meticulous precision. I recognize Alexander’s handwriting, the same precise script that once detailed military operations now plotting the downfall of the circus.
“This is it,” I say, my voice a mix of anger and resolve. “We’ve found him.”
“We need to move fast,” Lila says, her eyes meeting mine with a fiery determination. “Before he strikes again.”
I nod, my jaw set.
As we step out of the tent, the night feels charged with new purpose. We’ve uncovered the criminal’s identity, and now it’s time to confront him and end this once and for all. The circus’s fate hangs in the balance.
The night air is thick with tension as Lila and I move silently through the shadows of the circus grounds. Every sense is heightened, every sound amplified. I catch a faint rustling ahead, and we creep closer, our footsteps barely making a sound on the soft grass.
There, under the dim light of a distant lantern, stands Alexander Grey. His tall, lean frame is bent over a rigging rope, fingers deftly setting another trap. He straightens and turns, catching sight of us. His face is shadowed, but his eyes gleam with malevolent satisfaction.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Jasper Kane,” Alexander drawls, his voice low and mocking. “And you brought company. How quaint.”
