8. Truths and Lies

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Something was odd about the boy. Phoenix had concluded that the moment he said his name was Ace. He reminded him of Axton. He was a liar, his lies were perfect that Phoenix couldn't tell if he was telling the truth. Carefully molded to perfection. Phoenix didn't trust Axton, yet he couldn't separate his lies from the truth. Ace was just like Axton, a liar. The only difference was that Ace hadn't carefully molded his lies. He was an amateur with something to hide.

Phoenix grimaced in pain as he walked home. Night had fallen and Siobhan must be worried sick as she always does. He turned to look at the boy beside him, following him for no particular reason.

"Why are you following me?" Phoenix asked, adjusting the sack over his shoulder.

Ace hesitated, selecting his words carefully. "I'm lost." he said.

"Everyone here is lost," Phoenix said, looking at the sky. "And forgotten." he turned to look at Ace, a well kept boy. His hair flowed just to his shoulders. Phoenix noticed how different he was to everyone else here. "No matter where you go here, you'll always be lost. Good thing is that even when you're lost you'll always have a place here."

Ace gave him a half hearted smile. He was saddened by everything he saw. "You're not from around here are you?" Phoenix questioned. No matter how he looked at Ace he didn't belong here. So was everyone else here.

Ace shook his head, "All of this is new to me."

"You'll get use to it in no time." Phoenix assured him. Remembering the first time Siobhan arrived. She cried a lot, not because of where she was thrown. Siobhan was glad she came to Area fifteen, if it meant escaping from the persons she once considered her father and friends.

"Why were they chasing you?" Ace asked, looking at Phoenix wounded leg.

"That depends, one of these two reasons." Phoenix responded, raising a finger. "One, I'm a fifteen. Two, I'm a fifteen."

"They're both the same thing." Ace said, confused as to what he was getting at.

"Exactly." Phoenix said in a sad tone, lowering his head as he pushed onwards with his wound. It was because they were fifteen that they did all those awful things to them. There's no need for reason, just that, that person is a fifteen.

Phoenix saw his house in sight. Taking a deep breath as he moved away the curtains, hoping Siobhan was asleep. He was met with a huge bump in front of him, taking a step back he looked up a Siobhan with her arms crossed over her chest. Phoenix mustered up a smile, putting the sack to the side as he said, "I thought you would be deep in a slumber."

Siobhan pinched his cheeks, squeezing hard to punish Phoenix. "Will you stop worrying me? where were you?"

"Supplies," Phoenix pointed to the sack to the side. Siobhan let his cheeks go taking up the sack and looking inside. "I'm sorry for coming back late."

Ace stood beyond the curtain, watching the exchange. He eyed the house, if he could call it that. Looking at the curtain that acted as a door. He could only see the bump of the woman he was talking to. Ace smiled at how close they were, reminding him of how he wanted things to be between him and Iker.

Siobhan lifted the curtain, noticing the boy that was standing out quietly. She looked at Phoenix, resting a hand on her hip, "Did you pick someone up again?"

Phoenix shrugged, "he just followed me."

"I did so because he was hurt." Ace justified his actions, pointing to Phoenix's leg.

Siobhan gasped, noticing the arrow in Phoenix's leg. She held onto his arms before he could walk away, "This is why I told you, you should stop."

Phoenix pulled away from Siobhan. They always had this conversation and it was futile. Phoenix wasn't going to listen to Siobhan or Stella. They knew he had to do it. Why did they always try and stop him knowing that if Phoenix didn't do it, things would be even more worst than it was for them. He didn't care if he was risking his life for them. All Phoenix wanted to know was that Siobhan, Stella, Nevaeh, Poppy, Gus, Rocco and Rebel would wake up to something each day, along with the rest of those in Area fifteen that he could help.

"You know I have to." Phoenix said softly, looking at the four who was sleeping soundly. He wanted to end this conversation with Siobhan, not wanting to wake them up.  They didn't need to know of the awful things Phoenix did. "I'm going over to Ma." he said before walking inside.

Siobhan watched his retreating back. Silently praying that Phoenix would always come back home safe.  This was the first time he came back wounded. Siobhan couldn't help but double the worry she normally felt when Phoenix didn't come home. She turned towards the boy still standing outside, she gestured for him to come inside.

"I'm sorry about that," Siobhan said, giving the boy a smile. "Phoenix can be stubborn sometimes."

Ace nodded, not knowing what to say. He looked behind him, finally able to put a name to his face. Ace knew she was worrying over something. He couldn't help but wonder if it had to do with the guards chasing him.

"I'm Siobhan." she said.

"Ace." he replied, bowing in greeting, a habit of his. Siobhan did the same, knowing that Ace was different. Just a simple gesture and she knew he was kind.

"Are you new to Area fifteen?" Siobhan proceeded to ask. Ace nodded in reply. "It may seem hard at first but if you stick to a stubborn guy like Phoenix, he's sure to help you. There's not a lot here but we try and make use of it."

"Thank you." Ace said, looking around the small area. It was a lot different than what he was use to. "May I ask you something?" Siobhan nodded, her hand resting atop her belly. "Is everyone here sick?"

Siobhan knitted her brows in confusion, wondering what Ace meant by sick. "No, they aren't, at least not to my knowledge." she tapped her cheeks as she thought about Ace question.

Phoenix heard the two talking, blocking them out as he took the Rubis' from his pocket, adding it to the rest he hid beneath the floor board. He quickly counted it, placing it back before anyone saw.

"Seven hundred and fifty Rubis' more," he thought. "And Siobhan could leave."

Phoenix took up his pendant, placing it around his neck. Holding the silver in his hands. "I made it through." he said before placing it inside his shirt.

He got up, wanting to remove the arrow quickly. Phoenix hopped out, Siobhan looking at him with saddened eyes. Ace was conversing with her, stopping when Phoenix stood next to Siobhan. "I'm going now." he informed her. Phoenix touched her belly, "Tell your mom here she shouldn't wait up."

Siobhan laughed, "As long as I know you're out there, I can't sleep peacefully."

"I'll be back before you know it."

"Ace," Siobhan turned to him, Phoenix raised a brow. "Can you accompany him? Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

Ace looked towards Phoenix who frowned, "sure," he said making Siobhan smile widely. "If that's okay."

Phoenix tusked, "Fine, he can come." Siobhan rolled her eyes playfully at him. Waving them off as they left.

The sick house which was also Stella's home wasn't very far. Ace trailed behind Phoenix, looking around at everything, at everyone. Phoenix mind wondered to Axton words. Becoming a filler was the last thing he wanted to become. It meant him being away from everyone, living a life where he was nothing more than a tool of pleasure. The only thing it offer was a supply they could only get once a  month. If they had anyone remaining in Area fifteen, they were luckily enough to get a keep.

Soon enough they forget about those left behind. They forget to give their fillers their keep. The thought disgusted Phoenix, knowing that not everyone had a choice. He thought Axton knew, that they were long pass the days were fillers would get something in return. It dawned on their buyers where fillers actually came from. They remembered it was no place other than Area Fifteen. There was no more choice but force. Forced out of these walls where you lose yourself more than you could inside these walls.

Phoenix would never turn a filler even if he had the choice. Inside the Iron Fortress was horrible, but he was able to maintain the little freedom he possessed. He kept sane, believing he could give Siobhan and the others a better life. Even if it was only in the Garrett District, he'll do it if it kills him. As long as Axton remained, the only man he's every given his body to with the possibility of bearing his soul, Phoenix kept thinking that things would be okay. Even if Axton's lies slowly becomes the truth. Phoenix fear that one day his truth will become a lie.

"Is Siobhan your..." Ace spoke, hesitant as he tried finding a way to say what he needed. "Partner?"

Phoenix stared at him blankly before bursting into a fit of laughter. "I'm not fit to be her partner." He replied, making Ace feel embarrassed and stupid by asking something like that. "And she's not fit to be mine. Circumstances bought us close, everyone has their own story to tell here. Not everyone can bear the burden that story carries."

"I don't get what you mean." Ace frowned, not understanding what Phoenix said about Siobhan not being fit to be his partner. She was kind and caring towards him.

"What's your story Ace?" Phoenix asked, suddenly recalling the stories of many people he met, why they were here.

Ace was taken back by the question, he didn't have a story to tell. Who he was now was a lie, his real story was left behind with his identity. "I'm not ready to share it just yet."

Phoenix nodded in understanding, freeing Ace from the cage he trapped him in with his questions. "You'll find those like me who don't have a story to tell."

Phoenix came upon the sick house, lifting the curtain as he hopped on one leg inside. "Ma!" He yelled.

"Please don't yell," Stella said, coming to greet Phoenix. "What happened to you!?" She dropped the bucket she carried, rushing towards Phoenix as she crouched to examine his leg.

"I had a little slip." Phoenix let out a low laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll be fine when you patch me up."

Stella stood to her feet, pinching the bridge of Phoenix's nose. "This is why I told you it was fine. Yet, you go along and get hurt. And why aren't you wearing any shoes." Stella made sure to add as she pulled him along, pushing Phoenix to sit before getting what little supply they had left.

"I'm sorry Ma, but you know I have to do this. You and Siobhan should understand by now."

"I do," Stella said, outstretching Phoenix's leg, resting a candle on the floor so she could see. "It's a mother's duty to worry."

Stella yanked the arrow from Phoenix's leg. He bit hard on the cloth Stella had handed him earlier. Ace looked away, feeling a shiver run down his spine. "I can't believe you've been walking around with an arrow in your leg."

"I'm a fighter Ma, that's why I'm still here." his hand reached for his pendant hidden by his shirt. Phoenix looked at Ace who was standing far. "Don't just stand there."

Stella looked behind her to she who her son was talking to, now realizing the boy was there. "Oh dear, I didn't see you." Stella spoke. "Are you here to drop him off. You only just bought a baby a few days ago." she directed at Phoenix.

"I didn't bring anyone. Ace is just lost, I'm not sure what he's going to do." Ace himself didn't know what he was doing, why he was following Phoenix.

"Phoenix here likes to help everyone he meets." Stella said. "I keep telling him he can't help everyone, he just doesn't listen."

Ace knew those words all too well. "Why do you want to help everyone?" he asked.

"Why not?" Phoenix responded. "I can't turn a blind eye. I'll always outstretch my hand even if they don't ask. This is Area Fifteen, there's no one to help us. I'll continuing helping everyone, letting them know that there's someone that will help them inside these walls. I'll always help regardless of what everyone else says."

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