Multiple personalities 2

Morning in the city was supposed to mean

renewal. But sometimes, all it does is give your ghosts better lighting.

Horns screamed. Engines revved.

The air buzzed with tension and caffeine.

The city didn’t sleep—it just blinked slower during daylight.

In a narrow hallway, lined with peeling

wallpaper and the faint stench of regret, the calm shattered.

“Damn it, you’re such a jerk!”

Mayla exploded into the room like a lit match thrown into gasoline. The door slammed against the wall, and in one fluid motion, her hand tangled in Debry’s hair, dragging her down like she was yanking truth from a liar’s throat.

“Mayla, I swear—I didn’t know!” Debry’s voice cracked as panic kicked in.

“You didn’t know?” Mayla’s voice was a storm. Her eyes, dark and merciless, burned into her friend’s. “You have no idea what could’ve

happened to me out there. You nearly handed me to death on a silver platter.”

Debry whimpered, body trembling, tears

brimming fast. “This is on me, okay? I messed up… I messed up bad.”

Mayla’s grip didn’t ease. Her jaw clenched like a ticking time bomb. Then, like a sharp cut to tension, she exhaled and leaned back—just slightly.

“Fine,” she muttered, a sly edge sliding into her voice. “How about you buy me that designer bag you’ve been fawning over? You want

forgiveness? Pay the toll.”

Debry blinked. Confused. Hopeful. Desperate. “You’re serious?”

Mayla’s smirk returned, all fang and fire. “Dead serious.”

Reluctantly, Debry nodded. “Deal… but, Jesus. You were really about to go full assassin on me.”

“I had my reasons.”

“Oh yeah?” Debry scoffed, brushing her fingers through her messy hair. “Was one of them trading my life for a luxury bag?”

“Not just any bag. A high-end one. And you’re damn right—it’s on your card.”

Debry rolled her eyes. “Of course. You never let anything slide.”

“Exactly,” Mayla said, collapsing onto the couch with a dramatic sigh. “Now I can finally wear that outfit I’ve been saving all summer.”

She kicked off her boots, a grin tugging at her lips. “What a ride. I’m so done.”

The TV flickered on. Mayla flipped through channels like she was skimming through other people’s lives.

“Boring… skip… not that… ugh—”

Her voice trailed off with a wide yawn.

Then the broadcast hit.

BREAKING NEWS: “Liam Kade returns to the city after a long hiatus. With his empire stronger than ever, he’s set to ignite innovation and shake the foundations of our local

economy…”

Mayla squinted at the screen. “Liam Kade?

Seriously?” She snorted, chewing on a crust of cold pizza. “Mr. Big Shot comes back and thinks he’s the city’s second coming… Bet he doesn’t even know which street corners bleed.”

The screen flickered again. Static. Commercials.

Behind her, Debry snatched her keys off the counter.

“Off to The House,” she announced, throwing on her jacket with flair. “Try showing up on time, Miss Star of the Show.”

Mayla waved a hand lazily. “Sure, sure. Just don’t forget my bag, diva.”

With a smirk and a sigh, Debry paused at the door. “You’re such a handful. Good thing you’re pretty. Otherwise, I’d have left you for dead ages ago.”

The door slammed behind her.

Silence returned like an old friend.

“Finally,” Mayla muttered, eyes fluttering shut, her body melting into the couch. “Peace… for now.”

NOON.

Sunlight glared off the windshield as Mayla pulled up to a tall building dressed up like a boutique hotel, its sign gleaming in bold chrome: THE HOUSE.

She killed the engine, stepped out, heels

clicking against the pavement like declarations.

A valet jogged over. Young, clean-cut, trying too hard to be casual.

“Good evening, ma’am—”

“Edwin.” Mayla grinned like she’d just caught him doing something embarrassing. “What’s with the stiff greeting?”

He hesitated. “I… saw you yesterday. With that guy.”

Mayla’s eyes flicked sharp. For half a second, ice. Then she smirked. “Handled it.”

“And… maybe tone down the language,” she added with a mock stern look. “Aren’t you

supposed to be the professional one?”

Caught off guard, Edwin blushed and looked away. “I just—look, you’re different now, okay? You feel… I don’t know… dangerous.”

Mayla laughed, a low, dangerous sound. She reached up, ruffling his hair like a sister teasing a younger brother. “You’re too easy. I’ll see you around, Eddie.”

Then she walked inside, like she owned the place.

And maybe, just maybe—She was starting to.

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