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Fire sears through my veins as my entire body ignites with a newfound anger, my face twisting into what I can only imagine to be the most wild expression I've ever held.

"Come here, babe." Cate scoops my hands into her arms and pulls us over to my couch. "Let it all out." She breathes.

I smile smally at her. "I can't do this anymore, Cate." I croak.

"Do what?" She shakes her head at me. "Are they... doing something to you?"

My hallowed eyes stare into hers. God, I can't believe I was oblivious to her fake ass worry. Her hesitation, as she searches for which lie to tell. Because her eyes tell the real story, show her true self. And she looks worried. Worried that I'm catching on. Worried that I'll tell her the truth and she'll have to erase it.

My bitter chuckle falls upon deaf, ringing ears. "I just-" My bottom lip pulls in between my perfect teeth, before I grit out a sigh. "I miss Luke, and you, and Magnet, and-"

I clench my fists together in real time, why can't this memory fucking end already?

"And?" Cate pulls her brows together, inching close to me.

I watch my tongue scrape across my back of my teeth as my jaw tightens and out of the corner of my eye everyone seems to lean forward.

"I- uh, I did a shitty thing." My eyes avoid Cate's as I muster up any fucking ounce of courage possible to confess to her. "And I hurt Jordan. And I hate myself for it."

"I knew it was more than hooking up with you two!" Cate nudges me.

"Doesn't matter." The words fall bitter off my tongue as I shrug. "It's over. But, God, I can't imagine what it's going to be like seeing them again, but I- I'm driving myself crazy, Cate. I can't be here anymore, I just can't."

My nostrils flare as Cate's bare hands move to mine.

"Maybe you just need to forget about Jordan, for a while." She suggests, manipulates.

But what happens next sends freezes my entire body.

"I can't." I grit out. My anger, my pain, it was all I had left.

"You should." Cate presses. "It'll be good for you, clear your head of them for a while."

"But I don't want to." I admit. "That's the problem."

"Is she-" Marie starts.

"Are you-" Andre looks at the scene playing in front of us in shock. "Are you fighting Cate's control?"

My mouth parts as I watch Cate's brow twitch, anger and confusion flashing for only a split second. It wasn't working.

"Can someone do that?" Jordan asks.

"Yeah." Andre nods. "Goldie."

Cate squeezes my hands in hers, but not to the point it caused any question for concern. Her smile tightens. "I think you should think about it and sleep it on before making any rash decisions." She tells me. "You've already come so far, and worked so hard on this film."

The same heat of anger ignites further when I watch myself nod to her, her mind control slipping into taking over.

She leans forward. "Forget about coming home for now. You're where you need to be." She smiles and pulls me in for a hug.

"You're right." I inhale, chuckling. "I'm just tired, and miss everyone. Thank you, Cate." I hug her tightly.

Suddenly I'm fuming to the point I can't see straight and I storm over to the couch, eyes burning in anger. Cate's attention snaps up to me. Fucking bitch.

"Oh, shit." Andre mutters.

I grab her by the throat causing her eyes to widen and I feel heat wafting off my body.

"Let us out. Now." I spit out.

Cate's eyes widen as blood drips from the corner of her eyes.

"Oh my, God." Marie whispers.

"I thought we couldn't use our powers?" Andre calls out.

"I still can't switch." Jordan says.

"I swear to God, Cate." I laugh lowly. "I will take us both out. I'm DONE BEING MIND FUCKED IN HERE!I" I scream, squeezing harder as her skin starts to sear beneath my touch and a wave of shock washes over me as Marie, Andre, and Jordan's words finally sink in.

"Ah-" Cate cries in pain as smoke starts sizzling off her neck.

I'm using my powers...

And we couldn't use our powers in here.

"You think I'm FUCKING with you, Cate?" My eyes narrow into slits. "Try me." I seethe. "You let us out of you goddamn head and I will melt us both in here permanently and not bat an eye."

Everything around us begins to crack, breaking into a million little pieces as it has before.

"Iliana!" Jordan shouts.

"Goldie, let's go. We need to go." Andre says urgently.

Thunder cracks loudly around us.

"No." I snap. "I'm done running around here while Cate minds fucks us and plays games!" I scream once again. I'm done.

I'm done standing here as she tortures me with my memories and puts them on display for everyone to fucking see.

"Il-" Jordan tries.

"CATE!" I warn, the room bursting in blinding light as her eyes start to roll to the back of her head. "WAKE US UP, NO-"

Cate's eyes bloodshot snap open as she gasps for air, choking as blood runs down her cheek. She wipes it with one hand as the other reaches for her raw throat.

Andre grunts as his eyes open frantically and he quickly pulls himself up right looking over at Cate on the couch. His eyes dart to her neck and they widen slightly that his best friend really did use her powers in Cate's mind... how powerful was she?

He shifts his attention over to his right at Marie as she pops up next just before Iliana and Jordan wake up.

Iliana inhales sharply as her eyes open and they instantly connect with brown ones, for only a moment before they trail down to their hands intertwined with each other.

"Is this real?" Marie voices, breaking the silence and Iliana swallows as her and Jordan sit up slowly and she can't bring herself to look up at them again. Heat bounces off her body as she feels agitated, exposed, and angry. No. Anger doesn't begin to cover it. Anger is not a strong enough word.

"Yes." Cate croaks, voice hoarse and Iliana's gaze snaps over to her and zero's in on her neck. So that was real...

Jordan immediately jumps to their fit and switches to their girl form to test it, letting their shock settle before their face lights up in and they let out a breathy laugh of relief.

Iliana looks down at her palm, opening it towards the open window and sun beams dance around her fingertips. Oh, thank goodness, her eyes shut for a moment before popping back open at the sound if the backdoor creaking open.

"Oh, thank God you're here." Emma's voice reaches Iliana's ears and Andre stands as Iliana turns to find Emma walking in with Sam. Everyone else makes it to their feet and Marie spins around.

"Holy shit. You found him."

"Yeah." Emma breathes out, shutting the door behind them.

Iliana's face softens as she pushes herself to her feet. "Sam?"

"Illie?" He looks at her hopeful.

She rushes over to him and brings her baby brother into her arms.

"You have sex hair." Jordan points at Emma.

"No, I don't." Emma quickly looks away, smoothing down her hair. "Um, everyone, hi, we kind of met before, um..."

Iliana and Sam part and she looks to Emma. Emma swallows, both in awe and out of nerves at the fact that she did in fact have sex hair from having sex with Iliana's brother.

"Thank you." She looks at Emma, more grateful for the short-haired blonde than anyone else at the moment.

During their exchange Sam glances around until he makes eye contact with Cate who's eyes widen, terrified.

"You." He rages, storming forward as Iliana did moments ago inside Cate's head. He grabs her and throws her into the table.

"Sam." Marie lets out.

He grabs Cate up by the arm, squeezing hard as he twists it.

"Iliana, stop him!" Marie hollers.

She only watches her brother happily. "Why should I?"

"We still need answers." Marie reminds her causing her to groan in frustration.

The Woods. Shetty. Fuck!

"Sam." Emma starts but Iliana holds her hand up.

"Sam, let her go." Iliana huffs.

Sam breathes heavily, staring down at Cate in disgust.

"She hurt you, and Luke, and Emma." He states. Jordan takes a cautious step forward.

"I know, believe me." Iliana nods. "And as much as I would love to watch you rip her apart, we need some fucking answers, so could you, please..." She motions for him to let go and he drops her harshly, listening to his sister.

Cate crawls a few steps away before making it to her feet.

Iliana stares daggers into her. "Next time I won't stop him, so start fucking talking unless you want a whole lot worse than that." She snaps, pointing to Cate's neck.

Marie nods. "Let's start with The Woods."

"Wanna enlighten us?" Iliana spits out.

"I don't know." Cate says. "They were using Sam to augment Luke's powers, but they were doing other stuff to him, too. They tried to with Iliana, but... it wouldn't work."

"Hmm." Iliana crosses her arms, biting her tongue from saying 'thanks captain fucking obvious.'

"And they were doing stuff to other kids." Cate reveals.

"What other stuff?" Emma jumps to ask.

"Bad stuff." Sam speaks up. He shrugs. "She hates us."

"Shetty was directing it all." Cate finishes.

"Course she fucking was." Iliana mutters.

"Okay. So she's the answer." Marie says.

"Great." Iliana sighs.

"We do this..." Marie looks around the room, pausing at Iliana. She nods and that's all the confirmation Marie needs. "And there's no going back."

"Good." Iliana says strongly, glancing over at Jordan. Their eyes boar into hers. "I've came to fucking far for anything else."

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𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Hello, hellooo!! WELCOME BACKKKK!!

First of all I am SOOO sorry it has taken me so long to update!! I'm gonna be real with y'all, I struggled with this chapter lmao, & I don't even know why. For the past couple weeks anytime I would come to write it I would only write a few words & then psych myself out of it & become unmotivated which was frustrating me bc I knew what I wanted to write & have had a plan... I just needed to get the ball rolling lmao.

BUTTT, HERE WE ARE!! We made it to the end of episode 6, finally hahaha. Thank y'all SO much for all the support on this episodes chapters, I was afraid Iliana's chapters would drive y'all away & y'all would get tired of them, but I've really appreciated everyone's comments about those chaps, so thank you!!

I really hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!! Y'all deserve to be fed a long one & I was so close to the end of the episode Imao, finally wrapped it up!!

Also, today marks the 11 MONTH anniversary of Golden Facadeee!! AHHH!! (We're gonna pretend it's not after midnight lmao) How did we get here??!!! My goal was to finish this book by the end of the year & with two more episodes left & 1 month to go I fear I may not reach that goal... BUTTT THAT JUST MEANS MORE GOLDEN FACADE IN 2025 & A FINISHED BOOK FOR THE NEW YEAR!!

Sooo... until next time to kick off episode 7 ;) ANDDD THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR 21K+ READSSS, MWAH!! <3333