Months andmonthsof waiting, all the while perfecting my cover.My new identity.
As it would seem, I’ve resumed my training. And finally, I feelaliveagain, for the first time in years.
Honestly, I feel foolish for giving in so easily. For giving up. One stupid mistake and I throw away fifteen years of drive? My parents…Aviannawould be ashamed.
That’s not me. I’m no quitter.
As sparse as my research was, I found everything I need to know… That this mysterious island calledAlabaster Islehouses afacility, guarded by a small squad ofofficerswho, like the prisoners themselves, aren’t allowed to leave. And the whole thing is reigned over by theivory kinghimself.
The man who killed my parents… The man who has destroyed my life ten times over at this point.
El Diablo.
So, come hell or high water, I will get to that island. I will infiltrate that mansion…
And Iwillkill The Ivory.
To ensure my acceptance as a recruit, I needed to work on my disguise. I couldn’t just roll up as myself, not now. Not after what happened at The Edge.
Simply changing my hair and wearing contacts wouldn’t be enough. He’d see me coming a mile away.
A few weeks back, I was at Josie’s place. By the end of the night, the party had faded off, and it was just our little crew. And as usual, we were all blasted out of our minds. Will and Derek were flirting excessively while Liv was doing thisstrip teaseof sorts, removing items of her clothing and whipping them at us.
I asked her if I could put them on, for funzies, because I like the way I look in pretty clothes. And the next thing I knew, she and Josie were dressing me up like a human doll.
It was all in fun. I was high as fuck, and I lookedhot.Still, standing in front of the mirror in a satin dress and heels, it was more than just sexual. I didn’t just like the way I looked; I liked the way Ifelt.
It was oddly comforting. I didn’t feel like a boy dressed as a girl. I just felt likeme.
That was when it clicked. The answer slipped over me like a perfect fit.
Avianna.
I couldbeAvianna, my sister.
Of course I couldn’t use her actual name, but I could dress up like her, like a woman. That way, The Ivory wouldn’t recognize me. He wouldn’t even suspect it was me. He’s had his goons out looking for aboy…
So I would be a girl.Simple as that.
I’ve spent the last few months practicing. Doing my hair and makeup, coming up with outfits, walking in heels. Tucking and stuffing. Liv helped me a lot, though I feel bad because I couldn’t tell her why I was really doing this. Instead, I just told her I wasconsidering doing drag. She didn’t exactly seem like she believed me, but she didn’t push it, and I have to appreciate that.
In fact, none of my friends have batted an eye at me changing up mylook. It’s good. The plan hinges on mebecomingArianna, akaAri, though the identification I gave their recruiter saidElias Young. But I’m sure they won’t press the matter if I show up as Ari the female instead. If they do, I’ll clap back at them for being insensitive.
It’ll work, I’m sure of it. But most of all, I want it to work. Ineedit to.
I need a reason to get up in the morning again. Something to chase. Not only the thrill of the hunt, but thepurposeof it.
Underneath it all, I know I’m still Angel Alvarez. And I am nervous about various aspects of this thing. But I can’t deny that something about becomingAriannais deeply settling to a part of me that has never truly felt quiteright.
Anyway, all the waiting has finally paid off. Yesterday, I got the call, from a man named Kent.The recruiter.He let me know I’d been approved.
I’m going to the Ivory Mansion.
After getting my welcome packet, which consists of a burner phone, directions on when and where to meet, a schedule for my first visit, and a hundred bucks cash per diem to be spent on whatever I want, I finally feel like this is real.It’s actually happening…
“You know I’ve been waiting for you too, pajarito…”
I can barely sleep the night before I leave, going over everything in my head again and again. I’m dressed and ready hours before the car is set to pick me up, pacing around my apartment in my dress and platform wedges. Makeup and hair flawless, Ari voice practiced to death and as perfected as I’m going to get it.
