They know, they know, they know. It’s easy to match a face to a name when you’ve stolen advanced technology from the government. And so they know, they know, they know. Running on more adrenaline and fear than I’ve ever known before, I race to the one place meant to be safe. For me. For my identity. For the portion of my life that matters more than anything. For him. He doesn’t know. But they do. They know, they know, they know. I never prepared for this. I should have. Because now my lie will be unraveled and my soul laid bare for repentance. As long as he is safe, nothing else matters. Life is cruel and villains even more so. And they know, they know, they know. Smoke dances across the sky in the distance and I know, I know, I know. Laughter bounces across every surface as I take in the destruction of my life. He lay battered on the cold concrete, and I know, I know, I know. This is the end. The mask comes off and my facade becomes a tattered and bitter tale, the hero who lost. I cradled him in my arms and watched as eyes flickered with confusion and hurt not caused by physical pain before closing. I whispered apologies that fell on deaf ears. And I know, I know, I know. If only they were merely deaf.