Chapter 108 - Dane Lennox

All the plans that Dane and the devil hatched to find the golden deer, as well as the truths, were beginning to slip through his fingertips. Because, the wretched senator had pulled the trigger on his most vulnerable truth.

Dane took his gaze off of the senator for a moment and regretted doing so.

The media and the elites were beginning to close in on him, surrounding Dane until he was nothing but an ant forced to face the cruel world alone.

Alone in the beginning, just like when he had lost those he loved and secluded himself to the desolate cabin in the woods. In his mind while hushed whispers erupted among the crowd, he was that man from three years ago hiding away from the world in a corner. The media persons directed questions at him but it was like he couldn't hear a single thing.

"...Dane Lennox?"

"Excuse me...Elias Blackwell! Er, Dane Lennox. Could you please refute the senator's claims? Or, is this all true?"

By now, Dane was sure his votes in the live polls were plummeting but he didn't dare wish to take a look. Everything had gone dark. There was no way out. Was he truly doomed for the bad ending, like the devil had foretold?

And then out of hope...Light flooded him when warmth pooled at his shoulders. Dane looked behind to eyes which relieved that cowering man from inside.

Prisana.

She reassuringly placed her hand against his shoulder. He sighed when her hand trailed along his arm until it found his hand. The shaking that he didn't even know was taking over his whole being, began to subside the moment she held his hand tight. The universe was right again and light returned. It was was if she were telling him that in the end, everything would be alright.

She handed him a glass full of water.

A glass of water? What was his lynx think—Suddenly, Dane knew what it was that he had to do. He held her hand in return. Dane poured the glass of water over his face. Over that hideous scar which slowly revealed to all eyes as Dane wiped away at the makeup with his hand.

Gasps surrounded throughout the audience, "...A scar!"

One last time, he glanced over to Prisana's petite stature as she nodded at him. In his better days, he'd give her his all to fullfill the promise of their lifetime. And yet, in his worst days she'd be right there to pick him back up to leap forward to their promise of that lifetime. It was truly beautiful. She was all the strength he needed.

Dane took a deep shattering breath and faced the media in the most destable version of himself he never thought he'd ever bare. Some truths were better left said. This was one of them that Dane was finally ready to peel off until all came off to show the public how much he needed this.

"The senator is telling the truth...My real name is Dane Lennox. Elias Blackwell is but an elias to fool you all."

More hushed whispers erupted but Dane continued, "I've been lying to you all this time but now...Now, I'm willing to shed the truths."

He pointed to his scar, "This scar is proof that I am Dane Lennox and it is the reason why I fooled you all so I understand if you can't find it in yourself to forgive my actions. Three years ago, my parents were killed in a house fire and this was from that night where I desperately tried to bring them back from the dead...Someone...Someone took them away from me and I won't stop until I find them."

"The truth is that I am not Elias the CEO you know nor am I a politician because first I am an ordinary person like you who isn't just a candidate in name. Over the course of a month, I have funded and worked with private and public companies like XXX and XXX to get the homeless off the streets, provide an alternative to our poor infrastructure rotting the streets with gangs and mobs..."

Dane began explaining the work he had been implementing over the course of the month. Though small in percentage relative to the state as a whole, it was progress on a small part of town that could eventually result in permanent change.

"...In the end, I was wrong to fool the public and I don't know who you are but I will find you, the person who has killed families like mine all to cover up dirty lies!"

For the second time in his life, Dane moved from Prisana and began to strip himself down in front of all of New Jersey. He made the move to drop down to his knees as he hung his head down to abandon pride because it wasn't needed when he was truly asking for their help. Just as much as the public wanted, he was asking for their forgiveness in the most beautiful form he could think of.

"...I'm begging you all, as a son who wishes to bring his parents soul's to rest....to vote and lend me a hand so we can improve our state and shed truths together."

Everyone, including the media and senator went quiet. However before he could even grasp the situation, there was a round of applause that reached his ears.

Someone in the crowd shouted, "It's okay!"

When he looked up, he noticed that the senator and Giovanni had already left the vicinity. What greeted him was the live screen in the distance that displayed him as being the front runner in the elections.

Dane Lennox, stripped and shed of all the truths and lies, was actually...coming out victorious.