Links to the original post and the story so far (in order) can be found in the Tale of Two Pizza's Archive Post

As she focused Delilah could make out voices talking nearby.
"The poor girl has been through a lot! Then you drop news like that on her? No wonder she's collapsed!" It wasn't the voice of Danny or Tolcetta. It sounded kind. Mirabel continued to lick her, soothing her and keeping her calm.

"I know Charlie she's been through so much... But things are coming to a head and she deserves to know so she can decide her course of action!" That was Danny, he sounded frustrated... perhaps at her? No, Danny had always shown her kindness, there must be something else going on.

"He's right Charlie. We wanted her to know the truth and let her make up her own mind where she fits in all this mess. My heart nearly stopped when I saw her, she has grown to be a beautiful young woman. I hope she can forgive me when she wakes..." This willowy voice belonged to Tolcetta, my REAL mother she forced herself to think of her that way. The reality was settling into her already. Delilah could think of no reason that Danny or Tolcetta would lie about this, neither of them would have anything to gain by it.

Good, child, that's using your head! Neither of them have reason to lie to you, and now that we know the truth we can begin to adapt and understand! Mirabel purred as her voice floated into Delilah's mind.

"I know you both did the right thing! Of course she deserves to know the truth and why she was raised by the Fruit Baron and Selene... Things are complicated enough as it is without you all trying to work out family dynamics with a war looming! We know what the Preda's are doing now Danny, you know what is coming! At least your brother has arrived to bolster our numbers... Even with all of their support this is still going to get ugly!" Charlie sounded more and more urgent as he spoke. He sounded worried... deeply worried.

Delilah decided it was time to stop lying there. She needed answers. What had they meant by her deciding her course of action? I'm ok Mirabel, thank you, let me up. Mirabel stirred and Delilah sat up. She looked around the room. She had been picked up and moved from where she must have fallen on the floor of the office to the Chesterfield sofa. Danny, Tolcetta, and the man called Charlie turned away from the desk as they heard her stir.

"I... think I deserve some answers... and it sounds like we don't have a lot of time... I need to tell you what happened when I went to get the evidence you asked me for Danny. My... Selene was there..." Hearing that Tolcetta stepped forward and embraced her"

"We will answer all of your questions, Delilah. We owe you that much, and we have time still to talk before things come to a head. You must know the truth about Danny and I, about Selene... and yes Frederick as well..." She guided Delilah back to the sofa and the two of them sat. Danny and Charlie sat in overstuffed armchairs facing them. Mirabel returned to Delilah's lap. Now we will get to the bottom of all this! Delilah thought to her friend...

The rules for this week remain the same as previous weeks!

I'd like to continue building on the story of the Pizza Baron and his post apocalyptic world. Each week I'll pick a winner that becomes the next piece of the story and wins 20 $PIZZA and a 5 SBI sponsorship from me. I may award additional prizes if I feel multiple entries expand the story well.

Each week I'll write a post announcing the winner and then I will write another chunk of the story and open it up again for the next weeks competition. I'll compile the winning entry for each week. If we reach a conclusion of the epic tale of the Pizza Baron I'll divide another TBD amount of PIZZA among all the winning entries throughout the whole story and publish the finished story here on Hive with all the contributors as beneficiaries. If this goes well we might have the first open source blockchain novella on our hands! 😂

The first weeks contest established a secondary storyline that may be tied back into the main plot if you so wish!

Bear in mind this is an experiment as well as a competition so we will see how many entries I get and how well it goes!

Rules:

Entries must be more than 200 words.

Entries must use the hivepizza tag

Entries must comment on this post with the link to their entry

Entries must fit in the world/scenario that has developed from the previous weeks contest(s). You are free to develop characters, introduce new ones, invite aliens to the feast, I don't care as long it makes some kind of sense in the context! The Pizza Baron should remain relevant to the plot!
(I've named it a Tale of TWO Pizza's for a reason HINT HINT)