Game of Dice and Dominos (Domino Series #1)

It wasn't like him. It wasn't like him at all. For the hundredth time today, he caught himself in a daze.

He got what he wanted: the culprits who had captured him we're now in their prison cell and he was the one to deliver them there.

You're one of the missing heirs.

He got the recognition and the promotion he wanted but he still couldn't get their voices out of his head.

The other one is the Everlune heiress.

He couldn't seem to forget what they had told him at the warehouse when he was tied to a chair.

Those birthmarks mean you are from one of the royal families. You are Truscott's lost heir and we plan to bring you back.

He wanted to believe that they were all lies, but a part of him kept screaming that maybe it was real. He wanted to believe that maybe he had a family all along.

We plan to bring you back.

A family that's alive and well. And that maybe, he could have a father, a real father, who would be proud of him for all he's accomplished in life. Maybe he could have a mother who would cook him meals and who he could come to when he needed some advice. Maybe...

But he had to keep his head straight. He reminded himself that he was content with what he had right now and besides, he has Joe. Joe had always been like a father to him anyway, so why hope for something else that could be made-up?

It is made-up. Timo urged himself.

Timo was a statue. He was already a few paces away from the records department secretary's desk but for some reason, he hesitated. Timo had finally filed his first professional criminal report.

Now he would file his second.

The first report was for the events of the pursuit and his detainment. He already filed this one and now he is contemplating on whether or not to submit the second one he made.

In the second report, he wrote the lies that the girl and the boy had told him. He wrote about the supposed warehouse he was transported to when he crossed - or rather, went through - the wall painted with graffiti. He still pondered on how in the world they were able to go through a solid wall as if they had gone through a portal. Although Timo had heard the 'scientific' explanation, according to them, he still refused to believe it.

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"It's called Quantum Phasing. Other scientists even call it Quantum Phase Transition." The girl, called Zee, had replied nonchalantly while they - she and the boy called Darcy - were untying the ropes that bound Timo.

"It only works at absolute zero temperature and can only be accessed by a varying physical parameter - such as a magnetic field or pressure. The homo sapiens think it's impossible to achieve Quantum Phasing on humans but the ancient mages have found a way around that by utilizing the bioelectricity of the human bodies.

"The body temperature of any living being can be controlled by converting its bioelectricity to plasma and manipulating it using magnets." The boy had explained further that left Timo at a loss for words. Timo even felt a pang of disbelief when he'd heard the boy say 'homo sapiens' as if they weren't humans themselves.

It was as if they were from a whole different human race.

"Basically, what the magnet does is speed up the adapting process of the body that would it would be able to go through zero temperature. Then these condition will make Quantum Phasing possible. You passed out because your body wasn't aware of the change so it panicked and gave you a mild shock." The girl added, summarizing what the boy had said.

Timo didn't believe a single word they said. But maybe he did believe it, but just didn't want to accept it. As much as he'd hate to admit it, he did feel the cold creep on him the moment his body went through the wall, as if he'd been swallowed by ice.

"Of course it doesn't just happen to anyone. The wall detects a certain signature in our DNA that allows us to go through and only people of the homo altera race have that. Which also further proves our statement that you have Truscott blood." Timo remembered what the boy had said as if on the last minute.

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Timo snapped out of his daze when one of his seniors, Marcus, greeted him.

"Hey Timo, you here to file a report?" Marcus greeted. Dimples form at the bottom corners of his mouth as he grinned.

Marcus Vanderfield was a very approachable man. Timo never felt out of place whenever he talked with him. Marcus was about the same height as Timo except his body was more built than him. He suspected that Marcus would spend about twice a week at the gym. Marcus had dark forest green eyes and woody brown hair.

Timo could even smell a scent of pine every time they pass each other. Marcus looks about a few - maybe five or less - years older than him and could even pass as Timo's older brother.

Marcus was also about to file a report. He was assigned to interrogate Zee and Darcy - the girl and the boy in Timo's case - to get more information out of them. Unfortunately, they never learned their real names.

"Yes, I'm about to actually." Timo answered. When Marcus started to the department secretary's desk, Timo spoke stopping him on his tracks.

"What was their motive?" Timo asked, almost out of the blue, his expression was blank and unreadable. Marcus turned back at him and flashed a sideways grin that always made Timo feel envious of this man's confidence. Marcus scrunched his eyebrows then spoke.

"They didn't say." He answered, shaking his head. "They had the right to remain silent after all. But the warehouse they set on fire was traced back to their ownership. Yet it does seem kinda' odd for people to just set their properties on fire, right? I don't know, you tell me. I'm gonna go file this report now." He jerked his head to the direction of where he is headed and went on his way.

When Timo turned them in, he later found out that they were guilty arsonists. They set an abandoned theatre on fire. Now he found out that they had set their abandoned theatre on fire. It doesn't make any sense. It doesn't make sense at all.

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Marcus Vanderfield

Marcus was back from interrogating Zee and Dark - the girl and the boy that Timo turned in. According to the Timo's report, they surrendered all on their own. But Marcus knew the real story: Zee and Dark struck a deal with Timo. Their exchange earlier was still fresh in his mind.

"This report states that you set fire on the abandoned Atlas Theatre on Fifth Street at downtown New Empire City. Do either of you deny it?" Marcus questioned. Neither of them said a word. Marcus glared at them and they dared not to look him in the eye.

Of course, this was all just an illusion to give the cameras a little show.

"All right spill it. What are you doing here, why were you arrested?" Marcus asked, eager to get on the point.

All three of them were well aware that the mirage that Marcus had set up would only last for about 10 minutes. When the 10 minutes are up, the mirage will reset and start replaying the footage from the beginning, which would be very suspicious to anyone watching.

He could just delete that part of the footage in the recording camera, but witnesses are deathly dangerous - they'd have to kill anyone who witnessed their shenanigans.

"To continue surveillance in that theatre would risk exposure. There were already a lot of gang groups making that place their hide-out; a few more of their exploring, they'd find something out." Dark answered, his voice was quick paced.

"Okay, but you didn't have to set the dang place on fire." Marcus scolded.

"Hey it was fun!" Zee interjected gleefully. When Marcus glared at her, she rolled her eyes and gave him some good news.
"But we did find the missing heir of Truscott, you're welcome for doing your job for you." She smirked cockily.

"What - how? How did you-" He was at a loss for words but he quickly snapped out of it as soon as he became aware of the little time they had. He could almost hear the clock ticking down as they were running out of time. The mirage will reset any minute now.

"Never mind," Marcus shook his head. "Well then, who is he?"

"Funny story," Zee laughed a slow sarcastic laugh. We don't have time for this. Marcus thought and as if reading his mind, Dark spoke. Zee rolled her eyes again.

"He's in your police division. His name is Timothy. I'm sure you ran into him a couple of times." Dark said. Marcus couldn't believe it. The heir to Truscott who he was assigned to track down and bring back was here, in his division. Just as he was still taking it all in, Zee spoke.

"That still doesn't explain why-"

"Why we got arrested? You can finally come back home with us. We made a deal with Timo in exchange for his fed up honor and glory, he'll help us escape tonight. Right Darcy?" She teasingly eyed Dark. Only Zee dared to call him Darcy.

"Tonight?" Marcus repeated, still in disbelief.

He heard two loud and slow ticks which meant that the mirage was over. The three of them composed themselves to make sure the footage believable. Right as he placed a cancellation spell on the mirage, Marcus heard a faint "Quit calling me that," from Dark to Zee. Marcus suppressed a laugh at their and ended the interrogation.

After he wrote the report on the interrogation of Zee and Dark, he went straight to the records department secretary to file it. He found Timo a few paces from the desk who looks as though he is about to file a report. He knew that Timo couldn't be trusted. Marcus would bet on this month's salary that Timo wouldn't fulfill his end of the bargain.

He was about to file a report on everything Zee and Dark had told him when they'd taken him prisoner.

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Timo had decided.

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Hello!! How are yall??

What did you think of this chapter? Don't forget to vote if you liked it. Make that star orange! 😁

What do you think Timo decided? Did he decide to tell the chief or stay true to their deal? Let me know by leaving a comment.

Thanks for reading I appreciate your time, hope you enjoyed it! 💞

(I'm working on not putting a flashback coz this honestly felt like a filler chapter and it was so short, compared to my other chaps XD)

Thanks again for making it this far into my book!!💗

-axeli 💓