"You- you what?" I stuttered.

"I killed Ardene," Timothy said.

"I- I don't understand. Ardene died in a crash. We never found her body," I blinked rapidly, unable to believe what I was hearing.

"That was a lie that we told everyone to keep her identity safe," Timothy explained.

"What identity?! She was a normal girl," I yelled, losing my composure.

"Was she?" He raised an eyebrow, "Do you remember what happened to her four months before her 'accident'?" he made air quotes around 'accident'.

"She got accepted to The Alma School for Arts. She was so happy," I trailed.

"Are you sure it was a school that taught arts?" He continued.

"What-"

"When did she die?"

"Thre-"

"When was the last memorisutira attack?"

"Three..."

And then it all came to me.

"Your sister seems really sweet," Nick said.

"She was," I said as I looked at my feet, a sad smile gracing my face.

"Oh, I'm sorry,"

"It's okay. It has been three years now,"

"When was the last sighting?" I had asked.

"Three years ago," Jax had answered my query.

My sister died three years ago.

"I've heard that Gladys couldn't kill one memorisutīrā, and it had the memory of one of the most skilled spies in Gladys. So they performed the "forbidden procedure" on her and her squad," Adam had mentioned.

"Mrs Armstrong, it's so good to meet you. Ardene is certainly one of the best students at our school. She's a fast learner with a passion for whatever she does, and we'd like to send her to Inferna for an interstate championship." Ardene's teacher had said a few weeks before Ardene died.

"Ardene, when are you coming back?" I asked a night before her accident.

"I just have to say goodbye to a few friends, then I'll come back," She said.

"Okay,"

"Goodbye, Lorcan," Her voice cracked.

"Goodbye, Ardene,"

"Some say that that they killed her because no one saw her ever again. Others say that they disowned her and her teammates claimed that they didn't even know who she was,"

"One rumour says that she fell in love with a fallen and went rogue," Jax stated.

"That locket," I turned to Ivan.

"Belonged to her," He nodded with a pained expression in his eyes.

"You're a fallen, aren't you?"

"Yes," He sighed.

"She fell in love with you,"

He nodded, his eyes closed as if he was in regret.

"What happened to her?" I asked as I shut my eyes, trying to stop the tears.

"We can't tell you that," Timothy said.

"Why?" Ivan yelled, "He deserves to know,"

"Not like this!" Timothy yelled back. "He needs to figure it out on his own,"

"Figure what out?" I asked, my voice feeble.

"Where she is," Timothy explained.

"What do you mean? She's dea-"

"No, she's not," Ivan informed.

"She's a- alive?" I gaped, a whirl of emotions consuming me.

"Yes," Ivan said, "She misses you,"

"You talk to her?"

"Twice a year," He said, "We have to meet secretly,"

"Why don't I remember you?"

Ivan shared a look with Timothy and bent his head in defeat.

"I can't tell you,"

"I- I can't believe this!" I exhaled, holding my head in my hands.

"You can get her back," Timothy said.

"How?"

"Figure out a way to find the memorsutira who has her teammate's memory and kill it,"

"It doesn't have her memory?"

"No, but the memorisutira knows everything about her. This is why we had to tell everyone that she had died." Ivan revealed.

"How do we find it?" Argenta asked.

"That's what we've been trying to figure out for the past three years," Ivan said.

"They have started resurfacing," Timothy added, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say the fallen are planning something huge,"

"They are," Ivan said, "There is a war coming to Invierna. Much worse than before,"

"What do you know about it?" Argenta asked them.

Nick and Reyna had gone to call the others.

"The last call I intercepted was encrypted. It said, 'Time to burrow further, the deeper, the better. Let the worms come to God is gracious. 2,2,3,3-tetramethyl butane is turning. Soon, all of 'royalty' will.',"

"What the fuck?" I said.

"We think it has something to do with a mole," Timothy said.

"Burrow further, yes, that could be it. But a mole where?" Cupcake stated.

"Gladys," I stated, the realization hitting me like a truck.

This is officially too much to take in.

What the actual fuck?!

"Lorcan?" I heard Timothy.

"Ye- yeah?" I broke out of my reverie.

"Hey, Tim," Argenta said.

"Hmm?"

"Let's do this tomorrow. Lory needs some time to absorb what happened today,"

How does she do this?

You are perfect, Cupcake.

So was- is Ardene.

I still can't wrap my head around this.

All, these years I wished for her to come back; now she has, but I can't meet her.

Life is cruel.

"Get in, Lory," I felt my cupcake's hand at the small of my back leading me inside a car.

"Cupcake?" I mumbled.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you,"

"Since when do you thank someone?!" She fake gasped, causing me to chuckle.

"You're not allowed to say that, but I am,"

"Oh really? And why am I not?"

"Because you don't have to thank me for whatever I do for you,"

"Doesn't give a reason but, same goes for you, pretty face,"

You're so cute

"I can do this all day, sweetheart. You can't win against me,"

"We don't have all day, babe. Surrender,"

Yes, ma'am

"No way," I smirked.

Maybe if I keep talking, I'll be able to distract myself from Ardene

"Yes, way. Come on, all you have to do is give up,"

"I don't know how to give up, cupcake,"

"You'll have to learn to,"

Girl, I'll surrender to you even before you ask something of me. But admitting that to your face, that's something I'll never do.

"I doubt that. Did you tell Dylan about your master plan?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"You can't keep doing this,"

"Doing what?"

"Change the topic to not think of Ardene. Sooner or later, you'll have to come to terms with the fact that you never lost her,"

"How?"

"How what?"

"How do you always know what I'm thinking?"

"I'm telepathic," She said as she placed two of her fingers from each hand on either of her temples.

"Sure," I smirked.

Seeing that we had reached our hotel, I stepped out and paid the taxi driver.

"So, what do you wanna do now?" Cupcake asked me.

"You,"

Shit.

"Huh?" She said.

Fuck.

"What?" I played innocent.

"What'd you say?"

"Nothing," I simply replied.

"I thought I heard something,"

"They say, sometimes you hear what you want to,"

"Makes sense," She chuckled.

WHAT

"What?" I asked.

"What?"

"What did you want to hear?"

"Nothing," She shook her head way too fast to be telling the truth.

"Mhmm," I nodded suspiciously but let it go.

"Hey, kiddies, miss us?" Nick hollered, catching up to us from behind.

"Not at all," Cupcake shot back.

"Ouch. You hurt me, woman," Nick drawled, clutching his chest, causing me and my Cupcake to chuckle.

"I missed you, bro," I said.

"I missed you too, bro," Nick said dramatically.

"Okay, dumbasses, go to sleep, now," Reyna commanded us.

"Yes, ma'am," Nick saluted and started pacing towards our room.

"Whipped," I coughed.

"Piss off," Was Nick's brilliant reply before he vanished into the darkness of the room.

"See you tomorrow, girlfriend," I sang before walking in.

"See ya, boyfriend," She replied, "And Lory?"

"Yeah?"

"If you want, you can talk to me about it," She smiled genuinely.

"You got it, you nosy, nosy cupcake," I teased.

"Just go to sleep, shit face,"

"You know it's not shit, babe," I yelled before closing the door; and I don't know if it was a sleep-deprived hallucination, a ringing in my ear or if it actually happened, but I think I heard her say, "Trust me, I know, pretty face,".

I walked further inside the room to see that Nick had already fallen asleep on the bed.

I laid down beside him and closed my eyes but just couldn't sleep.

"Ardeeeeeene," I banged her door with my little hands.

"Yeah?" She sleepily said as she opened her door, rubbing her eyes.

"I had a nightmare, and now I can't sleep," I said while my lower lip wobbled.

"Come with me," She held my hand and took me to my bed.

She hugged me and laid down on my bed with me.

"Now close your eyes," She kissed my forehead, "Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a boy named Lorcan. He was the bravest kid in all of Invierna, but he had one fear."

"What did he fear?" I asked innocently.

"He feared... fuzzy bears,"

"F- fuzzy bears?" I giggled.

"Yes," She smiled at me, "One day when he was watching his favourite show on TV, a fuzzy bear came to sit with him,"

"Oh no," I gasped, my small palm covering my mouth.

"Oh yes. The bear was sad. And wanted a hug."

"Aw,"

"But Lorcan was so afraid that he ran away from the bear, and the bear ran after him for the hug. He said, "Lorcaaaaa, please give me a hug," "

"Did he get the hug?"

"Yes, Lorca thought for a moment and looked at the puppy face the bear was making. Then he ran and gave the bear a very tight bear hug," She hugged me tightly as she said that, and I giggled.

Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep. The next day, I woke up hugging Mr Grizzly.

"I miss you, Ardene," I whispered, looking at the ceiling.

I realized that there was no way I could sleep, so I decided to go for a run.

"𝒢𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶 𝓇𝓊𝓃, 𝒹𝑜𝓃'𝓉 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓇𝓎, 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓃𝒹𝓂𝒶" I wrote on a piece of paper and placed it on the bedside table for Nick.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"-isn't back," I heard Nick's worried voice when I came back from my very, very long run.

I turned the corner and came face to face with all of my friends.

"There he is," Cleo exclaimed.

"Where were you?!" Argenta demanded.

"Out for a run,"

"All freakin' night?!" Nick yelled.

"I specifically asked you to not worry,"

"Oh, so if I go out for running and don't come back all night, you won't be worried?" He asked.

"That's not the point,"

"No, that's exactly the point, you idiot!" Argenta slapped my arm, "Just because you asked us not to worry doesn't mean we won't,"

She was worried for me.

This should not make me this happy.

Oh well.

"Okay, I'm sorry for worrying you all,"

"I'm sorry for worrying you all," Nick imitated me in a high pitched voice.

"I don't sound anything like that,"

"Whatever,"

"Okay, get ready, now. All of you. We leave in an hour," Jax said, ushering the four of us into our rooms.

Well, he got the wrong rooms.

He was pushing Cupcake and me in my room and Nick and Reyna in Reyna's room.

"This is not my roo-" Cupcake tried yelling, but he had already pushed us and locked us in.

"Jax!" She banged the door.

"Are you ready to leave for the hub?"

"What? No,"

"Then I'm not opening this door,"

"This is not my room!"

"Haha, like I'd believe that,"

"I can't believe this," She turned to face me with gritted teeth and a hardened glare.

"You find this funny?" She glared at me when she saw I was trying to hold in my laughter.

"No?" I choked out, a few chuckles escaping despite me.

"We don't even have the keys, or I could have gone through the connecting door." She whined.

"Hey, chill. I'll get ready first. Then Jax'll have to let me out so I can get your clothes. Sound good?" I suggested.

She bit her lip in thought and slowly nodded.

"Don't do that,"

"Do what?"

"Bite your lip,"

"Why?"

Because you look damn sexy, and it's distracting, and I don't have much self-control.

"Just don't,"

"Just go take your shower,"

"Mhmm," I said before walking into the washroom.

Once I was done with my shower, I realized that I hadn't brought my clothes along.

"Shit," I muttered.

Hold on, this might not be so bad.

So I wrapped a towel around my waist, teasingly low and ran a hand through my wet hair.

And then, I walked out, excited for the reaction I was about to get.

And a good reaction, I got.

As soon as Cupcake saw me, her mouth flew wide open as her eyes trailed down my chest to my six-pack and lingered there.

I could see her eyes get darker when I smirked and said, "Take a picture, Cupcake. It'll last longer,"

"Huh? What?" She stammered, struggling to keep her eyes on mine.

"Like I wouldn't notice you shamelessly staring at me," I chuckled a bit.

"I wasn't staring," She defended.

"Sure, you weren't," I smirked on the outside but was jumping like a maniac on the inside.

"I wasn't! And put on a shirt, for God's sake!"

"Too distracting?"

"Ye- NO!" She yelled, flustered, making me chuckle.

"Just turn around, so I can put my clothes on," I chuckled, "And no peeking, Cupcake," I teased.

"Oh please," She huffed and rolled her eyes before turning to face the other way.

Once I was dressed, I asked her to turn around and went to get her bag.

"Jax! Let me out!"

"You ready?" I heard his voice.

"Yes,"

The door opened, and I walked out.

"Open this room," I said.

"Why?"

"I need to get her clothes,"

"So she really isn't staying with you?"

"No,"

"Shit,"

"Shit indeed, she'll kill you when she comes out,"

"Just take her clothes to her,"

"Mhmm,"

He opened Cupcake and Reyna's room, and I went in to get her bag but froze in my tracks when I heard a moan coming from the washroom.

"What. The. Hell?" I thought aloud.

"The room is empty," Jax commented.

"And Nick and Reyna were here," I said.

"OH shit!" We both exclaimed simultaneously and burst out laughing.

"They probably can't hear us over the shower," Jax said.

"Yeah, let's get outta here,"

I grabbed Cupcake's bag and all but ran out before they could come out.

I think I dropped something but was laughing too much to care.

We were still laughing when we entered my room and handed Cupcake's bag to her.

"What's wrong with you two?" She asked.

"Ask Reyna later," I guffawed as Jax joined me.

"Ask her what?"

"Oh, I'm not telling you, Cupcake. Find out yourself," I said, still laughing like a hyena.

"I hate you,"

"Keep telling yourself that,"

"Lory, you didn't get my shirt,"

"Huh?" I said, recovering from my fit.

"My shirt isn't here," She said, "Imma go get it from my room,"

"NOOO!" Jax and I yelled together and started laughing again.

"What is going on with the two of you?"

"Just don't go there, please. Grab one of my hoodies," I suggested.

"Fine," She huffed, "But you are going to explain what's going on,"

"Oh no, it's going to be Nicky boy who does the explaining,"

"What?"

"Nothing, go take your shower,"

"You're weird,"

"I know, honey,"

"Nick is so dead," Jax howled from beside me.

"Agreed," I laughed.

A few minutes later, Cupcake walked out of the washroom wearing my hoodie.

The hoodie was a little big on her, reaching her mid-thighs and the sleeves pulled up, so the cuffs could stop at her wrists.

She looks adorable!

"God, you are huge!" She huffed, referring to the hoodie.

I smirked at the double meaning in her words while Jax broke out into full-on cackles and tried to cover it up with coughs.

"Cupcake, you sure know how to boost someone's confidence," I chuckled.

"Wha-" She started saying but stopped when she realized what we meant. Instantly, her cheeks became crimson, and she looked down.

"That's not what I meant," She said.

I know

"Sure, you didn't,"

Before she could say anything else, Nick and Reyna walked in.

"Well, hello, you two," Jax smirked evilly.

"Hello," Reyna chirped.

"And I thought you'd have a sore throat from screaming his name that much,"

"What?!" Reyna's eyes widened, and Nick's mirrored her actions.

"Want to tell us what's going on?" Jax asked.

Author's note:

Hey, y'all! Happy Fridayyyy!

The chapter is dedicated to @Talented_Naughty . Thank you for voting and commenting!

Also, we reached a hundred votes! I love you all!

Anyway, please vote, comment and fan. I'll see you next Friday!