A few hours later, I'm in my room with Sophie. While she looks at Jacob's folder of his backstory, I look at the medical and military reports in order to cross-check it with the things they had in Sophie's folder. "So the biggest issue with him is what- well, how he was injured to have his right arm removed?" I ask, glancing up from the folder in front of me in a long time.

Sophie slowly looks at me. Pressing her lips together momentarily, she nods thoughtfully. "I guess so." After a moment of silent thinking, she says, "Maybe his arm suffered an irreversible burn, and he had to get his arm amputated."

I process her words silently. "Amputation sounds like the most logical reason why Jacob's arm was cleanly severed," I finally admit. "But a burn? How would he get that?"

"Flamethrowers, grenades. Um..." Sophie taps her chin, trying to think of more ways being in the military can cause a burn. When she doesn't come up with anything, she shakes her head as she leans back. I can't help but smirk at this.

"Hmm... What if he was shot in that arm, and because of that, he had to get it amputated?" I ask, sitting forward for her reaction. "Maybe once and it was almost fatal. Or maybe it was multiple times."

"That's a good theory, except he survived."

"So what, not to brush his survival off like that. But other soldiers survived too, and they dealt with worse. Also, Jacob was sent home after he lost his arm."

Sophie exhales loudly. "Why didn't they put the reason he lost his arm in either folder?"

"Then we wouldn't be here," I say, smirking at her.

She smiles, chuckling lightly as she props herself up with her elbows.

Suddenly, I get an idea. I clap my hands together, which startles Sophie into sitting up. Apologizing about that, I say, "What if the actual wound was self-inflicted? So he could purposely get it amputated."

Sophie nods. "I think I've heard of that. Apparently, soldiers inflicted injuries upon themselves so they could be sent home instead of possibly dying in action." She pauses, replaying my words. "You think that's what happened?"

I shrug. "It makes more sense than anything else. Why else would the reason, if there is any reason, be called as 'unknown'?" I ask, pointing out the half-hearted explanation in the medical and military folder.

Sophie sighs, knowing that she doesn't have a better reason or theory. "I don't know."

My lips turn into a scowl as I add, "But if we agree on self-infliction, then why do I feel like that's not it?" I turn to her before flopping down to my back. I blow out an exasperated puff of air before I silently wait for her response.

When I sit up again, Sophie stares at me silently. Then her eyes widen as she says "I don't know" again. The part that stood out to me with her reply is that this time, it was merely a whisper of realization and admittance, her chocolate eyes reflecting her voice perfectly.

...

After dinner, each one of us returned to our rooms except the Sovereigns. Apparently, Mr. Wallace wanted to talk to them privately. I exhale sharply at whatever Mr. Wallace would have to talk about with them. Musing my hair and stifling a yawn, I walk away from my desk and change into red plaid pajama bottoms and a simple black shirt. I then walk towards the bed after brushing my teeth sleepily.

Suddenly, a THUMP! awakens me from my tired state. I swivel around to hear quieter yet more urgent-sounding knocks echo from my door. Shaking my head slightly, I open the door to see Donovan standing there. I notice how he fiddles with his thumbs- something so unlike him. My eyes widen as I step aside to let Donovan enter.

I close the door softly and ask, "What happened, Donovan?"

He looks at me, his eyes wider than before.

"You were fiddling with your thumbs," I say, pointing at his hands as evidence. "You never do that. I'm asking again, Donovan. What. Happened?"

Donovan sits down on the edge of my bed. A moment of silence passes before he blurts out, "I don't trust him, Fitz. I don't- not at all."

I furrow my eyebrows at him. "What do you mean? What changed your mind?"

"Today. That- that changed my mind." Donovan looks at me as I walk over to stand above him. "That Wallace person wanted to talk to us because he somehow knew that Audrey and I both were getting impatient. So he told us that we were 'going to take action soon'. He told us to just wait one more day."

"What..? Action? Are you sure this is what he said?"

Dread pools into my stomach when he only nods.

"Well, how would he take action? And who was that command directed to?"

Donovan swallows, turning pale. "I think it was towards Audrey and me. I tried to not show any emotion when I nodded, but dude." He pauses, holding his face in a hand. "I'm actually worried. I don't know what he's planning." He chuckles darkly. "Benen's words have been following me. I just can't trust him. What if he is the man Benen saw?"

I press my lips together. "Did you tell anyone else about this? Audrey?"

He shakes his head. "No. Audrey didn't to be reacting like I did. She- I don't know." Donovan swallows. "She seemed like she wanted to be part of the 'take action'. I can't tell her because I think she'll tell him. I don't want them to know.." He grips his head with his hands. "Man- why am I acting like this..?!"

"Why did you come to me and not Benen?" I ask after another moment of silence.

"Because. I feel like you'd understand more without freaking out. Benen's already shaken up over him and that man in the shadows."

I nod in comprehension, pulling the chair from my desk and sitting in front of him. "It seems like you're nervous about Mr. Wallace, but that's not the main issue. What are you worrying about the most?"

Donovan angrily sighs. "It's Audrey, Fitz. I'm worried about what she'll do after that 'talk'." He sighs as he leans back on my bed. "I feel like she'll do something completely stupid. I should know, since I can relate to her the most."

I nod in agreement. "That's true." I shake my head. "Do you think you can go one more day acting nonchalantly around others?"

Donovan groans into his hands. "I don't know, Fitz. Seriously- I'm bad at hiding my emotions." Before I can object, he adds, "I can only hide it for a while. Since Wallace already knows what I feel, I failed then. Can't I just ignore everyone before I blurt something out?"

I shake my head. "Unfortunately, no. That would draw suspicion, especially from Mr. Wallace, Sophie, and Audrey."

"Pardon me, Fitz," a female voice says, causing me to straighten up. I turn my head to see Sophie standing in the connecting doorway. "But I'm already suspicious."

I exhale sharply as Sophie comes over to the two of us. "How long have you been listening?" I ask, standing up to face her.

Sophie meets my hard gaze, both of us keeping if for a few moments. "Ever since you two started talking," she says to me before looking away. Then to the both of us, she asks, "So you two are worried about Audrey?"

Before Donovan say something, I hold my hand up to stop him. "Yes, yes we are," I say, both of our gazes turning to ice as we continue staring at each other. "Why do you need to know?"

"Why else?" she replies, causing me to raise an eyebrow. "Because I am too."