This time, I make sure that Sophie's asleep. Smiling ever so softly when I see that she is, in fact, sleeping, I gently close the connecting door. Shaking my head, I run a hand through my hair before deciding to go down again. I just couldn't sleep, so I've decided to go to Steven yet again. Hopefully, Sophie doesn't try to follow again.

Once I get to the laboratory again, I can't help but notice that Steven seems to have darker circles than before, and I wonder whether this applies to me as well.

Steven shakes his head, most likely trying to rid himself of the drowsiness that comes with staying up too late. "What did we manage to learn about Leila from Jacob?" he asks, fighting back a yawn to the best of his abilities.

"Well, he was talking about how he knew Arien in college," I begin. "But that was a lie. Leila came to him. We also managed to learn that Fittion told people about Jacob being in jail, but we don't know who those people are or how Jacob knows that it was Fitton."

When I'm met with silence on Steven's behalf, I raise an eyebrow and gaze over at him. But before I can ask about anything, Steven interjects, "Is it possible... that Aeron was one of the people Fitton told?"

My eyes widen. "I never thought about that," I admit, my mind racing with different kinds of thoughts. "Was that why Aeron suddenly came and tried to shoot me with a prostrator? And why he attacked Sophie as well?"

Steven suddenly facepalms. "I should've realized," he grumbles loud enough to be heard. "That Fitton wouldn't tell random people, but people of his organization."

"Organization?"

Steven curses under his breath, the foul words aimed at Fitton, Jacob, Aeron, and not surprisingly, Mr. Wallace. Sighing, the forensic pathologist pinches the bridge of his nose. "Remember that hideout that Mr. Wallace had you inflitrate last year?" he asks me instead, catching me slightly off guard.

"Does that have to do with the organization?" I ask, nodding in response to his question.

Steven nods as well. "My first question- did you know what the structure of the hideout was? I couldn't explore much."

I frown, still not knowing what the hideout's blueprint has to do with this organization that I haven't heard of. "Well, you had to go through the old building, which seems to be empty, but it wasn't," I explain. "I think they managed to block their thoughts from being tracked by me at first, because I did a regular check. Anyways, there are some runes- the same ones that I can only read for some reason- and it said, 'You shouldn't be able to read this.' After that, a latch sounded, and we were suddenly immobilized during a fall down a tunnel with saridian.

"The saridian lining eventually ended, which let Donovan and me actually control our limbs again, and two- allow the 'organization' to telekinetically break Donovan out of the tunnel and into an actual building, which I'm sure that you saw what they look like." I pause, looking at Steven for the second question.

As if he's suddenly brought back to reality from his thoughts, Steven shakes his head before staring at me again. "My other question is if you noticed anything that all of the people there had in common."

I scowl, trying to play back my memories and study then to the best of my ability. Suddenly, my eyes widen when something catches my eye. "They all had a grey eye," I admit after a few seconds of silence. "And if they held their hand above that eye, they could change the iris to grey or make the grey go back to their original eye colour."

Steven merely curses more. "That must be the sign that they're a part of the organization," he grumbles under his breath. After a moment, the pathologist then asks, "Anything else about those eyes?"

I snap in realization. "Oh yeah! The eye that lights up shows which hand is the organization agent's dominant hand," I explain. "That's why I knew that Aeron was more skilled in using his left hand than his right."

"He still managed to use his right hand as normally as right-handed people would," Steven murmurs. "So that means that he's ambidextrous..."

I suddenly frown. "Wait- what's the organization called?"

"Pardon?"

"The organization," I clarify. "What's the name? I want to try and get some information on it."

"Do not, under any circumstances, search them up..!" Steven exclaims. "I can give you and Sophie some information about it, but don't search them up. They can track you here and kidnap you-" Steven cuts himself before he can say more, but I can tell that he was about to say, "like they did with Sophie".

I nod slowly. "I won't search them up," I promise the forensic pathologist, not missing how he sighs in relief at my words. "But tell me what the name of the organization is, at least. Let me know this much."

Steven sighs again, this time with reluctant acceptance. "Nixsift," he finally says.

"What?"

That's their name. Nixsift." Steven sighs. "Unfortunately, that means that now I need to get you two the information about it, so..." He silently motions for me to come with him. "Follow me."

...

When I find myself waking up, I come to the conclusion that I fell asleep. It doesn't take me much time to realize that I accidentally slept in the laboratory instead of my actual room. Realizing that Sophie may or may not be having a heart attack at my absence, I jump up, accidentally scattering papers that I didn't know where there until now.

And as the papers rain down around me, my gaze manages to catch one similar word from each paper that I can momentarily read-

Nixsift.

I can't help but shudder at how ominous the name sounds in general. But knowing how three people out of that organization tried and came close to killing us, it creates an even more unsettling feeling in my stomach.

"Did you rest well?" Steven asks from behind me. My eyes widening, I twirl around to face him as the forensic pathologist walks closer. "You were reading over the notes that I've gathered over the years and asked me a lot of questions," he explains. "And then I leave for one minute to find you passed out. I decided to let you sleep here."

I nod in thanks. "What did I ask about again?" I inquire, trying to rub the sleepiness from my eyes. "I'm sorry- I just cannot remember for the life of me."

Steven, however, chuckles lightly. "I would be surprised if you did," he admits, causing me to raise an eyebrow. "Your eyes kept closing, but you still persevered until five."

I frown. "What time is it now?" I ask.

"Seven," Steven tells me after checking his watch. "You passed out for two hours, and I think you should rest more, to be honest."

I shake my head. "I think otherwise," I retort. "I need to study more about Nixsift, and try to fill Sophie in on whatever-"

Suddenly, the doors slam open, something I know that a familiar female Percipient does. I know that I'm right when Sophie rushes up to me so quickly that I drop the papers yet again. "Fitz!" Sophie exclaims, immediately wrapping her arms around me. "Where were you?! Mr. Wallace-"

The familiar sound of Mr. Wallace interrupts Sophie and makes us look at the the entrance of the laboratory. The middle aged man adjust his glasses before staring at me. "I hope you were able to sleep long enough," he says calmly. "Because we're visiting Jacob now."

Steven opens his mouth to argue, but closes it anyways. If Jacob tells him that you were here before... he transmits to me.

I nod at him. Yeah, I know, I reply solemnly. Then we'll be screwed.

...

"What happened?" I whisper to Sophie as Mr. Wallace drives the car. Remembering that I can transmit to her, I add, Something changed. He wouldn't have wanted us to see him now... would he?

I don't even know anymore, Sophie says, shrugging. He barges into my room while I'm trying to read the article again- he didn't see it, don't worry, she tells me when she sees my paling face. He then says that I need to get you from the laboratory because we're leaving.

My eyes widen considerably. Scowling, I ask, How the heck did he know where I was?

Lucky guess? Sophie wonders, her face suggesting otherwise.

I shake my head. Mr. Wallace doesn't seem like the person to rely on "lucky guesses", I comment bitterly. I think that he tracked my thoughts... because I didn't remember to block my thoughts. Groaning out loud, I facepalm myself, shaking my head.

Well, we can't go back now, Sophie says, placing her hand on my shoulder. We'll just have to see what happens.

I groan again, tempted to facepalm once more. "And that's exactly what I don't want," I say, my frown deepening even more when the car stops in front of the prison from before. "Great," I mutter to myself as we all exit the vehicle. "We're here."

Once inside, Sophie and I exchange confused glances as Mr. Wallace talks with the same secretary we talked with earlier. She points to the same direction, and gives the same warning. But this time, as the female Percipient and I pass by her desk, I can hear her muttering under her breath, "Crazy people visiting crazy prisoners..."

I sigh as we make our way to the prison. This time, Jacob's just sitting up, mangy bandages poorly wrapped around his wounds from today. He's grumbling under his breath as a layer of gauze falls from his head, revealing a newly stitched cut on the middle of his forehead.

Once again, Mr. Wallace clears his throat to earn everyone's attention. "Jacob," he says emotionlessly. "Come with us. Now." I can't help but raise an eyebrow at him. Will this really work? I transmit uncertainly to the female Percipient.

She merely shrugs, just as confused.

"Oh, what's happening?" Jacob asks with mock surprise, slowly hoisting his battered self upwards. "It's the Percipients and G... you. What a lovely gift... that I want to throw away immediately."

"Very funny," Mr. Wallace sneers as two different guards take Jacob out. "Let's go."

As all of us make our way down to the interrogation rooms yet again, I can't help but notice just how tense Mr. Wallace. Was he like that since we got here? I ask myself, trying to remember. I shake my head when I can't find a moment where he was as tense as he is now.

Maybe it's because of whatever Jacob was about to say, Sophie suggests, causing me to tense up as well. Sorry, it's just that you accidentally transmitted to me as well, she explains apologetically. But then we have another question- just what was Jacob going to say?

I frown. A nickname? I suggest, trying to think up of anything that starts with a "G" to no avail. So all I can to Sophie is, The only things we know are what letter this name starts with... and the fact that Mr. Wallace didn't want us to hear it.

...

Mr. Wallace takes a moment to orient himself with the blank surroundings. He then scoffs, crossing his arms as he faces the smirking Jacob. "I was originally going to make this room soundproof," he begins. After pausing, he seethes, "But it seems like someone already has... You know anything about this, Jacob?"

Jacob chuckles. "What can I say?" he asks. "I like my conversations without eavesdroppers."

Rolling his eyes, Mr. Wallace placed his hands on the metal table so he's looking over the prisoner. "I have a few questions for you," he says through gritted teeth. "So answer them, alright?"

Jacob, however, purposefully fails to answer the first question.

Growling, Mr. Wallace picks Jacob up via telekinesis and slams him onto the table, causing the female Percipient and me to jump. His voice extremely darker than before, Mr. Wallace hisses, "Answer the questions, and I won't throw you around... much."

"What are you doing?!" I shout before I can stop myself. "You won't get anything from him this way!"

"Watch me," the grey-haired man says venomously. Turning to Jacob again, he asks, "Why is Aeron roaming around now?"

My eyes widen, but I don't say anything. I make a mental note to ask Steven about how Mr. Wallace knows who Aeron is.

Even still, Jacob gives no answer.

Chuckling nefariously, Mr. Wallace throws Jacob into the ceiling. "Suffer," he spits out. "for not answering me." Clearing his throat, Mr. Wallace says, "Next question- why are you in here? What did you do?"

Silence.

And that silence is broken when Jacob's thrown into the wall behind him.

"Try again," the middle aged man taunts, stepping around the already dented table. "On whose orders did you let yourself get captured? Who?"

No words are said from anyone for a moment.

And then Jacob's flung into the metal table again, actually knocking it over this time.

"Stop it!" Sophie yells at the middle aged man. "Are you crazy?! You're going to kill him if you don't stop!"

Mr. Wallace scoffs, showing that he has no remorse for his actions whatsoever. "Then he can die," he says, as if the answer was that simple. "Maybe then he'll. Enjoy. The silence. Forever." He throws Jacob into a random wall every time he pauses. "An- swer- me," he seethes, growing more impatient with every second.

I shake my head- I've had enough of this. Scowling, I levitate Mr. Wallace before throwing him to the farthest corner of the room. "Stay there," I say darkly. "I don't want you to move an inch, or I swear that I'll give you the same bruises as Jacob, understand?"

When I'm met with silence on Mr. Wallace's behalf, I turn to Jacob. "I'm not going to throw you like he did," I begin, not missing how Jacob's bloody body relaxes a bit. "But we need answers. Please, don't make this harder than you've made it for yourself."

Jacob looks at me, then Sophie, then at me again. "I want him out," Jacob breathes, his voice hoarse from what Mr. Wallace did to him. "I want that Wallace man out."

Her eyes full of hatred, Sophie wheels around to face Mr. Wallace. "Get out." She takes another step forward before repeating herself, "Get out. Now."

Mr. Wallace's eyes widen, as do mine. I never knew that Sophie could have a deadly gaze like this until now. "Pardon?" he asks, his venomous expression turning into dumbfoundedness.

"Get out," Sophie seethes, levitating Mr. Wallace, "before I make you, you despicable being." She then drops the middle aged man at the door. "Close the door on your way out," she says as Mr. Wallace leaves with a confused face.

"I'll be waiting for you out-" Mr. Wallace begins to say before Sophie slams the door in his face. Turning around, the female Percipient makes her way over to us before transmitting to me, I know I shouldn't have done that, but-

Thank you, I transmit to her, smiling softly.

What?

To be honest, I would've thrown him out instead of letting him walk out, I admit, causing Sophie to smile as well. I hate him that much right now.

As do I, Sophie coincides.

Turning to Jacob, I ask, "And are you going to actually answer?" I ask solemnly, helping Jacob sit in the only chair in the room.

"Yes..." Jacob wheezes. "I'll answer you two, so you can stop it."