What I'm about to say might come as a shocker but Theresa isn't as bad as I made her out to me.

The next morning, while waiting for news from Jason, we had a little talk since I was too exhausted last night.

"I know you don't like me but at this point, we have to work together in ending our common enemy."

I scrunch up my nose in mild irritation. "How are you even part of The Revolution?"

She sighs and it's probably due to me ignoring whatever she had said.

"After the Choosing got cancelled-"

My eyes widen. "-the Choosing got cancelled? Why?"

Theresa walks to the dresser. "Messy stuff, I tell you. Finnegan had an elder brother, did you know that?"

How would she react if I told her yes?

"I'm not even surprised at how you found out seeing you and Finnegan were close."

Theresa has her eyes on me now. I blink away.

"How did-"

Someone bursts into the room. Startled, I jump in my seated position.

"Rain, what is wrong with you?"Theresa smacks the blonde haired girl with a pillow. She shields her face.

"Sorry. Larry wants to speak with you. It's urgent."

I can't miss the blush that covers Theresa's cheeks.

Interesting.

Theresa pushes the pillow at Rain's chest. "Entertain her while I'm away."

"Hey-"I start to protest but Theresa had slammed the door shut, leaving Rain and me alone.

"What's going on?"

"Brace yourself for anything."

I did brace myself, but not for what I witnessed much later. Them leading me to the lifeless bodies of my friends, my family.

Reya. Judy. Mom. Dad.

In that moment, it was like I was tossed into space.

A form of weightlessness overcame me.

I screamed.

I screamed into the dark night sky.

I screamed until I couldn't anymore.

I screamed until Theresa enveloped me in a warm hug.

How could I feel the warmth of anyone's embrace again. How can I?

"You'll be fine."Theresa kept whispering in my ear. She whispered until my limbs gave out underneath me.

Alanna.

Alanna.

Alanna.

The voices came as faint whispers, then as vivid words that pull me out of the dungeon in my head.

A steady throbbing pain lingers on my head as I come to reality.

Three faces are hovering over my head. Theresa's, Rain's and Jason's. I notice how rapid my breathing is and how different the room is from the scene in my imagination.

I was standing outside. On a grassy field.

Was it a dream?

"That must have been one intense dream." Jason breaks the silence.

I feel uncomfortable under their gazes. "Can you guys not stare at me like that? It's creepy."

Theresa snorts. She shares a look with Rain. Rain glances at me and then back to whatever secret conversation they're having.

"You woke up just in time for Reik's arrival."

My ears perk up, and I jolt into sitting position. "He's back?"

Jason nods and starts walking to the door, arms stuck in the pockets of his trousers. "Yes. You may want to get dressed."

Once the door closes, Theresa hums. "That's new."She comments.

"You better not say anything stupid."I warn her, struggling out of bed since my legs are a little numb for some reason.

"No, that's your job."

Someone laughs. Rain. She doubles over, clutching her chest. "You guys make such perfect enemies."

Theresa chuckles, grabbing my arm. "Why, thank you."To me, she smirks. "Let's get you in the bathroom, shall we, enemy?"

Rolling my eyes, I just allow her drag me away. To bathe.

♘♘♘

Dressed in a lovely orchid violet gown that stops at my ankles, I follow Theresa to that room where I met Larry for the first time. Sunlight from outside filters in through the windows.

I'm guessing it's close to noon.

The moment we step inside, all four pair of eyes belonging to Jason, Reik, Larry and some lady with red hair, fall on us.

Reik stares at me the longest. I don't bother to hide the fact that I'm shamelessly ogling him.

The red head groans. "Oh, please, get a room you two."

Chuckling, Reik marches up to me. My breaths accelerate dramatically.

Ew!

"You're back."I whisper.

Reik's gaze is thick with an unknown emotion. I don't dwell on that for too long because he sweeps me in a tight embrace.

"Call me weird but in a way, I missed you."

I eye him. "Are you sure you did not hit your head somewhere?"

"No-"

Larry chuckles."There are other places you'll be getting hit, if you're not careful."

"Youre disgusting."Theresa grunts before leaving us to go outside.

Reik frees me from his arms. "There's a lot you need to hear."

He steers me towards the table where Jason, Larry and the redhead are seated. Once I make myself comfortable, I quirk a brow at Reik.

"This is Deen. Jason's-"

"-worse nightmare."Deen interrupts, grinning at Jason. He sighs.

"Nightmare is an understatement, Reik."

He and Deen engage in a long glaring battle until Larry waves his right hand in the air.

"Okay, retract your claws you two. We have bigger issues to tackles and for once, I'm begging you to please act civil to each other."Larry's emphasis on the word "please"is hilarious and I have a feeling the pair wouldn't last through whatever discussion we'd have now.

With peace temporarily restored, Reik slouches in his chair. "Larry will preside over the meeting."

Larry nods. "Thank you. So let's begin with updates from the war zone. As you all know, the King has been carrying out shady business in the sidelines and for years, we haven't been able to trace his activities..."He pauses so we can assimilate his words.

"Yesterday, however. We uncovered abnormal activities right under the Palace. It so happens that we have located the King's illegal activities and there are solid evidence of his involvement."Larry continues.

"Why do I feel like there's a but?" I ask.

Larry shakes his head. "Because there is, M'lady."

The room falls silent as all eyes settle on Reik. He has news. I can sense it.

Reik heaves, eyes searching mine out.
"We're not going to win this battle."

This adds to the tension rising steadily over our heads.

What sort of news is this? And coming from Reik? Unbelievable.

"What do you mean?"The question is from Jason. Larry is looking as startled as he is.

I'm sure I have same expression on my face.

Reik stands, paces around the table while driving a finger through his curls repeatedly. I find that action slightly disturbing, in a good way.

Not the time, crazy female hormones.

Ashamed of my feelings, I set my gaze downwards.

"Rufus is unkillable."

unkillable?

ha! how possible is that?

well, I'll leave you to figure that out until the next chapter.

so, I might have changed my mind about something; I originally wanted this book to be done last chapter, but there's so many unresolved issues which would be unsettled if I made an untimely end.

something big is brewing, and I see a second book rising.

but for now, I'm not too certain.

Thanks for reading, everyone.

Don't forget to vote, and drop a comment. It will do a lot 😊