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I clicked on the folder, heaviness filling my chest. Seeing the server messages had my hand shaking as I clicked on them. A thousand memories and emotions slammed into me, things I’d long since forgotten, things I hadn’t wanted to necessarily remember. I closed my eyes, breathing deeply as I tried to calm my heart. Panic was edging around the corners of my mind, threatening to send me spiraling again.
“Breathe with me, Fin. Remember how we did it before? Breathe in your favorite color and let it fill you up, taking over all the corners of your fear. Now, slowly release all that fear, exhaling a color you hate. Let it go, exiting you. Again, in. Now, hold it, and release.”
I did it a few times, feeling my three guys around me. I listened to Milo’s voice, his smooth timbre making me feel calm. I exhaled and opened my eyes, turning to look at him. Nodding my thanks, I focused back on the screen, trying to read the messages.
MKG admin:Your team's final mission is to obtain a file on the blueprints for the new city building. All members must participate to pass. You have until midnight.
But… no. That didn’t make sense. I blinked, but the information didn’t change. So, how could we both be right? We couldn’t. And Ryker’s looked legit. Which meant… mine had been a ruse. But why?
“You’re certain the message came from me?” he asked, not moving from behind me. I turned slightly, forgetting he was close, and almost bumped into him.
“Yeah. I, um, saved them.” I escaped his gaze, focusing on Cohen. “May I?” I asked, pointing to the laptop.
“Of course, sweetheart. I told you I have no more secrets.” Blowing him a kiss, I typed the address to one of my secure servers. My fingers hesitated over the keys as I debated opening this can of worms. Ryker sighed, thinking I didn’t want to share my password, and moved back.
“I can’t see anything,” he muttered, sounding put out. For some reason, that brought me joy and gave me the boost I needed to open up this scab and hopefully heal this wound once and for all. With a deep breath, I typed in the password and clicked on the folder.
“Here,” I said, opening the conversation from that last night.
Obsidian: Thirty minutes to go. Anyone need a reminder of the plan?
Blackhawk: Nope. You watch our backs, and Oblivion and I do the badass stuff.
Oblivion: Oh? I like being badass. Where are we going? And you’re here?
Blackhawk: Secrets, little hacker. I couldn’t miss out on meeting you.
Oblivion: So, where are we meeting?
Obsidian: Are you ever not flirting? I’ll be on comms guiding you through. I have some things to do. I’ll catch you guys later. Tonight we become official Knights!
Oblivion: Wahoo! Talk to you later.
Blackhawk: Later, Sid.
Blackhawk: Are you familiar with Clark Pleasant High School?
Oblivion: You’re kidding, right?
Blackhawk: I’ll take that as a yes. Meet me there at 10pm. We have a small window to get in and out before it’s due. Are you ready, little hacker?
Oblivion: Definitely. See you there. And thanks for the gift.
Oblivion: Sorry, I know I’m not supposed to mention it.
Blackhawk: Yeah, no problem. See you soon, little hacker.
“What the crap is this?” Ryker asked, looking at me like I’d grown a second head.
“The conversation we had.” I stared at him, wondering how he’d become the head of a secret order if he couldn’t decipher that.
“Yeah, I see that, except it never happened.” He looked up at me, sincerity and truth ringing in his eyes.
“What do you mean?” Cohen asked. “If you didn’t do it, then who?”
He gulped, looking back at the screen before he met my eyes. “Obsidian. He’s the only one who was at both of our sites. He has to be the one that led us astray.”
“But why? I thought Sid was my friend. Why would he want me to get arrested? He almost ruined my life.”
