The Dark Side Of Fate

To Sam Street ~Liam~ I felt uneasy about how to handle sharing and discussing the text message.

I worried that mentioning Sophia might trouble Josephine, even though I knew she was resilient.

But I also feared that it could set back the progress we had made so far.

Instead of announcing the text to everyone, I decided to talk to Josephine first.

“Hey,” I said, linking her, and she turned to face me, her brow furrowing.

I expected this reaction, as linking in close proximity was reserved for private discussions.

“I want to show you something,” I said, handing her my phone with the text message.

She took the phone, read the message, and then returned it to me.

“The team should know,” she linked back, and I observed her carefully.

“It wouldn’t bother you?” I asked to be sure.

I was still new to this relationship thing and didn’t want to make any mistakes.

“Not at all, Liam.

We had our discussion this morning, and I’m confident that Sophia’s name won’t bother me anymore.

I promise,” she said with a smile and playfully punched my shoulder.

“I’m not that petty or jealous, Li,” she laughed, and I felt relieved.

“Attention, everyone; Li has something important to share,” Josephine declared, and a chuckle escaped me.

All eyes were on me, and I cleared my throat before speaking.

I put on a serious demeanour because the situation warranted it.

If they had Sophia’s mother’s phone, there was a possibility that something significant had occurred, and their circumstances might have altered.

Navigating through this with limited information wouldn’t be a simple task, but we must exercise utmost caution.

“I just received a text message from Sophia’s mother’s line, the same line she used to communicate with me,” I explained, passing my phone around so they could read the message.

“The last time she spoke to me, it was through Charlotte’s phone, as I hadn’t recovered my line back then,” I added.

Marvin was the first to ask a question.

“So why is she asking us not to search for her?” he inquired.

“That’s precisely my point.

If it were truly Sophia, she would have called instead of sending a text message.

message suggests an

have contained more helpful details,” I explained, and Noah voiced

she just wants you to stay out of the matter to protect you? Sending a vague message would be the best way to ensure you have nothing to work with,” he suggested, and I nodded, understanding

but she would have called me

text messages; she’s more of a phone person,” I explained before Sebastien

she’s surrounded by the enemy and needs to secretly

send a text message, Li,” he argued, and many others seemed

didn’t believe

to establish communication with me while

without any word from her, making this message

it were genuinely from her, it would have been sent to

more details about her

my mind at ease,” I

was back when we were in

seems off, as if we’ve been in frequent

that I’ve recovered my line, so she would likely

that might still be switched off,” I

thoughts might not have been entirely clear, but I had a gut feeling that I was onto

your point, Li, but you’re right; this message doesn’t provide

the other hand, had a

message, a line of communication has been opened between us and whoever sent

and see where it leads us,” she suggested, using air quotes when saying ‘Sophia,’ which

as Sophia must

her or not, you should engage in conversation and share specific details that only she

wait for her

cleverly mislead

searching for her, and her captors might have informed

to help us uncover what’s really going on,” Josephine

at her, and she

to worry about

know she’s just your friend, nothing more,” she assured

male friends too,” she added, but I could

I managed to keep my

momentary unease, but it was our inside joke, and

hope she’s still alive and safe,”

dispose of

Mike is working for them, they won’t dare harm her, and if they have

until they accomplish whatever they have planned,” Oliver pointed out, and his assessment was

idea that Sophia couldn’t reach out to me when she

about her safety and prayed that we

seeing the Gamma and the Beta off, and

he inquired, and we all laughed because it was clear that Justin had

a smart

a casual conversation, it wouldn’t be considered an official

they couldn’t accuse us of