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.

the message suggests an

have contained more helpful details,” I

she just wants you to stay out of the matter to protect you? Sending a vague

called me if

messages; she’s more of

by the enemy and needs to secretly communicate

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

theory if I didn’t believe the message

someone is trying to establish communication

word from her, making this message

it would have been

details about her well-being before asking me

my mind

spoke was back when we

seems off, as if we’ve

so she would likely have

line that might still be switched off,” I concluded,

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

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

the other hand, had a different

but by receiving this message, a line of communication has been opened between us and whoever sent

where it leads us,” she suggested, using air quotes when saying

is posing as Sophia must have a

not, you should engage in conversation and share

can wait

she’s being held captive, she might cleverly mislead

for her, and her captors might have informed her about

mislead them in her answers to help us uncover what’s really going on,” Josephine

her, and

have to worry about my

just your friend, nothing

could sense that Alex wasn’t entirely comfortable with

I managed to keep my

my momentary unease, but it was our inside joke, and the others remained oblivious to our unspoken

and safe,” Marvin expressed, echoing my

dispose

and if they

any case, she’ll likely remain alive until they accomplish whatever they have planned,” Oliver pointed out,

sense of comfort, but the idea that Sophia

prayed that we could

Gamma and the Beta off, and we

was clear that Justin had

was a smart move on his

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

way, they couldn’t accuse us of