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

was genuinely from Sophia, it would have contained more helpful details,” I explained, and Noah voiced a different

vague message would be the best way to ensure you have nothing to work with,” he suggested, and I nodded, understanding

she would have called me if it

rarely sends text messages; she’s more of a

by the enemy and needs to secretly communicate with

her no choice but to send a text message, Li,” he argued, and

asked me to share my theory if I didn’t believe the message

to establish communication with me

word

her, it would have been sent to Charlotte’s

details about her

to put my mind at ease,”

we spoke was back when we were

this message seems off, as if we’ve

aware that I’ve recovered my line, so she would likely have sent the message to Charlotte’s phone to ensure

a line that might still be switched off,” I concluded, and Charlotte nodded in

thoughts might not have been entirely clear, but I had a

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

hand, had

receiving this message, a line of communication has been opened between us

leads us,” she suggested, using air quotes when

posing as Sophia must

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

can wait for

captive, she might cleverly mislead her captors and provide us with

knows we’re searching for her, and

answers to help

nodded, looking at her, and she

have to worry about my feelings when it

just your friend, nothing more,” she assured

but I could sense that Alex wasn’t entirely comfortable with

to keep

it was our inside joke, and the others remained oblivious

safe,” Marvin expressed, echoing

won’t dispose

her, and if they have some ulterior motive

remain alive until they accomplish whatever

comfort, but the idea that Sophia couldn’t reach out to me when she wanted, troubled

and prayed that we could resolve this

Gamma and the Beta off,

do?” he inquired, and we all laughed because it was clear that Justin had cleverly left us

was a smart

conducting the questioning and making it a

us of