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.

vagueness of the message

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

of the matter to protect you? Sending a vague message would be the best way to ensure you have nothing to work with,” he

would have called me if it

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

surrounded by the enemy and needs to secretly communicate with

send a text message, Li,” he

me to share my theory if I didn’t believe

someone is trying to establish communication with me while

word from her, making this message

from her, it

more details about her well-being before asking me

want to put my

spoke was back when we were

message seems off,

so she would likely have sent the message to Charlotte’s

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

been entirely clear, but I had a gut feeling that

your point, Li, but you’re right; this message doesn’t provide much information,” Charlotte acknowledged, stating the

on the other hand, had a

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

leads us,” she suggested, using air quotes when

is posing as Sophia must have

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

can wait for

cleverly mislead her

knows we’re searching for her, and her captors might have informed

it’s wise for her to mislead them in her answers to help us uncover what’s

her, and

really don’t have to worry about my feelings when

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

male friends too,” she added, but I could sense that Alex wasn’t

I managed to

signifying that she noticed my momentary unease, but it was our inside joke,

safe,” Marvin expressed, echoing my

dispose

they won’t dare harm her, and

until they accomplish whatever

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

concerned about her safety and prayed that we could resolve this situation as quickly

the

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

a smart

conducting the questioning and making it a casual conversation, it wouldn’t be

they couldn’t accuse us of