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 suggests an

have contained more helpful details,” I

you considered the possibility that 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

messages; she’s more of a phone person,”

if she’s surrounded by the enemy and needs

situation might leave her no choice but to send a text message,

didn’t believe the message was from

establish communication with me while pretending

been too long without any word from her, making this message

her, it would have been sent to

contained more details about her well-being before asking me to

will want to put my mind at

was back when we

tone of this message seems off, as if

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

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

clear, but I had a gut

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

other hand, had

a line of communication has been opened between us and whoever

leads us,” she suggested,

is posing as Sophia

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

we can wait for her

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

for her, and her captors might

answers to help us uncover what’s really going on,” Josephine explained, perfectly echoing my

looking at her, and

about my feelings when it comes

friend, nothing more,”

too,” she added, but I could sense that Alex

managed to keep

signifying that she noticed my momentary unease, but it was our inside joke, and the others remained oblivious

hope she’s still alive and safe,” Marvin expressed,

dispose

and if they have some ulterior motive involving her,

until they accomplish whatever they have

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

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

the Beta off, and we remained

did they do?” he inquired, and we all laughed because it was clear that Justin

smart move

making it a casual conversation, it wouldn’t be considered

accuse us of treating them as