“You sure can’t make up your mind, can you?” Deck, who was on the other side of the call, points out to Samuel, who was eating a ham sandwich. “Yeah, your spot is still vacant. In fact, I was just about to call someone else.”

“When do we start?”

“Tomorrow. Come meet me then.”

He hangs up. He really didn’t like dragging conversations with that creep.

Jane, who was listening to everything while digging on a boiled egg, smiles. “When?”

“Tomorrow. We’ll be sleeping early tonight.”

She swallows. “And what’ll be the equipment?”

“Same stuff we always use.”

And with that said, both partners finish their meals before going to their hideout. Once there, they properly gear up.

Samuel packs both their backpacks with a hatchet, some rope, a water bottle, an emergency phone, a lighter, and spare clothes.

“You do know we’re not going to go out camping, right?” Jane mock asks him.

“I like fancying the idea that things will go out horribly.”

“How inspiring…”

The rest of the day had nothing noteworthy happen, other than unexpected phone calls that had both on edge. The further down the day went, the more anxious both got, especially the male of the two and his never ending paranoia over the possibility of them being tailed by someone.

But alas, nothing happened. The night was… somewhat well slept through, all things considered.

And in the next morning, as early as they could get, they got up and drove to their destination. And of course it was Deck’s “spot”. At least it was cloudy enough they didn’t have to go inside again.

They were the first to get there, the owner of the place in the middle of a call. Once they were spotted leaving the car, he gestured for them to wait. A minute or two of this passes before he hangs up and addresses the duo.

“The other should get here soon. I was calling in on some solids.”

“What for?” Jane asks.

“A couple of stuff we’ll be needing, big time.”

Deck then continues making calls while the duo of friends wait on their own phones.

Not long after, Bloom comes on a motorcycle. Unlike last time, she now wore the most casual outfit possible: torn jean shorts, a loose blouse showing a shoulder, slippers, and a cap.

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Jane whistles. “What happened to the whole Chinese princess thing?”

“I like trying new things,” is her answer, followed by a smug shrug as she leaves her vehicle. “I look good no matter what.”

Another good look at her gets a nod from Samuel, who had an impressed face. Jane, meanwhile, was instead throwing her a smirk.

They keep talking like this for a while until Crimson shows up on a bicycle. Her attire was no different from last time, just sweatier.

She doesn’t bother greeting anyone except for Samuel, and even then, it was just a short nod, which is given back by himself.

The talk Jane and Bloom were having had both of them caught up with themselves, leaving the young male hanging in the company department. And although he wasn’t the type, he decided to come up with something to talk about with the redhead..

“How come you know Deck?”

She shrugs with a disinterested face.

“I mean, he isn’t exactly the friendly type.”

That comment catches a snicker from her, to which she also nods.

“Did he blackmail you?” Samuel asks sarcastically, gaining her shaking her head in denial, a playful smile in both their faces.

“I met him a few months ago.” She finally decides to speak. “I got arrested and he bailed me out. Said he’d ask for a favor when he needed something from me.”

“And here I was betting he’d ask you to jerk him off or something. Disgusting little prick.” He says while looking at the target of their conversation.

“No, he… kinda didn’t bother me at all. Never called, never messaged.”

“Wait, wait,” the man wearing black notices something. “He bailed you out of jail? And you didn’t know him before that?”

“I asked myself the same thing.”

“Ok?” Confusion was all over his visage. “Whatever, I guess?”

“Syn, check this out.” Jane, who had the most disinterested-looking smile possible, was approaching her lifelong friend with Bloom to her side. “I think I found my soulmate.”

Having heard this talk before, Samuel rubs the bridge of his nose. “Sure.”

“Not a fan of chicks making out?” The blonde asks, her snarkiness ever present.

Rather than answering, he chooses to look her over before snorting.

“What’s so funny?” Hawk, who didn’t take that much longer to come, asks. His car was parked not too far off. “I like a good laugh.”

The young male dismisses the question with a chuckle and a wave of his hand. Before the topic could keep going, Deck approaches the group.

“Alright, now that everyone’s here, we can go to where the party is.”

“Which is…” Jane asks.

“We’re leaving town, baby, and the ride will take a while.” He goes back inside, coming back out with a backpack. “I hope y’all packed energy drinks, you’ll be needing it.”

…

At an unspecified location, overworked scientists were either napping or pretending to work. They were tired beyond imagination.

The guards meant to secure them were equally restless, not caring if one or another ended up having a quick shut eye.

From the usual monitor room, the previously introduced figures weren’t present.

Instead, the businessman-looking one was in the same room as the tattered child.

From the camera, nothing could be heard. The audio feed was silenced.

But from the camera, one could make out similarities between the two.

Both had gray hair. The man seemed to be nearing his 30s, which was weird in itself, but the teenager wasn’t even near their adulthood.

Both also had green eyes, clear as an emerald.

The child looked up to their similar, who, in turn, looked back at them with a sad, tired expression. He then said something that, as expected, couldn’t be heard, before leaving the room.