James arrived home, the weight of the day's events still pressing heavily on his mind. He had a few hours to kill before the meeting at the old rat dungeon and needed something to distract himself.
His gaze fell on a box of his father's belongings, a collection of memories and artifacts from a life that felt both distant and painfully close. James had avoided going through the last one for a long time, but now, curiosity and a need for distraction won over.
He sat on the floor, the box open in front of him. Among the assorted items - old photographs, a few personal trinkets, and some documents - was an old model phone, its screen dulled with years of disuse. It was a relic from before the System changed everything, a piece of the past that seemed almost alien now.
On a whim, James decided to see if it still worked. He found a charger, surprisingly compatible, and plugged it in. The phone took a few minutes to show any signs of life, but eventually, it flickered on, the startup sound a nostalgic chime from a bygone era.
James browsed through the device, half-expecting it to be empty or locked. To his surprise, it opened to the main screen without issue, revealing a sparse array of icons. The interface was outdated but still intuitive enough.
The message icon, specifically, had a little blinking red dot, indicating the presence of several unread texts. Half expecting it to just be spam, James brought the cursor over and clicked on it.
The first few unread messages were indeed publicity - offers for services and products that no longer existed in a world transformed by the System. James scrolled past them with a disinterested push of his thumb, his curiosity pushing him deeper into the phone's history.
As he delved further, the texts became more personal, messages from saved numbers dating back years. There were heartfelt apologies from friends for not being there during tough times, birthday wishes, and even notifications about children's birth. James felt like an intruder, peering into the private moments of a life that was no longer present. The emotions conveyed in these messages painted a vivid picture of his father as a man deeply connected to others, despite his eventual fate.
Continuing his exploration, James finally reached the more recent messages. His breath hitched as he saw a text from a number saved as "Love" – possibly his mother. His heart pounded in his chest, anticipation and apprehension swirling within him. He centered himself, taking a deep breath before opening the message.
The text was not what he expected. It wasn't aimed at his father. Rather, it seemed to be directed at him. It started with "Dear James", so there was no way he could mistake the recipient for anyone else. James felt a wave of disbelief wash over him for a moment before he focused and started reading. The message was cryptic, announcing that someone else than the sender was safe and would be busy for a while. There were no direct references, no names - just a vague assurance of safety.
James' mind raced as he tried to make sense of the message. The date of the text was what eventually gave him pause – it was sent only one day after Miss Walker's disappearance. Could it be possible that this message was about her?
He sat back, the phone clutched tightly in his hand, his thoughts a whirlwind. If his mother – or someone using her phone – sent this message, it could mean Miss Walker was alive. That she was out there somewhere, possibly in hiding or on a mission that required her to cut all ties.
But why would she have information about Miss Walker? And why communicate in such a cryptic manner? I only saw this text because I kept digging through Dad's stuff. Hell, I haven't seen it for six months! What kind of reassurance is that?!
The possibilities were numerous, and none of them were particularly encouraging. It probably meant that his mother was involved in something much larger and more complex than he had ever imagined.
He looked at the message again, reading it over and over, trying to decipher any hidden meaning or clue that could lead him to more answers. But the text remained stubbornly vague, its secrets locked behind a wall of ambiguity.
She was always pretty mysterious, and Dad's journal paints a picture of a woman involved with dangerous stuff. I suppose it's not too farfetched that she might have spent her time dealing with disappearances and secret missions. I would have appreciated a card once in a while, though. I had kind of assumed she was dead.
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Realizing that he might be at the center of something much larger than himself was daunting. James knew that he needed to tread carefully. If his mother was involved in whatever was happening with Miss Walker, then the situation was far more complicated than he had initially believed, and he had thought his ideas were wild!
James pocketed the phone with a heavy heart, resolving to bring it to the meeting at the old rat dungeon. His teammates needed to know about this development. They were in this together, and this new piece of information could change everything.
I don't like talking or even thinking about her after she abandoned us so soon after Dad came back, but this is too important.
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As he left his apartment and made his way to Coney Island’s abandoned lighthouse, James's mind was a maelstrom of thoughts and theories. The evening air was cool, carrying the salty scent of the ocean as he approached the familiar, desolate structure. The lighthouse, now nothing more than a relic, stood solemnly against the backdrop of the darkening sky.
The parking lot was empty, its cracked asphalt testament to years of neglect. James walked through it slowly, his footsteps echoing in the quiet. Memories of their first mission, fighting the mutated rats in the dungeon below, flooded back to him. It was a simpler time, filled with the excitement of their newfound abilities and the naivety of youth. He also remembered the fight against the Radiant Guild and chuckled sheepishly. Maybe not all the damage was caused by neglect, after all.
James extended his psychic senses as he explored the area, scanning the surroundings meticulously. He needed to be certain that no one was eavesdropping or lying in wait. The air was still, the only sound being the distant crash of waves against the shore. After several minutes of careful observation, he was satisfied that he was alone.
He made his way to the open sewers that served as the entrance to the dungeon. The familiar stench of decay and dampness hit him as he descended into the darkness, his senses alert to potential threats. Once teeming with the same monstrous rats that had led to his Awakening, the sewer was now eerily quiet, its inhabitants long since cleared out.
James settled in a spot where they had used to rest in their dive, a small alcove that offered some respite from the oppressive atmosphere of the sewers. He waited, lost in his turbulent thoughts, pondering the message on the phone and the implications of the day's meeting.
About half an hour later, his teammates arrived, navigating the sewer tunnels with familiarity despite the darkness.
Maria was the first to join him, followed by Ezekiel, Lauren, and Daniel. Their faces were etched with concern, reflecting the gravity of the situation they found themselves in.
"Did anyone follow you?" James asked immediately, his voice low as he performed a new sweep with his senses.
"No, we were careful," Maria replied, her eyes scanning the dimly lit alcove.
James took a deep breath and nodded, feeling the tension in the air. He could sense his teammates' anxiety, their heightened awareness palpable in the confined space.
"Good. We need to talk about the interrogations today. Something's off." He started, his voice serious and low.
Maria crossed her arms, her expression turning grim. "They tried to intimidate me.” She said. "Not directly, but the way they talked... it felt like they were telling me it'd be better for everyone if I just told them what they wanted to hear."
Ezekiel nodded in agreement. "They mentioned my dad, who's a district attorney, hinting they've got eyes on our families. It was pretty clear that they're watching us closely."
James listened, his suspicions growing. "During my session, they seemed particularly interested in whether I had any contact with Miss Walker since she went missing. They were genuinely surprised when I said I hadn't." He shared, watching his teammates' reactions.
Lauren leaned against the wall, her eyes narrowing. "They're using the investigation into the lab as an excuse to keep tabs on us. They're not just looking for information; they're trying to control us. But why?"
"I think the only reason might be our connection with Miss Walker. Despite our successes, we are still far from being big players." Daniel commented. "I genuinely can't think of anything else. We have some connections to powerful players, yes, but I doubt they'd waste their time telling us things before doing them. No, more than likely, they are desperate to find Miss Walker, for whatever reason, and we are the only possible point of contact."
James hummed, reflecting. "I agree. Not to discount what we've done, but our influence is still pretty limited. We have the potential to become very strong down the line, but that's not why they are hounding us right now. I don't think it has much to do with our involvement in the operations against the Golden Sun and Radiant Guilds either."
Sighing, Lauren pushed her hair back, almost invisible in the darkness that hugged her. "I think we shouldn't jump the gun." Seeing the surprised look everyone gave her, she snorted. "I know I'm usually the one who's the most gung-ho, but this is still too little to go on. We know that the AA is like a riled-up wasp nest, looking for something, and they have increased the pressure on us. Do we know if it's just us or other people as well? Are we sure this is a big conspiracy and not the result of incompetence and blame being passed around? I'm the first to be skeptical of the AA as an institution solely devoted to good, but we shouldn't assume evil so soon."
Shaking his head, Daniel replied. "I can see why you think that, but we don't have many other contacts in the organization, and going around asking questions now is a good idea to get more eyes on us. We might be able to ask Mr. Bethany for more info, but assuming the worst-case scenario is not a bad idea. It has certainly helped us in the past year, considering how often we find ourselves in dangerous situations."
"I would have agreed with Lauren, but the fact they deliberately talked about my father makes me think there is something nefarious going on." Ezekiel interrupted. "Not a big conspiracy, necessarily, but they wouldn't have brought him up if they didn't want to pressure me. And the only thing they would be doing that for is if they think I know something I'm not telling them. Whether that is our teacher's whereabouts or something else, I cannot say, but they want something from us, bad."
"Do they genuinely think we are in contact with Miss Walker or someone around her and are not saying anything deliberately? Why would we even do that?!" Maria exclaimed exasperatedly, her voice echoing faintly through the sewer.
James cleared his throat awkwardly. When everyone turned to look at him, he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, this is a very new development, but that all might actually be going on."