June 2018

Greyland, Seattle, Washington

The Greyland Local Museum. A place where history and creativity collide. It has been the town's most beloved attraction for nearly forty years, and its beautiful art and popularity have gain the attention of many, and its famously known as being the heart of the town.

The walls were painted with a beautiful baby blue and its classic marbled floors shined, florescent lights bouncing off of them. Its comforting and classic interior made droves of people want to stay for hours soaking in a collection of Greyland's historical tales. The familiar silence the museum carried brought a great amount of solace to Paige's heavy questions, as she busily hung decorations onto the walls inside.

This museum meant a lot to her. And she was proud to be apart of it somehow. Everything about it was simply captivating. Especially the art. Sculptures stood in display cases; artifacts sat on expensive tables that were expertly carved out into beautiful shapes. Paintings varying from small sketches to large murals hung on the walls.

Her foot steps echoed through the first floor, making her way to Donna's office on the museum's right side, while Charlie's office was on the left.

In preparation of the seasonal openings throughout the years, Donna makes sure to compile a list of things that need to be done.

Paige was mostly in charge of decor and Donna gave her a lot less to do since the Mayor Moreau appointed her to film the documentary for the most of the summer. She skimmed over the list, quickly noticing the question marks beside "Contact Catering Service" and "Hire a Pianist", which were Charlie's tasks. Her face contorted in confusion.

Charlie is normally the first to get his tasks out of the way, so that he can continue working. Either he hadn't gotten around to it or he probably just forgot to confirm with Donna, so that she could check it off. The only thing that she could do was ask him if he did it or not.

Bringing the clipboard with her, she made her way to Charlie's office. Unlike the corridor to Donna's office, Charlie's side was pretty much dark, with only the soft blue tint from the night sky, giving the hallway a light source.

Charlie's office door was left opened with just a slim crack of light being visible. From his muffled speaking, she could tell that he was probably on the phone with someone. As she got closer to the door, she could hear his conversation clearer, and she could see him sitting at his desk as she peeked through the door.

He was slightly hunched over holding the phone to his ear. Papers were scattered all over his desk. "I just..." He sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of nose, listening to the voice on the other end of the line.

"I can't shake the feeling that something's coming." He said. She could see his distress in his body language. He stiffened as he listened to the mysterious voice, rubbing his forehead with a clenched jaw.

"You heard about the updates!" He argued, trying not raise his voice. "About the mysterious kidnappings, killings, the armed robberies, the freak accidents, the "natural disasters", He continued.

"Selene, listen to me." Paige's ears perked up as she overheard him. Selene? As in Selene Krueger? The same woman that was sending him money?

She couldn't help but listen into the conversation, especially with the stuff she found today. Hopefully, this conversation could tell her something else.

"We both know what this is..." He stressed.

He let out a sigh and shook his head. "I love Donna to death, but you can't keep listening to her."

His mouth formed a thin line."Pay attention to the patterns."

"Just hear me out." He started. He began to slide the stack of papers on his desk, to the side, revealing a large map, that had been taped to the desk itself. He pointed to one location with a single finger as his spoke again.

"It first appeared in Nevada. In Andel Falls. Where all this shit started."

Nevada. Something "started" there. In a place called Andel Falls? Was that a city? A town that she's never heard of?

"Then, Tonopah, Fallon, Fernley, Reno." He elaborated, his finger following every red dot and line that he drew.

"Straight into California. Chico, Redding, Mount Shasta, Yreka." He continued.

"And of course, straight into Oregon. Medford, Bend, Prineville...."

So not only was something happening in Nevada. But in two other states? If that's the case, then were they related to each other somehow?

Why were the same things happening in several cities?

Charlie spoke in a serious tone, his grip in the phone tightening. "Whoever these people are...they work for the Order, I can feel it."

The Order. She heard that before too. In Donna and Charlie's argument. Charlie said something about "SIRE" coming to look for help with "The Order", but what were they?

She pulled from her thoughts, when Charlie spoke again. "And if that's the case, then we know exactly what they are after. The same thing that got Donna and I pulled into this mess."

"Selene, I am begging you-" He spoke slowly, trying to stay calm as he listened to her.

"We can't afford to just wait this out! He blurted, his face was contorted in anger. "Innocent people are dying, going missing because of what we're hiding!"

The sound of Charlie's voice nearly made Paige jump out of her own skin. Hearing him, shouting, seeing how distraught he was, was something Paige had never saw from him. He was always very gentle and caring towards her. He never even raised his voice at her.

Whatever was "coming", it was serious. Serious enough to have Charlie as stressed as he was.

He realized how his anger was boiling over and took a deep breath before he began to talk, loosening his grip on the phone. He breathed out sharply through his nose.

"I know this seems like a long shot to you," He stated. "But Nadia, Finn and Marie, they'll understand."

Those names again. Marie was a new one, though. Was she associated with Nadia and Finn? Whoever they were, they seemed to be pretty involved in Donna and Charlie's lives. Donna said that she brought her nieces to them. So, they would know about Reyna.

Donna and Charlie rarely spoke about her mother's sister though, not enough for to remember her name that well. But why? Did she do something too? Were Donna and Charlie embarrassed of her?

"Just give them the information that I already sent." Charlie said.

There was a slight pause as he thought over his next words. "...I know that I can't do much because of my heart," He started. Dejection and regret sat in his wrinkles, as he looked down as his old, spotted hands, fiddling with the pen in that sat between his fingers.

"...but researching, investigating, focusing on the smallest details, that's what I can do." His voice began to tremble.

"This is how I protect the people that I care about. Especially Donna and..."

"And my little girl..." He choked out. He tried to hold back the tears brimming his eyes, taking to phone away from his ears, just for a second to collect himself.

"This can't reach Greyland." He warned sternly. "It can't even hit Washington, we need to do something about now."

His tone was almost threatening, as he resumed. "If something happened to her, because I chose to ignore something like this-"

The incoherent voice interrupted him, but it was calm and authoritative, compared to Charlie.

"You know I trust you, Selene." He reassured."You've done so much for us."

There was an unsureness laced in his tone as he replied. "I just think that she needs to know. Maybe if we tell her, we can get her ready-"

"Yeah....I guess I'm not making any sense." He lets out a sigh of defeat, resting his head in the palm of his hand.

He laughed weakly, his voice straining "God, I'm becoming that crazy old man, that you said I would be."

He smiled halfheartedly, as his shoulder slumped. "I'll try not to do anything too out of the box."

"Yeah, talk to you soon."

Charlie hung the phone with a heavy sigh, throwing it onto the office desk with a loud thud. He leaned forward with his elbows on the desk, face buried in his hands. Paige still peeked the door's crack, her brows creased with concern as she observed Charlie's distressed nature. Whatever he and Donna were hiding, he was practically begging to tell her. He wanted her to know.

She was watching him nearly drown in his own guilt, and no one was listening to him. She couldn't stand to see him like this, but what would happen if she told him that she knew something was up? Would he deny her? Or would he release the very truth that he was withholding?

Paige could barely watch as she witnessed Charlie struggling to hold his emotions. Her heart ached to comfort him. Whatever this was, it not only made him angry, but he was scared. For Donna and mostly for her. She hated that she had so many questions. So many of them being "Why?"

Why was he scared for her?

Why couldn't "The Order" get to Washington?

Why was Selene sending him money?

Why couldn't Donna or Charlie talk about Reyna and her sister?

And why was her name such a mystery?

Like it was almost forbidden to speak it into existence.

This was too much for her to take in at once. She needed to get out of here. She needed to think through, but how?

She almost turned away from the door, until she heard a sniffle from inside the office. Charlie had took hands away from his eyes, clasping them in front of his face. He shook as he weeped silently, trying to conceal the noise as best as he could. It took her by surprise. Charlie rarely cried over anything, at least, not in front of her. He was nothing but hopeful and optimistic. But, these last few days have made her realize that are alot of things aren't what they seem.

She was so concerned for him that she barely remembered the clipboard that sat in her hands. Donna's checklist. She needed to go confirm Charlie's tasks. Which meant that she had to go in his office.

She had to act like she never witnessed any of this. She had to erase it from her mind, at least for now. She took in a deep breath through her nose and stood straighter, as she softly knocked on the door. Her heart sank as she saw Charlie quickly wipe at his eyes and clear his throat. She didn't realize until then that he had to act like that phone call never existed either.

His voice was surprisingly clear, as he answered. "Come on in, Paige." He said. She opened the door, to see him forcing a smile for her. She couldn't tell him that she knew something was up. Even though she wanted to.

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"What can I do for you, ladybug?" He asked with a cheerful tone. It caught her off guard how quickly he was able to collect himself. But should she really be surprised? Him and Donna have been hiding things from her for quite a while, even how they really felt.

"Paige?" The sound of his voice finally caught her attention. "Huh?"

Charlie's brows were knitted together, a worried look present on his face. "Is everything alright, hun?"

"Ummm...yeah!" She answered with a forced smile, nodding her head. "Everything's fine!"

"I just wanted to let you know that you forgot to confirm with Aunt Donna, about the catering and the pianist." She explained, handing him the clipboard.

His brows knitted together as he took the clipboard, looking at the paper himself. "Huh." He started. "I could've sworn I did..." He said with a light shrug.

"I'll let her know that I did them, when we get home." He looked at her, reaching over his desk to hand it back to her. "I booked the pianist forever ago, but Alondra hasn't said anything else to me about whether or not she'll be able to cater this year."

" Well," Paige began. "If you want me to, I could talk to Randy, see if he can get anything out of her. Mrs. Jimenez is just probably stacked in orders or something-"

"I appreciate it, hun. But you just focus on the decorations, I'll be alright."

"Oh..." She muttered. "Whatever you say."

He drummed his fingers on the wooden desk in silence, frowning in thought.

"By the looks of it, I might need to go outside of town to get some good catering." He replied. "There's a few that have catered for us before and people seemed to really like them, so I'll see if I can give them a call."

"Soo...who were you on the phone with?" Paige had barely realized what had just came out her mouth, but when she did, she could her entire body stiffen.

And Charlie was the same. "Hm?" They both stared at one another with wide eyes...and the silence between them was nerve-wracking.

Paige cleared her throat, conjuring up something that might save her from Charlie thinking that she was eavesdropping. "I could hear you from the front. It seemed pretty intense."

You could almost feel the tension in the air dissipate and Charlie spoke again. "...Oh!" A quick laugh escaped him. "Yeah, it was just...bill collectors. Always trying to overprice me." He answered dismissively, quickly dodging the question.

"Oh..." Paige said lowly. She tried to conceal her annoyance from him, her jaw clenched at the fact that he had just lied to her. And so... easily. Like he has been doing this for years.

"Alright, then."

But her tone was more than noticable to him. And he knew that she practically staring daggers at him. He avoided her gaze like it was the plague, and it was surely eating him alive.

"Yeah..." He said, his mouth was entirely dry.

"Bzzzt!" They both tense up as Paige's phone buzzes in the pocket of her skirt and she quickly takes it out to examine the text displayed.

"Aunt Donna says that she's home." She explained.

Thank God for her too. Or both of them would be stuck in this room for a while, trying to pry secrets out of each other. One by one.

Charlie's shoulders finally relaxed and he tried to cover up his sigh of relief as he spoke again. "Go ahead, I'm sure she needs help with dinner or something."

She quickly looked up from her phone. "...Are you sure? I have another thirty minutes before my shift ends. What if you need help-"

"I'm okay." Charlie stopped her, with a reassuring smile. "It's not like I haven't worked here alone before. Plenty of times actually."

"I know that." She huffed. " I'm just...worried is all. About you and your condition..."

"I won't be doing any extra work, like you said, okay?" He said cautiously, standing up from his desk. "I'm just going to close up. I'll be home before you know it!"

She sighed as she stuffed her phone in her pocket. "...Alright, but still, be safe." She ordered, walking over to the door.

"Of course." He replied with a chuckle.

"I love you."

"Love you too."

"And Paige?" Her hand froze on the knob as she turned to look at him once more. "Yeah?"

"....Thank you for worrying about me all the time." He muttered, giving her a stern look. "I know I don't tell you much, but..."

"But, I'm grateful. For whoever blessed me with the sweetest niece in the entire world." He grinned, and Paige finally did the same. Her serious demeanor washed away as she took in his words.

"I'm only that way, because I have the greatest uncle in the entire world." She replied. "Don't stay here too long, alright?"

"You got it, ladybug."

Charlie lets out a heavy sigh as Paige leaves his office, slowly following her out into the entrance. He managed to get one last look at her as she walked outside to her car, putting her bags inside before shutting the door. She smiled as she saw him through the clear panelled window and honked her horn at him.

It almost made his heart crumble to pieces.

If only he could tell her what was going on....

He waved her goodbye with a grin that was almost forced. He couldnt help but be plagued by his own thoughts. He barely managed to look Paige in the eye; he knew he was guilty of things. But he was told not to speak a word, not even to her.

His smile faltered as he watched her car drive onto the streets and into the night. Only his steps echoed over the marbled flooring as he dragged his feet towards his office again, quiet shutting the door behind him. His eyes immediately fell to his research. Articles printed out and scattered all over his desk, maps that had been marked with lines, circles and X's.

He knew he wasn't going insane. Things were happening. Things that he couldn't control or do anything about. Or at least not from where he was.

And even though he was constantly rejected, he still kept investigating. Not even Donna knew about it, until recently. He was skeptical about what was happening at first, but they got closer and closer and he started to get nervous. He thought she would understand, but she was stubborn. And he understood why. She had already lost so much, and maybe not telling Paige was the only thing keeping her from being lost too.

He plopped down in his office chair, and begrudgingly started to put away his articles and other papers. Stacking them, placing them in their large orange endoc envelopes. He quickly reached over to his desk drawer that displayed a keypad in the center and entered in the code before laying the envelopes inside. He paused as something inside the drawer glistened in the corner of his eye.

With slight hesitation, he reached his hand in and he pulled out a small glass box, with a silver ring displayed in the center. Engravings covered every inch of the metal, making it look almost otherworldly. He turned it over in his hands as he examined it, with a small smile. It brought back memories for him. Good ones.

Memories of a place and a time that no longer existed. Memories of people that were now far away from him.

Nadia.

Finn.

Marie.

He thought of them. His friends that he missed dearly. Priorities separated them, but loss and grief nearly severed the bonds that they shared. His eyes stung with tears again as he remembered.

The smell of burning wood. The smell of blood. The sound of Nadia's pleading, bloodcurdling screams. The feeling of Donna's quivering hand in his. The sight of forest trees being engulfed in flames. The sight of a lifeless body. A young woman. A woman that he once called a friend.

Sophia Trueman. The thought of her name almost felt forbidden.

He let out a shaky sigh, his eyes glazing over a bit. "Sophie," He choked out. "If only you were here, you would believe me. I know you would."

The good memories that he shared with her were infected with the image of her taking her last breath. It haunted him, and he knew that it haunted Donna too. But she never talked about it. She never talked about anything that happened there. And she probably never will.

With a huff, he stuffed the box back into the drawer and closed it. A satisfying click and a beep from the keypad indicating that it was locked and secure. He silenced his thoughts as he gathered his things, putting them in his bag. He just about to put his phone inside, when a thought crossed his mind.

He hesitantly unlocked his phone, going to the contacts and scrolled. His thumb hovered tentatively over the contact labeled, "Brooks Dawson". Maybe if he showed him the information that he's gathered. Or maybe he could get it to Nadia and Finn, quicker than Selene? They would listen to him more than-

No. He couldn't. Selene said to trust her. So that's what he's going to do.

He quickly turned off his phone and stuffed it in his bag. He turned off the lights in his office and in the museum, finished closing up and finally left for the night.

***

"The History Of Greyland...."

"Greyland: An Inside Account..."

"The Hidden Gem Of Seattle..."

Paige sighed exasperatedly as she rubbed her stinging eyes, sitting too close to the computer screen. She stared at the words over and over. Coming up with a title should be simple....

But it wasn't. She wanted them to be perfect for the mayor when she checked over them. They couldn't just be chicken scratch on a page. She needed something that was interesting, eye catching, something-

She nearly jumped out of her skin as she heard something hit the window beside her. "What the hell?" She muttered, her brows knitting together in confusion. She waited for the sound to come back. Was she hearing things?

Her eyes widened as she saw a tiny rock bounce against the glass, then another and another. She stood from her seat and let out a small laugh as she witness Anna from below her, reeling her arm back to toss another rock.

A smile spread across her face as she saw Paige, immediately dropped her handful of rocks and waving happily.

"Finally, my arm was getting tired!" She said as Paige opened her window.

"Pretty odd seeing you at this hour." Paige smirked, leaning against the windows ledge.

Anna shrugged. "Well, practice was cut short today, and no one was home. So, I had nothing else better to do."

Paige raised an eyebrow at her. "So, is that why you're throwing rocks at my window? To come and bother me?"

"No," Anna gave her a sly grin. "I've obviously come to court you." She expressed dramatically.

"Court me?" Paige asked, amusement clear in her voice.

"You know, like they did in Medieval times-"

"I know what courting means, Anna." She interrupted with a cocky smirk. "But if you think that's going to get my attention, then you definitely have to work on your courtship skills."

Anna's shoulders drooped as she began to pout. "So, you opening the window and seeing my pretty little face didn't sell it?"

"Not this time. Sorry."

She rolled her eyes as she let out a dramatic sigh. "Well, fine! What do you want me to say? Rapunzel, grace me with your godly hotness and let down your beautiful long braids?!"

Paige let out a sharp laugh. "Okay, okay, because that was funny, I'll give you a pass before you say something much worse!"

"So, I can come in?" Anna asked, playfully raising her brows.

"I was totally going to let you in anyway regardless of horrible attempts at flirting with me." Paige teased, waving a dismissive hand.

"You know, you're lucky we're friends or I wouldn't stand for you roasting my flirting techniques." Anna called after her.

"Just get in here, before I change my mind!" Paige giggled."

She smiled to herself as she plopped back down in her desk chair, and it wasn't long before she heard a knock at her bedroom door. "Come in," she called out. Anna practically swung the door open.

"Hi again." Anna nodded with a bright smile.

"Hi." Paige giggled as she looked up from her computer.

Anna sat up her bag on the floor and plopped down on Paige's bed. "How did the meeting go?"

"It went pretty well!" Paige answered happily. "Moreau was actually really nice."

"Well, that's a relief." Anna said with a small smile. "You can never be sure about these politicians."

Paige scoffed amusingly. "And what do you know about politics?!"

"Literally nothing!" Anna laughed. "But I do know that the politicians that I've seen are downright assholes."

"I mean, you're not entirely wrong." She shrugged.

"But, anyways..." Anna continued. " I didn't hear any clanking going on in the garage, I'm guessing Uncle Charlie isn't here?"

Paige sighed."Yeah, he's working at the museum pretty late. He was supposed to be home hours ago." She rolled her eyes.

Anna shook her head with a smirk. "Classic Charlie. He's got more energy than my parents. And they're in their 50s!" They share a laugh.

"Yeah, he always gets like this during opening season. Wants everything to be beyond perfect. I thought Aunt Donna was worse."

"How are your parents, anyway?" Paige asked.

"They're good." A long sigh came from Anna as she laid back. "Left me in the house alone to pick up Dalton from college."

Paige's ears perked up at what she said, immediately giving a her a concerning glance. "And...are you okay with that?" She spoke cautiously.

"Does it really matter?" Annoyance coated Anna voice as she responded.

"Ummm, yeah?!" Paige's brows creased. "All you two do is fight whenever he comes back to town."

"Well, my mom and dad think he's the purest fucking angel in all of Seattle. They always think I'm the antagonizer."

There was a slight hesitation as she spoke again. "...And even if i tell them, they wouldn't believe me. Because... Dalton is actually their kid. Their own blood."

She didn't have to look at Paige to know what she was thinking. All she heard was a heavy sigh. "Anna, stop. Don't say that."

"Well...its the truth. Doesn't matter how you look at it." She muttered. "And trust me, Dalton never fails to rub it in my face."

"But your parents love you! No matter how Dalton treats you, they always treated you like their own."

"I know, I know." She sighed, with a downcast expression. "But, you have no idea how annoying it is hearing, "You should be nicer to your brother." every time he wants to pin them against me.

"It sucks. Like a lot."

Paige sighed as she fully turned around in her chair, looking Anna in the eye as she sat up.

"Hey, let's just forget about Dalton for now, okay? Besides, I'm sure that's not what you came over here to talk to me about."

Paige smiled to herself as continued. "And, who needs him, when you've got three annoying ass brothers like Danny, Louis and Randy?"

"Yeah, I guess they're like my brothers..." Anna mumbled, a small grin tugging at her lips. "....But, I'm glad to have a sister like you, Paige."

"Aw, come on, don't be like that." Paige dramatically rolled her eyes as Anna laughed.

"What?! I can't gush about how great of a friend you are?" She teased. "If I keep going, you're gonna cry? Huh?"

Paige playfully punched her shoulder as she sat down next to her on the bed. "Hey, screw you!"

There was no way that she was going to get any work done with her around, but at least it was a good distraction.

"You know how sensitive i get about stuff like this. Especially when you start talking like you're in a Hallmark movie." She continued.

"First you tried to court me and now you wanna get all 'lovey dovey.'"

"Welp! I've been caught. This whole time I was trying to make you emotional." Anna joked, raising her hands in defeat. "And I almost got you." She said quickly.

Paige cut her eyes at her, but a grin spread across her face. "Okay, fine. You almost did. "

"Speaking of love," Anna said with a smug expression. "A little birdy told me that someone asked you out on a date? Hmmmm?" She sang, poking Paige in her side as she laughed.

"I'm assuming this little bird is Terry. Because I'm pretty sure no one else knows."

"Whattt?" Anna gasped, theatrically. "Absolutely not! I just have superb detective skills."

"Yeahhh, right. Very funny."

"But, you didn't say yes."

"I didn't."

"I said maybe."

"Paige." Anna gave her a serious look.

"What?!" She scoffed.

"Maybe could mean literally anything! Anna groaned. "There's maybe leaning towards yes or maybe leaning towards no, or-"

"Maybe leaning towards going on dates freak me out and I've never been romantically involved with anyone in my entire life." Paige gave her a pointed look.

"There's....that too." Anna paused.

"Okay, look." Paige began. "I like him. I really do. But there is too much on my plate right now."

"Well...what about Danny?"

Her question made Paige snapped her head towards her, raising an eyebrow. "Wait, how did you know about that?"

"Louis." She stated. " He basically blurted it out at the diner, when you went to the restroom."

"Of course." Paige sighed. "But, Danny is a different situation. Plus....you had a huge crush on him. It's just weird if i start going out with him. That's all."

Anna gave her a sympathetic look, as she placed a hand on her knee. "Paige, I don't care. I told you that already."

Paige almost had a shameful look on her face as she continued to console her. "And I've known him forever, so if he says that he likes you, he likes you."

"Like wayyyy more than he's leading on!" She said playfully nudging her, finally earning a small laugh from her.

Anna let out a content sigh. "And to be honest, I don't blame him. Because you are a total smoke show!" She exaggerated.

Paige huffed, fighting back a smile. "Whatever!"

Just then, they both hear a quick knock at the door, followed by Donna barging in.

"Hey Ann! Wendy just called and asked if you wanted to spend the night here. Since her and Nathan aren't home?" She quickly asked, pulling the telephone from her ear.

"Oh, sure!" She answered, shifting her attention to Paige. "If you're cool with that."

"Of course! I'm sure Paige would be happy about that." Donna added.

"Hmm, I guess you're tolerable enough to stay over." She gave Anna a sideways glance. Wide grin spreading on both of their faces, as Anna lightly pushed her.

"Yeah, right! You're basically obsessed with me."

Donna smiled as she watched them. "Well, you two have fun." She said.

"Now, I'm going to see if I can manage to get your uncle on the phone." Her jaw began to clench as she spoke, practically forcing a grin. "And he'll answer me if he knows what's good for him."

"Okay, see you later Miss-" Before Anna could finish, Donna had shut the door, completely occupied by the telephone in her hand.

"Donna." She said, raising her brows. Her and Paige slowly looked at each other with caution.

"Hey, do not look at me. I'm not the one whose in trouble here." Paige said with a light shrug as she got up from her bed and sat back down at her desk.

***

The night grew later and later as Charlie drove through the streets of downtown Seattle, ignoring the electronic voice of his GPS that routinely directed him home. The name that he saw on his phone, clawed at the back of his brain to the point where it was only thing he could think about. He couldn't help himself, and he knew if he told Donna where he was headed, she would be furious.

The voice emitting from the GPS continued, making him grind his teeth together, and he finally switched it off. Hearing it only made him feel more guilty about the white lie that he was going to tell Paige and Donna when he got home. To them, he would've just got caught up doing some work in his office. It happens often enough for them to brush it off, but he couldn't call them, at least not right now.

Hearing either of them would make him turn back. Being out here at this time of night was dangerous, but not warning SIRE of what could be coming is even worse. It didn't help that Selene wouldn't listen. It only made him more anxious, and that leads him to doing just what he's now.

Acting on impulse, making risky decisions on his own, and lying to the people he cares about the most. Again.

He smoothly entered the narrowed streets of a small and quaint neighborhood, passing the big sign labeled "Riverwise". It was considerably quiet, only hearing the slight humming of his truck as he pulled into the driveway, a small Tudor styled home present before him.

This is it. No turning back now.

A sigh escaped from him, turning the vehicle off and stepping onto the green, freshly cut grass. Walking to the door, his legs were heavy, like he were dragging a pair cinder blocks with him. Every step became harder and harder, the guilt weighing down on him, but eventually he made it to the front door. He held up one of his clammy, trembling hands...

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The silence afterwards was almost deafening. The night crickets chirping pierced the air. The few minutes that he waited felt like ages, and there was still no answer.

Knock. Knock.

Maybe he shouldn't have done that. Maybe when no one answered the first time, he would've taken the opportunity and just left. Acted like none of this had happened. His body stiffen as he saw the lights from inside the house switch on. His hand clutched around the handle of his bag, it filled to the brim with paperwork and it only added to the weighing guilt.

In one swift motion the door opened, revealing a man in his 30s, nearly as tall as him with messy brown hair, indicating that he had just woken up. His tired eyes filled with realization as he looked at the man in front of him. "Charlie?" He muttered, brows knitting slightly together.

"Brooks..." Somberness coated his words, as he spoke. "We need to talk."