Chapter 100 A Ripple of Chaos
1006words
I forced a smile back, heading for an empty table at the back. I barely unpacked my things, when a backpack slammed down on the desk beside me. I glanced up to find Rake grinning down at me.
"What now?" I sighed.
"Have you talked to her yet?"
"No, I haven't gotten to that yet." I straightened. "We just made our peace this morning. I'm not planning on risking my luck mentioning you."
"Are you already pulling out?" his blond brows furrowed.
"I didn't say that. I'll bring it up when the time is right, okay?"
"Since you're friends again I deem it a great time," he quipped. "What gives?"
"There's just, uh, stuff going on."
"Like what?" He eyed me sideways. "Are those men in white still on your case? Did they find anything?"
"They didn't find anything," I lied. "What does it matter to you anyway?"
He slammed down his book on the desk, scowling at me. "How many times do I have to tell you, I care when it concerns Ember. If those men in white have anything on her, I want to know."
"There's nothing concerning her that you should worry about." I could tell him the truth, but I knew this might anger Ember and that was the last thing I wanted right now. If she wanted him to know the truth, she could tell him herself.
"You're a terrible liar, Carly," he said. "Well, I found out something interesting about them."
"Who?" My ears immediately perked.
"The Agency of Undiscovered Beings," he spoke in a low voice. "Perks of being a fairy, I move fast." He threw me a wink.
"What did you do?"
"I decided to go on a little one-man date and thought the agency would be a great setting for entertainment."
"Rake, you snuck in there?" I asked, remembering the tough security and all the cameras. "They must have seen you."
"Nah, I move at the speed of light, doll. They will never figure it out…" He let out a low whistle. "I know for a fact you've been keeping a little secret from me."
I swallowed. "I have no idea what you're talking about?"
"You just said there was no news regarding them." Rake leaned across the table. "Tell me, what's it like turning into a mermaid?"
I hissed under my breath. "What did you find out?"
"I'd tell you if you stop lying to me," he shrugged.
"I don't even know if I can trust you."
"Why? Because Kayn told you that you can't trust me?"
"Yes, and Ember," I whispered. "I trust them."
"Of course she'd say that." Hurt flashed in his eyes. "What is it going to take to prove my innocence?"
"You can start by telling me what you know about the AOUB," I suggested. "That's a step forward proving you actually do give a crap about Ember's wellbeing."
"You told me she isn't involved," he exclaimed.
"Not directly," I shrugged. "But it concerns me, Kayn, and Aria."
"That, I'm aware of," he sighed. "But I don't think you're going to believe me what I'm about to tell you."
"Rake, please," I pleaded. "If you have anything that can—"
"Aria is alive."
I choked on my own breath, struggling to form words. "Rake, that's not funny."
"You think I would play on Ember's emotions by making something like that up?" he bit out.
"How do you know that?"
"Because the AOUB has her in captivity," he said. "She's subject 342 on their file. They have another one, subject 611. Then, there's you. You're on file as subject 912."
"You've seen them?" my voice echoed.
"Only 611. She hissed at me," he shrugged. "Clearly not a big fan of fairies."
"Tell me you helped her escape?" my eyes bulged.
"No," he shrugged and I cursed. "But, I did accidentally flicked the switch on the system that keeps that tank of her locked and all the doors leading out. Oh, and might have caused a little chaos in the security room," he grinned.
I couldn't help but smile. "Do you know if she got out?"
"Well, I saw her this morning sneaking into a diner in passing."
"Thank you." I meant it. "What about Aria? Rake, why didn't you tell us sooner?"
His shoulders sagged. "I don't know where she is. She's not in that facility. But, I've managed to find out she's being held in what they call the Lifewire facility. I couldn't find anything on the location. Otherwise, I would've had her home by now, and proof that it wasn't me."
"You think the AOUB could have planted the evidence on you?"
"After what I've seen there, it wouldn't surprise me," he said. "They have proof of my kind's existence too."
"Have you found out anything about me?" I asked. "Janice took pictures of me. Why? And how did I end up as a subject? What—"
"Slow down," he chastised. "One thing at a time."
I swallowed, nodding. "Okay, sorry."
"They know about your connection to Kayn," he supplied and I gasped. "Yeah. There's that. They're keeping a close eye on both you two and your families."
"Oh no."
"They have all your information, to your birth, your adoption papers, all the legal—"
"Adoption papers?" I sucked in a breath. "What adoption papers?"
"Oh dear," he sighed. "You're one of those blissfully unaware cases where you don't know you're adopted, now are you?"
"I'm not adopted," I insisted, feeling moisture forming in my eyes. I wasn't going to cry. I refuse to cry. "My parents would have told me."
"I'm sorry, Carly," he sounded sincere. "But your parents haven't been telling you the truth, then."
