Chapter 103 Unveiled
1011words
Kayn and I sat across from them. He hadn't let me go since I showed up. I wasn't sure if it was for the sake of comfort, or if it was because Rake sat on a chair beside me.
They kept glaring eachother down. Each time Rake would look my way, Kayn's grip on me would tighten, as if he was scared Rake might snatch me away.
I sighed, dropping my head on Kayn's shoulder. "I need to go home."
"You sure you'll be able to pull it off?" Kayn asked, taking my hand in his. We all agreed that it would be best for me to remain quiet about the whole adoption thing, until we figured out exactly where we stood with the AOUB, and where my parents fell into the equation.
It was a large, unpleasant pill to swallow, but they were right when they said that my emotions could be the downfall for us all. They didn't trust my parents. Even Kayn had his doubts now, and I couldn't help but second-guess them too.
I hated this.
They were always good to me. It was obvious they loved me. I didn't doubt that for a second, but what if my mom was way in over her head and may have done something stupid in the past?
Like stealing a baby from a mermaid?
I snorted out loud, rewarding me with a quizzical look from Rake. Adriane, Ember and Hector were in too much of a shock to react.
"You okay?" Kayn asked.
"I'm okay." I sat up. "I just wish I didn't have to do this."
"I know, but it's for the best," he spoke in a soft tone. He didn't cry like everyone else, but there was strain in his features and I could feel his turmoil coiling inside my chest.
"We'll find her," I whispered, looking at him. "I'll do everything I can to find out as much information about the AOUB. I'm sure Janice must have told my mom the location of the other facility, or maybe mentioned it."
Kayn straightened as if he'd just realised something. "Of course, why didn't I think of that."
"Of what?"
"Your mom, she must know where it is," he pressed on.
"Maybe. Maybe not," I said. "She just started working there. I doubt she already has all their intel."
Kayn rubbed his face. "We have to find her."
"We will," Rake spoke up, drawing Ember's attention who hadn't looked up since we sat down. It may have been an hour. Or two. "I went through everything. I just have to crack the stupid code on their computer's security. I'm confident we can find everything on there, including her location."
"Or we could send in Carly again," Hector proposed. I didn't even realise he was listening.
"Forget it," Kayn said. "Hell will freeze over before I let her go in there on her own again."
"You could go with her?" Hector continued. "They won't do anything if you're with her mother. You could pretend you're interested in cryptozoology."
"You could say you spotted Bigfoot," Rake suggested. "I heard there's one roaming the woods on this exact island."
Hector snorted. "My set-up made it that far, didn't it?"
"Set-up?" Rake's brows knitted together.
When Hector ignored him, I explained. "Hector made fake Bigfoot prints and other clues to divert my mom's attention from them. Guess whoever my mom showed her evidence to, took it just as seriously as she did."
A smile played on Rake's lips. "That's hilarious."
"So, when can you get in?" Hector turned to peer at me, ignoring Rake.
"I—"
"I said she's not going," Kayn snapped. "Even if I can go with her, it wouldn't be a good idea as they're already on to us. So, that's not an option either."
"They don't know about me," Rake sounded thoughtful. "I can go with her."
"Are you all deaf?" Kayn barked in annoyance. "She's not going anywhere near that place. And especially, not with you."
"Why not?" Rake scowled. "I move with the speed of light. We'd be long gone even before they so much as blink. They can't capture her if they ever decide to, not while I'm there and you know it."
"No," Kayn spoke firmly, crossing his arms to his chest.
"He's right," Ember spoke up.
"See? She even agrees it's not going to work," Kayn quipped.
"I was talking about Rake," Ember snapped. "Carly has a great excuse to be there because of her mom working there. If you or I show up there, they'll be suspicious. But, they don't know about him. Rake can't hack the system, but they can get in during the day when everything is on. If they move fast, as in super fairy fast, they can be in and out with all the info we need to find Aria."
"I don't have time for this," Kayn muttered, getting up from the couch. "Come, I'll walk you back."
I glanced hesitantly at Ember who scowled up at her brother.
"It's okay, Carly," she said. "I'll beat some sense into him."
I offered her a weak smile before Kayn tugged me toward the door. Hector and Adriane didn't glance up, talking in low voices and Rake busied himself with a magazine lying on the coffee table.
"How did everything become such a mess?" I sighed as he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me to his side. We kept walking like we've been like this since forever. I wasn't even sure when or how things changed so suddenly between us, but here we were.
To be honest, I didn't even want to go home. I wanted to stay with him. "We'll figure this out," he breathed. "Everything will be okay."
