This is the perfect place indeed... the edge of a wood, a simple building that looks like a warehouse once you catch sight of it between the tall trees and the riverbank, and the falling shadows of the night.

Anastasia doesn't even check the GPS, as her gaze wanders around the deserted area. This is the perfect place, and even though it would also be the perfect place for a horror movie, she gets out of her car without a chill of fear. The strong silhouette waiting for her a few feet away might even be the reason why those shivers down her spine are more out of excitement and thrill.

"Hey, my angel." A wide grin instantly stretches Nate's lips and loosens his tensed features when Anastasia's sparkling gaze meets his.

He still has to pinch himself to be sure she is here. After everything that has happened and that he's made her go through, it feels like a dream to still have her here, without an ounce of resentment in her soft gaze.

"Hey, my hero." She's so pure as she bites coyly on the bottom of her smile, and he'll do everything to be worthy of the shine in her eyes. "So this is another of your secret places?"

"Yeah, but it isn't my favorite." He grabs her hand to pull her to him before she can even take a step around, bringing her wandering gaze back to him too as she cocks an amused eyebrow.

"Let me guess... it's yours again?"

"It was my parents'." He humbly nods, making her eyes widen, though she's quick to hide her shock, and he wouldn't have noticed if all his attention wasn't on every inch of her petite figure, engulfed in his arms. "They had a few boats, but I almost never go here... I swear it looks better and less creepy by day." 

"It's already beautiful!"

She's right again, and only as he follows her gaze to the horizon, he takes in the ethereal sight of the dusk sky. The last rays of sunset are still coloring the darkness around with a few dabs of orangey and pink, while the mist is blurring this peaceful view. Though maybe it's Anastasia's presence that is illuminating the place with a glow he hasn't seen before when he's scanned the surroundings.

That's one of the numerous things he loves about her: she doesn't care about material things or money, she sees the world from another perspective, bringing light on everything, and simple moments like this become extraordinary with her.

"And it also looks like we could bury someone!" she adds, playfully, snuggling closer in his arms.

Her sense of humor is something he loves too, although in spite of his light laugh, it's an idea he could keep in mind just in case...

"Let me show you inside first!" He shakes his head, leading her to the simple yet solid door in the front of the building after one last cautious glance around.

This area is a private property, so no one is supposed to be there, and he's checked every corner before Anastasia has arrived. Besides, with the darkness around, it's impossible to recognize them. Yet he can't shake the impression of being observed prickling his skin and making him tighten his hold on Anastasia's hand.

It's surely just the nerves of everything and his fears making him paranoid, but he has no reason to. They're being more careful this time. They're stronger, and most importantly, they're together, closer than ever, which becomes literal as soon as they're inside and safely hidden.

She doesn't even get to catch a glimpse of the wide room as he is already attacking her lips with a warm welcome, and she returns it with the same eagerness and desperation, as if they hadn't spent the last two days together. 

Their lips caressing and their tongues mingling, they could easily get lost in each other, though this kiss is also a reminder of why they are here.

"It's a nice place indeed," she breathes out, her spinning head and blinking eyes trying to focus on the surroundings and not on his dazzling dark eyes as he stays close, nibbling on her lower lip.

"I still have to finish some cleaning to make some room," he mumbles on her skin, apparently more preoccupied with messing with her nerve endings than by the large warehouse as he trails his lips in feather-like kisses along the arch of her neck.

Yet she isn't duped. She has noticed the clench of his jaw and the worry clouding his gaze. He is trying to distract them both, and it is working for her because she has trouble taking in anything besides him. She just notes that the wide room is mostly empty with two large covered shapes that must be small boats and a few shelves, but she can't focus on what is on them.

"It's perfect as long as there's electricity for the computers..." Her train of thoughts is lost, melting under his lips, and she has to hold on to him when he hums a 'yes' on the sweet spot below her ear.

It is like she is never close enough, the feeling of his strong and hard body...

Her heart jumps, and not the exciting leap expected but rather a fall back to reality, when she notices a detail a little too 'hard' against her stomach, and she leans away to glance down at the bulge below his waist.

"What is this?"

"I'm happy to see you." He offers her a sheepish grin, and the priceless expression along with his teddy brown eyes make it hard to keep a straight face and lift one of her eyebrows as her hands slide to his belt.

"Really?" With one swift movement, his sweater is lifted and the hard detail exposed, though she is still careful not to brush it with her accusing finger because she has never touched this kind of 'hardness'.

"Okay, I just wanted to be safe." He sighs, grabbing the gun with an ease that she will never get used to. It is his everyday life, but it is so easy to forget when he is so tender to her, just like it is easy to forget lives are at stake at every second. "We're in the middle of nowhere, and just in case... I want to be able to protect you. We don't know–"

"We know." She holds his gaze with determination, although not even the gun in his hands can harden the softness and sincerity in his eyes. "We know they're not the bad ones, and it's not how they will trust us."

As if called without even the mention of their names, three knocks resonate through the thick door, and with them, the lump of nerves, which has started to form in her throat at the sight of the gun, expands from her guts to the back of her mouth, annihilating any dizziness from Nathaniel's kisses on its way.

"Hide it." She shakes her head, maybe also talking to herself to cover her nervousness as she repeats, "We need their help for our plan."

Everything they have done and risked so far can be for nothing without the right means. That, she doesn't add; it's only the echo of doubt resonating in her head, but Nathaniel must read it through her eyes, and the simple nod he gives her is enough to silence that voice with the loud beats of her heart.

He is there for her; that's all that matters. From the fact that he has changed his official army sweater for a simple black one to his determined gaze giving her confidence, she knows he is making so many efforts for this. He is fighting for them.

She brushes her compass pendant as she walks to the door, now catching more details that she has been too distracted to notice before: a few boxes here and there, many tools that are surely for the boats on the shelves, some red lifebelts contrasting with the gray walls in thick sheet metal, and the door that seems to be in the same robust material. These are important details to keep everything safe if their plan works – it will work, she convinces herself as she grabs the handle.

However, the doubts are coming back louder when she meets the now-familiar and threatening dark silhouette she has been expecting, and... no one else.

"You're alone?! Where are the others?" She automatically tries to look behind Hadi as if a smiling Molly and the other members she hasn't met yet – because she hasn't gone back to the Photography room – would appear.

But there is only Hadi and his unsurprisingly cocked eyebrow – by now, she would even be surprised if he greeted her any other way than with his disdainful gaze.

"Do you think I'm dumb? I won't let everyone risk it by going in the middle of nowhere to what could be a trap. I still don't trust you, and I'm right apparently..." His haughty eyes trail behind her, and she gulps the lump in the back of her throat to lay the plea she has prepared. 

A plea to defend a captain and prove to a judgemental rebel that he is on their side, on the other side of the law, if someone had told her two months and a half ago...

"Nathaniel– Nate is on our side," she proclaims as Hadi steps inside confidently.

He is literally walking inside an unknown territory, and he isn't even afraid, or at least, he is hiding it well. She wishes she could be that assured, yet her fears are as big as the stakes, and they are all for the future.

The future, that's why she continues despite her shaky nerves, "He has a plan that could really work."

Hadi cuts her off with a chuckle, the dry sound echoing too loud around the metallic walls of the wide room, and Nate can feel his jaw tightening and his fists clenching instinctively as he fights to keep the curse words locked inside.

His whole body is tensing until the tip of his fingers itching, although it isn't to reach for his gun – because he wouldn't need any weapon to teach this man a lesson – but for Anastasia, as she's the only one who can soothe him. She is the reason why he doesn't move, just holding the Cerberus's challenging gaze with an unflinching seriousness. As much as he doesn't like how this man is looking down on Anastasia, she is right: they need the rebels' help.

Besides, containing his anger might be working because the Cerberus breaks his stare, turning to Anastasia.

"From what I recall, you passed the test – I don't know how – but you're the only one accepted. Being a member doesn't grant access to everyone you know."

Maybe Nate has claimed victory too soon...

"We have no reason to listen to whatever plan he has, which could be a trap because I know the army has a new AR head ready to do anything to stop us."

Of course, he's heard of that too, and before Nate can even open his mouth to explain, Hadi keeps going with his sneer,

"Maybe you trust him with your breakup-makeup drama and whatever arguments he's laid but–"

"Stop with your insinuations. You think you're better than everyone. But you're not the only one who has a reason to fight."

Nate has been about to snap, his fist already lifting to find the perfect aim, yet Anastasia has beaten him up to this, and she's fiercer than him. The Cerberus doesn't know what is coming for him, but Nate recognizes this deep frown. Nothing stands in the way of the tornado Anastasia.

"You don't know anything about Nathaniel, and he's risking a lot. So at least, listen to what we have to say before judging. You'll see how serious we are."

His chest is swelling up at the way she's defending him so fiercely, yet his ribcage is still tightening at the same time, as he can't let her waste this chance for him, and seeing their narrowed gazes clashing, it's clear that none of them will back down.

Although he's followed her request for him to stay back while she explains so far, it's now his turn to intervene before any of them can add anything.

"I can take a test if you want."

It definitely pulls their attention as both snap their heads at him, yet except for a quick lift of eyebrows, it doesn't stop their glares, and now, the tornado Anastasia is deviating toward him.

"Oh, no! You've already passed your test with all the risks you've taken for this plan, and we don't have more time to waste. Besides, I think the test I've passed can count for two people because everyone is still talking about the 'great rebels' hack'."

Here is the tornado Anastasia in all her splendor, and like always, she turns everyone's mind with her sharp arguments.

He isn't even surprised when the Cerberus lets out a resigned sigh.

"Okay, it costs nothing to hear this plan, but only because you've passed your test, which I still don't understand how..." he mutters before snapping his inquisitive gaze toward Nate. "Did you help her?"

"No, I didn't do anything." Nate smiles proudly at his angel, who, despite her neutral expression, is hiding a victorious glint in her eyes. "And I would love to know how you succeeded too!"

"I have my secret weapons..." A grin finally takes over her features, the playful sparkle in her gaze tickling Nate's curiosity and actually, everything inside his chest.

Even after all the moments they've shared together, she'll always be a mystery for him, and he'll gladly spend his whole life trying to decipher her.

"But we're not here to talk about this."

"Right." He nods, coming back to the present time, and as she offers him a meaningful look, he easily understands what she is silently asking: to fight for it, or more exactly, talk for it.

It is his idea, and he always has the right words.

"So my plan is to convince more people to rebel. We can't fight alone." The glimmer of hope that has ignited with this idea is still sparking in his chest; it's growing a little brighter with each step, actually, and when Anastasia takes his hand in her small one, it becomes even more powerful.

"And I know that even the rebels all together aren't enough. So far they haven't been able to stop any of the government's actions," he adds, noticing the Cerberus's –well, Hadi's, if he starts helping them, Nate should at least call him by his name – jaw ticking. "The army is too wide and well-organized, but if more citizens, and even soldiers, could join the rebels, it could change everythi–"

"Okay, and how?" Hadi mutters impatiently, making Nate swallow the lump of doubts in his throat.

It's the moment to set out his strategy, something he does almost every day at work, yet none of those plans have ever had stakes as close to his heart. The light squeeze of Anastasia's hand is there to remind him.

"With the banned works of art about love. We got access to the archives room, and that's where they keep them all."

"I know," Hadi cuts him off once again, and Nate shouldn't even be surprised that this man knows about this confidential information.

"Now, we need a way to spread all these works of art, and we thought that the rebels and your network could help us," Anastasia speaks up, probably sensing how dry Nate's mouth is.

Suddenly, his hope appears less bright in the dim room and in front of Hadi's dark figure. Anastasia has found his idea 'brilliant", but maybe Hadi is right; she may be biased. There are so many gray areas, yet it's the only plan they have, the only glimmer of hope.

"And you really think a few romance books can convince people?"

"Yes, we do because they can show people what love really is and that when we're free to love whoever we want, it can be beautiful, and not the bad things the government has brainwashed us to believe," Anastasia replies confidently.

The doubts are still there in the dark back of her mind, feeding her fears, but everything she has seen, heard, and watched in the past two days is persuading her more and more that it is possible.

"Besides, it isn't only books. There are paintings, movies, songs... so many means to reach people." She glances at Nathaniel, remembering the light in his eyes when he has stepped into the third alley and how much time he has spent in front of those shelves. He has been humming so many melodies today.

"The government will find a way to twist it to their advantage." Hadi cocks an eyebrow, yet for once, it isn't mocking, and she swears she glimpses despondency in his gaze. It is even more unsettling and it puts more insecurities in her mind than his haughty attitude.

"It'll make them think." She tries to assure everyone here, especially herself as she replays the many nights she has read the blank-covered book and battled with her reason and heart.

"Thinking is not convincing." Hadi is back with his scornful gaze, always aiming the right arguments. "Let's be honest, all the rebels have other reasons that have convinced them to join." He looks down at Nathaniel and her's intertwined hands, and she can't argue with this.

Without Nathaniel, she would certainly still be studying behind a law book right now.

"In the end, they'll listen to the government."

"And what if we tell them the horrors the government is doing?"

A heavy silence falls in the room with Nathaniel's words, leaving only their deafening echo to hover around. It is like he is calling back those haunting memories, and their spirit is quickly invading the air with a deadly coldness that Anastasia can feel deeply with every shiver down her spine.

"Do you have proofs?" Hadi breaks the silence, even his cold tone sounding different in the heavy atmosphere.

"I think they keep proofs in the archives too. We've seen a strongroom, but it's heavily locked, and no one has access to this." Nathaniel lets out a shallow sigh, sounding like he is suffocating in thick smoke, and as Hadi mutters an 'of course', she herself is choking on something she has no idea about.

But both men see clearly that smoke from hell; they know what those horrors are. They are everywhere in Hadi's shadowy aura and in the dark clouds blurring Nathaniel's tender eyes. She is the only one blinded, and she can't even imagine it. She isn't sure she could handle finding out more than the hazy shadows she is glimpsing. If the government is hiding it so much, keeping it even more safely than the banned arts, it must be convincing enough; it must be horrible.

Even though they have already talked about it with Nathaniel when she has stopped in front of the large door of the strongroom, she hasn't dared to ask him anything because she hasn't wanted to bring back those haunting memories to him again, and it hasn't been part of their plan.

However, the tight squeeze of her hand shows her how much Nathaniel is willing to do for this, and his next words are catching her breath.

"But I can tell them."

Her hero. No matter what he believes, he is a hero. For her, it is more heroic than winning any battle, and her heart is beating stronger than ever for her hero. Though Hadi clearly doesn't agree, his cold chuckle disturbing the rhythm of her heart.

"If you do this plan, then you'll become a rebel, and it's a known fact that no one trusts the rebels." His gaze flickers unequivocally to the waist of Nate's jeans, where his gun is peeking out.

He has hidden it, but his sweater must have lifted up during the discussion, and he hasn't noticed it, only aware of Anastasia's hand and her comforting presence leaning closer naturally. With his angel by his side, he can easily forget everything, yet Hadi is throwing him the reality fully back in his face, and it's a harsh blow. He doesn't even think about striking back because Hadi is just stating the truth. If he, himself, doesn't trust the rebels, how can anyone?

Perhaps Nate has been too blinded by his love for Anastasia and the despair for freedom, though now, he can see the hope flickering weaker and weaker.

"It doesn't mean we can't try to fight for it. Maybe we won't convince everyone, but we'll make people think with what they already have experienced and question. This is the only plan we have at the moment because I don't think you have anything besides the hack of the matchmaking application. And even if you managed to make it definitive, it still wouldn't end the despotism of the government and people would still see us as the bad ones."

Anastasia, this woman is Nate's light. Her fire makes everything possible, and he may be crazy for her, but he has the unshakable faith that nothing can resist her.

"We just need your help to spread it to the world."

"And all at once, so the government can't stop it before it reaches everyone," Nate adds, trying to pass through the brush of his thumb on the soft skin of her hand all the hope she gives him.

"All at once?! I don't think that's possible..." For the first time, they witness Hadi's eyebrows pulled together in reflection.

Have they convinced him somehow? Fight for it, can three little words work and change everything? No, Nate knows that it's the angel holding his hand who makes all the difference. It's his encounter with Anastasia that has turned everything upside-down for him.

"I'll try to ask the others but–"

"Don't tell everyone about this plan!" The words rush out from Nate's chest, pushed by his protective instinct, or maybe the many knots in his head and stomach.

Yet he realizes how bad it can sound as Hadi narrows his eyes with surely the same protective impulse. "We're not traitors there."

"I never said this," Nate sighs, trying to show through his gaze how serious he is, how serious the situation is. "But the less people know about it, the less chances of the info leaking out intentionally or not. The whole plan is based on surprise."

"That makes sense, okay..."

"Thank you."

The simple courtesy makes Hadi's glare disappear for a second into two wide eyes, unless it's just the hand Nate is holding out for him to shake as he's seeking his word on this. A rebel's word may not have a lot of value for most people, but Nate needs some reassurance at least, and something tells him this man has more honor than most of his superiors in the army.

"I don't promise you anything," Hadi adds, as if sensing Nate's thoughts when he shakes his hand. "The only way I think possible to diffuse it would be the old way, progressivel–"

"Aren't you supposed to have genius hackers in the 'club'?" Anastasia cuts him off, as she isn't one to settle with conditional.

"I am one of those genius hackers. But to diffuse the info all at once and not through a chain, we gotta use one of the government's media, and we don't know how they're encoded."

"But you knew their encoding for the matchmaking app?" she retorts instantly, and Nate can only watch amazed how reactive her mind is. She always finds a counter-argument, and she never loses.

"Not in detail. It was enough to set a virus, but breaking through the system and passing an info as theirs to not trigger the firewall is something else. I don't expect you to understand."

"We're not stupid." Nate can't help but intervene, keeping his jaw locked to not add anything else. It's hard to remember that Hadi is helping them and disregard his attitude in the hope that it'll allow them to be safe and free one day. Though it's once more Anastasia who keeps him from saying something he would regret as her frown catches his attention.

He knows these two exact lines between her eyebrows, and they mean only one thing...

"So you need someone who knows perfectly the government's IT..." The spark that Nate has expected in her eyes follows her words perfectly on time. "I guess it's time for you to meet my secret weapon." 

***

"So ready for your mission?"

"Yes! More than ready!" Darrell lifts his head from the backpack he's quickly stuffing, his excited grin falling down as soon as he realizes it's his best friend who is asking. "Yeah..."

"You know you can brag." Nate smiles at his friend, as it's probably the first time that he witnesses his blue eyes looking at the ground with awkwardness, and he's more used to the twinkle of cockiness, typical of his best friend, when the latter slowly peers up at him under his cocked eyebrow.

"You sure? You won't be mad?"

"Why would I? It's my choice, and I'm happy for you, man." He pats his friend's shoulder as Darrell closes his bag and stands up from the bench, though his chuckle still echoes slightly uneasy as he adds, "Just avoid Pamela for some time because I told her I didn't get it, and she hasn't taken the news really well..."

"Could she possibly hate me more than she already does?!" Darrell laughs, and Nate is thankful for his best friend lightening the heavy atmosphere of lies and guilt, even if it's still there somewhere, weighing at the bottom of his stomach.

"But more seriously, dude, you sure you don't regret your decision? I know how much we talked about these special missions."

It's true; they've dreamed so much about getting them, those special missions being their motivation during never-ending assignments. Yet now, as his best friend's piercing gaze is focusing on his to seek the truth, Nate only regrets leaving Darrell alone. He may be searching every corner of his mind and heart for other regrets, but there isn't any. What he's done these past days have made him feel more accomplished than any mission could ever, and he hopes to be even more useful in his own way.

"No, not at all."

"I can see! You look more excited than me!" Darrell's nod makes Nate realize that his smile is even wider, although his best friend still has the most wicked grin as he adds, "And tired too... What did you do last night?"

"It isn't what you imagine." Nate shakes his head at his friend and his dirty mind, but maybe also because of the flashbacks of his empty warehouse, the negotiations with a rebel, and the dangerous strategies that would have shocked him a few months ago. "And you don't wanna know what I did."

Darrell is already lifting an eyebrow, probably thinking about one of his unique comebacks, but the beeping of his phone interrupts them, calling back his professional soldier stance.

"Oh, it's time to go!" He throws his backpack over his shoulder, offering Nate a nod and a half-smile. "Be careful while I'm away, dude."

"Yeah, don't worry!" Nate forces an unaffected shrug, yet as his friend pulls him in a quick hug, his facade of assurance crumbles down like the seriousness of it all falling on him, and even if he tries to keep some lightness, his words sound too much like a plea when he whispers, "Just don't kill too many rebels, please."

"I won't kill any. It's a rescue mission for a plane crash," Darrell reassures him with a pat on the back and one more nod. "See you in a week!"

In a week... As Nate's gaze travels from Darrell's new insignia to the worry making his friend's eyes sharper, he wonders where he'll be in a week. Will their plan have been put into action? Will things have changed? In good or bad?

Worse or better, it has to because time is ticking against them, and that's why, after one last glance at his best friend disappearing out of the room, he shakes these speculations for the future away, focusing on the present and getting ready for his own mission and assignment.

However, the ticking of the clock freezes, along with every beat of his heart, the second he opens his locker, and a single piece of paper floats down at his feet. That's how light the sheet is, and yet when he grabs it, a thousand tons are plummeting in his guts, anchoring the foreboding there.

Before even unfolding the square of paper, he knows it's bad news, maybe even worse. Thus, he doesn't have more reaction when he reads the words in bold letters.

' I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. MEET ME AT THE BACKDOOR A AT 8 P.M.'

He's staring paralyzed at the words that are announcing his downfall. But if outside, he isn't moving an inch, not even a shake of his hands or a rise of his chest, inside, everything is rushing: flashes of every moment with Anastasia where they could have been too careless mixing with visions of hell, and it's all tangled with the same dread as every time he's been so close to lose Anastasia.

He's been so cautious of every step so far. His plan has flaws, of course, yet they're supposed to spare Anastasia. Now, he isn't so sure anymore.

Everything he's done, it's once again all for nothing. Why fighting? He can never win, and they have no exit. He's back to square one with the walls closing off on him and his ribs turning into prison bars, all caging him with dreadful scenarios and haunting questions.

What? How? Who? Why? The answers are endless and frightening, but they always lead him to the same dead end, where he's going to crash. The only important question is: will he be able to protect Anastasia through the impact?

The matter is enough to pull him out of his frozen daze. He won't be a coward anymore.

So like he would on an enemy territory, his eyes scan the surroundings, taking in every detail he hasn't paid attention to before, in hopes of finding a clue to answer all his questions, although from the row of lockers in front of him to the empty benches and the large screen displaying various announcements and schedules, there isn't anything suspect, unusual, or even alive. He even jumps at his own reflection in the small mirror when his gaze has traveled all around the room.

Of course, whoever has written this threat wouldn't show up in front of Nate, and whatever they know and want, Nate will find out in a few hours.

In the meantime, he has a whole day to prepare and pray for a solution, but mostly, to torture himself with more questions.

It looks like they never get a break! 😫😩😱 Who do you think has written this note, and what do they know? Tell me your suggestions in the comments below!

Also, tell me what you think of this chapter! If you liked it, don't forget to vote ⭐

Ana and Nate are now working with the rebels, do you think it's a good idea to trust them? 🤔 Seems like we'll see more of Hadi 😈 I'm excited because he's one of my favorite side characters! And of course, we got to see Darrell too (I know some of you love him, while others don't trust him, so time will tell 😉)

Anyways, I love to see you all so passionate about the story, and all your comments, votes, and feedback are making me so happy!! So keep them going! I love to see you in my notifs 😘 Je vous aime, and stay safe ❤