Thoth's POV

Claude walked briskly yet hesitatingly and at careful distance following the girl. They still hadn't talk all the way . It had been around twenty minutes..more .. maybe . She wasn't sure . It was probably in her best interest to follow her at that time because she didn't want to attract attention from authorities there . She was still worried about Max though even though her situation was quite cynical in itself.

"We are here." The girl finally spoke as Claude looked back at the reality. It was a hotel . Not a big one or small . Just a simple hotel in a ordinary neighborhood. Well then again what was she expecting? Not every mysterious person she would meet would own a rich estate or be living in abandoned warehouse.

"My name is Selica " The girl introduced herself in an attempt to cut the thick awkwardness and tension in air . Claude debated whether to tell her real name or not. It was quite possible that she could be lying too. No ! As Max told her one time "if both parties are doubtful of each other and yet not immidiaetly trying to silt each other , wouldn't starting to lessen the fog of suspicion start with us telling a bit of truth even if it means going into that uncharted wilderness. Are we really going to be complacent enough telling lies expecting other person to not do so even though there is a bleak hope in both cases ? Who is gonna be the first one to alight the truth between both ?" As Claude remembered it , she wondered just how much she cherished his words in her memory to know it word by word. It was probably nothing..just a flashbulb memory.

"My name is Claude ." She forwarded her hand as to shook her to which Selica raised her eyes .

"Sorry! I am not good with physical contacts." She stared down at her feet bit awkwardly . Claude was really quite confused. Was it an act to earn her trust to project herself as one of the ordinary people ? She was not at all delving into talk all the way but now ever since they entered the hotel , she has become quite willing to share information. Or..is she just overthinking and Selica is simply trying to talk now.

"Oh ! It is quite alright . I wanted to ask.." She began . It was as good as time as any to enquire the purpose behind Selica asking her to accompany her here.

"One moment please." Selica gestured her to be quiet as they entered lift . Aj uncanny silence filled the atmosphere again until they reached Selica's room. Claude found it to be quite ..messy. It was hard to tell that just one girl lived here .

"Please sit here . Would you like a cocoa ?" Her eyes stared at Claude in a way that she felt like she couldn't refuse.

"Sure! If it is bit too much trouble " the words came out of her mouth before she could think more about it to which Selica gave a smile.

"What were you doing at that place then?" Claude was hit with a question as she took cup from her .

"I could ask you the same thing." The reply came echoing through the room. Both girls stared at each other while sitting on bed .

"Oh fine ! I am not really planning to hide anything . I have been poking around this stuff on my own . You know random places and what nots and tracing strange phone calls and everything. " She paused to drink cocoa .

Basically I was just tapping in a random phone call when I was bored one week ago . I heard a voice probably belonging to teen boy and for real, I just really was so intrigued by the way he was talking to a random detective and their talk. I mean out of all talks I have heard , basically most were about boring stuff like breakups or love but it was just something else . So I started tapping his phone call and saw a text message that he would be there where I found you . It seems I was late . I mean imagine my surprise when I saw police and a little girl spying on them ." She chuckled as Claude winced at her being called"little girl" . Sure ! She was probably not as tall as her but in no way , she was shorter than her age average.

"Well ! I mean what you say does sound but ridiculous but I don't think you are lying . So tell me why were you quiet whole way we walked . " Claude fired questions at her .

"I could say the same to you plus I didn't really think that it would be wise to talk about it with people around . I mean you were trying to hide after all."

She did have a point . Still ! It didn't make sense . The fact she was able to tap in those calls by accident may be a coincidence but still if she was really that good at these stuff , wouldn't that shadowy organization that Max refered to in his notes know about her . So why would they allow her to tap into those calls ..

" You are still hiding something." Claude looked at her suspiciously.

"Honestly ! I have told you everything .. don't you think it is bit unfair to accuse me brazenly like that ." As her face showed bitter smile.

"I never accused you . I simply stated "you are still hiding something". Why would you try so hard on just first question I put up on you . The fact that you think I am accusing you clearly implies that you are yourself believing that you are guilty of not telling the whole truth but yet don't want to project it like that ..."

Selica's eyes twitched for a second .

"It is all just based on your wild conjecture."

"Maybe so. But the fact that you are trying so hard clearly is just to fool yourself into thinking that you are in right here , isn't it ? I mean come on , it doesn't matter how nice or perky or curious you are , you don't simply walk to a crime scene and take someone hiding there to your room and offer them cocoa and spill everything to them just to know what they were doing there . That is also not a wise move if you are planing to gain information for some ulterior motive because you obviously have been too nice to let the trust build up rather it leads to suspicion . It is all just to delude yourself into thinking that you are doing the thing you are supposed to even thought you don't want to .."

Selica stared at her intently . Just who was she ? She had hit nail right on her mark.

"Run." She uttered as Claude raised her eyebrows as she grabbed her following her advice to which Selica freed her hand from her hold.

"Leave me.." she whispered barely audible to which Claude shook her head. She maybe rational like Max but she was unfortunately or fortunately not indifferent to situation.

"But she said.." Selica began shaking.

"We will deal with it . You trust my skills, don't you" As she gave in after much reluctance .

1 hour later

Claude and Selica were standing outside Max's door . Claude was telling her again and again not to worry . Claude's heart raced faster and faster as the footsteps sounded closer and closer. Will Max be there this time ?

"Hey Claude. Come in ." Max said looking down . He raised his eyes when he saw the girl behind her .

"Selica?" But he quickly regained his composure as both came in . Claude was glad that he was safe , anxious he was looking down and nonplussed as Selica when he called her name . All three were now sitting down in unexpected silence.

Claude's Pov

I was still so unsure how to even began. I mean today was a crazy day . I set out with an intent that I am going to meet Max after so long and then I learn on coming , me coming was all part of his plan to get him into enemy's lair and then I get a mysterious message from a detective he was working with to pick him up . When I finally arrive , I find place empty and then see police there taking our dead detective and those enemies . And then a girl finds me and tries to lure me into a trap against her will. And now I am finally meeting Max after all that and he shocks me again by being sad for first time and knowing a girl who definitely didn't know him at all. Max! Just where should I began...I can't decide. But I can't sit in silence . We are in time constraint probably because Selica looked scared even while following me . I took a deep breath to steady myself.

"I know." Max stated before I even opened my mouth. What .. what...i don't get it . What do you know? I haven't even said anything. I mean yeah ! We are sure to deduce by simplest facts but come on .

"That girl there is Selica. You are wondering how I know. Well ! Let's leave that aside for now . You wouldn't get it ." He began as I bit my lip . I wouldn't get it . What ..are people trying to get on my nerves today . First Selica call me a little girl and now you of all people say "I wouldn't get it ".. no worries! I am rational girl . I would wait for you to finish and not snap .

"It is beyond your understanding." Or maybe not if you keep talking like that ..

"Sorry! " He said noticing my face as I calmed myself . Ah..I can't show him myself getting bothered by such things .

"Well ! Selica is good at technology right. The fact that she is here because you two met . The only place you can meet is at that place where I was taken to actually make you convince to bring her here . The fact she is scared and trembling means that she is in a dire situation . Obviously the organization that took me had to tap into my phone to know my intent . Selica was capable of that . I was an idiot . I obviously didn't think about the fact they would also hear my call with detective . I was just deluding myself into thinking that they would hear me calling you and just take me in . " As he explained all his proceedings through the whole experience . I widened my eyes when he mentioned the fact that detective took care of the man who was about to attack him . But obviously something went wrong as she died. It was soon cleared when he told that Isla ,a girl agent there shot her in front of him. I was shook and barely kept myself when I heard how she threatened Max . But I was at loss for words when he told me that it was all planned by Isla . Even the fact that I would stumble upon there so she sent Selica to lead me to that hotel or she would kill all the staff of hotel there forcing her basically and Selica knew she was true to her words . It didn't matter who was against her , which authorities were contacted , Isla had always won keeping herself hidden. Max though assured me and her that hotel thing was a bluff still as it would be hard to cover up and it was simply an excuse to get rid of her .

"But why would she simply not kill her ."I asked to which Selica flinched. I grabbed her hand as to tell her she was safe now.

"Because it would be boring." Max answered standing up . I raised my eyes at his answer.

"Everything is a game to her. The logical choice is to kill me when I am nothing . When I am at her mercy , she should have no hesitation in killing me but I am here because killing me would be pretty boring just like Selica . Isla wants this world to be interesting but the moment she feels she wants to get rid of us , she would . At least that is how I know her by my interactions with her ." He sighed. From what he had told me , it did seem most possible explanation for her action. If she was true fanatic of logic , it would only be insanity to work with those criminals and all . After all why would you even after knowing logically that is a hide and seek life. But she loved that . She liked playing in danger , a conviction contradictory to logic . She was likely to act on her impulses and yet the way she acted , we all acted just like she wanted . So her impulses were simply not childish whims . She was fully capable of making her impulses a reality .

"Don't worry Max . Now all three of us are here . We both with our brains and Selica with her tech prowess can help us fight her on equal footing." I said as he nonchalantly laid back on his chair.

"Maybe we can or not. I don't really care. I am first working towards finding what lies in Wonavilla and improving my weakness. I flinched at gunshot. I was disillusioned with that blood. That scene still flashes in my mind . Even if my motor responses are primary reason for it , I wouldn't allow it . I can't have anything holding me back if I am going against her. " He facepalmed himself.

Max! Just how far will you suppress it all to rise . Is that the only way you know? How much would you need to lose before you yourself find walking on path that Isla has taken ?

Au revoir readers! Keep posted for the next chapter.