Dex's P.O.V

Dex made his way back to the room where the others were still waiting. He made his way across the room as far away as he could be from Marella who was just coming in after him.

He forced himself to not even look at her as the others started loading her with questions about where she had been all this time.

Dex heard Marella make up a few lies. If only they knew what really happened.

He forced himself to not think about any of it, right now he had to focus on the many other problems he had.

They sat around and chatted for a few hours when Mr. Forkle barged right back into the room, causing everyone to go silent.

Mr. Forkle awkwardly cleared his throat and set his things down as everyone glared at him.

"You kids are probably confused—"

"Very— and mad," Biana said, cutting him off.

"Yes, and I apologize for my unexpected escape. I want to thank you all for being patient and staying put like I asked," Mr. Forkle continued.

Tam snorted. "Not everyone. Keefe ditched us too."

"Keefe? Where to?!" Mr. Forkle exclaimed, realizing Keefe was not present.

"I have no idea, he wouldn't tell me when I tried to stop him," Dex replied.

Mr. Forkle sighed. "That mischievous boy. He's always up to something," he mumbled.

"Okay, let's hope he returns soon. But now, I must explain to you all the reason for my disappearance," Mr. Forkle continued.

"Long ago when I was a scientist, working with Sophie's parents, we made lots of discoveries. Her parents were known to discover the most and to invent the most...but there was something I discovered myself. I found these glowing blue crystals that had the ability to be used to control people. I knew it was a discovery of a lifetime but would be so dangerous if it landed into the wrong hands. That's why I made Sophie's parents promise not to share any of it with anyone when I revealed my discovery to them," he explained.

He cleared his throat. "However, I've had my suspicions for a while now that the Neverseen had somehow gotten the information about these crystals. Now after my quick trip today, I looked to see that the evidence of this discovery was still locked away and there is no possible way the Neverseen could have known about them."

He continued, "however, that leaves me with one possible way that the Neverseen could ever know about any of this...they've captured Sophie's parents and got the information out of them."

Everyone gasped. "Does this mean her parents are still alive?!" Fitz exclaimed.

"I'm not sure, but it's a possibility. And perhaps this could lead to a theory that the reason they have Sophie is to blackmail her parents to leak information about these crystals. Alive or not, if the Neverseen know, this is a very serious matter. I made Sophie's parents swear on their life not to say a word about any of it but that was before Sophie was born— before they had something that could be used to be blackmailed," Mr. Forkle said, almost looking scared himself.

"So now what?" Biana asked, the same thing everyone else was thinking.

"I'm not sure but I'll figure out a plan soon. We must work together," Mr. Forkle responded.

"Okay and how will we work together when it seems like everyone has secrets?" Linh asked, nervously looking around.

Dex saw Marella looking at him from the corner of his eye but he refused to look back.

"I've said mine," Mr. Forkle said.

"Well not everyone," Fitz said.

Everyone's heads then turned towards Tam. "What?!" Tam exclaimed.

"Come on Tammy, we all know you have something that you're hiding," Biana said, narrowing her eyes at him.

Dex tried his best not to scoff. It was funny how Biana was trying to call Tam out on his secret when she has some explaining to do of her own.

Dex was still deciding what to do about that— if he should confront her or not.

Everyone then began to glare at Tam as he barked, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Tam, you're only making this worse for us all," Linh said, grabbing his hand.

He looked down at their linked hands and didn't pull away. "I can't say it."

"Yes you can— spill it," Biana urged.

Everyone began to aim their own comments towards Tam, obviously overwhelming him to the point he yelled out, "OKAY STOP! Want to know my little secret that you're all just dying to know?! I killed someone!"

Everyone gasped and backed away, even Dex was a little taken back.

Sure Tam was dark but he didn't seem like the guy to go and kill someone unless he had to.

"Tam, what are you talking about?" Biana demanded.

"Yes Mr. Tam, do explain," Mr. Forkle said, narrowing his eyes.

"It was a night a few months ago— right after Sophie shared the news with us that the Neverseen had escaped. I was a little on edge and I was in an alley way and someone came at me. I thought it was a Neverseen member so I killed them," Tam explained.

"You just killed them?" Fitz asked.

"Well, it was defense! I had my pocket knife and assumed I was about to get murdered myself," Tam defended.

"Okay, then what? I'm sure there's more to this," Mr. Forkle said.

Tam nodded. "Once I realized it wasn't a Neverseen member— I freaked. And when I realized I knew who it was, I freaked even more. It was actually Monica's older brother."

"What?! Monica as in my friend?!" Linh's exclaimed, putting her hand across her mouth. "How come I never knew about this?"

"Linh, I'm sorry. I had to keep this information to a minimum. Monica was able to understand after I explained the whole situation to her. She's still grieving but she hasn't said a word for my sake," Tam said.

"That's why I caught you and Monica acting suspicious together that day of the shooting," Biana realized.

"Wait a minute— what do you mean for your sake?" Dex questioned Tam.

"Right...so it turns out Monica has another older brother and he's a psycho that found out about what I did and now is after me," Tam said.

"Oh my! Tam why didn't you say anything?!" Linh exclaimed.

"To protect you! Monica said her older brother would go after you if he found out I had a sister! That's why I've been cautious to go on this mission in the first place— in case we get found," Tam told Linh.

"Oh," Linh mumbled.

Everyone was silent until Marella asked, "are you okay?"

"Yes— I'm fine. As long as my sister is safe," Tam said.

"Aww that's adorable," Biana gushed.

"Shut it," Tam bickered, glaring at her.

"Don't worry Tam, we'll make sure nothing happens to you— even if you are a pain," Biana said.

"Hey!" Tam exclaimed.

Mr. Forkle cleared his throat. "Well then, now that that's been cleared up, anyone else have something they would like to share?"

Everyone remained silent and Dex couldn't help but look at Biana the whole time. Every part of him felt the urge to just blurt what little he knew of whatever she was hiding but no words came out.

"Good, now we will wait for Keefe to come back and then we could fill him in," Mr. Forkle concluded.