The Past
Shink walked as fast as he could to the door. He peeped outside to see if anyone was eavesdropping on their conversation. He had to be really sure. There was no one there. He exhaled and then closed the door slowly. He hurried to the bed as fast as he could and turned to Anna.
"The G-unit made contact?"
He repeated his question again. Anna exhaled as she watched how Shink came to a stop in front of her. He looked so anxious. She nodded.
"Oh my God, you met them?"
"Yes Shink, I met them."
"What were they like? How many of them are they?"
Shink was so interested in getting every detail. Not like she could blame him for his extreme anxiety, the G-unit was all her and Shink had tried to find for a long time. It was all they could ever think about. She was still having a hard time wrapping it all around her head. Everything was finally falling into place and the thought of it was overwhelming both for Shink but still, something didn't feel right about all of it.
"I don't know Shink." She said weakly. "They're just... different. They know a lot about everything, more like they planned everything. They have their roots even deeper than we thought and it happens to be that they don't need the bracelet to use their powers."
"Their bracelets are deactivated too?" He furrowed his brows. I knew he was surprised to hear that considering the fact that we never knew anyone else that had access to their powers besides me. We searched for years.
"Temporarily."
"Anna, I thought you were the only one?"
"Well, that was what I thought too."
"Did you ask them how they did it? What if there're more like you guys at the arc or among the chosen ten? More of us whose powers are not bound to their bracelets, who just need something to trigger it."
"I don't think so Shink. Gina said it's just us."
"Gina?" Now she had to explain everything she knew in details and also talk about the lady she had only met for what? Four hours?
"She's the leader of the G-Unit."
"I thought you were supposed to be their leader?"
"Funny enough they said the same thing too." Anna whispered. "You should have seen them Shink, with all those powers, they were so powerful."
She scoffed.
"I've never seen anything like it. And you know the best part? It never hurt them to use it. Not as much as it hurts me. Or maybe it does but they're trained to embrace the pain." Anna sighed.
"Of course it'd hurt Anna. Not because you're a shape shifter but because everytime you're triggered to change, your bracelet tries to fight it. That's what causes the pain. Transitioning would be much easier if you didn't have the bracelet on. That's why we can't afford to deviate from all we've planned right now. We are supposed to find a way to permanently deactivate the bracelet for all our people. We can't afford a distraction. Your brother and the rest of our people are counting on us. Eight third borns were killed at the arc yesterday." Anna narrowed her gaze on him. Eight third borns ? How could she forget so soon how all third borns in the arc were killed? It was a major memory of her past. "We don't have much time."
Of course she knew all Shink said. That's all she ever thought of since she met the G-Unit. That was the only reason she acted the way she did with Angelo because she knew how important keeping her feelings in check was. She couldn't afford a distraction. She couldn't afford the distraction Angelo was trying to rope her into. Unlike him, she had hundreds of people to look after, hundreds of people counting on her.
"What else did Gina say? Does she know how to deactivate the bracelet?" Shink's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Anna stretched her arm so she could have a better look at the black band on it.
"She does." She dropped it. "She said if we have to deactivate the bracelets, we need to find the black city."
"A black city?"
"More like a government organization. They invented the bracelet and they control it. She thinks Trusk industries are major partners."
"Trusk industries?" Shink was suprised. "How one earth - are you sure?" She didn't believe it either.
"She is." Anna went on to prove her point. "And that's why she made sure I was a part of all this. "
"I-I don't understand."
"It wasn't a coincidence Shink, all of this. They planned it. Everything. They made sure me and André met, and they found a way to put me on Nathan's will too. It was all them."
"Oh my God."
Shink could feel his legs weaken. Was she saying the truth? Did the G-unit have their hands in all of it and they had no idea? No wonder Nathan's will seemed so fishy. He sat slowly beside her.
"They have their eyes everywhere Shink. And they're pretty strategic too. They want me to find the black city and find a way to get them in."
"Anna, how are you supposed to find an invincible organization?"
Same question she had asked herself all day. She let out a shaky breath.
"I don't know Shink. Maybe I'd start by going through all the secret files in Trusk industries, sales and financial records? Blueprints? Anything at all that could help."
"You can't have access to those files Anna. Only a Trusk can. Didn't you say that most of the files were strictly guarded and can't be granted access to anyone that wasn't a Trusk?"
"But I am a Trusk, remember?"
She rose her fingers so Shink could see her diamond wedding ring. Shink rolled his eyes. She knew what he meant.
"You know what I mean. Only a Trusk first born has access to level fourth-five. Andre's dead. The only Trusk that can help us now is-"
"Angelo."
Anna exhaled.
She already did her maths before he said anything. "You have to get him on our side Anna. That way, you can figure out a way to lower his guard and get access to Trusk industry's secured level."
Anna shook her head.
"It's too late for that." The ship to gain Angelo's trust had sailed the previous night. After all the horrible things she had said to him, it was above impossible for him to help her do anything. "I think he hates me now."
"Hates you?" That wasn't an answer Shink was hoping he heard. "Anna, find a way to make him unhate you. You must. We need him now, more than ever. We can't find the black city without him. And we can't fulfill our duties without the black city."
Anna let out a weak exhale. She rubbed her forehead. All that thinking had given her a migraine.
Think Anna, think.
She looked at Shink. He was staring back at her.
"We have to find a way."
Anna shut her eyes for a second. Shink was right. The future of her people was dependent on every choice she made at that point and Angelo was in every part of that choice. She had to figure it out. How to get him to trust her. How to get him on her side.
She knew she had to come up with a plan. A good one and she had to do it fast.
************************************************
Shink walked out of Anna's room and closed the door behind him, holding on tight to his brief case and the huge smile on his face. Hearing all he did about the G-unit made him really excited. It felt so good to see that their plans were finally coming to place and reality.
He turned to the stairs and then froze the moment his eyes took a quick look at Angelo who just stood there, leaning on the rails with his legs crossed and his arms folded. He was staring at Shink with a huge frown on his face.
Shink gulped hard. He could imagine all the things Angelo was thinking already.
Why are you always in my wife's room?
Had to be one of it.
Shink forced a smile on his face. The plan was to look less suspicious anyway. He could feel his heart beat rise and he didn't even know why. He walked slowly down the stairs, trying to be as natural as possible. He walked past Angelo, counting his steps, hoping Angelo wasn't going to stop him or call him back.
"Attorney Shink!" Too late. Shink paused, shutting his eyes tight. He suddenly felt so numb. He could hear Angelo's footsteps and could smell his sweet cologne as he walked closer.
"Let's talk."
Angelo walked past him, bumping his shoulders on his. Shink almost lost his balance. His shoulders hurt as if a bone was broken and Angelo didn't even hit him that hard.
He watched Angelo walk down the stairs as calmly as possible, watching his steps until he got to the last one. He headed straight to the dining room.
Shink exhaled.
He followed him.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro