The lump in her throat fought her attempt to respond. “Y… yes? Who is this?” Her tiny, quivering voice finally came out.

“I found you at last, thanks to you utilizing our… allies’ communications network,” the figure continued in an ominous fashion, triggering Sam’s instant, deep, and painful remorse for ever having felt curious the previous morning. “But let me cut straight to business while I have your absolute and undivided attention without risk of any interference.”

Who the hell could this be, and what the hell does he want?!

Sam’s hands began to shake as she continued to hold the device, too panicked and frightened to determine the next course of action. Is this- shit, is this leading to another assassination or something?!

“I know you seek your brother, and I can assist.”

WHAT?!

Sam now froze up completely upon hearing that one word, and not only was it the shock of hearing the unexpected, it carried a certain sting like it came from someone she might have been close to. “Excuse me?!” She shouted through her faintest whisper. “And who… who is my brother?! Who am I even talking to?!” She knew she had only spoken that one truth to very few individuals as her heart now raced under the effects of a different kind of adrenaline.

“I won’t hide that fact, for it was your affiliates who searched so hard for me but always came up empty handed,” the voice calmly answered.

Huh? My affiliates?! Does he mean Hexa or Infinity? She couldn’t pin that on Sebastian, Kaylen, or her own father at that rate.

“But the entire Underground throughout every major network knows of your true connection to Reaper, including his true identity, of course.”

“I won’t consider anything unless you tell me who you are,” Sam pressed on with more strength in her tone despite her continued whisper.

“Apologies, but I reveal what I may to those who I establish relationships with first and only then.”

Her first instinct at that exact moment was to hang up, but her curiosity much like earlier grabbed a stranglehold of her better senses. “I… it’s not like…” Her thoughts were too scrambled to speak clearly, fist and teeth clenched. Rgh! Get a hold of yourself! This is your only shot at finding him… this soon in the game!

She took a quick, deep breath to reset her swirl of mixed feelings to decide on her one last gamble with an offer that may never return: “You clearly need me or you wouldn’t reach out like this out of nowhere, am I right?!”

Silence continued unexpectedly for a few seconds, signaling she may have won her little gamble. High on her sudden burst in slight but definite boost in confidence, she continued: “I’ve faced assassination attempt after attempt and I am supposed to just… believe you?! Who are you and why should I believe you will actually help me?!”

More silence continued, triggering sudden fears the person may have already disconnected, hitting her in the gut with a dose of reality soon to fade that next moment. “I cannot argue.”

New life was once again breathed into her as by now her body was trembling from the constant ebb and flow of adrenaline and cortisol. Woah, all that… it really worked?!

“Very well, Samantha. I will give you the information you wish, but only if you agree to join my effort in putting a stop to Reaper.”

She knew there’d be a catch, but there was no way she could let this go, especially after realizing how desperate the figure clearly tied to the Underground must be. “Just that one thing? No other strings?”

“Reaper and Reaper alone.”

Sudden recollections of words of caution and advice rushed as soon as she began considering agreeing. Everyone she fell out of trust with over her lone courses of action flashed through her conscious, bringing her from Danielle’s dire warning all the way to the though of falling out with Sebastian at worst if she were to repeat her mistakes.

She took the continued silence as an invitation to mull it over one more second, pondering the consequences of rejecting the offer. If I refuse, will a dragged-out mission make us lose more? If I don’t get a jump on… him- if we don’t get the jump on him first, we may suffer way worse. The idea of losing Sebastian during the chase was just as real as losing him from acting alone.

Stolen novel; please report.

No… there’s another way.

“I won’t go alone. I need my partner.”

“Absolutely.”

She wasn’t expecting that, either.

“My next order of business was already set for contacting Mrs. Rodgers once I confirmed your interest.”

Now THAT wasn’t what I was expecting, either. This is real unsettling.

“The two of you are key in preventing Reaper from destroying any more of our progress. He has become an insurmountable obstacle for us without help from outside our ranks as lately… loyalty amongst the Underground networks has been more questionable than ever.

She rubbed her eyes and bit down in tense thought, still slightly leaning towards a quicker ending but nonetheless cautious. Everyone she had been taking word from since first stepping foot into the Underground’s world had been delivering their promises thus far. She knew it was because she was of use, but that might have been all the reason why she could take things not only at face value but rather use them for her own personal gain just as well. After all, her only goal was to end her brother’s ambitions.

No, I have to keep going further. It’s been like in my recent nightmares. The knife she had been holding recently in her dreams flashed back again, realizing the foggy picture was none other than her in a fight for her life against Isaiah. The image quickly turned to a clearer one, one where she held it over him and not the other way.

She clenched her fist tightly and breathed deeply, letting it out as her gut tightened and heart rate picked up. “I’ll do it.” The gamble was on, and those words came out faster than she was prepared for as she began to feel faint under the immense pressure she just put herself under. Would Kaylen strangle her? Would Sebastian scold her and reject her notions? Would Renzo feel betrayed after everything? Those questions ran through her head at such a force she almost failed to catch the other side’s response.

“Very well, then. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. You will be given equipment to contact me with directly with maximum encryption in the next two days, and from there you will receive instructions for the next move. Until then, lay low and obey those from Enrai.”

Hmph… Lay low…

Sam hadn’t realized how tired she had grown of hearing that, but before she could get too caught up on that thought she remembered a critical issue as she stiffly frowned. “Wait, you promised to tell me who you were!”

“Of course. My name is the one you once sought, and have now interestingly agreed to cooperate with.”

“And…?!”

“My alias is most widely known as Rex.”

Her heart could have stopped right then and there and never would have noticed. Her face grew pale in a flash, instantly swallowed up by the immense regret and panic upon that name’s mentioning. And before she could question just what exactly she got herself into, it was a struggle instead to not vomit on the spot as she slowly collapsed against her bed.

We’re all going to die, aren’t we?

“Samantha, stay with me.” Rex had heard Sam’s rapidly shallowing breaths, seeming adamant about their new deal. “You made the right choice. Do not fear retribution or death in any instance from my part.”

No! Everything I heard associated with that name was nothing but death! Fearful tears began to well up behind her burning eyes, still unable to speak.

“It was myself after all that suggested the prevention of your execution from the beginning, Samantha. I have the least interest in your death, rather your life has of importance to me.”

It took a moment for that message to register, but confusion quickly grew into resent. “Excuse me?! You can’t claim that! What makes you think I’d fall for that?!”

“I understand your reaction, but I don’t have much time left before we are both compromised, so I will keep it short.”

She desperately wanted to tell him off, but she knew the deal had already been made. All she could do was bite down through her hurt rage and listen.

“Many of us quickly and easily came to know of Reaper’s family situation from the day he walked in, including your complete situation. I took a great risk accepting his lead role, and now after benefitting from his superior skills and assets, I have suffered the consequences of my gamble. You were the fallback plan from day one,” he spoke to much more confusion from Sam, making it hard not to continue listening despite her stance. “And now I finally got through to you without compromising either of our standings.” Another brief moment of thoughts sinking in and breathing rate slowing down followed before Rex continued:

“Again, you are of no threat to me after taking this request from me. The only threat to your life is your brother, and even if you fail but are able to walk away, it will be out through my open doors, guaranteed.”

He does have a point. Putting an end to my brother is my last hurrah, after all. Sebastian won’t heal up in time and this is likely, as I thought, my only shot at a quick end.

“Now, before I temporarily cut our communications,” Rex spoke in notable haste. “Let me repeat: you must continue to operate and function as a member of Enrai due to your current circumstances. You will receive contact from one of my members in approximately two days; Wait for Two Fifty (2:50) and you will know who and where.”

“Wait, what do you-”

“Until then, Ella.”

“Wait!” Sam heard the click the second she fussed back in futility, left hanging with heavy doubt she understood what he meant by two fifty.

Who am I waiting for? Are they coming at two fifty? Where, even? And am I… am I Ella, now? Is that what he meant?!

She let go of the tension in her body, sagging down and flopping onto the mattress, slowly sprawling out as her mind raced through the conversation and what was surely to come over the next few days. And though nightmares took much of her sleep away earlier, it would be the impending reality to take away the rest.

…

I have to call Sebastian…