Amanita: Poison Shot

Chapter 55: Careful

That Wednesday night after dinner, I was pretending to be asleep on my bed once again. I couldn't wait to get some fresh air – and talk to Siegfried about what had happened at work.

A few minutes later, my father was snoring loudly and I fled. I rode Frankie like mad through the streets of Thalis. I rode all the way up Dawn's promenade, as instructed by Siegfried. The Neon Sea was glowing in its mesmerising blue and turquoise hues on my right.

It was time to scatter Agape's mosquitoes that night. We'd need to skip our meditation session, but it would be for the greater good.

The previous night, Siegfried had told me to meet him in front of Amanita once the rest would've already gone. Each of us needed to assume different positions all around the City Centre. Siegfried and I would be the last ones to get ready to start, I guess. He said he'd explain the details of the operation to me then.

When I was about to park Frankie, I saw him leaning on Amanita's main doors, clad in black from head to toe, patiently waiting for me. I parked her and came closer to him.

"Agape gave me this for you," he said with pride as he handed me a mobile phone. "Congratulations. Now Agape considers you vital to our organization."

"Really?"

I stared at my mobile phone in amazement. I had seen many over the years, but I never had one.

"I can't accept it. I shouldn't have one," I replied swiftly and with worry. "I'm one of the damned. I can't afford this kind of gadgets. If I'm seen using one, it might look suspicious. Besides that, what if my father sees or hears it?"

"I guess you need to be more careful than any of us. Hide it deep in a pocket, wear loose clothing, and put it in vibration mode only."

I welcomed his suggestions, but I still found it a source of trouble.

"You may call me or send me a text message, for anything," he whispered, blushing just a little. "I've already saved my number on your phone."

I checked it out without even thinking. I chuckled and smiled. In the contact list, I could see a contact called 'Sigi', in addition to other numbers I might need, such as Agape's or Gabi's.

"Thank you, Siegfried," I replied with a shy smile.

"So, Agape is hyped about tonight," he went on seriously. "She's 99% sure these mosquitoes will save our asses for the time being."

"Your asses maybe. Mine not really," I replied with sadness and getting pale.

"Why's that?" he asked with concern.

"What Gabi, Ray, Cian and you did yesterday was all for nothing. Your colleagues still hate my guts. At least one of them hates me so much that they've murdered my boss' secretary, Miss Radica, this very morning – trying to frame me in the process."

"What?!" he exclaimed with ire.

"They left a message on the mirror of the ladies restroom, using Miss Radica's blood, to tell me that they owe me. 'IOU, Daphne' were the exact words."

He looked as if he was about to murder someone.

"And I haven't told you the worst of it yet," I went on while his whole body was getting even tenser. "I'm not sure they're the ones who've done it. It could've also been the Secretary of State."

"What are you talking about?!"

"Here's the thing. In befriending Eros, I might've spurred him to apply for an internship at the faculty of Biology. He's smart and talented. He got the job. Mrs Nevermore was at the clinic this morning, and she's told me the great news. Apollo called them yesterday to confirm Eros had got the internship, and that he was proud of him. Mrs Nevermore was thrilled, but the Secretary of State wasn't. They argued. Besides that, he had already seen me through Eros' nanochip last Monday. He saw that we were becoming friends, that he had invited me over to his house even... right when you were committing that synchronised mass murder. I heard them argue about me right before I fled. So, the fact that I had something to do with Eros' change of career choice might've driven the Secretary of State mad – or madder than he already was. Mrs Nevermore has spared me from the wrath of the police this morning because she's convinced that he's the one behind Miss Radica's murder, especially bearing in mind he's prone to committing a wide range of crimes just to get what he wants, according to her. She hates his guts, and they argue 24/7. I'd say she hates him more than any of you do."