Perception

10. The Warning

5th October 2017

11:31am

"Abby I told you, watch out for him. He's behind the-..."

"Camila I know! Now I know, I had my doubts too. But he doesn't know anything more than what we already know." I said firmly. "It's just that, the public also knows that now. I hate to say it, but it's because of his interview."

"Think about it. Won't it be useful for you to track them now? Just stick with him until you find everyone we need. Honestly this is a great lead for you, he can be like your friend."

"I know where you're coming from with that, but Stef, I barely know him. How can I suddenly be friends with him to stick that close to him at all times?"

"Aren't you already doing that? He's willing to be with you-..."

"Yes, but do you think he's going to share details of the case with me just like that? He just tells me he's on the hunt for conspiracy theories. If I ask him many questions about the case, he'll find it suspicious."

"Also, if you're on the hunt tracking down the Sagunto Savages, and you're always with him, when you're doing your bit of the hunt, don't you think he'll come to know about it?"

"Oh please, I've been doing this for years with Mrs. Munez my landlord, and she's gotten no idea. I'm not really harming anyone here, just so we're on the same page."

"Yes, but I think you're going to hurt Stef in the process of this manhunt. Be sure of what you ask him, what you do, where you go, everything."

***

5:20pm

I feel pulled apart between several options up in my head. One: I can stick with Stefano and work my way to find them all through the clues he knows and finds, without him knowing any of my intentions.

Two: I can tell him my intentions, and based on his take on it, I work with him, or not work with him.

Three: I don't tell him anything, won't contact him anymore, just flee elsewhere.

I don't want to hurt him in any way, or put him in danger's way during this manhunt. It's madness. He's not doing anything wrong. He's just doing his job, and he's great at this. I wonder if he found out all this by himself, if so, is it possible I could tell him what my intentions are, and try to bring him on my side? I don't know.

As I lay on my bed, motionless from the past few hours, trying to process these thoughts, I get a call to my phone. Stef. I pick it up and the first thing I hear from him are. "Pepperoni or Barbeque?"

"Stef? Uh hello? What?" I replied back, confused.

"Abby, what would you like to eat? Which type?" He spoke.

"Stefano what are you talking about?" I asked back.

"Oh dear, Pizza! Which type would you want?" He asked.

"What? Why?" I asked.

"No questions. Just answers. I'll be there in thirty minutes." He said hurriedly, and hung up.

"Now what was that all about?"

***

6:30pm 

I went up to the terrace of my apartment to get some air. I needed some open space to voice out my thoughts. Camila is right, I actually can stick around with him, but I also don't want to hurt him in the process. He's such a-...