Here I Come | ✔

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two - The Who, Where, And When

Sunday, 15th November 2020

KRYSTALLIA

"Okay, we have the who and the where, now we need the when," Landon concluded and Sam raised a hand, "Why do we need the when?"

Currently, we were in the meeting room with only us Estradas, Zach, Sam, and the two second-in-commands. We were discussing how to approach the newfound information. A holopad was on the table with a mock-up map of the forest behind the amusement park.

"The when is for when we destroy the last of Withered Ghost," Mark said and KT asked, "Are we completely sure it's the same gang?"

"I'm sure," James said, pointing at the picture of Hayden Parker running out of a burning building and another picture of him in the forest.

"They're Withered Ghost one way or another," Joseph noted.

Sam asked again, "Why do we need to destroy them?"

"Because if we don't, they're going to destroy us first," Landon said, glancing at him. Sam squinted but nodded anyway.

"Anyway," Landon rolled his eyes and continued, "We can confirm that Hayden Parker is the leader, but why didn't they mention Tatiana Smith?"

"She's the mastermind," Zachary mentioned, pressing his hands on the edge of the table, "She uses people as pawns in her game to win. She's behind the scene."

"And how do you know?" I asked, looking at him. He shrugged, "She's always been like that. Before, during, and after we dated. You could ask her sister for confirmation."

He looked at Landon who was looking at his phone. After a while, he ordered, "Mark, get Tracey here."

"Yes, boss," Mark walked out and I took my hairband from around my wrist and started to tie my hair up in a ponytail. Zach must've noticed because he pulled my hands from my hair and gathered them in a high ponytail for me.

He took the hair tie from my hand and secured my hair in place. He pecked my hair, stroking the ponytail softly. He slid an arm around my waist, holding me close to him.

Mark came back with Tracey following behind. I assumed she was working because she had on a grey trench coat with her tall platform heels as she walked in, the door closing behind her.

"Yes?" she asked, looking at Landon.

"Describe Tatiana's character."

"W-Why?" she stuttered, looking around the room.

"Just curious," Landon said, pressing a button on the holopad and popped up a notepad.

"Uh, she's pretty controlling and she wants things done her way. When we were young, she threw a tantrum just because our mother folded her blanket. She'd do anything to get her way, even if it means hurting others."

"So are you aware she is part of Withered Ghost?" Landon asked and she looked shocked, "What? The gang that burned down?"

He nodded and she shook her head, "No, I didn't know she was in any gang, only ours."

"To conclude, Tatiana Smith will use people to get what she wants," Landon said, typing it in the notepad.

Tracey nodded, "Yeah."

"Okay, thank you for your cooperation. Mark, escort her out."

Mark nodded and guided Tracey out of the meeting room.

"How are we gonna use this info?" Joseph asked and Landon pointed at the place where we camped out during September, "We estimate what she's going to do."

***

A few hours later, we were all lounging on the chairs, tired from all of the plans we threw out. None of them stuck and we were getting very frustrated.

Zach pulled me onto his lap and hid his face in my neck. He wrapped his arms tightly around my body as he inhaled my scent.

"I want a KitKat," Sam whined, sliding down the chair a little so half of his body was in midair. Mark, whose feet were on the table, threw a pen at him, "Ask Lorraine to get you one."

"You know what? I will," Sam said, throwing the pen across the room to press the button to call Lorraine in.

Son of an accurate aim.

Wait that sounded wrong-

"Yes?" Lorraine poked her head beside the door and Sam raised a hand, "Could I have a KitKat, please?"

"Yes, sir," she said, backing out. A few moments later, she came back and tossed the chocolate bar at him. He caught it and waved, "Thanks, Lorraine."

"You're welcome, sir."

She closed the door and I snuggled into Zach's warmth. He stroked my hair softly, twirling a strand around his finger every once in a while.

Sometimes, silence is the best sound-

Someone burst through the door, startling all of us. Zach instinctively tightened his hold on me as we stared at the person who didn't read the 'MEETING IN SESSION' sign.

It was Tyson.

"Sir," he huffed, out of breath.

"Take a deep breath before you speak," Landon said, putting his phone on the table. Tyson took a few breaths before talking again, "Sir, there's a commotion outside."

"Tyson, I pay you to-" Landon was cut off by the sound of guns firing. All of us looked at him and he sighed, getting up, "Let's go then."

I pressed a button on the wall and it turned into a wall full of weapons. We took our choice and filed out to where the shooting was.

People were shooting up the house as our men tried to stop them from entering.

"Heads up!" Zach said from behind me as he pulled a pin of a grenade and threw it towards the door. Our men dodged the armored explosive coming their way and blew up in the enemy's face.

We ducked and waited until the smoke cleared before walking over to the front door. James unhooked a vest from one of the bodies and showed the logo on it to us.

VX.TS.PO.WG.

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