Hitman's Tenet

Chapter 8

I knock on Crow's door, ready to deliver the bad news. I told Sis about the gem earlier, and filled her in on how it didn't exist. She took the news well, I suppose. Sis asked for some time alone to think about her situation.

It doesn't get easier the second time. And I don't think Crow will take the news as gracefully as Sis did.

But I knock on the door cautiously, palms sweating.

"Hi," Crow answers. He looks me up and down suspiciously. "What do you need?" I balk, anxiously fidgeting with my ring.
"Ah. So, about that. Well, yes, I have to tell you something. And it's important. I will tell you about that. Right now, actually. Yep, I'm telling you now."

Crow glares at me, unamused. Him and Iva would probably get along. I clear my throat, and run a hand through my hair.

"Can I come in?" Crow nods, and I shuffle awkwardly into his room. Crow has one bed, one window, one chair, and one desk. He doesn't have anything on his walls, and all his furniture is white. Except for his bedsheets, which are black. All his clothes are piled neatly in a corner.

"What is it." I sit on his bed, drawing patterns on his bedsheet.
"About the gem."
"Did you manage to take it?" Crow pauses, and then shakes his head. "You didn't, or else you wouldn't be acting like this. What happened with the gem?"
"Crow, the gem doesn't exist," I blurt.

"What." He stands up, and I watch his hands. They're shaking, and when he sees me watching, Crow balls his hands into fists and steps up to me. I have to crane my neck upwards just to see his chin.

"You have got to be kidding me. We had one chance, and you -- Jay, you -- I can not-"
"Crow, you know that this isn't my fault." He lets out a sorrowful sigh, a fleeting expression flicking across his face. I can't read it, and Crow's face settles back into a stone cold mask.

"Is our sister never getting better?"
"Crow..."
"She isn't, then. And there is no other way."
"I mean, without the gem, it looks hard right now, but-"

With that, Crow leaves the room. I shift uncomfortably on his bed, and decide against following him. I'll let Crow have his space.

As I walk over to our tree, Amber runs over and clasps my hands.
"It's so good to see you. How did the news with Crow go?"

I filled Amber in on our guild's situation, and mentioned Crow, Nadalie, and the real Arthur. I told Amber I'd meet up with her, as soon as I broke the news to Crow.

"Not great," I reply, a bit dejected. "I left him alone to think. Don't know if that's the best idea though." Amber squeezes my hands, and gives me a smile.

"Everything will work itself out," Amber encourages. How did I not see how beautiful her heart was?

"You're doing just fine," Amber continues. I gaze into her eyes, admiring her liveliness.

"Would you like some time to rest, or are you still good to go on with the you-know-what?" Amber asks.

"No! I'm still ready! There's work to be done, after all."

I instinctively Amber a hug, and her soft honey locks brush against my cheek.

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Jay's hugging me. Im suddenly hyperaware of everything about him.

He smells like pine. Jay's hair is gorgeously curly. And his eyes. I wrap my arms around Jay, returning the hug.

All of a sudden, Jay picks me up and twirls me around in the air! I squeal, full of giddy excitement.

"Put me down!" I say, not really meaning it. I ruffle his hair, mussing around his curls. His dark skin seems to glow in the sunlight.

"Never!" He crows joyfully, throwing his head back to laugh. Jay spins me around faster, and soon we topple over on the grass.

Still full of bubbly laughter, I mess Jay's hair around some more. My heart skips a beat when our eyes meet.

Me and Jay meet up with Iva, who is leaning against a doorstep. She eyes Jay suspiciously, and I roll my eyes at her.
"Yes, Jay's here to stay."
"Fine..." She looks away, nervously. "But that's not it." Waving us over, Iva opens a closet. "You know this guy?"

Nothing registers when I see a tall, dark-haired man curled up in the corner, bound and gagged.

But Jay's eyebrows rise, and his jaw drops in suprise. The man in the closet grunts when he sees Jay, and gives him a murderous look. I almost start to defend Jay, about to lash out at the stranger, but Jay only laughs and ungags the man.

"You little- could you possibly be any more-" The man retorts, furious.
"Oh, someone's angry," Jay teases, a glint in his eye. So Jay knows them?

Turning around to me and Iva, Jay points to the man in the closet.
"Closet-Man is Crow. And Crow, these are the twins, Iva and Amber. And yes, he's always this grumpy."
"Am not." Crow's voice is deep and gravelly, and radiates annoyance. "Me and Jay belong to the same guild."

"So, can I untie him?" Iva's already up and untying Crow, and he rubs his wrists. "Are we going to include him in our plan? I mean, Jay knows him," Iva inquires, twirling her hair innocently.

Jay shrugs, and I nod.
"Why not?" With a huge grin on all of our faces, Jay slings an arm around Crow's shoulder.
"You're going to want to hear this. Wait to see what we have planned."

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We stand in the town square, all of us with our masks on to hide our identities. Soon a crowd of people gather, drawn to our shouts. They stand close, but keep a distance when they spot Crow. He's so tall, Crow's over a head taller than everyone in town.

Jay stands atop a podium, relaying his message to the people. I can feel his energy, even as I watch from the sidelines.

"I welcome you to the Town Square. We are gathered here to deliver rather... unfortunate news. However, it is most important that I have your full, undivided attention. Please listen to my words carefully." Jay pauses, knowing the weight of his next words. I see him tilt his head towards me, and I give Jay a discreet thumbs-up."

"The Chairman has lied to us all. The gem is fake," Jay announces. Whispers surge through the crowd, quickly turning into shouts.

"Liar!"
"How do we know you speak the truth?"
"Give us proof!"

Jay holds up his hand, silencing the crowd.

"I understand that this is a difficult message. However, I am more than sure of my stance. My group has gathered inside intel of The Chairman admitting to the gem's scam."

The Jay pulls off a cloth covering, unveiling a maghony, gold-encrusted box. The same box that The Chairman opened during the ball.

"This, is your proof."