Ashes of Vile

29

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Red Code Red Code!

Cassidy was escorted by Lilac and Chase to move to their next hideout. Zakeen was kind enough to offer his home. Cassidy was shocked to find him living in the same old apartment building however hers was a couple floors higher. She realized that Zakeen had a much more normal life compared to others, and in a way he represented a part of Cassidy. The part with the past and the part with the present similarities. They took the hidden routes they had discovered long before especially during their stakeouts when hiding Chase Creed, the hunted man.

They were luckily not discovered. Expecting that every single spot would be guarded by a watchman, it was completely the opposite. It was back to the normal state of Ashgrim freely opening their hearts to socializing and having fun without the constant paranoia of taunting authorities. The group of bandits were truly caught and it seemed Oceanna saw no threat to be watched and demolished.

When they had arrived in Zakeen's home, they were greeted with a chaotic mess that was not dirty but just all over the place. Everything was disorganized and every part of the place screamed busy. There were patches of paper and medical materials all over. A couple dishes not washed but were already pretty decently kept to avoid a loaded cramp. But he ignored the small apartment not being guest friendly and instead welcomed them into the bubble of uncleanliness. The whole space was open and had an identical layout except for the interior design. It was studio but enough room to fit Cassidy, Chase, Lace, and Zakeen.

Given the chance, Cassidy immediately asked if she or Lilac would be able to get stuff out of her apartment as it was only a couple floors down, but they aggressively rejected her request and told her it was a great risk as Oceanna would already have her eyes on any entry in her apartment. And for a matter of fact, she had already most likely ordered her men to search it. Cassidy accepted the defeat and instead got herself comfortable with a few comforters Lilac had brought her and placed on the carpet by the sofa, facing away from Zakeen's bed. Meanwhile the couch was for Chase, but she highly doubt she'd ever see him on it given how much of a busy body he was. This only meant Lace would be staying on the couch instead.

If settling down in comfort for a few hours was doable for Lace, she would be in a deep slumber after their watchful travel. But instead she was cuddled up with a book on her own comforter next to Cassidy. But that wasn't the only thing that scared Cassidy. Not when Lace jerked up without warning and looked at Cassidy then at Chase. "The infinity ring is owned by Vermithis!"

"Yes, we've established that." Chase said as he flipped through Zakeen's study guide not out of curiosity but out of pure boredom. "And it's in a forest." Chase looked at her with interest as she repeated the things they have discovered. And that only meant Lace fell into a deep hole of retracing and she was about to come to a helpful conclusion. "Continue," He said. Lace accepted his assurance for her to continue as she wasn't too fond of giving out intelligent scopes when not asked of. "What forest do we know that's in Ashgrim?"

"Not a single one," This time Cassidy answered, also intrigued. "So where are all the forests?"

"Everywhere that's not Ashgrim." Chase answered, feeling a little silly answering Lace's connect the puzzle questions as though they were toddlers. "Exactly! The only forests are outside of Ashgrim."

"Your point is?"

"Oh seriously? Are you really that daft? I expected you'd connect the dots by now." She shook her head disappointingly at Chase. "I am not as genius as you, Lace."

She looked at him with an annoyed look but then continued anyways, excitement rushing through her blood to share what she had understood. "Inez sees the future. So why does she see things that already exist? The infinity ring in the forest and the walls that divide Ashgrim from the outer world."