𝖆𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖘𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖒 | d.f. | book two

🛠️ grayson56 🛠️

4:24pm

i take a seat at the dinner table.

"we're getting better," i tell everyone. "june's always been better under pressure, rather than being watched and judged. plus, she's killer on that bow and arrow. seph's premonitions are few and far between, but they're stronger. alex has become someone i've never seen. strong. confident. determined. a fighter. precise accuracy with his knives. matt's become an insane sharpshooter. he doesn't miss. i've grown in my combat, and you two are our best players. i think it's about time we move into phase two."

"i hear you gray. i do, but i don't feel we are where we need to be," ray answers, dismissing my idea, yet again.

"it's been two months. no contact. no anything. don't you think it's time to actively search?" i ask.

"new powers are coming in frequently and we're not mastered in them. we're not rushing this," ray says.

"then when? when apple and dom are missing for a year? two?" i question, controlling myself to not raise my voice.

since veda came into the picture, soraya has been relaxed- to say the least- on her leader duties.

alex and i have shared opinions on soraya not caring enough about the bigger picture.

veda trains us mostly, as ray stands and observes. the two don't even train with us. they go off and train elsewhere as if theirs something to hide.

"gray, we will find them," ray says.

"when?"

"soon?"

"soon when?"

"soon gray. soon. i promise you."

i sigh, and give the conversation a rest as alex comes downstairs, a joint rolled neatly in between his fingers.

"we ready?" he asks us.

"let's go," veda grins, standing.

"i promise grayson. we are going to find them soon. just trust me," ray says, laying a hand on mine.

i remove my hand from hers.

"i'm trying," i tell her, standing, and making my way out the house to our spot.

🎱 | you didn't have to yell at her. she's dealing with a lot, just like you guys are.

what do you know? and i wasn't yelling.

🎱 | i know a lot big guy. just trust her. she's juggling a fuck ton on her plate.

i'm trying to trust her. it just seems like you're distracting her.

🎱 | i'm helping her. i would never prolong finding her family. you starting not to trust me too?

maybe.

🎱 | wow! dolan doesn't trust me!

prove to me i can trust you. ever since you've come around, i've seen no progress. and stop popping into my head whenever you can!

🎱 | just wait. i won't even tell you when i proved it to you, so you can have that epiphany all on your own.

we all get to our smoke spot; an abandoned playground that's rusting day by day. it's further down the trail from the backyard.

it reminds me of home and my backyard.

we all sit in the small gazebo; me sitting next to ray, who's sitting next to veda, who's sitting next to matt, who's sitting next to alex, who's sitting next to me.

"i feel like i have to get this off my chest," ray says, gathering everyone's attention. "i haven't given up on apple or dominic," she says and looks at alex and i directly. "that's my family too, and i don't give up on family. i'm slow burning this thing for a reason. so not only are we ready, but so ann is unready. no doubt she's progressed with apple and dominic with their powers, which means she could be ready for what we throw. and i'm not gambling that. i know i'm going to feel when we're ready. just trust me."

"two months ray," alex says, repeating me. "two. and i don't think you miss them the way i do."

"nothing feels real without them alex."

"soon. soon. soon. that's all you ever say. nothing else. just soon. no plan. no nothing," alex says.

"see it from my point. i'm not leading you to death. or a future where ann has control of us. i can see everyone's potential. i can know when you guys are ready. i want you aware. this isn't that stupid petty battle where i got stabbed. she's going to up her game this time. we have to be prepared."

"i miss them," alex whispers.

i pat his back softly.

"i miss them too. we'll get them back. we will," she assures, nodding, "you have to trust me. i want us strategic, and steps ahead so we're not falling as soon as we start. please. trust me. please."

alex and i look at each other.

🐲 | ray wouldn't put us in danger. she's always had our best interests at heart.

and veda?

🐲 | veda doesn't pull strings. she's ray's emotional support dog.

that's a little harsh dude.

🐲 | sorry you're right. shit. but i'm not wrong in a sense. ray goes to her for everything now.

"you want to talk out loud?" ray says, with a smile.

"okay ray. i'll trust you. but can we communicate with each other. no lies. we have to be that kind of team," alex suggests to her.

"we are. we're still a work in progress," she smiles, which makes me smile.

her happiness still doesn't meet her eyes. and when that happens, i'll be truly happy.

but for now, i'll take this.

for whatever it is and will be.

alex sparks the joint and the session begins.

i need to trust her.

she's our leader for a reason.