TWO FACED

15 - THE TRUTH

      in the dimly lit office, xaver, rhemi, gray, and alex gathered around the desk, the files spread out before them. the air was thick with tension and anticipation as they meticulously combed through each document, searching for any clue that might reveal the truth behind xaver's suspicions.

      "look at this," gray said, pointing to a series of numbers scrawled in the margin of one of the files. "these numbers keep showing up in different reports. they must mean something."

      alex furrowed his brow, leaning in closer to examine the numbers. "it's a code," he muttered, his analytical mind already working to decipher the pattern. "but what kind of code?"

      xaver's eyes narrowed as he studied the numbers, his mind racing to connect the dots. suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind. "wait," he said, his voice urgent. "what if it's a letter-number code? each number could correspond to a letter in the alphabet."

      rhemi nodded, catching on quickly. "let's give it a shot. write down the numbers, and let's see what we get."

      with renewed determination, the brothers worked together, translating the sequence of numbers into letters. the process was slow and meticulous, each of them contributing to the decoding effort. as the letters began to take shape, a sense of unease settled over them.

      "okay, we have something," Gray said, his voice tense with anticipation. "A-R-T-H-U-R... V-I-N-C-E-N-T... W-O-N-G."

      the room fell silent as the realization sank in. xaver's heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of shock and dread coursing through him. "arthur vincent wong," he whispered, the name echoing ominously in the stillness of the room.

      rhemi's expression darkened, his jaw clenching in anger. "that's our father."

      alex's eyes widened in disbelief. "but why? why would his name be in these files?"

      xaver shook his head, his mind racing to make sense of the revelation. "i don't know," he admitted, his voice filled with frustration. "but it can't be a coincidence. there has to be a reason his name is here."

      gray leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "maybe it's a message. or a warning."

      rhemi's eyes flashed with determination. "whatever it is, we need to find out. we can't let this go unanswered."

      xaver nodded, his resolve hardening. "agreed. we'll dig deeper, follow every lead, and uncover the truth. no matter what it takes."

      the name arthur vincent wong hung over them like a dark cloud, but they were determined to shine a light on the secrets hidden within the files. 

      each document, painstakingly reviewed, held the same sequence of numbers that they now recognized as a code. the tension in the room was palpable as they worked in silent, unified concentration.

      gray held up one of the earliest files, the edges worn and yellowed with age. "here's another set of numbers," he said, pointing to the cryptic sequence.

      alex quickly jotted down the numbers, converting them into letters. "T-H-E... M-A-S-T-E-R-M-I-N-D..."

      rhemi's eyes widened in realization as he read aloud, "the mastermind behind all incidents is—"

      the brothers paused, a collective breath held in anticipation as xaver finished the sentence. "arthur vincent wong."

      silence enveloped the room as the full weight of the revelation settled upon them. xaver's face twisted with a mix of anger and disbelief. he dropped the file onto the desk, the pages scattering.

      "son of a bitch," xaver muttered, the curse barely audible but carrying the full force of his fury. he let out an incredulous, bitter laugh, the sound echoing hollowly in the confined space of the office.

      rhemi's eyes blazed with anger, his fists clenching at his sides. "our own father... testing us with these missions, putting us in danger, all for some twisted game?"

      gray's face reflected a mix of shock and betrayal. "he didn't care if we lived or died," he whispered, the realization hitting him hard. "we were just pawns in his sick experiment."

      alex shook his head, a deep frown etched on his face. "all this time, we thought we were fighting real threats, but it was him all along. he set this up, risking our lives without a second thought."

      xaver stood, his body tense with barely contained rage. "he's been manipulating us, watching us struggle and suffer, just to test our limits. it's beyond cruel."

      rhemi placed a hand on xaver's shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. "we need to confront him, xav. we need answers."

      xaver nodded, his jaw set in determination. "we will. but first, we need to be prepared. if he's willing to go this far, there's no telling what he's capable of."

      gray's expression hardened, his usual light-hearted demeanor replaced with grim resolve. "we've survived his tests. we can survive this."

      alex looked at each of his brothers in turn, his eyes filled with a steely resolve. "we'll get through this, just like we always do. together."

      with their suspicions confirmed, the brothers shared a moment of silent solidarity, the betrayal of their father fueling their determination. they had faced countless dangers before, but this time, the threat was closer to home, more personal.

      xaver's heart was still pounding with anger and disbelief as he looked at his brothers. "you guys go rest," he said, his voice steadier than he felt. "i need some air."

      rhemi, gray, and alex exchanged concerned glances but nodded, understanding their brother's need for solitude. "take care, xav," rhemi said softly, patting xaver's shoulder before leading the others out of the office.

      xaver grabbed his leather jacket and keys, heading for his motorcycle parked outside the headquarters. the engine roared to life, and he sped away, the wind whipping past him a welcome distraction from the turmoil in his mind. he rode to the nearest park, a secluded spot where he often found solace.

      the park was quiet, the evening air cool and refreshing as xaver dismounted his bike and walked along the tree-lined paths. he took deep breaths, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside him. he wandered aimlessly until a soft meow caught his attention.

      looking down, xaver saw a calico cat weaving around his legs, her fur brushing against his jeans. a genuine smile broke through his troubled expression. "hey there, little one," he murmured, bending down to pet her. the cat purred loudly, leaning into his touch.

      remembering the small bag of cat food he always carried for moments like these, xaver pulled it out of his jacket pocket. he poured a bit into his hand, offering it to the calico, who eagerly nibbled at the treat. for a few moments, he lost himself in the simple joy of feeding and petting the cat, the tension in his shoulders easing as he watched her contentedly munching away.

      but the tranquility was short-lived. a voice called out, cutting through the peaceful evening air. "xaver? is that you?"