Found Obsession

Chapter 97: An Attempt of Justice I

"Rose, it was years ago. Jonathan is so into you," Mark said after a while, his tone almost pleading, as if trying to reassure her.

Rose sighed, her thoughts drifting back to her recent conversation with Jonathan. No matter what their feelings were, they were on hold. Jonathan had admitted that kissing her made it harder for him to accept their situation, essentially confessing she was his weakness.

Things were far too complicated.

Her mind turned sharply to her father, and a wave of disgust rolled over her. She realized that, deep down, the past didn't matter. She believed she couldn't provide Jonathan a future—not while feeling tainted and insufficient. There were so many things she still had to work through, burdens she hadn't even shared yet.

She swallowed hard and turned to Mark. The last thing she wanted was to worry him or make him feel guilty, especially when his time felt so limited.

"I know, Mark," she said softly. "Don't worry about it. Jonathan and I will be alright. This changes nothing for the team."

Mark exhaled deeply, relief washing over his face. "I was scared for a moment. When I found out... it destroyed me. You guys are my best friends, and it felt like betrayal. But..." He hesitated, his voice softening. "I knew no one would ever understand me like this group. I can trust you all with my life."

Rose nodded, meeting his gaze. "I feel the same way. I'd trust all of you with my life."

A moment of silence passed, their shared trust unspoken but deeply felt.

"Today," Rose said, a determined edge creeping into her voice, "we're going on our first mission."

Mark grinned, his earlier worries melting away. "We are," he said, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "Is your shoulder good for it?"

Rose nodded. "It'll hold."

Rose returned his smile, the weight of the upcoming mission pushing away the lingering shadows of the past. 

After a while, Mark left, leaving Rose alone on the couch. She stared at the investigations on the walls. The more she looked, the more her chest tightened. Who would have thought the answers were more gruesome than the murders themselves?

"What did you sacrifice, Elijah?" she whispered, her eyes scanning each wall. "To become this... what did you give up?"

The thought chilled her, and she swallowed hard, a flicker of fear creeping in. Some answers were better left unspoken.

She glanced at her watch. It was time to go.

Grabbing her things, she headed for the door where the soldiers assigned to her stood at attention. They saluted as she passed, and she gave a small nod in return. Descending the stairs, she spotted Lucas waiting in the meeting room. When he saw her, he quickly hurried over.

Without a word, she led him toward the stairs, following Jonathan's carefully outlined plan. At the right moment, Rose struck. In swift, calculated movements, she knocked out the two soldiers tailing her.

Lucas froze in disbelief. "You just—"

"Help me drag them," she whispered sharply, cutting him off. Together, they moved the unconscious soldiers into a janitor's closet, closing the door quietly behind them.

From there, they hurried toward the bathrooms and climbed through a small window. After crawling through to another set of stairs, they reached the exit Jonathan had marked on the map.

As they slipped outside, Lucas whispered, "How are you going to explain this to Jonathan?"

Rose smirked faintly, glancing at him. "Leave my husband to me," she whispered, and Lucas fell silent.