Enemy Basis | COMPLETE

22| new resolutions

Waking up felt strange. The surroundings felt unfamiliar and unknown, yet there was an undercurrent of kindness that seemed to permeate the air, momentarily easing my apprehension. As consciousness slowly returned, my eyes still closed, I became aware of a low murmur of conversation. My ears strained to decipher the unfamiliar voices and then, a name, mine, distinctly echoed through the haze. Suspicion lurked within me and so, I feigned sleep, my senses on high alert, as I tried to understand the nature of this conversation. I didn't like this one bit.

"Her stalker could be her father?" The words, spoken in what I would assume was Reed's voice, pierced through my foggy brain. My senses, sluggish at first, suddenly sharpened. It was as if a switch had been flicked, jolting me into full alertness.

"No, he was too young," Dorran replied with his usual short and blunt tone.

"I think we need to shift our focus," Marcelo announced, "and ask ourselves, what is the stalker's motive?"

There was a beat of silence before Reed filled it, "He's right. Darcy said this guy has been following her for years, but nothing has happened. Why attack now?"

Silence descended yet again as they thought, trying to draw up answers that I had attempted to get for years now. Their brainstorming session would only yield the same disappointing results.

"I really do think this is linked to her father; who else has the resources?" Archer asked and I was surprised that he was getting involved. I had never heard him speak much and while our interactions had become less antagonistic, I still wasn't certain where he stood.

At the mention of my father, my gut clenched in anticipation, not wanting the conversation to sway this way. Why were they all here anyway, talking about me all together like they were best friends? It was weird.

"Why would he hire someone to follow her and make sure that she was safe, only to change course and attack her last minute?" Reed's question hung heavy in the air, not seeming to notice my unease or the way my breath hitched in my chest, and unfortunately, neither did Lennox for that matter.

"Darcy called the police on her father and got him arrested," Lennox remarked casually, as if discussing the weather, and not my biggest secrets. "And she said to me, that for as long as she could remember, there was no love between them - he didn't love her like a father should have. So, I find it difficult to believe he would have taken steps to protect her. It doesn't add up."

My heart pounded against my ribs and heated in outrage. Why did I feel betrayed by my best friend again? Yes, Dorran and I had forged an uneasy truce, but that didn't translate to unconditional trust. I would choose when and how to reveal my vulnerabilities, not have them casually laid bare for him and his friends' scrutiny. Lennox's actions were a blatant overstep - it was not up to him to decide what to tell them. How did he think that was okay?

I just couldn't remain silent any longer.

"Did you want to reveal anything else, Lennox?" I announced into the room, annoyed and fed-up once again, "Or did you want to wait until I was unconscious?"

I opened my eyes, rubbing the sleep from them. As I sat up, I was met with the sudden, intense focus of all five pairs of eyes on me but I didn't pay them any attention. I hated being discussed as if I wasn't present, my deepest secrets laid bare for their judgment. It made me feel icky, exposed unwillingly.

The corner of Lennox's mouth moved like he was about to speak, but I cut him off with a sharp shake of my head, "I'm happy to talk, but I'm not okay with you guys spilling my secrets, talking for me. I get to decide what I share, okay?"