Reminisce With Me

Chapter 34: Not All Heroes Wear Capes

I was now pacing back and forth, trying to piece the information together. "It still doesn't make any sense. This doesn't explain how you knew I had it. My Gran wouldn't have told you."

Ryder let out a deep breath, his patience running thin. "Aubrey, I remember seeing you at the Gala in the past. You did not look familiar, but I had no intention on investigating because we recieve several new recruits who we onboard quite often. I am sure you figured it out by now, but those who had the least contact with you from the past remember you vividly in the form of a dream."

"I am well aware of the effects," I said, the frustration evident in my tone. "I don't need a recap."

Ryder's eyebrows puckered and I bit my inner cheek for my lack of fear. Ryder Holt seemed to tolerate my boorish attitude, but sooner or later, his composure was bound to collapse.  

"My apologies, I thought I would refresh your memory, sweetheart," he said, ever so charmingly. "I would like to thank you for coming to the past. If it wasn't for our brief interaction, I wouldn't have dreamt of the conversation I had with Oliva after your departure. She had mentioned I will never find the heart of the firm, the list of targets. She made it very clear it was hidden somewhere I will never come across. When I eventually found out it was hidden in a locket, she was not bothered. Olivia was sure that the person who carried the list would never be in the same vicinity as me. That the person was not a member of the firm. I searched for the locket for years. But, I had another dream a few months ago about you at the Gala and my eyes lingered on the locket on your neck. The heart shaped pendent. I later saw you speaking with Olivia in the hallway or in the lounge. It couldn't have been a coincidence that your face was unfamiliar and you were close with Olivia."

Tears now began to sting my eyes. "I shouldn't have come to the Gala," I said more to myself in guilt. "I shouldn't have come to the past."

"Aubrey, this is not your fault." The sincerity in Ryder tone startled me. "But, you had a glimpse of your family history and I was able to find the chip. It is a win for the both of us."

"Ryder, I can't believe you relied on a dream this much."

"I didn't at first," he admitted. "But, Amelia let me know about the machine and that you had successfully gone in."

I stared at him blankly.

I repeated the words he said. "Successfully? As though it was pre-planned?"

He shrugged, almost apologetically. "I am sorry you are finding out about this. But you wanted answers and I am giving it to you. Amelia had been studying you for months and began familiarizing herself with how you behaved. She made sure the machine would catch your eye. She knew you were eager to learn about your past and that the machine would spark your curiosity. Amelia is one of my key players, she is strategic and can predict almost anyone's move."

"She knew I would walk in," I whispered. "She told me to remember Nick before I blacked out. She wanted me to go to Black Onyx."

"As I said before, she is a key player at the firm."

My head began to spin and I held onto the tree trunk for support. Amelia did not want me to learn about my past, she wanted me to find out where the chip was. She wanted me to do the dirty work.

"But the machine was a failed invention!" I now shouted. 

"It was eight years ago," Ryder said, smiling. "Technology does advance overtime."

"What about Carlos, was he in on it too?"

Ryder shook his head. "Carlos is weak. Now that the firm is back, I will need to eliminate those who are not fit to be members."