chapter seven: dead men tell no tales

*Amora's POV*

Weirdly enough, I couldn't take my eyes off of it as the thread of thoughts continued to wheel around.

Why the fuck do I keep getting these flashbacks? Why did I get an attack tonight? What triggered it? Why was Luke in it? There's no way that Mr. Young triggered it, right?

Ha, no way. As if.

But I have to admit that there's something weird going on with him. Something weird with the way he acts. And his face- Some features oddly resembles-

"Hellooo? Earth to A!" A voice interrupted my thoughts and as everything faded back into reality, I was greeted with Cleo flicking my forehead with her fingers.

Naturally, I slightly whimpered while both my hands shot up to touch the area she hit. "Ow, Cleo- Was that necessary?"

She rolled her eyes as as she turned to her keyboard and started typing. "It is when you're talking to someone who's zoned out- Looking at a dinner jacket." Then she turned her chair again, only to catch me staring at it again.

Then she pinched my cheeks, "Aww, look at you- " But I interrupted her as I finally found myself grounded.

"Shit. Right. The USB." I uttered suddenly, then she stopped pinching my cheeks and cupped my face with a weird smirk forming on her lips.

In a malicious tone, she mocked. "What were youu doing?" She tilted her head as I caught a glimpse of the USB plugged into her computer. "Were you daydreaming about the guy who gave you that?" Her smirk grew into a wide grin as she pointed at the dinner jacket.

For some reason it felt like I was being falsely accused for stealing some kid's candy because the moment she said that, my legs jolted up and as I launched myself from the seat.

I defensively said. "Come on, Cleo. Uhh, we're getting side-tracked here- So about the USB...?" I set my eyes on it.

Then, just in a flash, her facial expression transitioned into a serious one as she stood up to unplug the USB. "A, I think it's better if you see its contents when you're alone." She said while she unplugged it and dubiously handed it over to me. "But you should know that there are only 2 folders in that USB. One of them opens up to a video..." She looked away as she scratched the back of her head. "And the other one- I tried my best- But the folder got corrupted while I was in the process of deactivating the virus that suddenly popped up." Her head drooped down in disappointment.

I assured her, "Cleo, it's fine- I know you did your best." While I encouragingly squeezed her shoulder.

As we left the IT control room and walked down the hallway that secretly led to the food court of the actual mall, Cleo announced out of nowhere. "Mr. Oliver stopped by and already knows what's in it. He told me to tell you that you should watch it tonight- Then tomorrow, meet him at the -5 conference room."

Oh shit. We never use that room unless we really needed to take extra precautions of being overheard. That means... Whatever's in this USB is seriously dangerous.

And- Ugh- Double shit, because this also means I'll have to do extra paperwork while I'm on this case.

~~~

The booming music blared through the pulsating lights that blinked across the dance floor; Where the sweet scent of sweat and perfume collided like the faceless bodies that were slamming into each other to the beat of the music.

And like an idiot, I just stood there. Utterly confused. And I couldn't even hear my thoughts over this stupid song that's obviously a remix. The fake remix.

How did I even get here?

Still standing like a statue, I finally noticed that Evan was busting out some silly dance moves around me.

He shouted through the music, "If you don't tell me what's going on- We might actually stay here all night, Amora!" While he continued rhythmically bopping his head to the beat.

~~~

In a hurry, I kicked my shoes off and threw my keys onto the two-seater couch. Practically slamming my laptop on my desk, I stuck the USB in and clicked on the first thing that appeared on my screen. It opened up to a video that showed Dad, sitting in a chair and in a blazer.

He seemed to be in his law firm's office when he took this video. The video slightly lagged during the beginning but was now playing smoothly.

As Dad began to talk I noticed how he had his two elbows resting on the table with his hands clasped together and how both of his thumbs circled each other. A habit of his whenever he's deep in thought.

He let out a shaky breath while his eyes darted in different directions, "This USB... If anyone manages to watch this video- I suggest you find the nearest police precinct and give this to them- Wait, no." He held his head in hands as an audible sigh echoed. "Actually don't even bother cause' it won't matter- It'll only end up hurting more people..." Bitterly, he chuckled as if he was trying to find any kind of reassurance. "If I'm not alive by the time you read this then what I've been working on for months has been confirmed..."

I shut my eyes tight and paused the video for a second. How could he say that so lightly? Abruptly, a sharp pang stung me by the temples of my head as I took in a sharp breath.

Tapping the space bar, the video resumed. "That it's not even the evidence I stumbled upon that's enough to put him behind bars- No, it's more than that. There's more in Italy- Whoever you are, just know that the all the answers lie in Italy and that all the effort I've wasted has all been for something after all..." A hint of panic and anxiety hid behind his words as his voice grew louder and louder.

At that moment, I was beyond confused. It was a whole ton of shit to take in. I mean, Italy? When did he go there? Unless... He lied to us.

He continued after a short pause, "This man is dangerous. He's tightly wrapped in a dense network of middlemen and every time I find a lead, I'd always find myself in a dead end." I gripped the sides of the laptop's screen as he sniffled. "What I found was way too big. Too big that they wanted me to keep my mouth shut..."

Who is "he" and who the fuck is "they"?

"But Amora, if for some reason you're watching this- You have to know that it's my job to seek and serve justice- So don't be mad at your old man," He looked up to the camera as he sadly put up a smile. "I was just doing what I thought was right. I'm sure you would've done the same- That's why I agreed to let you train with John, if anything ever happened to me or your Mom. I love you guys." For moments, I stared at the screen. I stared at the "0:00" that indicated the video was finished. Done. It was done.

My stomach lurched and it felt like my lungs were slowly deflating. I couldn't breathe nor see clearly. A rush of emotions attacked me. I was angry; He knew something would happen to him yet he didn't bother telling anyone? Who is this man? He probably has the most reasonable motive to- To kill Dad. I was sad; Their deaths were in vain and uncalled for. Dad had much more to live for. After years of studying to be a prosecutor, he finally got to open up his own law firm. I was still dumbfounded; Did Dad mean John Oliver? As in John from CIA? He knows John? And what about Italy? There's more evidence there? What the fuck?

What the fuck.

After a few replays, I jotted down some notes on some pieces of paper, when out of nowhere a droplet plopped down on the paper I was writing on. Soon, I realized they were from me. As I barely managed to keep my head straight, the pieces of the puzzle seem to be making sense. Now I just need to put all of them together to see the bigger picture.

To Italy, it is then. It's a good thing that I'll be going to Italy anyways to do some excavating.

I sniffled as I clicked out of the video and clicked on the other folder. It was labelled "On Ezra Dunson". When nothing happened, I repeatedly clicked on the folder icon.

Until a voice pierced through the silence and announced itself, "Amore!" In an instant, I closed my laptop and hid the pieces of paper in a book that was laying around. As I turned to face the voice, Evan folded his arms and held a scruntinizing gaze against me. "Amora? What's wrong?" As I got a reality check, I realized that I forgot to wipe my tears.

Evan should probably not have the spare keys to my apartment.

"Nothing." With the back of my hand, I casually wiped the tears away and warmly smiled at him. "Nothing, really- I was just watching some kdramas, y'know how I get emotional every time the second male lead doesn't get the girl, right?" I let out a chuckle.

~~~

An hour eventually passed as Evan and I went back and forth, trying to argue why I was crying in the dark. Right at the moment when I thought I was winning, Evan dragged me out of my apartment and knew that if he ever wanted force out what I was really feeling, all he had to do was either annoy me or super annoy me by doing the things I absolutely hated.

And he knows that one of the things that truly annoy me and at the same time, absolutely hated- Was going bar hopping.

But I mean, it's gonna take more than a couple of shots if he really wants me to dance. And I rarely drink.

I wanted to turn my head inside and out. Everything felt unorganized. Maybe the man that Dad mentioned was Ezra Dunson? Because why would he have an entire folder labelled after him?

"Is it working?" Evan screamed again, this time he wasn't dancing but was now just moving his arms. "Wanna tell me now?" I nodded my head and motioned him to come to me. I guess if I told him a part of the truth... Yeah, but that's still classified as lying.

Firmly placing my hands on his shoulder while I pulled him closer to me, I softly said. "They're back again," His eyebrows creased in confusion but as he started to realize what came back, he pouted his lips. "I don't- I'm not exactly sure what's triggering them. But I just know the flashbacks..." He embraced me all of a sudden which caused me to slightly stumble back as I hugged him back too. "Are back." And I closed my eyes as I buried my head in his neck; sweat trickling down his neck.

I mean, it is true- The flashbacks are back. But he can't know about the video if it's going to possibly kill him. There's no fucking way I'm risking that.

In disgust, I pulled away as I scrunched up my nose, "Dude, your sweat- It's all over me." I yelled over the music while I wiped the sweat from my face and rubbed it on his face.

"Hey!" He beamed as he pocketed his hands. "I have to say, every year- You get better and better at lying. But I must remind you that I, too, get better." He cutsied then grabbed my hand while saying, "I think our work here is done. Let's go back home, hmm?" We navigated ourselves back to the more peaceful side of the club.

"I need to use the toilet here though."

"Okay, go ahead- I'll wait here!" Evan raised his voice as the music seemed to have gotten louder. In unison, we both turned our heads to glare at the DJ tonight- Sam. Evan's friends with him but I'm starting to think it was all an act, just to get in this stupid VIP club.

Nothing about it screams VIP-quality. That is, except for the toilet.

Strategically evading the swarm of people that suddenly passed by, I kept my eyes glued to the floor as my breath suddenly hitched. The words, "If I'm not alive..." registered in my ears while a crimson image of Dad's motionless body flashed in a dark abyss.

Biting my lips, I ran straight to the toilet.

I dashed out of the toilet and as I walked, the air felt heavy and it suffocated me. A few steps in- A dead corpse was draped over the floor with his head twisted to the other side; A dark red liquid slowly oozed out from everywhere. It was real. Or it felt real. I shook my head as I neared it, thinking this isn't real. It can't be real. When I recognized the face-

I screamed.

My legs gave in. And as I tightly hugged my legs, that was when the crimson liquid engulfed the entire room, languidly drooping on all the sides. My heart wanted to break free and it was getting harder and harder to breathe. Everything turned red. Blood red.

I buried my head into my legs.

In mere seconds, I heard distinct footsteps, then, a warm fabric enveloped me that was held by someone on the other side. As I continued to rock back and forth, trying to calm myself down, the person's hold on the fabric grew tighter. And before I knew it, it felt like I was enveloped into a hug.

The person made itself known by calmly humming and in a low voice, he murmured. "Whenever something like this happens, count to 10 and take deep breaths in between..."

Through the fabric, I passively nodded my head and whispered my count to 10.

But by the time I reached 10. The person had already disappeared.

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congrats to you if you finished all of this in one sitting! haha i did not expect this chapter to be so stupidly long im so sorry

but ohh well

hope you stay healthy and happy ;)

vote, comment and whatever it's okay if you don't, i will still love you

ireck_wings