It's an update! Sorry about the major delay, I've just been busy with life and other writing projects. I'm still trying my best to complete my ongoing stories. Thank you to all those who continue to read them! I hope you enjoy the latest update. Warning: there is a mention of death.
"It gets easier."
The words slipped quietly from Cal's mouth as he and Delphine climbed the concrete steps to Felix's loft. Since their discovery at the DYAD Institute, neither had spoken a word.
"Trust me," Cal said, stopping just before the landing, "It really does get easier. Plus you've got us now, people to talk to."
Delphine nodded and gave a polite smile, but still looked unconvinced. "This whole situation is-"
"Cal? Delphine? Is that you?" Cosima's voice rang through the hallway before Cosima herself appeared on the landing. "Oh, thank god."
"Is something wrong?" Cal asked.
"Um… It's nothing," Cosima said.
"COSIMA!" Sarah's sharp voice rang out like a warning shot from inside the loft and echoed through the hall.
"Okay, well, it's something…"
Cosima beckoned the pair forward into Felix's loft. When everyone was safely inside, she pulled the heavy door shut with a thud and secured it with the screwdriver.
"There's something you should see, Delphine," Cosima said, gently guiding Delphine to the couch. "Maybe you should sit."
Delphine stared at Cosima before looking at the rest of the group. Everyone was quiet, a look of concern shared among them.
"What's going on?"
Cosima silently gestured for Delphine to sit. When the blonde finally complied, Cosima turned toward the television and upped the volume.
Onscreen stood a news reporter. He talked quickly, nearly stumbling over his words, all while gesturing at something behind him. And then Delphine saw it. He was pointing at an apartment complex. Her apartment complex.
… Once again, this is breaking news... Police are still on the scene here where a body has been found inside one of these apartments with a gunshot wound to the head. Police estimate the body had been hidden inside the apartment for one, maybe two weeks. It was discovered earlier today after the landlord went to question the tenant about unpaid rent. Police are cautioning everyone to stay indoors. They believe whoever did this is armed and still at large. When asked if they had any leads, we were told they believe the suspect is male and may be involved with the military…
"I… I…," Delphine looked between Cosima and the group. "I don't understand."
"Mark Rollins," Cosima said.
"What?" Delphine said. "No, it can't be. He just moved in…"
"I don't think he ever lived there," Cosima said, lowering herself next to Delphine on the couch. "I… we think he just needed that apartment."
"Why?"
Cosima reached a hand out to comfort Delphine, but the blonde recoiled from the touch.
"Delphine…"
"Why did he need that apartment?" Delphine asked again.
Delphine looked at Cosima, who in turn looked at Sarah. Silent words were spoken between the clones until Sarah finally blurted out:
"We think Project Castor has found you."
"Cosima?" Delphine whispered, poking her head out from Cosima's bedroom. "Are you awake?"
Delphine had locked herself away in Cosima's room as soon as the two women had returned to the apartment that night. Not surprisingly, Delphine didn't have much to say after learning Project Castor might be after her too. Of course Cosima had tried checking on her – several times actually – but the blonde just needed some time to think.
"Yeah." Cosima whispered from the couch in the other room. "I'm awake."
Delphine could faintly make out the couch from where she stood in the bedroom. And just sticking out over the couch's edge were Cosima's feet.
"Can we talk?" Delphine asked.
"Of course," Cosima said.
Delphine watched as Cosima dropped her feet to the floor and sat upright on the couch. Slowly, Delphine tiptoed over and joined her on the couch.
"Are you okay?" Cosima asked, keeping her voice to a whisper.
"I'm scared," Delphine said.
"I know," Cosima said. She slipped her hand over Delphine's and gave it a light squeeze. "You've got me though. And you have Cal and Sarah and Alison and Felix… We're all in this together."
Delphine stared at their hands, watched as Cosima lightly ran her thumb along the back of her hand.
"I don't think Felix likes me very much," Delphine suddenly whispered.
Cosima snorted and rolled her eyes. "He likes you. He's just protective. This is a fucked up situation, it takes a toll on everybody involved."
More silence. Cosima kept her hand over Delphine's though, never ceasing her gentle caresses.
"When did you know?" Delphine finally asked.
Cosima furrowed her brows. "Know what?"
"When did you know I was the daughter of Bernard Cormier?" Delphine whispered. "Was it in the lab?"
Cosima shook her head. "No."
"At dinner?"
Cosima hesitated and Delphine pulled her hand away. "Yes, but I never told anyone, not even my sisters. Not until you showed up at my door." Cosima watched as Delphine processed the new information. The blonde looked so tired, so defeated. "Delphine, if you wanted to run away and hide from all of this, I wouldn't stop you…"
"Where would I go?" Delphine asked.
It was a legit question. Where could she possibly go? Delphine was involved now. The life she had known before Cosima, that was long gone. Whether she liked it or not, Delphine had a new life now, one that involved clones, conspiracies, Castor and Cosima.
"I don't know," Cosima said. "Maybe I could-"
Her words were interrupted by an incoming text. Cosima grabbed the phone from the table and read the new message.
"Cal's found something," Cosima said, relaying the text to Delphine. "He wants us to meet him and Sarah at a bar tomorrow; says it's important." Cosima looked at Delphine. "What do you want to do?"
"Okay." Delphine shrugged and pulled herself from the couch.
"Okay?" Cosima leapt from the couch and followed Delphine. "Are you sure?"
"What other choice do I have?" Delphine shrugged. "I don't want the same fate as my father; I don't want to hide forever."
"Okay," Cosima said.
Cosima watched as Delphine retreated back into the bedroom. As soon as the door shut, Cosima turned and started making the return trip to her couch.
"Cosima?" Delphine poked her head out from the bedroom again. "Will you sleep in here tonight? I don't want to be alone."
"Darknet?" Cosima asked.
Cosima, Sarah, Delphine and Cal stood together gathered outside the seedy bar they had agreed to meet at.
"Yeah, Darknet," Cal answered. "I followed this person on Darknet and I saw them asking the same questions as me." Cal turned toward Delphine. "Remember when my phone kept going off on the DYAD tour? It was this guy."
The group was silent before Cosima spoke up again.
"You think it's real?" Cosima asked.
"This guy had information," Cal explained. "Project Leda, clones… I think it's an insider."
"Enough chit chat," Sarah said, pushing her way to the bar's entrance. "Just follow my lead and let me do the talking, yeah?"
Cal, Cosima and Delphine all nodded and followed her inside. Whoever Cal had found on Darknet had been very vague with his messages, only saying he'd be at the back of the bar and to use the codes he provided.
Sarah and the gang continued to push through the crowd until they reached the back of the bar. It was much quieter back here, only a handful of patrons milling around – Two by the bar and two by the pool table. Sarah approached one of the men at the bar.
"What are the specials tonight?"
The man at the bar turned toward her. "What?"
"What are the specials tonight," Sarah repeated.
"I don't know, honey," the man slurred. "Why don't you let me buy you something?"
"Piss off," Sarah said, pushing away from the man. Not the guy.
Next Sarah approached the man at the far end of the bar.
"What are the specials tonight?"
The man next to her didn't even acknowledge her presence. "No specials, just bourbon tonight."
Bingo. Sarah recognized the code. It was their guy. "I only like tequila."
As soon as the words left Sarah's mouth, the man turned and faced her. "Who are you?"
"Sarah. Who the bloody hell are you?"
"Carlton."
