After Theodore got a hold of Esmeralda Torres. They went to go meet her by dusk. The morning heat was began to stave off the roads, a sort of heat rising into the skies. Followed by the bland taste of iron and oil that were left behind by vehicles driving past. Theodore kept his mode of transportation away from the house Stefano used to hide his art. Sebastian was surprised that Stefano went with them, he didn't seem inclined to stay behind, not when he wanted to know what was going to happen.
A black jeep sat on the road near several parked abandoned cars, they were hidden amongst the trees and long branches that were lowered to the ground. From the grass growing around the tires, the cars have been there for sometime, including posts on the windows asking if anyone would like to buy them, including a contact number.
Theodore's vehicle was the only one without the post, and it was parked beside another car. Using it more as a cover. There were no cars driving down either direction as they climbed into his vehicle.
Sebastian in the passenger seat, a notable glare when Stefano had tried taking it instead. All he received from the man was his lips pulling taut into a sliver of a smile when he got into the back seat. Theodore started up the car, and they were along the road in seconds.
"Where are we meeting her?" Sebastian asked.
"I can't say," Theodore answered calmly. There was a strangeness about the man, he was placid, more in control than Stefano was when insulted or even pressured. Theodore didn't need to be coaxed, and he was not eager to use any sense of temper, if he held any inside his body. He knew exactly what he was doing and what he was saying. Whatever was on his mind, he knew how to play to whatever strings Sebastian held, including Stefano's.
This was not the type of man someone would like to stay in a room with. At least for not too long. He'd easily get into their head, mess around with their thoughts, make them doubt themselves. Sebastian had met many who were like that, but unlike Stefano who was ruled by his emotions and capabilities of his so-called profession. Theodore was the exact opposite.
He was a man not to be trifled with, and it irked Sebastian that he was sitting in the same vehicle as him. He was uncomfortable having Stefano behind him with a loaded gun, taser, and a large knife. He should lock him up somewhere until this entire mess is dealt with, and then return to him, a gun to his head, and handcuffs around his wrists to keep him secured. The man was a trickster, able to lie through his teeth, and swindle with simple words.
It worked too much on Sebastian before he found out Stefano had a habit of cutting up models and stitching them into tasteless objects he called decor.
"I need you to tell me something," Sebastian said, fingers curling in his lap. He still had the gun, and if he wanted too, he could threaten Theodore. Except his examination of the man after knowing him for a few minutes, he knew that a gun to the head would not make him talk. Torture wouldn't either, and it wasn't something Sebastian wanted to do, even though he had done it in the past.
Men like them don't talk when they know pain too well.
"What do you want to know?" Theodore asked, keeping his eyes on the road.
"You said you knew Myra, that she worked for MOBIUS. Do you know how long?"
Theodore tightened his hands on the steering wheel before relaxing. "I met her five years ago."
Sebastian furrowed his brows. "Is that when she joined MOBIUS?"
Theodore nodded. "Yes. She was a mysterious woman. She had secrets inside of her, it was quite obvious by her attitude. Professional, stern, and bold. When relaxed, a rare friend to find. Rarer that she was married and had a daughter."
"I didn't exactly enjoy her presence that much," Stefano interjected from the back seat, using his knife to pick either dirt or blood from under his fingernails.
Sebastian turned in his seat, glaring at Stefano who smirked at him. "You knew she was part of MOBIUS?"
"Of course I did. I was also part of MOBIUS."
"As an applicant for STEM," Theodore reminded, amusement laced in his words that almost sounded mocking, which Stefano noted by his own glare pointed at the man.
"You told me you didn't know much about MOBIUS."
"I don't," Stefano answered, focused on picking the grime from his nails, he spun the blade in his hand right before they passed over a bump that almost made Stefano topple to his side. "Like what Theodore has mentioned," Stefano said, straightening in his seat, "I was only an applicant to MOBIUS. Meaning, I was in their facility, but not the one we were trapped in earlier. A normal building where they were recruiting people."
"He passed the psychological testing that Hoffman conducted on him to verify if he had any mental instability. For example, psychopathy or even sociopathy," Theodore said, which in turn made Sebastian arch a brow, and Stefano grin with amusement.
"You passed?"
"Surprised?"
"You kill and cut up models for a living. Why wouldn't I be surprised?"
Stefano stared at his nails as he said, "You've been judging me since you found out about this entire mess. I figured you'd stop...and now you have proof."
"He may have passed the test," Theodore cut in again, "but it doesn't mean he's not a psychopathic killer. Most lie their way through these tests. Pretend their normal—"
"That's rude," Stefano muttered, tucking his knife into his coat.
"But true," Theodore continued. "He deceived Hoffman, and found his way into STEM. Damaging the machine from the inside. It was only right for MOBIUS to take him out of it before he made it worse."
"And then they lost him," Sebastian finished, sitting back into his seat. "They should've killed him when they had the chance."
"Yeah, this doesn't hurt my feelings," Stefano said. His tone didn't say much besides that he didn't care about their opinion of him. Sebastian knew that all he did care about was that if someone were to threaten or even insult his work, that's when Stefano's ego would grow big enough to burst. He was chaotic, a time bomb ready to go off. He didn't know if that was a good thing on their side, or if Stefano truly did deserve a bullet in the head before he finds a way to save his family, including Leslie and Joseph.
He didn't need a liability on their side.
They drove for the next hour, the three of them barely said a word to each other. Sebastian was wracked with guilt and worry. He had to get back to his family, and save them from whatever fate MOBIUS had in store for them. Including what they'd do to Myra for her mutiny.
Theodore turned down a dirt road and came upon an old barn. The sun had already set, and covered the entire plains into darkness. What interested Sebastian about this rendez-vous is a woman standing near a black jeep, she was leaned against her. Tall, with dark hair, muscular, and wore a serious yet friendly expression.
"Is that Torres?" Sebastian asked once Theodore came to a stop.
"Yes," Theodore said, "she's a lovely woman. Not as threatening at first glance, but if you threaten her…"
Sebastian nodded, noting the silent warning. "I get it. Don't threaten her or she'll kick my ass."
"I'm not threatened," Stefano said, opening the door.
"Go right ahead and get your ass kicked," Sebastian encouraged, stepping onto the dirt road, "at least I'll have a break of doing it myself."
Torres pushed herself away from the jeep and walked over to them. Sebastian noticed the gun sitting against the vehicle. Except his eyes went back to her, and her wide friendly smile that seemed to calm his nerves.
"I finally get to meet, Sebastian Castellanos." She reached her hand out, and Sebastian took it. "Myra didn't speak much of you, but I understand why."
"It's nice to meet you," Sebastian said, managing a smile.
Torres expression grew uneasy when Stefano walked over to them. His grin stayed on his face, and he was less fixated on her but the barn itself.
"Why pick this tasteless place?" he asked.
"For a tasteless man with no artistic skill," Torres responded, and she didn't shy away from his sharp glare, "I dug a six foot grave. Would you like to step in it? If not, shut up, this isn't about you, Stefano."
He wrinkled his nose, and Theodore gestured for him to take a walk. Once they were out of sight, Torres relaxed and smiled again at Sebastian.
He didn't bother sugarcoating why they were both there. Dire times waited for no one. "I've heard you know how to get me back into MOBIUS so I can save my wife and daughter."
Torres nodded. "I do. But we're short one," she looked past Sebastian, "and right on time, she's here."
He followed her gaze to a black sleek car coming to a slow stop beside Theodore's vehicle. The bright lights went out, and to his surprise and caution, Kidman stepped from the car with a tray of coffee in her hands. Her gaze was cold, a look that never truly changed during her time at the police department. He guessed he knows why she's like this. Employed as an agent to MOBIUS does a lot to someone emotionally.
She walked over to them, the corner of her lips pulled at the sight of Torres, but her eyes stayed cold when she looked at Sebastian. Torres took one of the coffee's from the tray, and when Kidman turned to Sebastian, he didn't raise his own to grab one of the two that were left.
"Like my wife, you knew this entire time what they were planning for my daughter?" Sebastian asked.
Kidman was still for a moment before nodding. "I do."
He kept his gaze steady on her, and said, "Please, Kidman, no lies this time, no games."
She smiled, "I'm here to help you, Sebastian. To help Myra and Lily."
He didn't know if he could trust her, but he had no other choice. He spent time with serial killers, a wife that wasn't truthful, and friends who were unlike anything he could ever imagine in his grey world that was now painted red and black.
He picked up the cup of coffee from the tray and said, "What do you have in mind?"
