Wolf called Cress in the afternoon, and told her that her the plan that he had run through with Scarlet. He would re-join the gang, talk to his brother, and then they would get away from Aimery and Ran wouldn't have to do all the dangerous work Aimery made him do.

"He asked me to help him with something yesterday." She said.

"Help him with what?"

"I don't know. He said he would tell me only if I agreed to help him."

"Do it," Wolf said without hesitation.

She paused for a moment. He didn't even know what he wanted her to do, and she didn't know either. But he thought that she should do it without even thinking. Cress wasn't entirely sure what to think of this, was he so desperate to find his brother that he would put Cress's life in potential danger just to get him back?

"You think I should?"

"Yes. It'll help us in figuring out what's going on."

Cress chewed on her lower lip. "Alright... but I don't want to do anything illegal."

"If it's Aimery's plan, it's not illegal."

"What do you mean?"

"Aimery is a master of getting around the law. He has connections, money and patrons, and that's only if he gets caught. That's why he can't be sent to jail even though he's done so much illegal stuff."

"I figured it would have been something like that." She said. "Who's his patron?"

"I don't know." He sighed. "While I was with him, Aimery had not been secretive about anything, other than who the person was who helped us get away with murder." He refrained himself from saying literally. "Everything that Aimery did, and everything he made us do, was for this patron. Whoever it was would give him orders, and we would have to follow it."

"Oh. So why do you want to re-join the pack, though?"

"What d'you mean?"

"I mean, can't you just talk to Ran?"

"There's no way. He's not gonna let me go anywhere near him unless he thinks I'm back on his side. It's not that easy to talk to your siblings after you had such a huge falling out like we did. If I talk to him, he's not going to listen to anything I say."

"Alright." She said halfheartedly. She couldn't help but think that that was a poor excuse, but she didn't want to pry. "Look. I'll tell Ran that I'll do the thing, and then I'll tell you everything that happens, okay?"

"Right." He said.

"Bye, then."

Bye."

Cress hung up.

Was this impulsive of her, or was it impulsive of Wolf? She wasn't sure that whatever it was that Ran threw at her, that it would be one-hundred per cent safe. But, she saw Wolf's logic, it would be better knowing what it was that Ran and Aimery and Sybil and everyone else had in mind, what they were doing, and why.

Maybe the impulse was that maybe this could have been a chance for her to prove herself that she wasn't meek and helpless as people were led to believe about her. She had always had a desperate need to prove herself, to prove that she wasn't useless. She knew that was what Sybil thought of her.

She inhaled, and shuffled out of her room and knocked on Ran's door, then let herself in.

He spent a lot of time in his room recently. Whenever food was ready, he would take it and finish it in his room. He barely even spoke to Sybil, but she apparently didn't mind. Cress had the suspicion that Sybil saw Ran as a babysitting job that she didn't want to be responsible for but was forced to do so.

The strange thing was that it was always quiet. Sometimes she stood outside of his room just to see if she could hear anything, out of her own curiosity, but it was always dead quiet, as if he wasn't even in there, but whenever she opened the door to bring him food or ask him a question or something like that, he was always in there, lying on his bed, with headphones plugged into his phone, listening to something.

Ran's eyes followed her as she walked in. He paused his music, and waited for her to speak.

"I want to know what you want me to do."

"Do you agree that if I tell you what it is, you'll do it?"

Cress turmoiled with conflict. In her gut, she felt that she shouldn't do it, but Wolf was expecting her too, and really, there was a small part of her that wanted her to do it.

She decided to ignore her gut.

"Yes." She said.

She watched him as he got of his bed. He had on track pants, and he was shirtless. Cress couldn't help herself from looking, she thought about what Thorne would look like shirtless.

She reminded herself to get back on topic.

She jolted as he put his headphones over her ears.

"Sorry," He said. Then he pressed play.

Cress's ears were filled with the sound of what she thought was screaming, and a baby's wails, among with another undecipherable sound.

She yanked the headphones out, her ears still ringing.

This wasn't music, it was a recording. What he had been listening to for days on end was this horrific sound.

"What is it?" She asked.

"You hear that baby?" He said. He was standing close to her, she could see the reflections glinting off his eyes.

She nodded.

"She's my mission."

"What do you mean?"

"She died in that fire when she was three years old. Her name was Selene Blackburn."

"Blackburn?"

"Yes. As in Levana Blackburn, as in Channary Blackburn."

"I don't get it."

"Selene Blackburn was Channary Blackburn's daughter."

"Who's Channary Blackburn?"

"She was Levana's sister. She died not long after you were born, but before she died, she had a daughter, Selene."

"And she died?"

"Yes."

"Then how is she your mission?"

"Because she's still alive." He said cryptically. He pulled the headphones from her hands. "Someone pulled her from the ashes and saved her life."

"How do you know this?"

"Because it's right there in this recording. He unlocked his phone, and fast forwarded the recording. He gave the headphones back to Cress, and played the audio.

"This is Logan Tanner, recording on the twenty-first of December, 1997." A man's voice. "Selene Blackburn is safe. The nanny did not survive. I'll be returning to Michelle to figure out what to do in the morning. We all know that Levana has-"

"You didn't let it finish." Cress said.

"The other stuff... isn't important." He said.

Cress looked at him suspiciously.

"Trust me, I've listened to this over a thousand times."

"Fine." She said. "What is it you want me to do."

"I need you get get me information on Cinder Linh."

That name again. She had been popping up everywhere. She remembered a few weeks ago when Wolf had said her name. Cress had been initially suspicious of her.

"Doesn't she work at New Beijing Mechanics?" She asked.

He looked at her, surprised. "She does. How do you know about that?"

"Um, one of my friends went there to get his car serviced, I think."

He blinked. "I see. Well, just find out about her for me, please. You don't need to do anything else other than do that."

"Why? Who is she?"

He stalled, grabbing the headphones and winding them around his phone before he answered. She could tell he was trying to think of something to say. Maybe the truth, or maybe a lie or an excuse.

"She's Selene."

"Oh."

"So, are you going to do it?"

"You didn't really give me a choice, did you?"

He shrugged.

"But yes, I'll do it." She said.

"Thank you." He gave her a small smile, which Cress managed to return.

She left his room, thinking of what to tell Wolf.

She thought of herself as some sort of double agent in a spy film. People would think she was working with the enemy, but really she doing her best to foil their plans, relaying everything to her team on the good side.

She shut the door behind her, and started packing for her trip home. She would talk to Wolf when she was on the train back to her house, she figured it was safer if she did it out of earshot of Ran.

He had told her to trust him, but what he didn't know was that he shouldn't have trusted her.

She left a little past mid-day, said goodbye to her mom, and caught the bus to the train station. While she was waiting, she called Wolf.

"Hey," He said.

"Hi, so I figured out what he wanted."

"What was that?"

"You remember how we were talking about that Cinder girl?"

"Yeah,"

"Well he wanted me to do some research on her. Apparently she is Selene Blackburn."

"Selene Blackburn?"

"She's Levana Blackburn's niece or something. I'm not sure of all the details, but he wants me to find out all about her."

"Hang on, I think I remember something about there being a fire or something and someone died."

"Yeah, that would have been Selene and her nanny."

The air billowed around her as the train arrived. She got on it, pleased to have the carriage to herself. She sat down on one of the seats.

"I don't get it."

"Apparently someone rescued her from the fire before she died."

"Who?"

"I don't know. Some guy called Logan Tanner or something?"

"How does Cinder fit in all of this again?"

"Ran told me that Cinder is Selene. She must have changed her name. I don't know. Who knows if she even really is her?"

"But what do they want with her? Trust me, if it's Aimery that's looking for her, it's not good news."

"I don't know that either." She sighed.

She heard Wolf breathe into his phone, a disgruntled sound. "Okay. Well, I'm going to Aimery's later on today. I'll try and find out anything else."

"Okay. Should I tell anyone else about this?"

There was a pause for a minute. "Only tell Scarlet, but that's it."

"Okay."

"Bye."

"Bye."

The air was still and humid, and even in the dead of night, the temperature had not dropped. Wolf strode, calmly, confidently, his hands in his pockets and his head held high. He had finished his shift at Lunar Park hours before.

He had told Scarlet and Cress what he was going to do. He felt immensely responsible for their safety, knowing it was he who had got them into this mess, by telling them about his brother. It had opened a can of worms of conspiracy, and of danger. He couldn't seal it shut, but the only thing he could do was try and fix it himself. He was wrong to get them caught up in his family drama.

He crossed the front lawn and rang the doorbell, and knocked for good measure. He was positive that Aimery hadn't moved since he had brought them here, and he was positive that he would get some answers as well.

He heard the footsteps, and the door swung open.

Aimery stood there. Even though it was past midnight, he had not changed out of his day clothes. He was wearing an expensive looking grey suit, and even his black leather shoes were on.

Aimery locked his black eyes onto Wolf's green ones.

"I wasn't expecting you," Aimery said. His voice was like a wave of calmness. He spoke slowly, almost seductively.

"I know." Wolf said. His voice was rough, abrasive. "I have information."

Aimery appraised him. "I thought you didn't want to be a part of this anymore."

"I changed my mind." He crossed his arms. Aimery would believe him.

He sighed and stepped aside, leaving the doorway open.

"Tell me what you know." He said.

Wolf stepped into the house he had prayed to never see the inside of ever again.

Aimery led him through to the living room. Wolf took it by the half-finished wine glasses that he had been entertaining company not too long before.

Aimery sat down on a leather armchair, and Wolf sat down on the one opposite.

There was a coffee table separating them.

"So..." Aimery prompted.

"I know about Selene Blackburn, and I want to become an ally to you again."

Aimery looked at him for a long time, unblinking, before finally speaking.

"You know about her do you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Who told you about her? Your brother?"

"Why would he speak to me?" Wolf asked, "You know as well as I do that he would rather pretend I didn't exist."

He tapped his fingers against the leather. "You're right. So, who then?"

"I believe that that's my information to withhold."

Aimery narrowed his eyes. "You think I would accept that."

"I think you would if you listen to what I have to say."

He counted a silence. "...Go on."

"I know the people who Cinder is close to. I know where she works-"

"I know that, too."

"You don't know her second job, do you though?"

He knew that he wouldn't. Rikan Dehuai did not make worker's profiles public knowledge. Everything about workers was made with ink and paper. As a security guard, Wolf didn't know the details of why this so, but he knew it was to protect their safety.

"She has a second job?"

"Yes. Do you know who her boyfriend is?"

"She has a boyfriend?"

Not technically, no. Wolf wanted to say. But he knew that was what was going to happen by the way they were going about it.

"I know things about Cinder... Selene, that you nor Ran or anyone else would know." He said. "...Which is why I want to join you again."

Aimery stared at him. The lights reflected against his polished head. "Okay. Find. Join me. I'm not going to ask why, but all I want you to do is everything I tell you to do."

"Anything you want." Wolf agreed.

"And the first think I want you to do is to bring Linh Cinder to me."

For the first time that week, Cinder was finally able to get on the internet.

She was surprised to find that she had messages from someone else other than Iko, and even more surprised was she to find twelve unread messages from Kai.

Kai:

Hope you got home alright last night.

I had a really nice time.

(sent 8 days ago)

Hey are you alright?

I haven't got a reply back and I'm a bit worried.

Hope you're not dead, ahah

(Sent 4 days ago)

Okay that might have been a pretty dumb thing to say just in case you got murdered on the way home.

Uh... so was that.

Ignore me lol.

(sent 3 days ago)

Um. I hope I haven't done something wrong and that's the reason why you're not talking to me.

I hope that's not the case.

Still hope you're not dead.

Please reply :)

(sent 2 days ago)

Cinder found herself smiling as she read these messages.

Cinder had spent most of her life feeling undesirable. She remembered being in high school, where her friends had partners even before their senior year, and Cinder had never even had someone have a crush on her. At her old school, she had to wear a uniform, a dress in the warmer months, and long skirts in the cooler ones. It always left her leg on display, and combined with the taunting of Adri, and the looks people would give her as she rode the bus to school, it made her self-confidence completely falter.

She was still self-conscious, that didn't go away with a deep breath and the promise of self-love, but she knew that she could get there eventually. And she would admit it was kind of silly, but if Kai liked her, then would it be so bad if she loved herself just a little bit more?

She sent a message back:

Cinder:

Omg hey! I'm so sorry a lot of things happened since Lunar Park, but don't worry, I'm not dead (yet)

I haven't had internet until now so i'm sorry for not getting back to you sooner .

I had a really great time with you, too. Hopefully we'll see each other soon?

She left the messenger app and went onto Iko's website. She looked at the photos that Iko had put up, of her and herself sporting the clothes and accessories she had made.

There had not been any orders coming through yet, but Cinder knew that it would get popular once she started promoting it, and Cinder had been able to get back onto her job at New Beijing, so for now she'd be the one paying rent bills for the both of them until Iko could chip in.

And in between all that, she was looking for a place to stay. Right now she could afford an apartment in the rural areas, but that meant it would take longer to drive to work, which equaled in more petrol and less money, she wouldn't mind one in the outskirts of the city, but what she wanted was one that was close to both Lunar Park and New Beijing, and close to the train station when uni started again in a week.

He phone buzzed and she got a message.

Kai:

Oh jeez, haha. Sorry for freaking out on you.

Hope everything's going okay? What happened?

Cinder:

It's a long story I don't want to bore you

Kai:

Haha nah it'll be fine

I'm at home and bored so talking to you is a fun change

Cinder:

Aw haha

okay well my step-mom kicked me out of the house

so i've been trying to find a place to live. Luckily my boss offered me a place to stay once I find a place for myself, but I dont really want to live with him for this entire time, since i've got iko here as well

so that's why I haven't had internet until now

Kai:

Woah. Thats crazy.

Okay I can see why you wouldn't have replied to me

so your looking for a house?

Cinder:

Or an apartment or something. I don't really care. I just want somewhere close to work and my uni.

Kai:

If you wanted to, I could offer you a place at mine?

I mean you dont even have to pay rent or anything

Cinder:

What?! Are you sure?

I mean I would still pay rent but if it's okay then I could talk it over with iko...

Kai:

Yeah dad would be fine about it I reckon.

The house is big enough for like 10 other people tbh. But theres only dad and me here.

I'm sure he'd love the company.

…

I would too

Her smiled spread even bigger. She got off her bed and raced to Iko's room, who was labouriously scrolling on her phone to check if she had gotten any orders yet.

She looked at her, startled.

"What is it? What is it?" Iko asked, sitting up.

"Kai! He asked if we could move in with him!"

Iko eyed her phone and grabbed it. "You're joking!"

She shook her head, and Iko looked at her gleefully.

"Imagine how annoyed Adri would be if she found out! Out of her squalor into what's basically a palace!"

"I know right." Cinder laughed. "Should I say yes?"

Iko threw a pillow at her. "Of course you say yes!"

"Ow! Joking, joking!"

Cinder sat down next to Iko.

Cinder:

That's so sweet.

Yeah I think we'd be glad to do that.

Thanks so much.

When do you think we could move?

Kai:

The day after tomorrow maybe?

I'll just run everything through with dad but he'll say yes.

Cinder:

Awesome. Thank you again

Iko squealed.

"I love Kai." She said.

"I know how you feel." Cinder replied.

A/N: I was just wondering, does anybody mind the frequent pov changes in the midst of the chapter? I feel like it might get confusing or conflated, so i'm not sure if I should keep them or change it.