Hey guys, I hope you're doing well! This chapter marks the start of the third quarter of Unlocking the Key, in moving away from Grace's storyline and the original books and getting back into Alexei's storyline and revealing some of the big twists there. As a result, tons of my favourite chapters are in the third quarter. And what better way to kick it off than with the reappearance of everyone's favourite duo ;)
Gonna reply to reviews on the previous chapter, thanks so much for the love and to everyone who reviewed!
Guest: Thank you! I'm glad you've enjoyed reading the Gralexei scenes, especially since I've been trying to make them more romantic compared to what's in the original book. And I feel you on the breakup scene, I am not looking forward to editing that chapter since I know it'll be a difficult edit :P
Disclaimer: I do not own the Embassy Row series and all the characters (except for Tanner and Jordan and Alexei's Moscow friends, who are my own creations). They belong to Ally Carter. I am merely using her characters and plotline to create this fanfiction. I have no intention of profiting off the Embassy Row series in any way. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment purposes and would not exist without Ally Carter's wonderful works.
The events that happen in this fanfiction are not meant to be representative of real life. Any similarities to any real-life events or fictional works is purely coincidental and not intentional (with the exception of the original Embassy Row books by Ally Carter since this fanfiction is literally Take the Key and Lock Her Up but from Alexei's, not Grace's, perspective). The character's actions may not always reflect my own opinions or views. Based on what is mentioned in this chapter (spoiler alert), I do not condone harming other people.
Content warning: mild
This fanfiction is rated M, for explicit and suggestive themes (such as mental health and abuse), language, and violence. This chapter contains moderate language, mild to moderately crude banter about relationships, and mentions of harming other people and death. Please read at your own discretion.
Chapter Twenty: Heading Home
"How much longer until go time?" Noah asked.
Megan checked the time on her phone. "Not long." After our adventures in Dubrovnia, Megan's mother and Ms. Chancellor safely got us back to Valancia. Noah and Rosie had returned to their respective embassies for the night. Given that I was currently a man without land, living in temporary abodes, Megan's mother had kindly offered to let Karina and I stay the night. Ms. Chancellor had mentioned that she would have someplace more permanent for Karina and I but it wouldn't be ready until this afternoon.
Now, the three of us were waiting to see Grace off, to find out just what the Society wanted from her. I was getting more and more suspicious by the second, my gut telling me this wasn't going to end well. I was starting to dislike the Society and the royal family after everything they had already put Grace through and would keep doing to her. I feared this wasn't going to end until Grace was dead or the Society and the royal family were taken down. I didn't know which was the lesser of two evils.
We silently sat at Megan's kitchen table, too anxious to make conversation, yet all fearing the same thing. Megan kept checking the time on her phone.
After what felt like forever, Megan finally stood up, looking at us. "It's go time." The three of us headed next door to the German embassy, where Rosie led us up the service stairwell to the roof. That was where Grace stood, strong and radiant, her back to us as she stared out at the ocean, the sun illuminating her with a brilliant halo, the wind blowing her hair away from her face, making her seem other-worldly and powerful. This was the Grace I knew and loved, and I feared it would be taken away from me.
"You're gonna be fine," Megan said, trying to sound reassuring. I wasn't sure if that was for Grace's benefit or ours, what with the pit in my stomach growing by the second. "I wish you'd let us come with you."
"I'm supposed to go alone," Grace said. She kept saying that but it didn't feel right to me, to let her walk into what could be a very deadly trap. I didn't want this to be a repeat of our American road trip, where Grace had run out on her own and wounded up in Paris. I didn't want to lose her again like that.
Rosie rolled her eyes. "Yes, and that has never ended badly."
"Guys," Grace said, looking at each of us. "I'll be fine. And if I'm not … then at least it's over."
"Don't," I said, grabbing her hand before she could run from me again. It was a small gesture, one that I was hoping could keep her here, with me, for just a little while longer, even though I knew that was next to impossible. When she had her mind set on something, there was no changing it, a lesson I had unfortunately learned the hard way.
"Don't joke about that," I said, pulling her into my arms for what could be the last time. It wasn't funny when her life was involved. I didn't want her sacrificing herself for the greater good of the world or playing into the Society's hands. Too much was at stake here and I feared for everything that could go wrong. Because if she lost, then the consequences weren't just going to be serious, but deadly.
"I'll be fine," Grace repeated. She put her arm around my neck, pulling herself up so she could kiss my cheek. I relished in the feel of her lips on my skin, the soft brushing that left an intense burning sensation. I closed my eyes, trying to savour this moment for as long as I could.
All too soon, Grace pulled away from me, her eyes lingering on me before she turned, jumping onto the wall to begin her journey.
Together, we watched Grace walk towards her destiny, whatever that was. It was silent as her form gradually regressed, shrinking as she followed the wall's curves with practiced ease.
When she was out of sight, Megan spoke up, breaking the silence. "She'll be okay. She has to be." I could only hope Megan's words were right because I didn't want to know what would happen if she was wrong.
Two hours later, Ms. Chancellor came to take Karina and I to our new living arrangement. Much to my surprise, Dominic was also there, car keys in hand.
"Dominic has kindly offered up a spare place for you and Karina to stay at," Ms. Chancellor said diplomatically, as we loaded our bags into the trunk of the car. I nodded, wondering how Dominic just casually had a spare place. However, I really shouldn't have been surprised that Dominic had more than a few safe houses in Valancia and around the world. The townhouse in Paris I had stayed at was a prime example.
We settled into the car, Dominic and Ms. Chancellor up front, Karina and I in the back. We started down Embassy Row, driving past the Russian embassy. Karina got excited at the sight of the Russian flag, making incomprehensible sounds. But all it reminded me of was Mikhail's death and my father's cold, hard regime.
It suddenly hit me, as we drove on, that I was truly back in Valancia, the place I had called home for the last fourteen years. My name had been cleared and I was once again a free man. I could pursue my old life again, slipping back into it like this past summer hadn't happened. But as I stared out the window, taking in the familiar downtown sights, I realized I couldn't easily go back to who I had been. So much had happened in the last few months and I had changed a lot. I was a different person than I had been at the start of the summer. I couldn't go back to my old life, not when it didn't feel right. Thus, it was time to put that part of me behind and start a new life, one I would be free to shape on my own. Although I would no longer experience the glamour and glitz that came with being an embassy kid, I was okay with that. I could live a quiet, peaceful existence now, to focus on rebuilding myself and figuring out who I was.
We drove through downtown, passing by the National University of Adria on its outskirts. It soon morphed into the artsy, university district, home to many students, with its quirky shops, trendy restaurants, and local start-ups. Complete with quiet, winding streets filled with narrow townhouses, it was the perfect place for a university student to live. I could almost imagine myself settling in here, fitting right in with the other young adults.
The universe must have decided to grant me something nice because we turned onto a street about two kilometres from the university. Dominic slowly rolled the car down the street before stopping in front of one of the townhouses.
"This is it," Dominic said, killing the engine. My breath caught as I took in the townhouse. It was older, plain and nondescript, painted a soft off-white colour, but somehow, it still had a charming, quaint character. It was so perfect for me, for this new life I was determined to build for myself.
I grabbed my belongings from the trunk before following the others in. Dominic gave us a quick house tour, starting with the four large rooms comprising most of the main floor.
The kitchen had a modern and fresh feel, with stainless steel appliances, dark granite countertops, and dark grey cabinets. There was a good selection of food already stocked in the pantry and the fridge. The living room looked like a great place for entertaining. My eye was immediately drawn to the focal point of the room, a large, light brown oak coffee table outfitted with books of varying sizes. Cushioned, cream-coloured armchairs were strategically placed around the coffee table and between smaller dark wood end tables. Tall black floor lamps with wire lamp shades stood in each corner of the room, completing the airy, academic look.
I decided the lounge was my favourite room. There were a few plush sofas with various throw pillows and tartan blankets and a large flat-screen TV at one end of the room. The other end had an L-shaped desk with a large desktop computer and a printer. Rounding out the cozy vibes was a bookshelf containing a variety of novels and movies. It looked like the perfect haven to spend an evening doing homework or a lazy weekend chilling out. The last room was a workout room, with black floor mats, an entire mirrored wall, and harsh LED spotlights lending it a futuristic, industrial edge. It was very well-outfitted, creating an amazing home gym. There were several treadmills, ellipticals, and exercise bikes, in addition to many more weight machines and a good collection of dumbbells and kettlebells. It didn't surprise me that Dominic had all this fitness equipment. From the time I had spent with him at the American military base, I knew he took fitness seriously. I was glad I'd be able to keep up my workouts here.
Upstairs, there was a master bedroom with an ensuite, two smaller bedrooms, and another bathroom with laundry machines. There was also a basement that was strictly off-limits. Dominic explained that it contained classified information and other lethal objects, which I made a mental note to steer clear from.
Although the architecture of the house was a bit dated, I didn't care. I had fallen in love with the place almost instantly and only loved it more as Dominic showed us around. He had done a good job of updating it with modern furniture and technology.
"So that's everything," Dominic said, taking us back to the small foyer next to the living room. "I'll leave the two of you to settle in. I did a grocery shop this morning so there's enough for a few days. There are a couple errands I need to run then I'll be back in a few hours."
"Thank you so much, Dominic," I said earnestly.
Dominic nodded. "I have to unload a few things from the car first."
"Would you like me to help?"
Dominic shook his head. "You can settle in." With that, Dominic headed towards the front door. Karina simply stood there, looking around in awe.
"Come on, let's go upstairs." I grabbed Karina's arm, pulling her towards the staircase. However, a voice coming from the lounge made me stop, one foot on the first step. I poked my head into the lounge. Ms. Chancellor stood there, back to us, phone pressed to her ear.
"Did she take it?" A moment of silence before she answered, nodding as she spoke. "Okay, good." A pit formed in my stomach. Was this about Grace?
"Has everything been arranged?" A longer moment of silence. "Excellent. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help but I'll be there when you need me." With that, she hung up. I pulled Karina towards the stairs, trying not to think of everything I had just heard. What the hell was going on with Grace? Was she in danger? Did this have anything to do with her weird mission earlier today? And why was Ms. Chancellor involved? I had no idea what was up with her anymore or if I could even trust her.
As luck would have it, Karina refused to budge, staying put as she marvelled at the foyer. Fine, she could have it her way.
"Have you seen Dominic?" Ms. Chancellor appeared in the lounge doorway, looking completely innocent, even though that was far from the case.
I put on my best cordial look, hoping I wouldn't give myself away for eavesdropping. "He's unloading stuff from the car."
Ms. Chancellor nodded, heading in that direction. Just then, Dominic reappeared with boxes and bags, setting them down on the floor.
"That's everything," Dominic said. He then turned towards Ms. Chancellor. "It looks like that's our cue to leave. I'll see you in a few hours, Alexei." With that, Dominic and Ms. Chancellor headed back to the car. I let out a sigh of relief, although that just left me alone with my thoughts. Trying to clear that phone call from my mind, I got Karina settled into a bedroom that had been outfitted with some women's clothing and toiletries. She didn't have anything with her except the clothes on her back so that was pretty straightforward.
Dominic had given me the master bedroom, which I greatly appreciated. It was done up in neutral dark shades, with a navy duvet and bedsheets and a sleek black dresser and nightstand. It was exactly the kind of style I liked and it instantly made me feel at home. He had stocked it with some men's clothing and toiletries, which was a nice touch. I unpacked the duffle bag of clothes I had brought with me from Mexico, tossing them in the washer. That seemed like a lifetime ago. It was unreal how much had happened over these past few days. Hopefully, that was the end of all the excitement and crazy, as I had had enough of that this summer to last a lifetime. Maybe now, I could finally have the quiet life I always desired.
After starting the load of laundry and changing into a clean t-shirt and pair of jeans, I walked through the house slowly, really taking in my surroundings. This wasn't going to be a bad place to live. It seemed like it'd suit my current needs. I could really envision myself having a peaceful existence here, minding my own business and doing my own thing.
I grabbed a snack before making myself comfortable in the lounge. I perused the contents of the bookshelf, finding a few of my favourite movies and novels. I put on a movie to pass the time and distract myself until Dominic came back. Sure enough, just as the credits started rolling, Dominic walked in.
"Comfortable?" Dominic asked, a small smile on his face.
"Yes," I replied. "This place is perfect. Thank you for letting Karina and I stay here."
"It's the least I could do," Dominic said, before gesturing for me to follow him to the kitchen.
"A few business things to take care of," Dominic said, placing a large envelope on the kitchen table before sitting down. "First, keys for you and Karina." He handed me a small envelope before explaining the house's security features and showing me how to set the alarms. Next, he gave me a piece of paper with instructions on how to connect to the Wi-Fi. Lastly, he produced an envelope of cash for Karina and I. I tried to refuse but Dominic shook his head, pushing the envelope into my hand.
"I'll help you and Karina with the finances and bills until you've been settled for a few months. We'll have to take you both to the bank to set up new accounts though," Dominic said, before frowning. "Do you have a phone?"
"I think I still have my old phone. From the Russian embassy. I'll have to charge it but it should be fine."
Dominic vehemently shook his head. "You can't use that now. I'll get you a new one."
"I –" I started before Dominic waved me off.
"Don't worry about it. It's a necessity. I'll let you and Karina know when I'm free so I can take you out."
He then handed me one last piece of paper. "If you or Karina have any other concerns, you can contact me by phone or email. There's a landline in the lounge."
"Thank you so much. For the house and for offering to buy us everything," I said, full of gratitude. "If there's anything I could possibly do to repay you, please let me know."
"Don't worry about it," Dominic said curtly, indicating the conversation was over. He glanced at his watch before looking at the front door. "I'm going to head out for the night but I've invited some people over."
"Who?" I asked, feeling slightly alarmed.
"You'll see. I think you'll enjoy their company. Besides, they're due any minute now," Dominic said, giving nothing away as he stood up.
"Let me walk you out," I said, jumping up. We walked to the front door in silence before saying our farewells for the night. Dominic opened the front door and headed out, only to nod at something outside before looking back towards me. I was confused until something, or more like someone, barreled into me, nearly knocking me to the ground.
"BRO, WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Tanner had come at me full speed, wrapping me in a full-on hug while screaming in my ear.
"It's good to see you too," I said, trying to wrestle myself out of his crushing grip. When Tanner finally let me go, I saw Jordan and Lila lingering in the doorway with amused expressions.
"You might as well come in," I said, moving around them to close and lock the door.
"Glad you're finally back, bro," Jordan said earnestly, giving me a guy hug that I eagerly returned. Thankfully, Jordan released me much quicker than Tanner, so he could look around appreciatively. "Almost eight weeks of no contact and we find you in some slick townhouse. How did you end up here?"
"It's a long story," I said.
"Well, bro, are you gonna tell us or what?" Tanner asked.
"I wouldn't even know where to start," I said honestly. So much had happened since I was last in Valancia; it was all starting to blur together.
"Why don't we talk over food?" Lila suggested. She had a knowing glint in her eyes, which instantly made me suspicious. How much did she know? "There's a place close to here that does arguably the best Chinese food in the city." It was then that I noticed the large, white, plastic bag she was carrying and the really good food smell. My mouth started watering. I couldn't remember the last time I had Chinese food.
I led them to the kitchen, digging through the cabinets to find some plates and cutlery. When I returned, the three of them were already digging through the boxes.
"What is that?" Tanner asked, looking at a box containing what looked like red and white mush.
"That is Mapo tofu and that is mine," Lila said, swatting Tanner's hand away as she grabbed the box. "The three of you can share the rest of the food." Tanner just waved his hands apologetically.
I sat down, loading up my plate with Shanghai fried noodles, sweet and sour pork, beef and gai-lan, and spring rolls. I dug in, savouring my food. Lila was right; this was some seriously good Chinese food.
"So, Alexei, why don't you start from the beginning and work your way to the present?" Lila said diplomatically, looking at me. I supposed this was it. I gave them a recap of the past eight weeks, starting with the moment I lost Tanner and Jordan at The Night of a Thousand Amelias and ending with the townhouse.
"Damn, bro… wow," Tanner said, his mouth open as he stared at me in shock.
"I second that," Jordan added, shaking his head in disbelief. "Who'd have thought you'd be jetsetting all over the world?"
"And you come back no longer a single man," Tanner said, holding his hands to his chest. "Please remember your lonely bros when you're hanging with your girl."
"Guys, I'm not going anywhere for the night," I pointed out. "I intend on chilling with you."
"I won't be surprised if you give up bro time for girl time," Tanner said.
"Or if you get whipped and start answering all the booty calls," Janner seconded.
"Just remember to invite us lonely bros to the wedding," Tanner said, with an exaggerated sniff.
"I'm not getting married soon and even if I were, you guys are one hundred percent invited to the wedding," I said. "You too, Lila."
"Yeah, Alexei isn't married yet," Lila echoed. "He can enjoy time with both Grace and you guys."
"Since when you were on Alexei's side?" Jordan asked, looking at Lila quizzically.
"Who says I can't be supportive of my ex and wish them the best in their new relationship?" Lila said, her face giving away nothing as she shovelled down more of her tofu and rice. Tanner and Jordan just looked at each other and shrugged. I caught Lila's eye and smiled, pleasantly surprised at how she was handling this situation. She really hadn't liked Grace at the start of the summer but now she was even going so far as to support our relationship. That was serious maturity right there.
I sat back, eating my food as I watched Tanner, Jordan, and Lila banter like there was no tomorrow. For so long, I had longed for some semblance of my old life back. And now here I was, chilling with my friends, eating food, and knowing I was safe, with a permanent roof over my head. This was everything I could have wished for and more. I tried to enjoy this moment as long as I could, knowing how easily it could be taken away from me. There was a time when I thought I'd never be able to do this again, but now, I wasn't going to take this for granted.
"Did you guys come from school?" I looked at the three of them, just realizing they were still in their school uniforms. It was so simple; yet, it now meant so much to me. What I wouldn't give to be able to go to school again.
"Well, we stopped at the Chinese food place but yeah, we did," Jordan said.
"How's school been?" I asked curiously.
"It's been going," Jordan said, shrugging.
"People have been talking about you a lot," Lila said. That didn't surprise me.
Tanner looked apprehensive, as he pulled something from his backpack. "Bro, we weren't sure if you were ever coming back or not. But this was in case you ever showed up again." Tanner slid a notebook towards me. I opened it up, shocked at what I saw. Handwritten, detailed class notes. Something I'd never expect from Tanner, who was famous for not paying attention in class.
"Tanner, this is amazing," I said, looking at him with awe.
"Does this mean you'll be back at school soon?" Tanner asked, looking hopeful.
"No idea." Unfortunately, school still seemed so far away, especially since I had just gotten back to Adria. Who knew if I'd still be allowed back there or if it was even a possibility for me? Nonetheless, I flipped through Tanner's notebook, taking in everything with a sense of longing.
"What's that?" I looked up in alarm at the brash voice behind me. I turned to see Karina standing next to me, looking at the notebook with interest.
"It's nothing," I quickly replied, closing Tanner's notebook and sliding it back to him.
"Who are they?" Karina now realized we had an audience and was curiously taking everyone in.
"These are my friends, Tanner, Jordan, and Lila." I quickly made the introductions, hoping this moment would soon end. Tanner and Jordan just said awkward hellos, looking at Karina like she was a strange creature, which I didn't blame them for. Lila, on the other hand, immediately jumped up.
"And you must be Karina," Lila said, sounding like the Society member was raised to be. Karina simply nodded. "I'm Lila. Would you like something to eat?"
Karina looked at all the food on the table. "Sure." I grabbed an extra plate, which Lila loaded up with a bit of everything. Karina stared at it like it was something foreign. After years of being pumped with drugs, it wasn't surprising that normal food was a strange concept for her.
"It's good. You should try some," Lila said encouragingly. With that, Karina slowly took a bite of her noodles, nodding appreciatively as she chewed.
"See? It's delicious," Lila said, with a smile. She then engaged Karina in light talk about Adria and the Society.
"Man, how is she not weirded out by this?" Jordan asked, as he looked at the girls chatting over Chinese food.
"You tell me." I shrugged, not quite believing what I saw either.
"Is she…?" Tanner asked, trailing off.
"Yup, long-lost mother," I replied. Tanner and Jordan knew I didn't talk about her much.
"How weird, on a scale of normal to outlandish?" Tanner asked.
"Absolutely freakish," I muttered.
"No making up for lost time, getting in all that mother-son bonding?" Jordan asked.
"Nope." Admittedly, I hadn't really made much effort to speak to Karina. Partly because she still looked like she was high on whatever meds they had her on and was on the verge of going into a very bad withdrawal. Besides, I wouldn't even know where to start. How did one make up for ten years of lost time, for ten years of memories? Would she even want to hear about my life, after being gone for so long?
"Well, at least the Scarred Dude is making up for it with this sick place," Tanner said. I nodded in agreement. Dominic had done so much for me lately and this was just one of many. I stayed lost in my thoughts, picking at my food as Lila talked with Karina, encouraging her to eat, while Tanner and Jordan talked about the latest social media trends.
"Is something bothering you, Alexei?" I snapped out of my thoughts, finding Lila looking right at me.
"I, I – Lila, what do you know about Grace's situation?" I asked, looking directly at her.
"I know enough to know that she's been dragging my brother and the rest of the squad into some suspicious stuff," Lila challenged. "But what's up with her?"
I briefly recounted Grace's weird mission this morning then the phone call I had overheard.
"Damn, looks like Secret Ninja Lady is up to some shady shit again," Tanner remarked.
"You don't say," I mumbled, putting my head down in defeat.
"Hey, I got you. We'll figure it out. After all, I do have an in with the Society." I looked up to find Lila's hand on my arm and a determined gleam in her eyes.
"Yo, get your hands off him before the American chick finds out. Alexei's not a single man anymore," Jordan warned. Any other girl would have been scared off. But this was Lila and she certainly didn't take anyone's bullshit. She stared back at Jordan, levelly meeting his gaze.
"Alexei is my friend and I'm not going to leave him to fend for himself when Grace is having problems," Lila said fiercely. "I can't say the same about the two of you though." Tanner and Jordan slumped back in their seats. Shots had been fired and Lila was spot on. During those tense days of being on the run, Lila had stepped up big time to help both Grace and I. Meanwhile, Tanner and Jordan had bailed and were nowhere to be seen.
"Hey, we helped," Tanner eventually said, although it came out meekly.
"Sure you did. I leave him alone with you two for a few hours and next thing I know, he disappears off the face of the earth for eight weeks. Real help that was," Lila deadpanned, glaring at Tanner and Jordan.
"Come on, with all that off time, Alexei's practically a new man," Jordan argued. "New house, new life, new girl. A new man needs friends who will be there for him twenty-four-seven. Right, bro?" He turned to look at Tanner, holding out his hand for a fist bump.
Tanner vehemently nodded, returning Jordan's fist bump before turning towards me. "Of course. Bros for life and we mean that more than ever now." They both stood up, tackling me in a group hug. I returned it, feeling the warmth and love. However, a niggling seed of doubt remained in the back of my mind. With this new start, I had thought I would be able to leave my old life behind and start fresh. However, this was Adria, the one place where there was always drama lurking and secrets hiding in the shadows. I had hoped I would be able to find a bit of peace before the drama came back to find me. However, I just hadn't thought it would happen so soon.
Song Inspo: Alan Walker & Ruben – 'Heading Home'
Genre: EDM/ Future Bass
When this song came out, during the early days of COVID, I had been finishing up the first draft of this chapter (writing the part where Alexei is settling into his new life) and listening to this song. The song (especially the first verse and pre-chorus) really fits with how Alexei is a changed person after getting his name cleared and starting a new life, the lyrics reflecting on maturity and growth and looking back at change. I felt a shift in his character while writing the later chapters of Unlocking the Key, in how Adria feels so different to him after going all over the world then coming back and feeling like it's not the same as when he left it.
This song also inspired the chapter title and really set the tone for the chapter (particularly the latter half, when Alexei is reflecting on a new life in Adria). Feel free to give it a listen! If you like heavier EDM beats, there's also a 2016 demo version of this song with a better drop to check out!
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Next chapter will be up between Nov. 6 and Nov. 20.
This is one of my favourite chapters in Unlocking the Key, with Alexei taking a more mature outlook on life and getting back to his storyline and of course, with Tanner and Jordan (and Lila too!) finally making a comeback XD There will be plenty more where that came from so stay tuned!
I'm also fully aware that I'm deviating from the original details of the townhouse, as Alexei and Karina originally just had a small apartment in the townhouse (which I assumed had more apartments inside it). But I liked the idea of Dominic owning the entire townhouse and having it be more like one massive house with all the amenities. And that idea fit better with what I have planned anyways, hence the change (and I feel like you guys would have liked it more if it was one massive house vs a small apartment).
Thanks for bearing with me on a long-ish end-of-chapter author's note! To end it off, all I'm going to say is get ready for a very infamous scene coming up next :P