Chapter 11: Call from the Heart
5.19.21
Rhydian raced through the dense woods, emerging onto the lone roadway, not a vehicle in sight. He tentatively sniffed the air, but only smelled damp, decaying foliage. Heading west, he ignored the side stitch developing, knowing he was pressed for time. The tree line to his right disappeared, revealing a large clearing. A long dirt driveway met the paved road, buffered by a wrought iron gate. The pristine, ebony gate was reinforced with brick columns, making a clear statement that trespassers were not welcome. Rhydian looked about, certain that a splashy entrance such as this was protected by surveillance cameras. Rhydian walked with purpose, trying to pose as some type of local out for exercise (though, he couldn't sense anyone remotely close to be considered a neighbor). Looking through the bars, his eyes roamed over neatly manured hedges that formed a labyrinth of walking paths for the residents to enjoy. Different colored rose bushes, gladiolus, hibiscus, and lilies bloomed in carefully maintained beds that lined the different walks. Behind the gardens was a large country brick home in which two small cottages could nestle comfortably inside.
Rhydian moved a few meters away from the corner of the property and mulled over how best to reach Maddy. He gave a cursory glance around then vanished into the thicket. Skulking around the to the back of the property, he was pleased to find the fencing out front was just for appearances and that it didn't circle the home. The Wolfblood carefully stepped onto the lush green grass, searching for her scent. Rhydian snorted, the overwhelming smell of manure overcame him and he sneezed until it hurt. Shaking his head like a dog wishing to rid itself of fleas, he back peddled until he could regain his composure. He felt a low rumble within and his hands shook, darkened veins pulsing underneath his skin. Stop, he commanded of his inner wolf. I'm not retreating, just getting a handle on the smell of horse shit.
Returning to his spot, he quickly moved to take refuge behind a large, if not ostentatious-looking, cupid statue. Peering around it, he took a tentative sniff of the air and was over-the-moon to locate what he had been looking for. Prowling through the open grounds, careful to stick to the perimeter, he came upon some upturned earth, trampled ground from heavy hooves constantly dancing on it. A sturdy split rail fence divided him from his target.
Rhydian watched the rider bounce in rhythm with the strut of the majestic, proud Arabian horse, its coat a clouded grey with white flecks on the hindquarters and shoulders. Its legs were colored black is if it had dipped each one in a barrel of paint. There was something unnerving, though, in the darkened eyes that seemed to stare out dangerously and the ghostly-white hair that billowed in the motion of the horse's gait that made Rhydian hesitate emerging from his hiding spot.
"You can tell he wants out, you know?" He heard her call over her shoulder to another woman that was in a lounge chair, a book rested in her lap.
"Father would kill you and me if you left the grounds."
Maddy tipped her head back and groaned, "He can't honestly think I'm going to hide here forever. Dad is out of his mind, if he does."
The woman, who Rhydian recognized as the receptionist from the photography studio, exhaled loudly, clearly vexed with Maddy's complaining. "It's just until things settle . . . you know he worries."
The countdown that had been ticking incessantly in his head since he abandoned Bryn at the station quieted. The battle between his wolf and his humanity simmered as he watched, fixed to the spot behind the small shed.
As the horse touted for another loop around the corral, it spotted the intruder and reared up. "Eh!" Maddy yelled, yanking on the leather reigns, trying to regain control. The horse snorted and whinnied, backpedaling until it bumped the fencing. "Jack," she shouted, the horse tugging on its harness, fighting its master. "Wha - " The question trailed away as she locked eyes with Rhydian, who had come into view.
Somewhere in the background, he could hear the receptionist yelling for help. Rhydian swallowed and carefully moved closer, his hands up to show he meant no harm.
Rhydian listened to Maddy's heart race, could see her looking side to side, evaluating her surroundings for an escape route.
"Just listen . . ." he began in a slow, calm voice.
"Thomas! Thank goodness," her "sister" exclaimed.
Before he could process the name, he identified the newcomer's scent. Rhydian turned to see the dark-skinned, young man bounding toward them with a butter knife in one hand and polishing cloth in another. Adorned in a pressed butler's uniform with the pocket handkerchief and perfectly fixed tie, Tom Okanawe appeared, little beads of sweat creating a light sheen around his temples and upper lip.
"Tom?" Rhydian questioned, his mind unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
Dropping the microfiber cloth and utensil, he nearly rammed into his old classmate. "Rhydian," he hissed in a low voice. "What are you doing here, mate?" Looking back at the frightened women, "You need to leave," he commanded loudly, grabbing at Rhydian's arm in show of escorting him away.
Rhydian wrestled with his friend, "I'm not going anywhere." Flashing his eyes at him, he was surprised that Tom didn't flinch.
"Oh good, you called the authorities," came the woman's voice again. "Come on. Arrest him!" Rhydian and Tom turned to see Maddy dismounting her steed and helping her sister into her wheelchair, as the woman ordered the newest visitor to contain the trespasser. Rhydian and Tom looked in disbelief as Jana stormed up to them.
"I can't believe you," she ground out, nearly growling at them. By this time, Tom had dropped his hold on Rhydian, the young man adjusting his coat and shirt in some show of indignation at the whole situation.
Before Rhydian could get a word in edgewise, Jana bulldozed over him.
"Leaving Bryn on the train by himself," she seethed, "What were you thinkin'?"
"He's okay . . . right?"
"You left him on train?" Tom chirped, looking appalled.
"I -"
"Yes, but luckily for you, he learned to use a mobile," she said pointedly.
Rhydian made a face, not thrilled to have things thrown back in his face. "You done, eh?"
"No, I had to exchange a few favors for some discretionary assistance with getting him home. You owe me."
"Maybe we can pick this up later?" Tom interrupted, his eyes directing the trio to the two women watching from distance. Maddy seemed to be in a heated discussion with the receptionist, pointing at Rhydian every few seconds.
Seeing the commotion happening behind them, Jana relented. "Fine," she snarled. "Now, do us all a favor and stop with the eyes. You need to pull yourself together."
Rhydian bared his teeth, but when Jana only inched closer, he promptly clamped his mouth shut and closed his eyes. Flexing his fingers, he focused on lying in green fields with sun warming him and Maddy's laughter.
"Tingling . . ."
Rhydian snickered, remembering Jana's mantra to calm herself when she was feeling her wolf scratching to get out. "Tingling," he repeated softly, opening his eyes, so his chameleon-like hazel eyes reflected back. Tom's head swiveled between the two women, who were critically scrutinizing the narrative occurring between the pack. "I don't know what's going on, but I do know we better come up with somethin' good soon, yah?"
"Right," Jana huffed, pulling at her pressed, dress shirt and squaring her shoulders.
"Inspector Valkis," Maddy greeted, though her eyes were locked on Rhydian the whole time. "What's -"
"Shouldn't you be arresting him?" her sibling cut in.
"Ah, well . . . no. Uh, Rhydian, here" she gestured to her fellow Wolfblood, "is a consultant of ours." Jana answered, wringing her hands nervously together and peering at Rhydian and Tom, who were standing a small distance away.
The young woman's mouth hung open in shock. Despite their pleasant initial meeting, he concluded he did not like Maddy's "sister" and would be perfectly okay if the earth opened up and swallowed her. "Consultant?! Are you mental? The lot of you? This is the man that tried to kidnap my sister! Broke into her home with two other - other things!"
Yup, he hated her . . . And so did his wolf if the low growl that echoed in his head was any indication.
The slender woman, leaned over and fished a cellphone out of the small side pouch of her wheelchair. "Sarah, what're you doin'?" Maddy asked, looking over her shoulder. "You're texting Dad?"
Rhydian wanted to yell at each of them, scream at them to stop referring to each other at siblings.
"Oh, this isn't good," Tom murmured.
"I'm not afraid," Rhydian huffed. "Go ahead, text 'em?"
Jana wheeled around, in a harsh whisper. "What are you doing?"
Rhydian tipped his head, a cockiness overcoming him. No one was going to make him submit.
"Mate," Tom leaned in, laying a hand on Rhydian's shoulder. "Her father is Lord Richard Heart." Rhydian turned to Tom, arching one eyebrow in arrogance. "This man is not to be trifled with."
As if hearing his name called, a svelte, Caucasian man with curly brown locks, a perfect tan, and just enough stubble to look superior and sophisticated all in one, marched up to the group. Looking from one person to the next, his eyes narrowed as they fell upon Rhydian. "Madeline, take your sister and return inside," he ordered, adjusting his silk, cranberry ascot and straightening the expense, gold cuff links on his well-tailored dress coat.
Maddy opened her mouth several times before silently acquiescing and pushing her sister back toward the manor.
"I believe I told you people, you were to leave our family alone."
At this, Rhydian couldn't swallow his feelings down. Watching her receding form, he barked back, "What do you mean leave your family alone? We're her friends! We're her family!"
The gasp that escaped Jana and the loud clearing of Tom's throat brought Rhydian on high alert, realizing he may have tipped their hand.
Lord Heart slowly, in a predatory-type of cunning, strutted closer to the group, closing the little bit of distance between he and Rhydian. Checking over his shoulder to see if Maddy or her sister had heard, he smiled as they continued their way back, never stopping, never even turning around. "Friends? . . . Family?"
Looking from Jana then Tom to Rhydian, "And now the puzzle pieces begins to snap into place." Rubbing at his 5 o'clock shadow, he grinned like the Cheshire Cat. "Sneaky," he congratulated, giving Jana a toothy grin. "I forbid you from harassing -"
"We weren't har-" Jana began.
" - my family, so you get a friend - who is also agent?" Richard implied, giving Tom a once over.
Tom shook his head. Clearing his throat again, "I'm -"
"- fired," Lord Heart filled in.
"But that's-"
"-not fair," he finished. "And how's lying to your employer fair? Deceiving your charges - especially one that you consider family fair?" he intoned. "Be smart, Thomas, leave with the little dignity that remains to your name."
"Now hold on," Tom grimaced, his fingers curling into fists.
Lord Heart inched impossibly closer, and in a low voice, "I am a person that could make getting employment anywherevery, very difficult, so I'd be careful your next words."
Rhydian was about to step in front of Tom, when the man nudged him away. "Addie is our friend and she deserves to the truth." Rhydian narrowed his eyes at Tom. He was on the cusp of correcting his friend, but remained silent as Richard answered Tom.
"She's been through enough, and how am I to know you are not here to do her more harm. You have been dishonest from the start, allying yourselves with the questionably unstable, and - more now than ever before - I'm even less sure of a 'Segolia Investigative Unit.' No one has been able to corroborate with such a division existing within the London Task Force."
Rhydian growled and snatched two fistfuls of the man's expensive blazer in his hands, pulling him tight so they were nearly nose to nose.
Grasping his shoulder and bicep, Jana whispered, "Not here. I can't protect you, if you try anythin'."
"I'm not leaving again without her," Rhydian reminded her.
Tom came to his other side, and thrust his arm out, "He won the battle, mate, but we can still win the war. Just not if we're locked up, yah?" he urged.
"Rhydian, please . . . both of you," she begged, earning a sideways glance from Tom.
Rhydian unleashed the man, and stepped back.
Lord Heart, laughed quietly, flattening his wrinkled clothing.
"Lord Heart, Rhydian was just - he's just . . . very concerned -"
"I'm not going to press charges if that's what you're concerned about, not as long as you leave immediately and do not return."
Rhydian and Tom looked at Jana, who grew pale. Chewing on her lower lip in deep deliberation of the ultimatum in front of her, she nodded. "Fine."
"Fine, what?" he asked, pulling from the inside pocket of his blazer, a sleek, new smart phone. "Say it," he instructed, locking eyes with the redhead.
Jana grimaced as if it was causing her physical pain to speak. For a split second, Rhydian thought he may not be the one to wolf-out that day. "We," she began through clenched teeth and even more tightly clenched fists, "will leave and will not return. Come on," she said, taking both men, who looked on slack-jawed, away from the master of the household.
"And," Richard added, the trio turning slowly around to face the man. "You will cease to contact my daughters. That includes Madeline, to be clear."
"You can't do that!" Tom snarled. Rhydian bared his teeth, immediately regretting any mercy he had shown him.
Jana quickly stretched out her arms to prevent both Tom and Rhydian from backtracking.
"She's an adult -" Tom started.
"How many times can one person be arrested for trespassing . . . assault," he said lucidly, "before they can no longer be given amnesty?" he asked rhetorically, tapping his phone to his pursed lips.
"I'll serve the time," Rhydian whispered.
"Stop it," Jana reprimanded. She eyed the man in front of her. If she agreed, they were going to be worse off, how else were they to conduct their investigation if they couldn't contact Maddy? Rhydian wondered if he knew more than he was letting on, or simply was just throwing out an empty threat. "We will leave her alone. You have my word."
"Jana . . ." Rhydian started.
"Bloody Hell," Tom mumbled, his eyes focused on his former employer.
"Just . . . let it go . . . honestly, " she nudged her friends to keep walking. "We'll figure it out," she assured quietly, peering over her shoulder at the smug-looking Richard.
Rhydian looked back as he watched the iron gates closed behind them with a resounding slam. As they stood outside, gazing at the large property, the iron bars trapping Maddy within, Rhydian let out a grunt and kicked at some pebbles.
"Don't know why you're mad?" Tom snipped. "You're not the one that just got fired - has no job - and a baby on the way. Oh! And has spent the last two weeks undercover in a thankless job - away from his wife and -"
"All right, enough!" Jana cut in, stopping Tom's diatribe. "We get it."
"Do you now?" the football player countered, looking at Rhydian who was still looking up at the second story window on the far right, just knowing she was there, watching them.
"Yes, we do . . . right, Rhydian?"
"Huh?" Rhydian responded, seeing Tom roll his eyes. "No, I'm sorry mate. I just . . ."
"Doing things your way, yah?"
"Come on, now. Stop it!" Jana demanded, standing between the two men. Pulling her phone out, Jana's eyebrows furrowed as she read through the message. "I have a car on the way to pick us up at the end here. Let's just go. No need to make more fools of ourselves than we already have. Tom, Shan is at Segolia, she said she they found one of the beasts dead in a nearby forest. They're runnin' tests now . . ."
Sitting in the large corner office of Shannon Okanawe, Rhydian swayed back and forth in the rolling desk chair, positioned closest to the window. He watched as lines of rain raced down the large panes of glass. The ride back to Segolia headquarters had been uncomfortably quiet, he felt like a cub with its tail tucked between its legs, trailing behind Jana and Tom as they made their way to the Segolia's Research and Development Department, now run by Research Director Dr. Rebecca Whitewood. Shannon had been hired on as the Assistant Director, quitting her previous job to help solve the Smith mystery. Mulling over how close they had come to reuniting, he was startled from his thoughts by someone yelling his name.
"Rhydian!"
The young man looked up at Shannon, who was starring at him, clearly annoyed with having had to call his name repeatedly. "I said, you don't need to stay. These tests can take hours."
Rhydian looked about, Tom was fiddling with some brain teasers Shannon had on her work desk, and Jana was scrolling on her phone.
"I'm good," he mumbled.
Rhydian glanced at Jana, and she smirked at him. She knew he was procrastinating, not wanting to return home. Ceri would have his head the moment he stepped foot inside for leaving Bryn in the Tube by himself.
"Both of you . . ." Tom said aloud. He looked at the two Wolfbloods. "What did you mean by that?"
Rhydian sat up straighter and looked at Jana, who the question was aimed.
She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "Nothin'. I mean, I was just sayin' that both of you needed to relax." She continued to scroll through her phone, never once looking back up for affirmation that her lie was a success.
"But I wasn't the one about to pull the man apart . . ."
Rhydian watched nervously to see what Jana would say in response. After several long minutes, he got his answer: nothing. Assuming either she hadn't heard him or didn't feel it necessary to justify her actions, Tom let it drop.
"So, what now?" Rhydian piped up, afraid Tom would circle back.
"Well . . ." Jana sighed, "I need to update Dacia . . . think I'll save that fun 'til tomorrow."
"So, that's why you're hanging about. Hoping you have somethin' other than bad news," Shannon said with a half-smile, her eyes flitting to Rhydian.
Rhydian expected a long reprimand from Shannon for ruining their espionage but as she watched Tom get up for his wife to sit, and the way she kept fiddling with his butler's uniform, the Wolfblood suspected that she secretly couldn't be happier to have him home again.
A few beeps sounded in the adjacent room, and Shannon pushed herself from her chair to retrieve the print out. Returning with the some papers, she shuffled through them after scanning each one.
"Well?" Jana asked eagerly.
"It's . . ." Shannon tsked as she leafed through the pages again.
"Did you figure out what - or who they are?" Tom asked.
"That's the thing . . . I don't know what to call them. They aren't Wolfbloods." She pushed her glassed up her nose, her face contorting as she tried to make sense of the data in front of her. "They certainly aren't human. Some type of mutation . . ."
"But isn't that what Wolfbloods are?" Rhydian questioned.
Shannon shook her head. "Wolfbloods aren't actually human. They are are a separate species. We likely share a distant ancestor, but at some point, we went one way and you lot went another." She grabbed a pen from its holder and scribbled some notes, hastily circling things.
"So, they're another species then?" Jana broached, diverting her attention from her phone.
"No. Not exactly . . ."
"Shan!" Tom interjected, gently taking the papers from her. "In simple terms, please. . . We've all had a long day and could use the help understanding, 'kay?" he said gently.
"Right," she breathed, taking back the papers from her husband, "Their genes looked like someone spliced them, forced Wolfblood genomes into human DNA."
"But, isn't that what Segolia is trying to do? Isn't that what Kincaid -"
"No and no," Shannon cut off. "Segolia is trying to take techniques used by Wolfbloods; for example, their use of herbs and other natural remedies for treating aliments and seeing if they are viable solutions for humans. We are also studying Wolfblood abilities and response systems to see if we can identify similar ones in humans." She cleared her throat and regained her composure. "Alex Kincaid wanted to permanently repress the wolf in Wolfbloods for the purpose of destroying an entire species. While I don't condone what his parents did to him - the excuses they made for his brother's behavior - I do think as a scientist he allowed his personal experience to get in the way of true and truthful science, and inhibited his ability to do something for the greater good."
"I think he thought he was doing something for the greater good," Rhydian countered.
"Perhaps, but the science . . . my research," she mumbled, earning a groan from the group, "proved otherwise. You are not a threat in the same sense he believed."
"Yeah, but he did figure out how to give humans Wolfblood abilities," Tom reminded her. "Nearly died from that first batch."
Shannon squeezed his hand, "I know. I don't want to think about it."
"Yeah and that research died wit'em," Jana grumbled.
"What do you mean?" Tom exclaimed.
"Apparently, Alex Kincaid had a 'self-destruct' feature. Days after his capture, before he and his associate, Michael Webb, died, the data was deleted. The whole system went up in smoke - literally," Jana disclosed, crossing her arms and leaning agains the wall.
"It's just odd that he would do that - what with his 'human allies' across the globe?" Shannon recalled.
"Sweeney, myself, and Dacia tracked each one down with the help of Hannah and they had nothing of his research." Rhydian wondered if those "human allies" were rotting in some holding cell in Segolia, but neglected to ask. Jana had already stuck her neck out enough for him, he didn't want to rock the boat.
"You're tellin' me he kept that info to himself, as some type of patent rights?" Tom scoffed.
"Who knows? He was being led by his hatred of our species. I don't think he was thinkin' clearly, do you?" Jana snapped.
"Hey! I think we're getting off topic . . . how does this relate to the beasts that attacked Maddy and I?"
"DNA is made up of two strands," Shannon began, rummaging through the small bin, she pulled out from under her desk. She extracted two sets of DNA models. "I was just explaining DNA to some Year 7's last week, so this works out perfect. Imagine this one is human," she showed the trio, holding the smaller of the two models. "And this one is Wolfblood," she said waving the slightly larger one for visual reference. "The . . . werewolves . . . for lack of better term . . . . have had parts of their human DNA replaced with Wolfblood DNA, like such," at this she pauses, her face scrunching up as she works to rip some genomes from the Wolfblood DNA and insert them into the human DNA. The newly configured strand causing the whole model to bow as the larger genomes try to acclimate. "See how misshapen they are? They are connected, but the setup is unstable and not balanced."
"So . . ." Jana encouraged.
"So, going back to Alex's version, he superimposed the Wolfblood DNA onto the human DNA. The human DNA was still there, just sharing the space with the Wolfblood DNA. It needed to still be present if the human was to not be victim of the same restrictions Wolfbloods felt, like fear of fire or the effect lunar cycles have on them . . . . or so we speculate because as already said, the data is gone," Shannon huffed, and Rhydian smiled. A small bit of nostalgia washed over him as he listened to Shannon explain something (so clear to her) to the rest of the group. "The mastermind behind this 'experiment' is trying to create Wolfbloods - real, true to the moon Wolfbloods, I believe. I'm sure Dr. Whitewood will as well when she looks at this."
"Create?!" Jana and Rhydian yelled.
"What does this have to do with Maddy?" Tom cut in.
"Well, I'm not sure . . ." Shannon said dumping the models into the bin, the strands falling apart. Tom made an exasperated sigh, and let his hands fall to his side in a dramatic fashion.
"Hey! Give me some time, all right? I just got the print out," she defended, waving the papers at him.
"So, we are no closer to figuring out anything, are we?" Rhydian said with disgust.
"Well, not exactly," Jana countered. "We know that the experiment was a failure, obviously - because those beasts aren'tWolfbloods. So, now we just need to figure out how this connects to Maddy."
"And does it relate to what happened ten years ago?" Shannon added.
"It has to, right?" Tom speculated.
"No, not exactly," Jana lamented. "At least, we don't have any evidence yet that says it does."
"What does your instincts tell you?" Rhydian asked.
Jana shot Rhydian a look that confirmed his suspicions - the very one everyone had but wouldn't say aloud.
"Well, how about you, Tom? Learn anything?" Shannon asked, looking to change the subject and stave off the ominous feeling that was slowly filtering into the room.
"Not much," Tom grumbled, glaring at Rhydian. "Lord Heart plays everything close to the vest. His office is off limits to everyone - even his kids! The maid was only allowed in the mid-morning when he was there to clean. It sounds odd, but I think he did it to keep an eye on her. I tried to get in once, stating I was looking for my favored polishing cloth and he nearly fired me. . . he wasn't even home then to know."
"So, he has the place on watch?" Jana hummed.
"And Maddy?" Rhydian asked, trying to keep his eyes trained on Tom, though the pitying looks each of his friends gave was palpable.
Tom sighed. "Well, she had no clue who I was. That goes without saying, yah? I thought my being around would help jog her memory, but . . ."
Rhydian nodded, stopping Tom from continuing. "No, makes sense." The silence was thickening that you could almost taste it. "But . . . she, uh, she's happy, no?"
Tom's gaze fell to the floor, he grabbed for the back of his neck, then scratched the side of his head. "Yeah, she seems content, happy for the most part."
Trying his hardest to push down the ache that was moving from his stomach into his heart, he chuckled, "You know," his voice cracking as he focused on the linoleum marble floor, "it's getting late, I should probably be getting home," he forced another thick laugh, "Mum will probably make me sleep outside for leavin' Bryn on the train."
Jana reached out a hand, but Rhydian pulled his away.
"Listen, I'm happy that she's happy - and safe," he added quickly. "That's what I wanted - I mean, we wanted," he corrected, "Right?" Shannon, Tom, and Jana each made a noise of reluctant agreement.
Rhydian stood and stuffed his hands in his pockets, plastering a false smile on his face. "She's healthy, and safe, and happy . . ." He started shuffling toward the exit. "We just need to make sure that she remains safe. Figure out what's happenin' and then everyone can move on, like I said," he explained, rubbing at his eyes. He reached the doorway and gave a half-hearted wave goodbye. "I'm exhausted. Goodni-ah!" Rhydian jumped back, surprised at Dacia's arrival.
"What are you doin' here?" Jana squeaked.
"Well, beside that I work here and I'm your boss, I'm here for Rhydian."
Jana blanched, while Rhydian felt his heart race and his palms sweat.
"What for?" Tom asked. Both Naturals eyeing their Wolfblood friends suspiciously.
"You are expecting a call," she said, looking at the ashen-faced blonde.
"Why?" Rhydian demanded. He didn't work for Segolia.
"Cause . . ." she retorted, "Addie Heart asked for you specifically. Said she needs to speak to you - heard what you said earlier today . . . wants to talk to you about it. I gave her your number." Rhydian went wide-eyed, unsure what to make of this new information. Looking between Rhydian, Tom, and Jana, Dacia's scowl deepened, "What were you doing at the Heart Manor?" she demanded, "and what did you say?" Her attention back on the young Mr. Morris.
"She didn't tell you?" he asked, surprised.
"No," she confirmed definitively. "Wouldn't say."
At that moment, Rhydian's phone rang. He hastily extracted the mobile from his pocket, the small device lighting up and vibrating wildly.
CALLER UNKNOWN
The room went completely silent, everyone's eyes fixed on the phone. His hand shaking horribly in disbelief, knowing exactly who was on the other line, he hit 'accept' and brought the mobile up to his ear.
"Rhydian?" came an inquiring, soft female voice; one all so familiar and different at the same time.
~ End Chapter
A/N: Thank you for reading. I know it's a slight cliffhanger, but I couldn't help myself. As always, feedback is appreciated.