Jack Anna walked towards a small hill, sneaking behind as if she was following something. She strode towards a small rock partition under the hill and scanned her eyes around, looking for anything that looked like a button, and finally she snapped her fingers and a wall opened, “I knew it. I saw her go in through here.” Anna said and turned towards me with a proud smile. “Let’s go. I think this is the road to the safe house.” I was surprised, watching her as she walked inside. Without wasting any time, I brought out my gun. I knew anything could go wrong at any moment and I had to be prepared. I kept a good distance from Anna as we walked into the narrow lobby entrance, I brought out my gun and loaded some bullets, shielded by the darkness. Anna shifted her gaze to me and continued down the corridor, then she took a left turn, walking stealthily, beckoning on me to join her quickly. I wondered what she was following and hasten ended up, rejoining her at the left corner. “What a
Anna“How do I know you’re not just making this up so we don’t think that you might be one of the moles you just talked about?” I asked, as the thought suddenly occurred in my mind.Chloe looked astonished and simply offered me a smile, before turning away. She shifted her gaze to Jack who shot his away, unable to look at her directly.“She’s a tough one, isn’t she?” She asked with a wry smile.“I’m afraid Anna doesn’t trust anyone easily, Ms. Chloe, so if you want her to trust you, you’re going to have to earn that somehow,” Jack said, still looking away. I squinted my eyes, looking suspiciously in his direction. Why was he being so courtly towards this woman?“Ms. Chloe?” I repeated, staring at Jack, who still looked away. Chloe smirked embarrassingly and then turned towards me, “So you don’t trust people easily. That’s why you are finding it hard to believe I’m truly your sister.”I arched my brow, giving her a look that exclaimed “And so?” At this time, Chloe nodded and smiled
Anna“Not to doubt you, but what exactly have we gotten?” Jack asked, sounding perplexed. “The first clue. Whatever it is that Demarcus was hiding. The first clue is in this map and I’ve just found it.” I said, my excitement returning.“I think there’s something we are supposed to look for. It has to do with that artwork. If we can just find out what it is, I’m sure it’ll lead us to something that will punch us in the right direction.”“The artwork,” Chloe said and snapped her fingers as if a piece of the clue had just unraveled in her mind.“It’s not an artwork, it’s a door.” She said and quickly pulled out her phone, searching through her library collection, and pulled up a picture replica of the same artwork we were staring at right now.In the picture, the frames of the artwork were holding a handle, however looking at this picture now, there was none.“So it’s a door,” I said shifting away from them.“But there’s no knob or key. How do we find those?” I asked, turning away from
Anna I paced back and forth frantically, wondering why Zach’s name was on this list. As much as I wanted to believe it was an error, this list had been well scrutinized and a lot of process had gone into it. As such, Zach Greyson being on this list couldn’t have been a mistake, but I couldn’t make sense of why he was there in the first place. The Greysons were a wealthy and influential family. Certainly, they didn’t need the power of the Circle, or to associate with it. So why did Zach choose to? The answer kept eluding me. However, deep in my heart, I could not help but wonder if Mark knew anything about him. “This can’t be true,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. “I’m afraid it is.” Jack’s voice echoed softly into my ears, and I suddenly turned to him in shock, “What are you talking about?” I asked, unable to believe him. Jack heaved a sigh and started approaching me with slow measured steps. He stopped just in front of me, his face filled with sympathy as if he was scar
Anna “What are we going to do about Zach?” Chloe’s voice resounded in my head, leaving me just as puzzled as I was before. The truth was up until now, I wasn’t completely sure there was still anything to do and in truth, there really was not much left that we could do. Edgar had everything: my blood, the vial, support from the major influences in the Circle. Some which we did not even know. He may have just won this fight. However, finding this safe house had fueled me with a new kind of courage and hope. I was now certain that with Demarcus’ fortune and collection, I could fight for what was truly mine - my seat at the head of the Circle. With this list in my hand, fishing out Edgar’s support had been made easy. Still Zach was an unaccounted complication. I didn’t know what to do about him yet, but if a chance to convince him presented himself and he still chose to side with Edgar, I was not going to spare him just because he was Mark’s brother. There was a lot more at stake th
AnnaI looked around the expectant gazes and my face lit up with a soft smile. Right at this moment, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time, something I’d been trying to run away from, and in a way, it excited me. I finally realized that this whole time, I’ve been chasing something I didn’t have to look so far for. A family I always wanted. It wasn’t the ideal picture, but I loved the one I had. Chloe may not have been the sister I wanted or even knew I had, and even when I was still not able to completely accept her as a sister, I liked that still, I still had a sister. On the other hand, her complicated relationship with Mark was still a bother. I didn’t want to know what really happened between them, but then again, I couldn’t completely keep my mind away from it. Jack was another part of that family I was also concerned with. I was hoping that whatever he felt towards me, should have ended by now. Seeing how swung he was with Chloe already, I sensed there could be somet
AnnaChloe remained quiet for a while and then a proud smirk formed on her lips. I could see she was amazed by my plans but was still looking for any loopholes to it“Huh,” she scoffed.“What’s that?” I asked, arching my brows furiously.“I can’t find any loopholes.” She remarked.“I told you it was a foolproof plan. It’s the perfect way to fight Edgar. First, we break him down from the inside, and then after all or most of his associates have abandoned him, we can take the fight to him. It’ll make it easier cause he won’t have anyone to hide behind.” I stated convincingly.“So if we’ve figured out the plans, then what’s next?” Jack’s voice interrupted.I shifted my gaze toward him and another smile appeared on my lips. “The next step is to find the manpower we need. The list is a long one, and if we need to stay ahead of everyone, we’ll need people following them up closely. I believe that we will find someone with the potential to break. Someone with a secret, that he just can’t le
“Mark and I used to date.” The words echoed in my head like I was reliving a nightmare. I froze in shock, not sure what to say or how to even react. Deep down, I couldn’t help but dismiss the thought that this was the relationship Chloe and Mark shared, but I always tried to convince myself it wasn’t anything like that. Mark never talked a lot about her even after we met at that party, and I just assumed there was nothing much to say about an old friend.Now I see I was just trying to keep my thoughts away from a fear I didn’t want to have to face.However, I couldn’t understand why Chloe chose to tell me at this point and why Mark never said anything. Was he hiding something about their relationship? I didn’t know Chloe was my sister then, and I’m sure he didn't know either. Certainly, I wouldn’t have minded much about a girl he dated in the past, and at this point, I was convinced he was hiding something.As much as it should have felt good that I now had something to call him out
The day of reckoning had arrived. In a few minutes now, Anna and her troop will be taking Edgar and his men by surprise. The stage had been set with everyone working together to end Edgar’s tyranny.Under the cover of the night, Anna, Mark, Jack, and their allies positioned themselves near Edgar’s main hideout. Zach had fed them crucial information about the hideout's layout and where Edgar and George would likely be during the operation. Armed and ready, they moved swiftly, slipping through shadows and avoiding detection.As they closed in, Anna felt a mix of fear and exhilaration. She knew this confrontation would determine everything—her role in The Circle, her fate, and Mark’s future with his family. She glanced at him, catching his gaze, and a silent understanding passed between them. Finally, they reached the inner sanctum, silently taking down Edgar’s security guards, until they reached where Edgar and George were having a conversation. The two men looked surprised but quickly
As Mark prepared to find his brother, Zach, he couldn’t help but feel a mixture of fear and hope. Although he had agreed to work with Anna, he wasn’t convinced she understood just how deep the roots of The Circle ran or how much any of this had affected him. However, seeing how resolved she was to take down Edgar had swayed him, and he knew that, for his brother’s sake, he had to give her plan a chance.Meanwhile, after Anna walked out of the room, she now decided to contact Jack. As soon as he picked up, she explained her suspicions about The Circle and how their influence might reach farther than even she had initially thought, informing him that she needed him now more than ever. A few hours passed and Mark arrived at a small, dimly lit bar where Zach was known to spend his evenings. Immediately he walked in, he spotted Zach sitting at the far end of the bar, looking troubled. Mark approached him slowly, and as soon as he sat down, he placed a firm hand on his brother's shoulder.
Author’s POV“So you’re telling me that you are not just a part of an evil organization that has been around for years, but you are also the head?” Mark asked, staring at Anna in disbelief. “I know this is difficult to process, but it is the truth. But we are not all like Edgar.” Anna said.“Right…” Mark scoffed.“No, I mean it. We don’t all want the same thing. The Circle has been in operation for years, working to maintain the balance and smooth operation of the surface world. Edgar and his associates are the only ones with the ideals that things need to change, and that for some reason they are the ones to affect that change. That’s why we are fighting them. We are trying to retain order and balance in this world.”“And how do you do that, huh?”“Tell me, Anna, does it involve letting the people up here decide for their lives or does your organization plan out the course of their lives?” Mark asked with a pruning look.“I don’t know about that, I’ve not been a member for long.” A
Author’s POV“What?” Mark recoiled in shock.“Who could have done that?” Anna hesitated for some moments, afraid of how he would take the news. “Tell me, Anna.” He demanded.“Zach!” Anna blurted. “Your brother Zach did.”Mark staggered for some time, trying to process what I had just said. “Are you serious?” He asked, still in disbelief.“I am,” Anna said softly. Mark remained frozen in place for some time, deep in contemplation. I could imagine how difficult this was for him to hear. Zach was a lot and had caused a lot of problems, but at the end of the day, he was still his brother. “I can’t believe this,” Mark muttered and immediately started searching through his drawers.“What are you doing?” Anna asked, to no reply.“What are you doing Mark?” She asked again. “What does it look like I’m doing?” Mark snapped irritably.“I’m going down to have a conversation with my brother and give him the chance to explain how he almost got me killed.” He raged and grabbed his car key.Ann
Author’s POVThose words filled Anna with a sudden dread. She hoped that somehow Mark would not ask her that because she still wasn’t sure who the father of her children truly was. There was that stranger from that night, and then there was Luke. For all she knows, it could have been either of them.Seeing how hesitant she was, Mark asked again,“Is the father still in the picture Anna? What happened with him?” At that point, Anna quickly turned around, “He’s not in the picture and that’s all that I can say. I don’t really like to talk about him.” She said, her heart beating out of her chest.Much to her surprise, Mark did not ask anything concerning him again. He waited for some time and then his lips curved into a smile,“I’d like to meet them.” As soon as she heard these words, Anna’s eyes widened in shock.“I’m sorry. You want to meet…”“Your children,” Mark interjected. “Is that okay with you?” He added.Anna remained frozen for some moments, her thoughts running wild. This w
Author’s POVUpon hearing that, Mark’s face reddened with humiliation. He didn’t think she would figure it out, but she was right, he was afraid. After Lydia died in that car accident, Mark had spent his entire life afraid of being abandoned, and that fear resurfaced when he learned of Anna’s children.“No Anna, the issue here is that you could not trust me. I’ve already been down that road once with Mia, and I don’t want to be in another relationship where my girlfriend is keeping secrets from me.” He argued.As much as he had a point, Anna was still not convinced. She knew Mark was trying to change the course of their conversation and she would not let him.She shot him a soft gaze and slowly walked toward him, “I know it’s not easy to admit Mark, and I know that I shouldn’t have kept this away from you for so long, but I am afraid too.” Anna said and Mark’s eyes shot up with curiosity.Anna heaved a deep sigh and continued, “When I first came into town, I didn’t know what I was goi
Anna“Who’s there?” Mark’s voice sounded through the door.I hesitated to answer. One word from me and he’d be calling the guards to throw me out, or at least that’s what I thought, so I knocked again and waited a while for his answer. This time he did not bother to say anything, and after waiting for a while, I knocked again.“I already told you, Rita, I don’t need anything!” His voice echoed in annoyance as he approached the door, and unlocked it.As soon as his gaze met mine, he froze in shock for some moment, unable to find the words to say anything.“Anna?”“Wh-what are you doing here?” Mark asked, and immediately his brows creased into a deep frown.“Mark, I just want to talk…” I started to say, but he rudely cut me off.“I don’t have anything to say to you.” He replied coldly and tried to close the door, but I quickly put my feet through the doorframe, stopping him.He shot one look at me and sighed heavily, turned his back, and walked inside the room, leaving me at the door.
Anna“You want my advice? Go for it.” I said, encouraging Jack. Deep down I knew it was a selfish act. As much as I hoped that he’d find love somewhere else, a part of me wanted to believe what it told him about Anna, that deep down she did not still harbor any feelings toward Mark. I’d hate to be in competition with my sister over a man we both wanted. Jack seemed flustered when I said that. I could tell he hoped that no one would spot his feelings toward Chloe, especially not the girl he was just trying to get over.Still, he managed to keep his composure and quickly tried to change the focus,“You should try taking your own advice with Mark. I know I’ve not always made your relationship with him easy, and I apologize for the part I played in that. But whatever this thing is between you and Mark, it’ll be a shame if you both fall out.” He said.“Jack, what happened between Mark and I is not because of you. He just couldn’t stand the honesty he wanted.” I said, pushing the bangs on
“Mark and I used to date.” The words echoed in my head like I was reliving a nightmare. I froze in shock, not sure what to say or how to even react. Deep down, I couldn’t help but dismiss the thought that this was the relationship Chloe and Mark shared, but I always tried to convince myself it wasn’t anything like that. Mark never talked a lot about her even after we met at that party, and I just assumed there was nothing much to say about an old friend.Now I see I was just trying to keep my thoughts away from a fear I didn’t want to have to face.However, I couldn’t understand why Chloe chose to tell me at this point and why Mark never said anything. Was he hiding something about their relationship? I didn’t know Chloe was my sister then, and I’m sure he didn't know either. Certainly, I wouldn’t have minded much about a girl he dated in the past, and at this point, I was convinced he was hiding something.As much as it should have felt good that I now had something to call him out