Page 83 of Diluted Truths

“Someone is there and they call me Jack. That’s it.”

Will nodded, contemplating my words.

“Who is it?” Theo asked.

I shrugged because I didn’t know. It felt important for me to know. To remember. Almost like someone in them wanted me to remember. I wracked my brain, hoping another piece of the puzzle would fall out of my thoughts. But there was nothing.

The revelation of that piece of my nightmare brought back all of the thoughts of what was facing me back in Eugene. I had to figure out more about the Cult and if there are any more ties between the Cult and Griffin.

I also needed to be careful, because what if his warnings were true? What if I did go missing? Could I prevent it?

Maybe the nightmares were connected to it as well.

I pressed the heels of my hands to my temples. It was all so overwhelming. How was this all real? How was I actually contemplating if I was going to go missing or be kidnapped?

“It’s going to be okay, Sunshine,” Will began, as if reading my thoughts. “I’m going to keep you safe.”

I smiled in response. I knew he would try, but I wasn’t sure he could.

Chapter 25The War by. SYML

Jackie

We had gotten to Eugene a short time ago and agreed that Theo and Violet would stay at my apartment with Jedi for the night and I would sleep at Will’s. Theo was planning on flying home first thing in the morning so we said our goodbye’s tonight. I was hoping I could get her to move here sooner than later. I knew a lot more planning had to go into her moving than when I did because of Violet, but I would do everything I could do to help.

“I’m going to sleep for like twelve hours straight. I'm so tired,” I stated as Will parked the car in his driveway.

“Maybe hold off on that,” Will gestured to his front porch. “We have visitors.”

I looked to where he gestured to see Fai and Sarah standing by his front porch.

I groaned.

I loved my friends and did need to talk to Fai but I was hoping to do so after a good rest and a big meal. Talking things out when tired and hungry was never a good idea. But it looked like I had no other choice.

Will got out of the car, waved to our friends and rounded the hood to open my door. He grabbed my hand and didn’t let go. We were showing a united front to them, showing Fai I was serious about my choice. That we were serious about each other.

I squeezed his hand three times out of habit to tell him I loved him and he responded the same. I knew I could handle whatever Fai threw at me today with Will by my side.

We approached the two on the front porch. Fai seemed angry, maybe even more angry than before. Sarah looked concerned and even a bit scared.

“What’s going on?” Will asked cautiously as we approached them, obviously feeling the same vibe that I did.

Fai looked straight at me as he answered, “I got a couple of calls for you this morning. One was from a woman. Her name was Janice. Super nice. She wanted to follow up about the article that you are writing. You know the one I am talking about? The one you scrapped a month ago?”

Crap, he was past mad.

Not only was I dating Will but I was investigating a case he told me to drop. A case I told him I did drop. It looks like all my lies had finally caught up with me. I guess it was time to come clean.

“Let’s go inside,” I stated and walked towards the door past Fai and Sarah. Will let us in and we made our way to the living room.

I collapsed on the couch, the fatigue from not sleeping well for weeks slipping in. I looked up towards the ceiling as I heard everyone sit down. I was too tired for this.

“Jackie, explain,” Fai urged. I slowly looked down and met his eyes. He looked so disappointed in me. I knew he was. I did everything he told me not to and lied to him about it. He must have seen something in me, because he seemed to soften after a moment. “Please.”

I sighed.

It was now or never.