Page 44 of Expecting The Unexpected

“I agree. He took us in when he didn’t have to. He could have just left us at the water’s edge on the other side of the river,” Spencer whispered.

Throg tightened his arm around Spencer. “He would never have done that. He doesn’t live in the web of darkness like Chantal.”

“Oh, my gods! I’m so stupid!” Spencer snapped, as he sat straight up, and threw his legs to the side of the bed.

“What? Salvator, come back to this bed.” Throg insisted.

Shaking his head, Spencer said, “I can’t. I need to get to the office.”

“Why?” Throg asked, as he stood up and began dressing.

“Because I’m stupid,” Spencer said, tossing on his t-shirt and grabbing his socks and shoes. “I’ve been searching out the damn hate groups using their e-mail and social media. I never thought to look in...” He shoved his feet in his shoes, as Throg did the same with his boots. “...the damn dark web.”

“The what?” Throg asked, as he followed Spencer out of his room and to the elevator.

Spencer pressed the down button, saying, “The dark web. It’s where people go that don’t want you to know shit.”

Throg must have looked confused as hell, because, damn it, he was. Spencer took mercy on him saying, “Think of it like a... like a hidden room.”

“Like the dumbwaiter. It’s there, but not seen,” Throg said, giving Spencer a pointed look.

Snorting, Spencer said, “Heard about that did you? And yes, like that. Most people use what we call the surface web. It’s where you can google shit, that kind of thing. Then you have the deep web. That’s a place that is protected, and not just anyone can go there. Humans use it for online banking and stuff. But then you have thedarkweb. That’s further underground, and usually only the shady shit goes on there. You can find a lot of computer nerds there, and people that fight against censorship, but you will also find a lot of drug traders working from there, and even white slavery shit... you know what I mean?”

Nodding, Throg said, “Yeah, I do, but what does this have to do with the hate groups we’re looking for?”

“Everything. They aren’t going to go through e-mails, and I’ve been thinking about those recipes and shit that Tumm has all over his social media and e-mails, and the more I think about it, the more I think it’s just a way to either tag someone to go to the dark web for some reason, or it’s a ruse to stall for time for anyone that might be snooping into him, or... and this is a big ‘or’ mind you, but he could be as innocent as those stupid recipes make him look.”

“I highly doubt that,” Throg said, as they stepped out of the elevator, and started towards Hron’s office.

“Me too,” Spencer said, as he opened the door.

Hron looked up, and his eyes widened, “Throg, what are you doing here? Nestling begins in less than two minutes.”

Throg was surprised, because he didn’t feel the tightness you usually did at this time, and his movements weren’t stiff and almost robotic. “I didn’t think about Nestling... I don’t feel...”

A burning pain shot through Throg’s body, and he dropped to his knees. “What thefuck?”

“Throg! Throg!” Spencer shouted hysterically.

Throg wanted to answer his Viata. He wanted to tell him he would be fine, but at that very moment there were no words coming out of his mouth... they couldn’t get past the screams of pain.