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Ch 69 (Side story continued)
🕑 Added 2025-03-14 00:27:07 +0000 UTCThe next morning. Cassie woke up to a cold chill.
She reached out and stretched her arms wide in a yawn.
Andrew and Cassie had stayed up most the night talking. She loved those nights. She loved how much her husband cared.
Speaking of her husband. She rolled over. Andrew's side of the bed was empty.
Typical. He had probably already gone out and started his day.
Cassie pulled the blankets tight around herself. She wasn’t ready to get up. Not quite yet, but she knew it was an important day.
She forced herself out of bed and took a few minutes to prepare herself for the events to come.
Once she was ready she stepped out into the brisk morning air.
Andrew was most likely already at the house with Jordan and Tyler.
She took her time. Andrew could handle himself.
Once she arrived she politely knocked on the door. Tyler answered.
“Good morning Cassie. Why don’t you come in? Jordan and his men are ready to solidify plans.” He looked out the door. “Do you know when Andrew plans to get here? I’m surprised he’s not with you.”
The question was a surprise to Cassie.
“He’s not here yet? I left thinking he was already on his way.”
Tyler shrugged. “No, I haven’t seen him yet. I figured he was with you.”
That was strange. Andrew had made it very clear last night how important today was. It wasn’t like him to just not show up.
Tyler waved it off. “I’m sure it’s nothing. He’ll be here in no time.”
Jordan walked to the doorway. “Good morning Cassie.” He poked his head out the door. “Is Andrew still planning to meet this morning?”
“I was just telling Tyler, I thought he was already here.”
He tried not to show it but Jordan seemed annoyed at the delay.
“He will be here soon. He probably had something come up this morning. Hopefully it’s not more disappearances.” That’s probably what it was, why wouldn’t it be? She felt sorry for Andrew. It always tore him apart facing the family and friends of the missing people.
“Well why don’t you come in, Jordan has already been telling us about his faction.” Tyler ushered Cassie inside.
She looked over her shoulder expecting her husband any second. Time passed. And then more time.
Jordan went from being politely annoyed to openly frustrated.
“Cassie, Tyler, I’m sure that Andrew is doing something important. But I hope you can understand why I might be in a hurry?”
Tyler pulled back a curtain and looked out the window. “I do, I’m really surprised Andrew isn’t here yet.”
Cassie was surprised also. “He wouldn’t make you wait unless he had a reason. Stay here, I’ll see if I can find him.”
Without a word Cassie left. Where would he be? She didn’t have to go far before she was met by a mob of people making their way to the house.
They were shouting. A man in front raised his arms to quiet the crowd of people. Before speaking.
“Cassie. We're here to see your husband.” He was an older man. Maybe close to the same age as Jordan but more robust. Cassie searched in her mind to remember his name… Eric!
“Eric, what is going on?” She asked, gesturing at the crowd.
“We’re here to get answers. Three more people went missing last night that we know of. People are terrified!” Shouts of agreement rang out from the group. Cassie recoiled slightly.
Eric noticed the movement and his eyes softened. “Alright, Alright. Everyone, let's calm down, CALM DOWN!” The group listened to Eric for now. “Cassie, I know Andrew. He’s a good man. I know he is doing his best but this isn’t working.”
Cassie barely heard them. Her mind was racing. She was sure he was already working with people.
If this crowd was here, that clearly wasn’t the case…
Her heart started to race. If he wasn’t helping his faction where was he?
She was overreacting.
Vaguely she heard Eric speaking with her but she wasn’t listening anymore.
Cassie fought to stay calm. She was losing the battle. In a moment of clarity she opened her status screen.
Please no. Please.
With trembling hands she opened the area that showed objectives. Andrew had spoken of the objectives many times. The objectives that only he could see as the faction leader.
The objectives that she could see now.
Cassie's legs buckled. Her breath wouldn’t come easily.
It doesn’t mean anything.… Maybe Andrew somehow transferred them to her? Her thoughts felt hollow.
She was on knees.
When did that happen? There are people around her. She couldn’t hear them, her ears were ringing.
There was another reason. There had to be another reason.
If she said it enough it would make it true.
She knew she was lying to herself.
Her mind cracked.
Cassie buried her face in her hands. She screamed.
-
Cassie’s breath still hadn’t fully steadied.
She lay on the couch, numb, her thoughts a storm she couldn’t control. She wasn’t sure how she’d gotten inside—she barely remembered Tyler pulling her away from the crowd, away from their eyes, their questions.
It didn’t matter. Nothing did.
Somewhere nearby, she heard voices.
“Are we sure he’s gone?”
Jordan’s voice. Low. Controlled.
Tyler exhaled, his tone uncertain. “I don’t think we can be a hundred percent sure… but based on Cassie’s reaction, it’s not looking great.”
Jordan muttered a curse under his breath. He shook his head. “This is exactly what I was hoping to avoid.” A pause, measured. “We’ve both already lost so many.”
Silence stretched between them. Then Jordan spoke again.
“I think it’s best if we leave.”
Tyler turned toward him, surprised. “Leave?”
Jordan nodded, his expression carefully neutral. “This is a difficult time for your faction, and I don’t want to complicate things.” He let the words settle before adding, “You know where we are. When you're ready, come find us.”
His voice carried the weight of finality. The suggestion of abandonment.
The implied consequence. And then—movement.
Cassie didn’t remember standing. Didn’t remember crossing the room.
But suddenly, she was there, in the kitchen, looking at them.
Her voice was raw, barely above a whisper.
“I can’t do this.”
Neither of them spoke. They just waited.
Her hands trembled at her sides. “I can’t do this without him.”
She turned to Tyler first. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—hesitation. Doubt.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice quiet.
Cassie’s lips trembled. No.
She wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure of anything anymore. But Andrew was gone.
And she couldn’t do this alone.
Her fingers shook as she pulled up her interface.
She swallowed hard.
“Jordan, help us.”
A single motion. A confirmation screen.
And without another word—she transferred the faction to him.
Jordan exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable.
"Alright," he said, his voice even. "I’ll do everything I can."
He didn’t smile. That would be too much.
Instead, he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder—just enough to steady her. Just enough to make it seem like he hadn’t orchestrated this from the start.
Cassie didn’t react.
She turned and walked away without another word.
Cassie heard Andrews voice in her mind, steady and unshakable, as if he were right beside her.
"But since when have we run from scary?"
Her breath caught. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides.
She wanted to believe it. But this time… she had run.
She had let fear win.
Behind her, Jordan let out a slow, measured exhale.
Comments
Avyck3721
🤷😉
VoidAutarch
I think Jordan has something to do with this obviously. He lead Andrew into a trap and finished him off and Cassie capitulated . The MC needs to take out Jordan so that justice can be served and his faction grows larger as a result .
Klepp
I think its fantastic. keep up the good work Avyck
Avyck3721
Well it’s better then completely hating it 🤣
EsZeus
Kinda weird. I am torn between liking and disliking the story. Too many other POVs, but it's also interesting in itself. But the MC is also weird. Much of what happens doesn't make sense to me. Dunno.
Avyck3721
haha no... damn it. That would be so creepy though. It was her remembering her husbands words.
bob barker
Holy fuck was it Jordan who said the last line?
