CHAPTER 57: RESTLESS...

Chapter 57: Restless

Danielle couldn’t stop herself from shaking.

Sitting on the floor beside the couch, hugging her knees so tightly her arms started to hurt. Hours had passed since Theo left. The safe house was covered in complete silence, but she felt danger breathing behind every wall.

Every time she blinked she imagined Theo lying somewhere, bleeding. Her mind tortured her with thoughts she did not want to think.

Theo had handcuffed her. He had forced her to stay behind.

But still... she just wanted him back.

Felix paced across the living room, trying to act calm. Danielle’s eyes were red from crying, but she refused to sit still. She kept getting up and walking toward the door before turning back again.

"He will be fine," Felix said gently.

"You do not know that," Danielle whispered with a shaking voice.

Felix crouched down in front of her. His smile looked soft, but no one could ever tell what was happening behind them.

"He always comes back, does he not?"

Danielle looked at him, desperate for hope. "Why did he go alone? Why did he not tell me where he is going?"

Felix hesitated. He had no real answers for her, only lies.

"Maybe he wanted to protect you," he mumbled sarcastically.

Danielle wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "And who is going to protect him?"

Felix did not respond, and just lowered his head, but inside his mind a different thought grew stronger:

’Theo is a threat...Theo knows too much...Theo must be removed....’

Felix stood up and walked to the kitchen.

"You should rest," he said while filling a glass of water. "You are not okay."

"I am not resting," Danielle snapped. "Not until I know he is alive."

Felix watched her silently as she paced again. His expression softened only on the surface.

"Danielle," he said carefully, "I know Theo seems strong, but you should not worry too much. He will come back when he finishes whatever he started."

She stopped and hugged herself again. "Why does he want to kill my father?"

That question hit Felix harder than he expected. His smile froze in time.

"Did he tell you that?" Felix asked.

"He did not say it directly," Danielle whispered. "But the way he left... It felt like he was going to do something terrible."

Felix stayed quiet...He knew exactly who the President had become. He knew the truth of these families. And he knew Theo was far too close to exposing everything.

"Danielle," Felix called her, "Theo might do things you do not understand."

She turned more aggressively, looking at him with pain in her eyes.

"I do not understand anything anymore," she said. "I do not understand Theo. I do not understand my father. I do not understand why everyone wants to hurt each other."

Felix set the glass down and walked closer to her.

"Sit," he said calmly.

Danielle sat because she was exhausted. He took a seat across from her, keeping his voice low and controlled.

"You are strong," he began. "Too strong sometimes. But fear makes even the strongest person feel small."

She looked away as tears started burning her eyes again.

He continued with a quiet voice, "Let me tell you a story."

Her breathing slowed a little, so he continued.

"There was once a girl who lived inside a very cold castle. She was surrounded by walls and guards. Everyone told her she was safe... but she knew she was a prisoner."

Danielle blinked. The story felt too close to her reality.

"One day," Felix continued, "a stranger broke through those walls. He was cold too, colder than the castle. But he saw the girl. He saw her fire."

Felix smiled gently.

"And he decided to burn down the castle to set her free."

Danielle stared at him, feeling really confused. "Who was the stranger?"

Felix chuckled slowly. "Does it matter? The point is, she realised that freedom costs blood."

Her heart thudded like a hammer painfully.

"What if she never wanted freedom?" Danielle whispered.

Felix leaned forward slightly. "Then she will lose everyone who tries to give it to her."

That sentence struck her deep. She hugged her knees again.

Felix stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Theo will come back. And until he does, you must breathe."

Danielle nodded weakly, trying to control herself from breaking apart...

Felix checked the clock.

"By the way," he said, changing the subject, "the university is closed for at least a month. They need time to repair the exploded building."

Danielle nodded. She did not care about school right now.

"We could go somewhere," Felix offered. "Somewhere quiet...Somewhere you can heal."

"No," she answered immediately. "I am not leaving. If Theo comes back, I must be here."

Felix smiled kindly on the outside. Inside, he rolled his eyes.

’Blind loyalty...How pathetic.’

"Well then," he replied, "I will be in my office for a moment. If you need me, call."

Danielle nodded and curled up on the couch.

Felix walked down the hallway. The moment he closed the office door behind him, the smile vanished. His expression turned icy and like winter’s cold.

He took out his secure phone and typed quickly.

To: President Hale

Danielle is unwell. She is unstable...It is best if you come for her soon.

He stared at the message, satisfied.

Theo was distracted and Danielle was frightened.

The President would finally move his pieces.

Felix pressed Send.

He leaned back in his chair with a quiet and wicked smile.

Felix didn’t like Theo, and his job to spy on him was basically done. Now, he will be able to return to serve the president as his secret spy.

Managing to get quite a lot of information, Felix knew he did a good job...especially, when the president will have the right to kill Jackson’s parents now too.

"Ah, Theo...you think I didn’t know the games you and Frank were playing?" He asked out loud and bit his lower lip.

*Beep*

Felix looked down at his screen, and read the message in silence.

"Checkmate, Theo."