Chapter 96
We check into a hotel, the three of us—Wake, Hiro, and I—each lost in our own thoughts. We've accumulated a metric ton of baffling information in a short amount of time, and it's going to take a while to process. I’m exhausted, mentally and emotionally drained, but there’s no time to rest. Not yet.
After a long, hot shower that does little to calm my nerves, we all reconvene in the living area of our suite. Hiro has his laptop out on the coffee table, the soft glow of the screen lighting up his face. Wake sits nearby, observant but quiet as always, and I sit across from them both, my mind running through one disaster scenario after the next.
Wake, ever direct, breaks the silence first. "What is a Nereid, and why is it important?"
I glance at him, surprised that he’s unfamiliar with the term. I’d forgotten that Greek mythology wasn’t exactly something that crossed over into Enkian knowledge. "Nereids are what the ancient Greeks called water nymphs," I explain, trying to keep it simple.
His brow furrows. "Water nymphs…like the Enkian?"
"Sort of," I say, standing up and starting to pace the room. I can feel my nerves buzzing under my skin. "They’re a derivative form of mythical water people. Not the same as your people, but still…it’s close enough."
"So you think this name, Nereid Limited,isn't a coincidence?" he asks, watching me closely.
I stop in my tracks and stare at him. "Wake, after everything we've seen? I don’t know if I can believe in coincidence anymore. Not after this."
Hiro, who’s been typing away on his laptop, snorts. "Well, you're in for a treat because none of this is adding up." He looks up from the screen, his expression unreadable. "Nereid Limited specializes in geological surveillance technology."
I stare at him, mouth agape. "Geological surveillance? Are you sure?"
Wake raises an eyebrow. "And they named themselves after water creatures?"
This can't be happening. My heart races as a realization hits me like a ton of bricks. I feel the blood drain from my face, and before I know it, I’m on my feet, pacing again, my hands in my hair. “Holy shit. Holy shit!”
Wake’s up in an instant, concern etched across his face. "Phoebe? What is it?"
I spin around to face him, the words tumbling out of me before I can even stop to think. "It’s my grandmother!"
Hiro looks skeptical, leaning back in his chair as he folds his arms across his chest. "And we know that how, exactly? I can’t find any information on Nereid’s CEO or who’s running the show."
But I know. I feel it in my bones, a gut instinct I can't shake. "Who else would care enough to pay for Felix Becker’s medical care all these years? Who else would have the resources, the knowledge—hell, the personal interest in doing it?"
Wake narrows his eyes, his gaze never leaving mine. "The same woman he tried to murder?"
I shake my head, pacing again. "It doesn’t matter, Wake. None of that matters. I know it’s her. My grandma is a geophysicist. She's Enkian. It fits too perfectly."
Hiro sighs, rubbing a hand across his jaw. "Okay, okay. I’ll admit, it’s a solid theory. And honestly, it’s probably the best lead we’re going to get at this point. So what do you want me to do?"
I pause, taking a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "Can you track the origin of Felix’s benefactor account? See where the company’s based, if there’s any correlation."
Hiro nods. "I’ll get on it."
"Thanks," I mutter, my voice quieter now, my mind still reeling. I need a moment. I need air. I need space to breathe.
Without another word, I excuse myself and slip out onto the balcony attached to my room. The cool night air hits my skin, the city sprawled out beneath me in a mess of neon lights and distant traffic noise. The overwhelming buzz of Tokyo below doesn’t calm me, but it does remind me how small I am in this vast, strange universe.
I press my hands to the railing, looking out over the city. My chest tightens, and before I know it, the tears come—hot and unbidden, streaking down my face as I try to catch my breath.
Why does this hurt so much? I've never been so tired in my life.
Behind me, I hear the soft sound of the balcony door sliding open, and I know without turning around that it’s Wake. His presence is steady, grounding, but I can’t bring myself to face him right now. Not when I feel this broken.
“Phoebe,” he says softly, his voice carrying that familiar roughness that always cuts through the noise in my head. “Talk to me.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I don't know if I can keep doing this.”
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