Faye and Malo waited in the van at the usual place where they had given the buyer the first fish. The engine was turned off, leaving the inside of the vehicle filled with a tight, nervous silence while the dark shadows of the empty shipping docks stretched out long and thin beneath the streetlights.
While waiting for the mysterious car, Malo was busy eating donuts, and Faye was busy watching videos of her kids with their mama online.
Princess would send her videos of them during their playtime together. Faye couldn’t help but smile at the way the kids were laughing and playing with their mama.
Ronny was busy climbing up the wall, and Beam was cheering for him to keep going. The little boy kept climbing without looking down. His tiny fingers dug hard into the grooves of the molding, his small legs kicking wildly as he pulled himself higher while Beam clapped her hands and let out a loud, booming laugh.
Minny was crawling around giggling while Kiara was busy chasing him.
Kiara wasn’t enjoying it, but Minny was crawling so fast, thinking the girl was playing with him. The girl was panting heavily, her face completely flushed with frustration as the toddler shifted his weight and zipped across the game room in a fast, wobbly blur, his lungs releasing happy, high-pitched screeches every time her fingers brushed his shirt.
Meanwhile, Princess was busy playing with Donny and Leonny.
Today, The Trios were also playing live, which Faye watched after finishing all the cute videos Princess had sent her.
It happened to be their first esports game. The fast-paced commentary blared softly from the phone speakers, the digital characters flashing across the screen while Faye watched every movement with intense focus.
"You want a donut?" Malo said, offering his last piece of donut to Faye.
"No thanks," Faye said. She didn’t move her eyes from the screen, her shoulder shifting away from the greasy box.
"It’s the last one, and it’s chocolate-filled with sprinkles on top." Malo insisted, his voice rising as he nudged her arm with the box.
"I said I don’t want one, dude!" Faye snapped, sending intense chills through poor Malo, who had only wanted to share his donut.
"Are you angry with me, Faye?" Malo said with a teary voice and face. His chest gave a sudden, pathetic heave, his eyes blinking rapidly as his mouth twisted into a deep, miserable pout.
He thought his friend was angry with him because of what had happened between her and Princess. The heavy guilt was making his heart hammer a fast, worried rhythm against his ribs.
Faye looked at Malo and saw that he was about to cry. She just shook her head in disbelief and continued watching the live game.
"I’m not angry at you, Malo. I just don’t want to eat donuts. I’m not hungry," Faye said. Her voice dropped into a steady, softer tone as she tried to calm his shaking shoulders.
"Do you blame me for what happened between you and Princess? You know I didn’t mean to tear you guys apart..." Malo muttered. He clutched the last donut tightly in his fist, his lungs pulling in short, shaky breaths as he stared down at his knees.
"You didn’t tear us apart, okay? None of what is happening is your fault. We are just on a break. I need to focus on what I am doing right now, and I don’t want distractions." Faye explained, her eyes remaining fixed on the glowing phone.
"But it is my fault. I dragged you into all this, and if I didn’t, then you would still be with Princess..." Malo whined, a large tear finally spilling over his eyelid.
"I am still with Princess. Stop fucking saying it like we are never getting back together. It’s just a break, a fucking break!" Faye said as she finally let it out. She slammed her phone face down onto her lap, her lungs expanding to their absolute limit as her eyes flashed with a sudden, wild fury that filled the entire front seat.
"You want to know? Yeah, this is your fault. You got me into this mess. If you hadn’t put the idea into my head, if you had only gotten yourself into this mess, then maybe I would still be living with her. But it’s also my fault because I chose to do it. I chose to find those Beasts with you. I chose to sign with my blood. It’s not just your fault, Malo. It is also mine, so we are going to fix it together. So stop trying to make me feel worse than I already do. Do you understand?" Faye stated. The heavy words tumbled out of her throat in a fast, hot rush, her heart pounding a furious beat against her ribs until she finally stopped, her shoulders heaving with deep, ragged breaths.
"Yes..." Malo whispered.
Malo nodded as he started eating his last piece of donut, staring straight ahead while Faye continued watching her girlfriend play.
Finally, a car approached their van, and the two became alert, stopping whatever they were doing. They both got down from the van.
A message was sent to Malo’s phone, and as usual, he handed the fish in the jar to the hand that reached out from the car.
Meanwhile, Sasha, who had been waiting from afar for the car to arrive, used her telekinesis to control a tracking device. She stood behind a stack of shipping crates, her face completely pale as she focused her mind, her breathing turning slow and shallow while her power flared. It got stuck on one of the car’s tires, and that was good.
She sent a mind-link message to Faye, telling her that she had planted the tracking device. The mental voice snapped straight into Faye’s brain, making her chin lift instantly.
They watched as the car drove away, and shortly after, Malo got an alert confirming the payment.
After the car left, Haley called Malo, telling him that she had their location and was going to share it with them. Her voice came through the speaker in a fast, crisp tone that made them both move.
"I got the location,"
Malo said as they entered the van preparing to follow the car. Sasha also entered with them.
Just then, there was a knock from the back of the van. A sharp, rhythmic thumping vibrated against the metal partition, making Malo freeze mid-movement.
Malo opened the sliding door to see Peamah and Henry seated in the back.
"How long is this going to take, because I have things to do on a friday night?" Peamah said. He shifted his broad shoulders against the metal wall, his deep voice thick with total boredom as his chest rose and fell with a heavy breath.
"As long as it takes to get all five Beasts," Malo said. He slammed the handle forward with a fast, irritated jerk that cut off the giant’s response.
Then there was another knock.
"What is it Hulk?" Malo barked, sliding the door open a second time, his chest heaving with annoyance.
"I’m hungry. I am supposed to be home eating dinner with Uncle PP and Kali right now. He makes chicken salad and curry rice for dinner. I always eat them every Friday night at seven, and it’s already eight," Henry said.
"Dude, what is with you and food..? I gave you a box of donuts minutes ago.. Just hold on." Malo snapped, his breathing turning fast and short.
"Donuts are not food...."
"If it’s not food then why did you eat them in the first place?"
"Because I was hungry..."
"Henry, once we are done tonight, you can eat your dinner. But right now, we have to get those fishes. They are the most important thing," Faye said gently, trying to keep him calm. And stop the on and on talking..
"What if it’s finished?" Henry asked, his eyes blinking with a sudden, childish panic.
"Then Uncle PP will prepare another one for you. Focus on the mission." Faye replied, her breathing remaining level as she held his gaze.
"Okay then. Mission first, dinner next," Henry said. He let out a long, dramatic sigh through his nose and crossed his arms over his chest.
Then Malo shut the sliding door again.
The two friends looked at each other when the car they were following finally stopped. The small screen on the dashboard flashed a bright warning, the tracker indicating that the target vehicle had completely ceased movement.
They arrived at the location, but when they got out, the car was nowhere to be seen. The headlights of the van cut through the thick, swirling mist, casting long, eerie shadows across the empty space.
The place they had arrived at happened to be in the middle of a deserted woods.
"Where did the car go?" Malo gasped out, his hands shaking against his sides as his heart began to pump a fast, terrified rhythm, his eyes scanning the pitch-black trees for any sign of life.