CHAPTER 432: SECOND NEWS II

Eric continued, listing names of those who had escaped, each name seeming to weigh heavier than the last; names which she hadn’t heard of in years; names which made her restless, which pressed down on her chest, making her breaking labored.

Athena clenched the phone tighter. Things had gone crazier. She of course understood why Kael had ordered that cells of a few other criminals be opened–to create more chaos–but her mind was finding it hard to absorb.

The criminals were national threats, terrorists.

When the call finally ended, the silence that followed felt heavier than any words spoken.

Even though Eric had promised to do his best, none of them in the room were really hopeful. They had heard the names too; knew those who bore it, those who wore it proudly.

Everyone in the room sat frozen, absorbing the weight of what Eric had just revealed. Six high-end criminals slipping through the cracks of the Black Cells was enough to tear open a new wound in an already fragile night.

Athena’s mind repeated the names in a dull loop. Six criminals apart from Heronica, Fiona, and Alfonso. They were out there, loose in the world.

Where are they now? What are they planning? The thought crawled under her skin.

Eric had mentioned that Morgan and Heron had fallen to the Black Cells’ bullets, their extraction cut short. The men who had staged the invasion had been gunned down too. Even the mole—the traitor among Eric’s team—was dead.

’Dead men don’t talk, Athena. We may never know how far their plan went.’

Athena’s hands steeled in her lap. For all the violence, all the chaos, the ones directly related to the Grey virus and its sponsor most were still breathing. Her stomach clenched.

She should be relieved that Morgan and Heron were taken down at least... but why did she feel no safety in that?

Could Heronica be enough to give edge to the gang and its sponsor? What about Fiona and her father? Should she bank on their repentance?

A faint buzz broke the silence then. All eyes turned to Ewan, who pulled out his phone. His jaw tightened as his gaze skimmed the message.

Athena’s throat went dry. What now?

"It’s Kael," he muttered, voice low. "He thinks I lied about his father still being alive. He... he asked if I’d seen the first gift. Says the second comes tomorrow."

The room stirred uneasily. Susan’s brows knitted. Even Old Mr. Thorne’s grip on his cane seemed to harden.

Aiden cursed under his breath.

"What does he mean—the second gift?" His voice was sharp. "What the hell is he planning?"

No one had an answer. The unease spread like smoke, seeping into every thought.

Athena swallowed hard, her stomach twisting into tighter knots. It must be something related to the new virus.

Nausea climbed quickly, pushing against her throat then. She rose abruptly, muttering something about needing air before slipping out.

–

In the bathroom, Athena gripped the sink with both hands and retched violently. Her stomach heaved until there was nothing left but bitter water and the sting of acid.

She stayed there for a moment, her forehead pressed against the cool mirror, her breath ragged.

She rinsed her mouth, splashing her face with cold water. The woman in the mirror stared back at her—tired eyes, flushed cheeks, and a weariness that went beyond flesh. How much more can I take?

Her thoughts circled back to the virus. Should she return to the lab? Every worried instinct urged her to, but her body screamed for rest. And she knew her people would not let her run back to danger so soon, not when the situation was still unfolding.

Athena dried her hands and left the bathroom, her steps slow, her mind heavy. She meant to head back to the sitting room, when a sharp thump split the air.

She froze. The sound had been sudden, heavy—something falling. Confusion flickered through her. Her heart skipped as curiosity pricked sharp against her fear.

Her gaze darted toward the corridor. She moved carefully, following the faint trail of sound until she stood before Spider’s door. Her hand lingered on the handle before she pushed it open.

The sight made her gasp. Spider was crumpled on the floor, his body straining weakly as he tried to push himself up. His breath came shallow, his face pale beneath the sweat that clung to his brow.

"Spider!" Athena hurried forward, dropping to her knees beside him. "What are you doing? You shouldn’t even be out of bed!"

She hooked her arm under his, straining to get him upright. He leaned heavily against her until she managed to drag him to the bed. "Lie down. Don’t fight me—just lie down."

It took a moment, but he obeyed, collapsing against the sheets with a ragged sigh. Their eyes met then, his gaze hollow yet startlingly familiar still.

"Stay still," she murmured, tucking the covers around him. She pulled out her phone, sending a quick message to Ewan: Come to Spider’s room. Now.

"How are you feeling?" she whispered, her voice softer this time.

But Spider only watched her, mute. His chest rose and fell with effort, sweat dripping down his temples. He looked like a man barely clinging to the edge of himself.

Athena bit her lip, her heart twisting. What poison eats at you still? Why won’t you speak?

The door burst open, and Ewan rushed in, his eyes darting immediately to the bed. "Spider!" He strode forward, bending forward, his hand gripping his friend’s shoulder. "How are you doing? Talk to me."

But Spider remained silent, his gaze unfocused.

Ewan’s chest tightened. His hand cupped Spider’s face, thumb brushing against clammy skin. "Don’t tell me... has the poison left you dumb?"

He turned sharply to Athena, searching her eyes. "Has it? Do you know?"

Athena’s brows pinched. She shook her head slowly. "I don’t know. He hasn’t spoken. But... he’ll be fine." She forced the words out, though doubt gnawed at her.

Ewan drew in a shaky breath, standing erect, brushing his hand through his hair before exhaling. "I’ve told everyone to sleep on it. If they need to make calls, they can, in their bedrooms. Eric’s news, Kael’s message... we’ll deal with it in the morning."

Athena’s shoulders slumped, her chest rising in a tired sigh. She wanted to argue, to demand they do more now, but exhaustion pulled the fight from her.

All she could do was nod, her eyes drifting back to Spider’s pale, sweating form, to his eyes drifting close.