Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Traitor among us.
An eerie silence engulfed the scenery. Daniel was still feeling nauseated as he tried so hard to battle the bile threatening to pour out, but Adrian still held on to Gianna’s head, inspecting and checking out every single detail of the chopped-off remains.
None of the crew spoke, and Jake was the one most affected. Seeing Adrian casually holding on to Gianna’s head like some trophy won during battle made him nearly lose his mind.
"That was your sister, man," Jake muttered under his breath. She had died alone, probably waiting for them, but no one came to her. She could always brag that she had both him and Adrian whenever she was in danger, but this time they failed her.
Adrian failed her.
"What are we going to do? Gianna was butchered like some fish. Look at this—this isn’t done naturally. Someone clearly killed her," Jake declared, his eyes burning with unseen tears that were threatening to spill.
Daniel’s chest hammered. His heart couldn’t keep still, and he shifted uneasily from one foot to another. Even Titania, frowning like a tortured prisoner, got irritated by the sound of his constant movement and sent him a disdainful look.
That murderous glare told him to respect himself and not provoke their boss.
But it was easier said than done—Daniel couldn’t calm down one bit.
The crew all formed a line, awaiting the boss’s instructions on what to do next. Cassian and Gregor had surveyed the surroundings, but nothing alive was found—only the dead bodies of trainees squashed by the penthouse. Even several CCTV footages were broken and shattered, as if someone knew they were being watched.
Someone among them could have shared information, because no external forces could have gotten through the maze without being devoured by the wolves. Not only did they pass through the traps, they entered the main building and destroyed every camera.
Adrian smirked. The others watched, anticipating his next move. No one knew what he was thinking, why he smiled like that, grinning like a devil at work, even tossing the head like a ball.
Daniel gasped when Adrian tossed the head away and walked out casually.
"Isn’t that his sweet sister? Someone he was supposed to care about," Daniel thought.
He wasn’t the only one thinking that way. Greta blinked in confusion at their boss’s behavior. Gianna was someone Adrian spoke to so much—she was literally the only one who could reason with him. So why wasn’t he acting up after seeing her so brutally dismembered?
Jake’s face turned completely red at Adrian’s disgraceful act with Gianna’s head. He was enraged, clenching his fist, tempted to punch some sense into his boss’s brain. But that would be hysterical suicide—Adrian wouldn’t hesitate to blow his brain out.
Second-in-command or not, Jake was just as disposable as the rest. If Adrian could disregard his own sister, then who else mattered?
"Go into the other side of the headquarters. You will see a basement at the tree. Click it and bring whatever you see there," Adrian commanded Jake coldly. His face twisted with hate before he walked out.
Luckily for Jake, Adrian wasn’t looking up, so his expression wasn’t noticeable. But Daniel saw it. Jake had been the only one mad about Gianna’s death. Was he just her friend—or something more? Daniel wondered, curious about what Jake had been told to bring.
"The boss is more furious than before. Isn’t it weird that when we went on that mission, they already seemed to know what we were coming with—and now our basement is attacked?" Greta whispered to Gregor and Titania.
Alexander, who was close by, just watched without uttering a word. Cecilia also joined the conversation, and as expected, the suspect was Daniel.
"Who else is more suspicious here if not that whore? That boy is up to no good, and I pity our boss. If he doesn’t get rid of him, he’ll destroy the whole legacy," Titania spitefully declared.
They all nodded. None of this had ever happened since their stay here, so why now—of all times—especially since Daniel was brought in?
Cassian, who had just joined the discussion, only laughed.
"Why are you all just gossiping about it here? Talk about it with our boss," he suggested, eyeing them one by one. But the cowardly bunch refused.
They knew the implications. One wrong word, one wrong statement, and their heads would be gone. So, as usual, they retreated and kept silent.
"You see? That’s why I said you’re all fools. Imagine—our boss is mourning his family member, who might have died in the accident, and here you are gossiping about that low life. Is that how you were trained?" Cassian scolded, his eyes shifting from one person to another until they landed on Alex.
"You there, why aren’t you talking? And about those skills you displayed in the mission—where did you learn them?" Cassian questioned, waiting for an answer.
But none came forth. Alex simply walked away from the circle.
"It’s none of your business, Cass. And instead of trying to manage the group—something that’s Jake’s and our boss’s work—why don’t you go and try consoling our boss?" Alex deadpanned, not hiding the contempt he held for him—in fact, for them all.
"You see? Afraid also, my friend?" Cassian mocked.
But Alex ignored him, striding toward Daniel. Before that, he whispered his last cold words:
"So stop being a hypocrite and stay in your lane. Nothing concerns you with me and my skills. If our boss hasn’t questioned me, then who the hell are you to?" Alex spat. Satisfied with Cassian’s fallen expression, he strutted back toward Daniel’s spot.
Daniel, intently watching Adrian, was trying to decipher what was going on in his boss’s head when he felt a soft hand graze his shoulders.
"Worried about our boss?" Alex purred.
Daniel froze. Shocked at Alex’s unexpected approach, he stiffened. This was the last person he expected to come close—especially since the others treated him like a virus, distancing themselves from him consistently.
"No, I am not," Daniel defended. And truly, he wasn’t. He was only worried about himself—scared to death of the terrible punishment awaiting him. At this point, it was inevitable. Adrian might end up finding out what really happened, and that would be his end.
Alex caught the expression and slowly gripped Daniel’s shoulders, massaging them.
"One tip: when you’re being questioned, make sure you’re confident. Regulate your breathing and heartbeat. Trust me—you’ll be good to go," Alex winked.
Daniel eyed him suspiciously, then glanced back at Adrian, who was standing far away on top of a rock, waiting for Jake’s return.
Why was Alex suddenly acting so concerned? And those words—did he somehow know Daniel killed Gianna? The thought unsettled him, and he slowly backed away from Alex. The boy’s sudden attempt at friendship was concerning.
Meanwhile, the entire crew watched Alex move closer to Daniel and start talking to him. Cassian’s face twisted in displeasure, his forehead lined with dangerous tension.
The twins, Gregor and Greta, wore grim looks. Alex’s degrading words still echoed in their ears like a curse. They knew, at that moment, Alex wasn’t with them—but completely against them.
"I hate them both," Gregor sneered.
Cassian wiped the edge of his lips and smiled.
"Let’s just watch. Something big is about to happen soon."
And just as he said that, Jake emerged from the woods ahead, carrying a box.
He brought it to Adrian, who took it, pressed a button, and watched as the box transformed into a flying drone. On it was a camera and a video recorder.
Daniel’s eyes widened in panic.
Whatever this was—it might be his undoing.