Sleepover II: Words untold cut deeper than a knife

Liam was finally allowed to get off his bed and got back on service which he didnot wasting any second. His office was rather messy, boxes full of items, files and whatnot everywhere. He had his screens floating around, he had a hint.

If the one that helped Project W escaped without anyone noticing and if the same person knew about Project B-54, then the person must be someone he knew as well, someone probably from C-Tech. He had names and profiles of every single person working at C-Tech, from the top managers to the cleaners.

There was a lot of people, he didn't let anything slide, whether they were customers from 20 years ago or recent ones, all the suppliers, all the shareholders, all the people or companies that had work with C-Tech for the past 25 years. He went as far as looking for all the events C-Tech held or attended, every person gathered as long as it was related far or not to C-Tech. Liam sighed as the amount of work was behemoth, he used his virtual Assistant, an AI he programmed initially to keep track of his activities. He modified its program so it would be able to reach for all the information he needed. It wasn't until his stomach growled that he realized he hadn't have anything to eat the whole morning.

He spoke in the void. "O.R.I.O.N. estimated time for the research?"

A voice replied, it was his virtual assistant "25 minutes Sir" Liam sighed, after all there were a lot of person implied here...and 25 min would be just for a year of event, still got 25 years of companies activities to go through. Thanks to his high status in the company he had access codes to pretty much everything...almost everything. He looked at a screen in front of him, there was a red cross and a smiley saying "Epsilon, Access denied, authority level insufficient" he frowned, he knew damn well there were only the shareholders that were ahead of him, and he could get their information so what was that authority level for?

He pondered the question and figured perhaps a shareholder could have access to it. But since they decided that Project W should be terminated instead...they won't just help him. He rubbed his forehead in frustration and turned off the screens. He sat in his chair and looked up. He thought of something he could do but that could make him go in serious trouble.

He chuckled ironically, he was already doing something the higher up weren't not aware of, building something to track the electrical perturbation caused by Project W, and going through company's staff profiles and families. He looked at his desk, a picture of his family on the left side, a cup of coffee on the other. He looked at the picture for a while and he rubbed the frame.

A sudden knock at the door made him slip out of his trance.

Liam: "Come in"

He expected it to be Cassius but the small stature of the person made him realize it wasn't. He looked at the male frog walking towards him with a brown suit. Liam got up and went to him.

Liam: " Dr. Seraphim? How surprising to see you here"

Seraphim looked up as the taller wolf and replied with a hint of a French accent.

Seraphim: "Dr. Fael, always a pleasure to see you. I heard you were (*thinking of an appropriate word*) sick lately"

Liam: "sick? Who told you that? (*sigh*) I'm fine thanks. Anyway what are you doing here i thought you were still eating baguettes in Paris"

Seraphim: "Very funny, but no. I was notified about Project W outbreak and was in the middle of a weird phenomenon with Project F, but it got sorted and I took the first plane home. So what is this all about?"

Liam: "I think you will need a seat, my friend"

Seraphim: "Oh bon sang...(*sigh*)"

The two men sat in the little accommodation in the room on the couches. Liam looked very serious, the frog was his colleague and friend for more than 15 years now, he knew better than trusting anyone right now, but the frog was the most sincere man he knew and he could at least be frank about the situation, of course, avoiding anything that could lead the frog to get in undeserved trouble or worse make the frog another potential enemy. The frog's inquisitive eyes were half closed as he looked at Liam.

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After an hour and a half of cooking, Wyatt was done and started dressing the island for them to eat. Considerate of every detail of his presentation and wary of all the possible needs, he took his time to make it look neat and clean, ready for their meal. He disposed the food and had some of the korean desserts they bought aside.

Once satisfied with everything he got in the living room to see Lauren was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed in tailor style and Matthew was talking to her and moving his hands. She seemed very interested in what he was saying. Wyatt figured they might have gotten tired to play, he looked at the TV screen, there was the info channel playing "Another explosion was recorded: no casualties, but what is really going on?" There was a Tanuki female with a gorgeous hairstyle flowing down her shoulder and a magnificent scarlet vest.

She was the news reporter and she was speaking about someone witnessing the incident. "The Police assures the citizens that the situation is in control. Although it's the second explosion reported during the same week, people are getting wary of the actual safety of the buildings. The police affirms, the last night explosion was due to an accident with a firework facility. We have Lorence, our field reporter for the words" the screen turned to another person, a female cat with a mic in he hand, looking at the camera.

"Yes Nadia, the situation is under control, I'm here with police lieutenant Martinez. Tell us, Lieutenant, what happened?" She turned the mic to the jaguar male, he had a stern look and a scar on his left eye, quite scary and his rock voice didn't help ease that look. "As I said earlier, the building was unlucky as some fireworks ignited and created a fire in the building resulting in the explosion of a lot of other fireworks creating that huge explosion. But rest assured, thanks to the building being isolated the damage aren't that severe" the female cat took the voice again "But what about this person's testimony?"

The screen changed to a previous interview with an old dog with thick greying fur around his face, he looked frightened and his clothes were all ragged. The female cat was speaking to him "so what do you say happened?" The old dog spoke with a crazy tone "There was a giant man, with a dark cloak and red glowing eyes. His tail was a blade that opened the ground and his body was not normal" the lady spoke again confusion on her face "what do you mean?" He looked at her then at the camera "it had those 4 giants metal bars coming out off his back with blood, he smelled like oil and rotten and his lower jaw was also metal, he looked like a reptile but I've never seen anything like that....and there was lightning following him" the lady looked at the camera and said to stop recording but the old man dashed at the camera and gripped it as he spoke "Death is here, I saw it, no one is safe, NO ONE IS SAFE, NO ONE IS SA-"

The screen changed back to the female cat and the jaguar, the latter affirmed with an hysterical laugh "you serious? That man is nuts, a blade tail, metal bars? What is it? A sci-fi show? Eastpave citizens have nothing to fear about some hysterical dude that clearly lost his mind" the screen then changed back to the Tanuki "And that's what we have this far in this case. So what do you think? I personally am a fan of the whole Death Spooky guy, will do wonders for Halloween. Thinking of, remember the celebration of the dead on Halloween night at the Grand'place of Eastpave. And now, sports news..." Wyatt had a confused expression and rolled his eyes thinking about why he never watched news, they say boring or crazy stuff.

He ignored that and diverted his attention on the other two as he walked to them. Lauren looked at him and said.

Lauren: "Wyatt. Listen to this, Matthew just told me that his book was accepted by an editor"

Matthew: "yeah, it's not sure I will get the job yet but that's it..."

Wyatt: "Oh my God, congratulations Matt! That means I can now say I know a star"

Lauren: "Girl you read my mind! We were just discussing about his e-book he showed me the other day and I ended it and let me tell you, this man is good might even be better than most of the writers I know."

Wyatt: "Damn that's crazy, I always knew you were the best, dude"

Matthew scratched his neck and was a bit flustered.

Matthew: "Thanks Wyatt. I appreciate it. Oh and Lauren told me you write stories too"

Wyatt: "oh huh. Yeah but it's nothing like you...just not as good anyway"

Matthew: "I should be the one to say if it is as a reader for you, can i see what you wrote?"

Wyatt looked away then back at him.

Wyatt: "Well I feel embarrassed, I didn't even read yours yet..."

Matthew: "oh don't worry, it's available anytime on Bookpad."

Wyatt: "yeah...I will definitely read it later, promise. And about my book, well it's also on Bookpad, here"

Wyatt took out his phone and went to the app Bookpad and scrolled to his book then showed it to Matthew who held his own phone in his other hand as he typed the title.

Matthew: "Mercy of the Nameless king. I love this title, i will be sure to read it"

Wyatt blushed and his tail wagged a bit and Lauren got up.

Lauren: "So you done cooking? Cuz I'm dying"

Wyatt: "oh yeah, that's why I was here. So go wash your hands and let's eat while it's hot"

Lauren ran upstairs to Wyatt's roop while Matthew got up slowly as he looked at his phone, his attention on the synopsis of Wyatt's book. He smiled as he seemed intrigued. He was awfully close to Wyatt, which made the latter of the height difference. Wyatt wasn't small but the gator was really tall. Wyatt's head was barely at the gator's shoulder level. The latter looked down at Wyatt which made him feel anxious.

Matthew: "Your book seems amazing just from the synopsis, we should write a book someday"

Wyatt blushed and his ears went down a bit.

Wyatt: "We? As in Us?"

Matthew: "Yeah, you, me and Lauren too"

Wyatt's ears got up and he had a slight disappointed look.

Wyatt: "oh huh yeah sounds cool"

Matthew: "Yeah, Lauren is not a writer but she knows a lot of stuff and she is crazy smart. That girl is Her."

Wyatt: "yeah...Lauren is really cool"

Matthew: "She is funny too, sure she has her flaws and all but we all do right?"

Wyatt: "You sound like you went pass your earlier apprehension, what is it?...did she caught your eye?"

Matthew held back a laugh and replied amused.

Matthew: "Oh no, she is so immature and her snores are like heavy boulders crushing my ears (*laughing*) I wouldn't be attracted to her in a million years besides she is my friend and I am not in the stereotype of a friend falling for his bestfriend"

Wyatt was conflicted in his feelings now. The gator seemed to speak the truth but Wyatt's overthinking made him think that perhaps the gator was actually falling for Lauren...which of course to him was totally fine but something made his heart sink, and those words "Falling for his bestfriend" they echoed in his mind...does it mean even if....he would not...feel the same? Wyatt's disappointed look alerted the gator.

Matthew: "you alright buddy?"

Wyatt: "yeah yeah, just...headaches"

Matthew: "Want me to get you your medications?"

Wyatt: "no no, it's fine, it will pass...I hope it will"

Matthew: "okay, but remember you can always count on me if you fall. I'm strong enough to carry you to the hospital by foot"

Wyatt chuckled.

Wyatt: "are you crazy? You have a bike"

Matthew: "if you are unconscious I can't guarantee you will be fine on a bike"

Wyatt: "you could just call the ambulance"

Matthew: "is it weird if i tell you i don't know the emergency number?"

Wyatt: "Dude, you ain't serious, right?"

Matthew: "Over exaggerated?"

Wyatt: "Definitely"

Matthew laughed and put his hand on Wyatt's shoulder, that made the shepherd feel somekind of tickling sensation in his chest. What was that? He looked up at the gator who beamed a smile at him

Wyatt: "you are really han- (*blushing*) Crazy! "

Matthew: "nah man"

Wyatt felt that he needed to say it...it was in his chest, in his guts, it was roaring inside of him...just three words yet impossible to tell. He looked at the gator who shook his head and walked upstairs to wash his hands, Lauren bumping into him and giggled as she flashed a grin. Wyatt's eyes turned to a mix of joy and sadness, a bittersweet sensation. Lauren walked to him with a smile.

Lauren: "what's wrong pookie?"

Wyatt: "huh?"

Lauren: "You look like a potato ready to be boiled alive"

Wyatt: "What does that even mean?"

Lauren: "That you are actually a bitch, yes i said it"

Wyatt laughed.

Wyatt: "I hate you"

Lauren: "Lies, men"

Wyatt: "Men lies I know"

Lauren: "And they are trash"

Wyatt: "Girl, you said it so how about I shove my dirt in your face"

Lauren: "Bitch, i will bite your hand's off"

Wyatt smirked and put his hand on her face and rubbed slowly, she chuckled and pushed his hand away.

Lauren: "You are really stupid you know that?"

Wyatt: "Not as stupid as you"

They laughed as Wyatt went upstairs to wash his hands and she got in the kitchen, soon followed by Matthew who was getting downstairs. Wyatt stopped to look at him and saw such a genuine smile he had as he was listening to Lauren's whatnot words. He thought that maybe it would be better...she would be better...she was better.