"I can see why you went to the party," Gem remarked as she and El sat on the swings in the park. It had been three weeks since the harrowing incident, and now was the time for a heartfelt conversation.
"I wish you had told me first, or at least not feigned illness," Gem continued, her eyes searching El's face for answers.
"I'm sorry. It all happened so quickly. I acted on impulse, I suppose," El admitted, her voice tinged with regret.
Gem studied El intently. "But impulsiveness isn't characteristic of you."
El sighed, acknowledging the truth. "Sometimes I surprise even myself. I've come to realize that."
A silence settled between them, a testament to the multitude of untold stories within their friendship.
"Parker," Gem began, shaking her head. "He was a victim in all of this too. I can't believe it." Her gaze fell to her feet, heavy with regret. "He asked to borrow my phone for something, then he snatched it and ran off. I couldn't catch up to him. I didn't know he was aware of the danger you were in. I would have come to help."
El placed a comforting arm around Gem's shoulders. "He was, is, and will always be our good friend," she assured her.
A bittersweet smile graced Gem's lips as she leaned against El's shoulder. "That's true."
The gentle breeze brushed against their faces, soothing their troubled minds. Despite the coolness of the day, a sense of tranquility enveloped them. Laughter from children playing on the nearby monkey bars filled the air, a poignant reminder of the resilience of youth.
"So... Seth is truly gone, isn't he?" Gem asked cautiously, her voice laced with sorrow.
El nodded, her thoughts drifting back to the day Seth had made his decision. The sight of him with a black suitcase, the sadness etched in his eyes, haunted her memories.
In his eyes, he never anticipated that the EGTF would suspect him.
"They're like my second family," Seth had confided, his disbelief evident. "They mean so much to me. I never imagined they would question my loyalty or believe that I would cause harm." A hollow laugh escaped him, quickly stifled. "And when Norman asked me to take a leave of absence, it never occurred to me that I had unwittingly played the fool."
El's voice quivered as she spoke. "There are no words to ease your pain, Seth. But please know that they value you. Norman holds you in high regard... It's just the nature of his job to harbor suspicions."
Seth shook his head, his green eyes darker than a forest. "And what about you?"
"What about me?" El asked, her gaze averted.
He locked eyes with her, seeking answers. "You doubted me too. I understand the odds were against me. I comprehend the reasons for suspicion. I know Parker set things up to frame me. But... it still hurts."
A heavy silence hung in the air as Seth struggled to find the right words. "It still hurts to know that... we... we weren't..."
He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence, and El turned her gaze away. The strain on their friendship had been immense, and she accepted full responsibility for it.
Seth mustered a brave smile. "I have to go, not because of you, but because I've come to realize that I don't have much of a life outside of college and the EGTF. It's time to explore new horizons, to take a break from this place."
El nodded, recognizing the truth in his words. It was heartbreaking to bid farewell, but it was what he needed. He deserved a respite after enduring so much.
"Where will you go? When will you return?" El asked, her eagerness tinged with melancholy.
Seth shrugged, his eyes full of uncertainty. "I'm not sure yet. I'll go wherever the wind takes me."
He bent down to unzip the front compartment of his suitcase, retrieving a familiar rock. The artifact they had been searching for all these months.
"From now on, it's your responsibility, Agent El," Seth grinned as he handed her the artifact, its glow subdued. El accepted it with reverence, cradling it as if it were a precious gem. The full extent of its powers and purpose remained to be discovered, but she had faith that the EGTF would unravel its mysteries.
"Yes, Master Seth," El replied, returning his smile.
Little did she know that it would be their final encounter.
"Come on," Gem said, rising from the swing. "Let's go meet Raven." The two friends strolled along the park's footpath, their steps accompanied by the crunching of withered leaves beneath their feet. Brown leaves fell from the twig-like trees, swirling in the air before gently settling on the ground.
Life carried on. Nature adhered to its cyclical rhythm.
A buzz from El's pocket drew her attention to her phone. She retrieved it, finding a message without a sender's number: V.10.40.