Their heads turned to each other and their eyes jumped over from one to another.
They checked their phones. They knew it was a message notification of the DARK web but it was suspicious for them to get a ping all at once.
"A group message?"
"When did I join a group on the DARK web?"
"Who are the other members of the group?"
"Hey, did you see? Our master is also an admin of this group and it seems he had written a long message for us."
"Xavier, can you read it aloud for us?" Caleb asked him.
He nodded his head at Caleb's request.
Xavier repeated the contents of the message received. While the others listened to it and did not intervene till he finished.
Rev glanced over the list of members to see who is the other leader, his co leader for this mission. He saw that Shadow had a co-leader tag under their name. Certainly he never got a chance to confirm Shadow's sexuality, as it wasn't any of his business. Though his friends were a different case, they told him that their guts were yelling at them and saying they were more than sure that Shadow was a male.
As the DARK web had given them their words regarding not to leak their identity up till now they had maintained their promise. Due to this quality, nothing related to their real gender was shown with their pseudonyms. Every detail about them was safely secured in their database and the firewalls around it were unbreakable. Many enemies and haters of DARK web had attempted to break into their main server and learn all the deepest and darkest secrets of the web. However, it wasn't a child's play. The cyber security and IT department of the web had the most talented attackers and defenders that were exceptionally remarkable in their own field.
Their defense programs and firewalls were updated each hour. The ones who had caught the eyes of higher ups were offered the once in a millenium deal that concluded if they were to be able to break into any of the 3 layers of the firewalls. They can ask for anything in return that doesn't include any violation of law and if they fail then they have to leave the DARK web once and forever.
The boys had unsurprisingly caught the eyes of the owner and creator of DARK web and they strived to break into their defense system; they did get through it. From then onwards the owner became their master. Since one of the main and foremost rules was to keep your identity hidden, they didn't know who their master was yet their master knew about them.
When they had won the deal and were told to ask for their reward, they had declined as there wasn't anything that they didn't have. But their master, being stubborn, didn't budge so they told him to keep this offer for the next time when they would actually need something.
He agreed to them.
"Rev, I remember you telling us about the mission but you didn't tell us that we will have accompany? Did you?" Xavier drank a glass of water as his mouth was feeling dry after reading the text to his friends.
Caleb asked Rev as their master's all time favourite had been him, so it wasn't new when he explained to them about this mission. They gave their consent as right now they didn't have much work or anything that demands their attention and focus.
The boys, since their childhood, were prodigies. They had completed their graduation when they were barely 13 years old. However, having one degree didn't satisfy their hunger. They began to learn and master other subjects and skills. Only last year they finished their PhD exams and currently they were enjoying and having fun exploring different places around the globe. So it wasn't hard for them to agree with their master as in all honesty they felt bored and needed some adventure to spike up their equilibrium. Also the mission ignited a spark of excitement to their hearts.
"Yes, I didn't tell you about this arrangement before."
"Why did you hide it from us?"
"I didn't hide it. You never asked me."
"....."
They wanted to argue and banter with him for not telling him the exact details. Yet they couldn't win against his arrogance. He didn't find it important to inform them that they were going to have other people on-board because it was their fault not to ask him.
Although it wasn't actually arrogance of Rev rather his friends addressed it as his true and raw personality. He wasn't so outspoken with new people. Rev belonged to this rare and special group of people that let out their real self with the trusted ones. Rev always spoke what was on his mind, he didn't try to filter out them. Therefore in his friends eyes Rev was the most shameless being that they had encountered with. However, they didn't perceive they would eat back these same words when they learnt about Aza.
This incredible or maybe annoying quality of Rev, urged Zeki and Bryan to give him a hard and strong smack on his back. Although it was an urge, both of them knew if they reacted to it they would find themselves in hospital the next day.
Caleb observed how Zeki and Bryan's faces turned ugly and he understood what they were imagining in their thoughts. He chuckled, "Rev, is there anything else that we should have the knowledge of?" He asked in uncertainty.
Rev paused himself, "Yes, there is."
Zeki got alerted, "What is it? Tell us!" Due to his fear that their friend was keeping something serious in the dark, he didn't catch the tone of his voice when he talked to Rev.
Zeki's worries gifted him a deep and nonchalant glare from Rev only then he remembered the way he had just shouted at him.
He smiled stiffly and mumbled an apology which of course Rev didn't take notice since he wasn't angry. It was just a reaction to Zeki's actions.
"Boys, let's get done with this, then you can act and behave like kids all day long." Bryan clapped both of his hands.
"Master had given me the responsibility of the mission."
"You mean, you are the leader? Am I right?"
Rev didn't nod or give any response to Zeki and only stared at him. They kinda anticipated this to happen.
"Is that all?"
"No. I have a partner who will lead the mission along with me. Master had chosen."
Now this was alarming. Their master was a very picky person. He would never choose someone with ordinary skills and talents. It would always be extremely good and extraordinary. So it shocked them when they heard Rev saying that he has a co leader beside him. Since their master in front of their eyes had said that there wasn't anyone to match his level apart from one of his family members. During that time they thought he was talking about his son or daughter since from their master's voice texture they could tell his age was over 60 years and he was as old as their grandparents.
"So, we have one month to make ourselves comfortable with our team members."
"Well, it seems to me." Caleb shrugged his shoulders with a laid back look.
He didn't appear to be bothered like Zeki.
"Why are you overreacting?" Bryan spoke as he couldn't fathom why Zeki was being like that.
"I couldn't fathom myself. Maybe I need a drink."
Zeki can't comprehend what was happening. Internally he was feeling giddy and fuzzy. It was the same feeling when he met Serene.
With his uncertain mind, he walked to his room and locked the door.
Days and days went by and the month was ending within two days. During the whole past days, the boy's schedule remained unchanged. However, the only addition to it was that their master began to update them with the mission details.
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"Ziya, Mr and Mrs. Artifort called me today and they apologized as they had to postpone the engagement for some time."
"MOM!! They can't be doing this. Don't they know? I had already told and invited my friends for the engagement this month. They can't cancel it at the last moment."
"Babygirl, they didn't cancel the engagement. They had only asked to postpone it for sometime. Try to understand it."
Her mother pleaded to her daughter who had transformed into an angry bird. Throwing and smashing down her things.
"What's there to understand? They forgot their promise!! Can't you understand what will happen to my reputation when I tell my friends about it ?? They will mock and make fun of me proudly, not behind my back." Ziya threw the flower vase on the floor. It broke into tiny pieces.
Her mother sighed and attempted to get closer to her furious daughter. She hugged her and patted her back to calm down her rage.
"Shhhh….. I know what you are feeling and I can understand it."
Ziya broke down into tears. She clutched and hugged her mother tightly. She let her daughter sob and cry on her shoulders.
Ziya's tears and snot dirtied her expensive clothes yet she didn't mind it. Since as a loving mother her main priority was always her daughter.
__________________
"Tell me it's a joke…"
"He must be kidding right? He can't be serious about this????"
"Nooo…. freaking way!!!"
"I ain't doing it. I won't do it."
"Did he eat his brain for his breakfast? If not then I must say he thought we are little girls who will agree to his each and every word."
"I am not going there."