Julian stood in the darkness of the alley near the bar, observing Jemmy as she sat there in distress and despair. He couldn't avoid feeling a warped sense of contentment as he watched her wiping tears away. The scheme had been a success—she had carried out precisely what he and Erebus had hoped she would do. Now, the moment has arrived to wrap things up.
Emerging from the shadows, Julian silently walked towards her. His height created a long shadow that loomed over her. Jemmy glanced up, surprised by his presence.
"Julian," she whispered softly, her voice filled with sorrow.
He grinned, displaying that well-known, delightful grin that never failed to quicken her heartbeat. However, on this occasion, it seemed chilly. "Hi there, Jemmy. Did you have a difficult evening?"
She sighed heavily, her hands trembling slightly. "It's over. Melton knows everything. I... I betrayed him."
"Good," Julian said smoothly, taking a seat beside her. "That's exactly what we needed to happen."
Jemmy's eyes widened as she turned to him, confusion mixing with anger. "What do you mean 'we needed'? I thought you wanted to help me... I thought you—"
Julian's smile grew wider, his blue eyes shining brightly in the dim light. "Jemmy, you have always been very gullible. Did you actually believe that I was supporting you all this time?"
His words hit her like a punch to the gut, causing her stomach to plummet. "What do you mean, Julian?"
"I'm stating that you have been a helpful pawn," Julian said, his condescending tone evident. "Erebus required someone to form a close relationship with Melton. Someone who could earn his confidence, expose his weaknesses. And you? You were the perfect fit for the role."
Jemmy felt her heart racing in her chest as she was hit with the realization like a freight train. "Did you use me?"
Julian sat back in his chair, his eyes filled with a ruthless sense of contentment. "Sure, I did. You were very manipulable. All the conversations about love, our history... it was all a part of the plan."
She gasped as the weight of his betrayal weighed heavily on her. "Why, Julian, for what reason? What reason do you have for treating me like this? I believed... I believed that we—"
Julian coldly interrupted, saying "We have nothing. I did not ever have feelings for you, Jemmy. You were only used as a tool to reach a goal. And now, we can finally see the end approaching."
Anger bubbled inside Jemmy as she clenched her hands into fists, staring at him. "You jerk. You're just as bad as Erebus."
Julian laughed with a malicious tone in his voice. "You are mistaken, Jemmy. My name is Erebus. Well, some of it, anyway. You've been following our lead all along, just like Melton has."
Jemmy's eyes filled with tears as she attempted to fully grasp the extent of the deceit. "Did you ever plan to assist me?"
Julian shrugged and said "no. But you assisted me. You approached Melton closely, causing him to drop his guard. Now it's my turn to tidy up the chaos."
Jemmy's thoughts raced as she attempted to make sense of it all. Trusting Julian and believing in him again had been a foolish mistake. However, now it was too late. The harm had already been inflicted.
"What do you plan to do?" she inquired softly, feeling fear seep into her words.
Julian's grin vanished as he moved closer, speaking in a threatening hush. "I will murder Melton, steal the data he was carrying, and bring it to Erebus. And as for you, my beloved Jemmy, you will need to keep clear of my path."
Jemmy shook her head, her voice quivering with determination. "I refuse to allow you to do that."
Julian chuckled quietly, the noise sending shivers down her spine. "What will you do to prevent me, Jemmy? You have already done your share. You have finished."
She stood up abruptly, backing away from him as her heart raced with a mix of fear and anger. "I'll warn him. I'll tell him everything."
Julian's smile disappeared entirely, replaced by a cold, calculating stare. "You really think he'll trust you now? After everything you've done? After you betrayed him?"
Jemmy faltered, his words striking deep. He was right—Melton would never believe her now. She had burned that bridge beyond repair.
"You're nothing without me, Jemmy," Julian said softly, his voice dripping with cruelty. "You're alone. Just like you were before."
As tears flowed from her eyes, she felt the heavy burden of her solitude weighing on her. Julian had manipulated her from the start, controlling her like a puppet. And at this moment, she had no ability to prevent him.
The competition was intense, as each team fought hard to secure a spot in the finals. Both teams showed great determination and skill throughout the match.
—--------------
At the same time, Melton was seated in his compact apartment, leaning forward over his laptop. As he sorted through the coded files, his fingers moved quickly on the keyboard, attempting to solve the mystery that had consumed his life in recent months. Nexus made a quiet beeping noise in the background.
"Nexus," Melton whispered with frustration evident in his voice. "To what extent is Erebus involved? I require answers"
Nexus replied "according to new data, it appears Erebus has been planning your missions from the start. Every job you have accepted, every step you have taken, it has all been a piece of a bigger strategy."
Melton muttered angrily, feeling the impact of the realization deeply. "I was aware of it. I sensed something was not right from the beginning."
"Their influence is widespread," Nexus continued. "They've been monitoring your progress, tracking your every move. It's highly likely that Jemmy's involvement was part of this plan."
Melton clenched his fists, anger boiling inside him. "Jemmy… She was in on it all along."
"Yes," Nexus confirmed. "However, there may be more to her involvement than meets the eye."
Melton leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with possibilities. "I need to dig deeper. If Erebus has been pulling the strings this whole time, then they must have a weak spot. Something I can exploit."
"There is a possibility," Nexus said after a brief pause. "Julian appears to be a key player in Erebus' operations. His clairvoyance has been instrumental in tracking your movements."
Melton's eyes narrowed as he thought of Julian. "That bastard's been in on this too. He's been watching me, hasn't he?"
"Affirmative," Nexus replied. "Julian's clairvoyance gives him an advantage. He can anticipate your actions before you even make them."
Melton cursed again, slamming his fist down on the table. "So, I'm basically fighting a ghost. How do I stop him?"
"There may be a way," Nexus suggested. "If we can disrupt his ability to see the future, it could give you the upper hand."
Melton nodded, determination flooding his veins. "Then that's what we'll do. I'm not letting them control me anymore."
He stood up, his resolve hardening as he prepared for the fight ahead. Erebus had been pulling the strings for too long. It was time to cut them off.
---
Back in the dark alley, Julian watched Jemmy as she turned and ran, her footsteps echoing off the walls. He smiled to himself, knowing that the trap had been perfectly set.
"Run all you want, Jemmy," he muttered under his breath. "You're too late. The game's already over."
With a final smirk, Julian disappeared into the shadows, his next move already in play. He would find Melton, and when he did, there would be no mercy.