The storm had passed, leaving the air heavy with the scent of rain. David and Tariq sat beneath the shade of a large boulder, the sun casting long shadows across the Colorado Plateau. Tariq had just revealed a secret that left David reeling—he was the leader of the R organization, and his brother Pavel was deeply entrenched in its operations. But what struck David even more was the revelation that there might be "two" R organizations.
"Ion!" Tariq shouted, waving his arm to catch the attention of their leader, who stood some distance away. Ion's sharp eyes flicked toward them, and he gave a slight nod. As David and Tariq approached, Ion began to chant an incantation, his wand weaving through the air. The raindrops around him froze into sharp ice arrows, hovering menacingly.
"Get out of the way! Don't try to block it!" Newt's voice rang out, warning the others. The wizards scattered as Ion unleashed the ice arrows, which shot forward with deadly precision. The arrows exploded high above, creating a shower of icy shards that rained down harmlessly. David and Tariq seized the moment, darting through the chaos and escaping the battlefield.
As they flew away, David couldn't help but glance back. The ice arrows had left a clear path, free of rain, and the wizards below looked shaken. Ion's power was undeniable, and David felt a pang of unease. "What are we really dealing with here?"
Once they were far enough from the chaos, Tariq collapsed against a large rock, his breathing ragged. David handed him a piece of chocolate, which Tariq accepted gratefully. As they sat in silence, Tariq suddenly spoke, his voice hesitant.
"Ron... I need to tell you something." He paused, then blurted out, "I'm the leader of the R organization."
David's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected Tariq to reveal his identity so openly, especially now, when they were alone and vulnerable. "What about Pavel?" David asked cautiously.
"He's my brother," Tariq replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "We've been through a lot together."
David studied Tariq's face, trying to gauge his sincerity. "Why are you telling me this now?"
Tariq sighed, his expression softening. "Because... I trust you. You're my friend."
David felt a pang of guilt. He had been using Tariq to gather information, but now, hearing the vulnerability in Tariq's voice, he couldn't help but feel conflicted. "What do you mean, there are two R organizations?" David asked, steering the conversation back to the mystery at hand.
Tariq's face darkened. "There's a group pretending to be us. They've been using our name, our reputation, to carry out their own agenda. Some of our own people have even joined them. It's like they're shadows, following us wherever we go."
David's mind raced. "A second R organization?" This changed everything. If there were imposters operating under the same name, it would explain why Newt and the others had been unable to pin down the real R organization. It also raised a troubling question: "What are these imposters after?"
"Why would they do that?" David asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
Tariq shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe they want power, or maybe they're trying to destabilize us. But they've been a thorn in our side for years. Pavel's been trying to root them out, but they're slippery. They know our secrets, our methods. It's like fighting a ghost."
David frowned. If what Tariq said was true, then the research base Newt and the others had destroyed might have been a decoy, part of the imposters' scheme. "But why? What's their endgame?"
As they sat in silence, David's thoughts turned darker. What if these imposters weren't just after power or wealth? What if they wanted something far more dangerous—control over the magical world itself? The idea sent a chill down his spine.
"Tariq," David said slowly, "if you could leave the R organization, what would you do?"
Tariq's face lit up. "I'd be a Quidditch player. I've always loved flying, and I'm good at it. It's one of the few things that makes me feel... free."
David smiled faintly. "That sounds like a good plan."
Tariq's expression turned serious. "But I can't leave Pavel. He's my brother, and he's determined to see this through. I can't abandon him."
David nodded, understanding the bond between them. "What about the imposters? Do you think they'll ever stop?"
Tariq shook his head. "I don't know. But if they keep going like this, they're going to cause a lot of trouble. Not just for us, but for everyone."
David's mind was racing. He needed to talk to Newt, to share what he'd learned. If there really were two R organizations, it changed everything. The real R organization might be dangerous, but the imposters... they could be far worse.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Tariq stretched and stood up. "We should get going. It's not safe to stay in one place for too long."
David nodded, rising to his feet. "Let's go."
As they mounted their brooms and took to the air, David couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing on the edge of something much bigger—and much more dangerous—than they realized. The storm might have passed, but the real battle was just beginning.