Two days had passed, Ronnie didn't go to school or contact anyone. He spent day and night pondering on the things Mr. C said, and the questions that still went unanswered.
Lily on the other hand, had moved out to the guest room grandpa provided her. Ronnie had noticed that she felt more self conscious around him. She had been giving him some distance.
In the scorching sun of the afternoon, the electricity was out. Ronnie opened the refrigerator, looking to find some ice to keep cool but he found none. Grandpa sat in the living room, watching an old TV programme.
Ronnie felt uneasy around him after everything that had happened.
He shut the refrigerator door and walked slowly towards the room.
"Should I ask him? I really want to ask him. I should" Ronnie pondered.
"Pa, there's something I have to ask you" Ronnie voiced, halting his steps and going back to the living room.
"Is it important? Go on if it is. if it isn't, it can wait" Grandpa said.
Ronnie made his way over to the couch and took a sit next to Grandpa.
"Pa, who are my parents?" Ronnie asked.
Grandpa looked at him, raising an eyebrow.
"You've asked this question like a thousand times. Did someone say something to you? you're an adult now, you shouldn't mind what bullies say" Grandpa said, making an attempt to dismiss the matter.
"Pa. Tell me the truth. Who am I? And who are you?" Ronnie persisted. His eyes fixed on Grandpa in a piercing gaze.
Grandpa stared at Ronnie for a while, then he released an exhausted sigh.
"Ronald. Your father…. He was a good man, stubborn but good. I might not be related to you by blood, but you're my grandson, a part of my family." He explained, sighing again.
"If my father wasn't related to you by blood, then how did you meet him?" Ronnie asked.
"He was eleven, back then I used to run a pastry shop with your grandmother in London. One day this ragged looking kid walks into the shop requesting to buy donuts yeah? He didn't have a penny on him. Your grandma offered him a meal and a bath. Long story short, we took the kid in." Grandpa explained. He had what appeared to be a bitter smile on his face.
"Did you later find out where he came from?" Ronnie asked.
"I didn't. He didn't tell us anything about himself, we didn't ask. We didn't know even as little as the lad's name. Your grandmother named him Harp. Quite a strange lad he turned out to be. He was recruited by some kind of private security agency later on, by then, I and Samantha had moved to Brooksworth." Grandpa explained. His voice sounded more bitter as he proceeded.
"Private security agency. He must mean them. This would mean that he doesn't have any information that can help me" Ronnie thought.
"Your mother was even more mysterious than Harp. Kaela was a woman no one could understand. No one except her husband that is. We knew nothing about her. Only that he met her in his line of work" Grandpa said.
"They both…. died?" Ronnie asked.
"On active duty, yes. We do not know the details, but their bodies…were never re—"
"That's enough, Pa. I'm sorry I made you recall something so painful. I truly am. I just needed to know" Ronnie said, interrupting Grandpa.
"I hid the truth to protect you. I just wanted you to have a normal childhood, son" Grandpa said. He was on the brink of tears.
"Thank you, Grandpa. You're a good man, really." Ronnie said, patting him on the shoulder before exiting the living room.
Ronnie headed down to Lily's new room. He stood at the door, feeling hesitant about knocking or calling out her name. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to knock.
Right before his knuckle struck the door, Lily pulled the door open and stood beside it, he couldn't hide his visible shock.
"How did you know?" He asked.
Lily smiled.
"We're connected. You didn't know that I can read your mind? I see your thoughts as clear as day whenever I want to" Lily expressed, wearing a sheepish expression on her face.
"You can do that?!" Ronnie exclaimed in horror.
Lily gave him the same sheepish look, and broke into laughter.
"Relax master, I can't. I wonder the kind of thoughts you usually have if you're this frightened over the idea of me being able to read your mind." Lily said, she laughed a bit more, and quieted down.
Ronnie looked flustered.
"Did you need something?" Lily asked in a warm voice.
"I've decided. I'm contacting Mr. C. I need you to come with me. I have to know the truth, Lily." He said in a serious tone. His eyes pleaded the request.
Lily stroked the back of her hair with her palm. It's not like I have a choice.
************
Ronnie waited in a cafe, along with Lily and Josh whom Mr. C told him to bring along.
"If you're ready to know the things you want, I'll meet with you, but you have to bring Joshua along. He witnessed our operation. He knows of our existence" this was the instruction Mr. C had given to Ronnie before their meeting.
A few minutes had passed. Ronnie and the others sat in silence, sipping coffee out of their mugs sluggishly.
The doorbell rang. A middle aged man in a trench coat and a top hat walked into the cafe, scanning the place with his eyes.
His eyes landed on Ronnie and he smiled slightly, walking towards their table.
"What do we have here? The whole gang is present. This is good" Mr. C said.
"No games, Mister. You promised to give me information if I called you. I asked about my parents. I'm still very confused. I know. I know my father was part of the agency" Ronnie said.
"I do not remember making any such promises, but okay" Mr. C said. He wiped his smile, taking a seat across from Ronnie.
"I can give you all the information you need, Ronald. I can tell you who you are, everything about yourself. I can tell you about the sword as well. I know you must be itching with curiosity" Mr. C said.
"There's a 'but' isn't there? What do you want?" Ronnie asked.
"We are a shadow organization. We do not give out information to outsiders. If you want information, you have to—"
"Join you?" Ronnie cut in.
"You're a smart kid. What do you say?" Mr. C asked.
"I don't trust him" Lily said, staring holes through Mr. C.
"What happens to me?" Josh asked.
Mr. C turned his attention to Josh.
"Same offer. You could either join us, or we make you forget everything that happened on that day. You have potential, Mr. Joshua. Trying to save your friends despite being in the presence of a rampaging demon, I found that brave" Mr. C said.
Josh looked over at Ronnie.
Ronnie looked at Lily with determined eyes. To the others, it looked like they were communicating with their eyes.
Lily gave off a sigh.
"If you hurt even a hair on his head, I'll kill you, and I'll burn down your little organization" Lily said. While her tone was soft, her eyes passed a different message.
"Fine. I'll join your organization. On the condition that you'll keep no secrets from me, and Lily joins too. We come as a package deal" Ronnie said.
"I'll— I'll join too. If it means that I'll be more useful next time" Josh said.
"Delightful. It's decided then. Prepare yourselves. Training for new recruites start next week. I look forward to welcoming you into…..THE AGENCY FOR SUPERNATURAL ACTIVITY CONTROL" Mr. C said, he wore a wide smile.