Caden couldn't go home immediately after he left the crime scene, the rain no longer poured heavily. His mind was racing and Ares wasn't helping at all, he was restless within him, waiting to take control.
Caden walked around aimlessly for a while, lost in the shadows. His hood covered his head, shielding him from the dripping rain but he couldn't shield himself from the relentless whispers in his mind.
Among the voices, Ares was the loudest and angriest, his rage pulsed through Caden's mind. The other voices were faint and Fragmented like ghostly whispers. Sometimes he could understand what they are saying but most of the time it was just like low whispers in the background and he never really felt alone.
"Stop wasting time, you should be hunting them not wandering around like a lost puppy" Ares growled.
"Just shut up for five minutes," Caden muttered, rubbing his temples. His head was pounding again, It always did when the voices got too loud. He needed to clear his mind and think.
"You know I'm right, The Circle is out there and you are not doing anything about it" Ares said, restlessly as ever.
"I'm working on it" Caden raised his voice, the few people passing by gave him strange looks but he ignored them because he was used to it by now.
He stepped into a narrow alley, resting against the cold brick wall as he tried to get his breathing back under control. The cold pierced his skin, but he had to make sure he doesn't lose country because he does not have time to lose at the moment.
Ares was right, The Circle was on the move and they'd already made their move. Mara Daniels murder was just the beginning. They were sending a message but it's more than that, they wanted him back.
Caden clenched his fist with a resolved mind, he wasn't going to ever go back.
He took a deep breath trying to calm himself, he needed a plan to figure out what The Circle was up to before they made another move but he had no idea where to start from.
Years of hiding has erased The Circle's trail making them almost impossible to find. Whatever lead he had on them was also gone.
"You know what you need to do, find them and make them pay" Ares said.
"Not yet, I need information because I can't just charge in without any plan" Caden replied.
"You are a coward" Ares said angrily. "You are paralyzed with fear. You know exactly how to find them but you are just too scared to admit it".
"I'm not scared" Caden said, but the words felt like a lie even to him.
He couldn't shake the fear in him away. He was terrified of what would happen if he faced the circle.
Pursuing the Lunar Circle meant facing the past he'd long buried. The past he'd desperately locked away now lingered around, threatening to destroy the peace he had. Caden's greatest fear wasn't the Circle's power, but his own weakness which is enduring the darkness that awaited him.
His phone rang in his pocket, breaking the silence. He picked his phone, frowning at the unknown number displayed on the screen, after a moment of hesitation he answered.
"Caden Hart" came a familiar voice he hadn't heard for a long time.
Caden Hart was surprised "Zane?"
"Are you surprised to see me? I heard you were busy" Zane replied with a smug tone as usual.
Caden's grip tightened, Zane knew a lot of things, if he needed answers Zane was the right person to meet but there was a reason he hadn't spoken to him in years.
"What do you want" Caden asked with a cold voice.
"Nothing much, I just thought you'd want to know what The Circle has been asking about you" Zane replied casually.
"I'm aware" Caden replied.
Zane chuckled "I figured as much but I thought you might've needed a little help. I've got a lead on where they are hiding and I thought I'd be a good friend and pass it along".
"Since when did we become friends" Caden asked suspiciously because Zane never does anything without a price.
"That's hurtful Hart" Zane said with an excited tone "But of course if you don't want the information, I would keep it to myself, so you decide".
Caden's instincts told him not to trust Zane because he always plays both sides and eventually sides with the winning team. But right now Caden was left with no choice but to accept the lead.
"Where are they?" Caden asked.
Zane paused for a while "There's an abandoned warehouse down by the docks, it has been that way for years now. Word is, they've been using it as a meeting spot. Might be worth checking out."
"The docks" Caden mattered. It all made sense to him, it was an isolated place, making it easy to slip in and slip out.
"What do you get from telling me this" Caden asked with a serious tone.
Zane replied softly "Let's just say I also have my reason for wanting The Circle out of the picture".
Caden doubted what Zane just said but he was in no position to argue. What he needed right now was to move fast before The Circle disappeared again.
"Okay, I will check it out" Caden muttered.
"Good luck Hart, make sure you don't get killed" Zane replied.
Caden hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket getting ready to move, although he did not trust Zane a bit, he was the only lead he had if he was to find the hideout of The Circle.
Ares who had been silent all the while said happily "Finally, it's time to make your move".
Caden could feel the storm waiting for him and there is no running away this time. He had to face his fears.
He moved out with the resolve to face whatever was waiting for him.