Chapter 134: The Tragedy

Ever since Orel had said that name, Malakor, his mood had changed. He was pissed and had entered a state of deep thought.

Makun had no idea who Malakor was, but from Orel’s expression, he knew they had some personal history. Orel was not the kind to be so easily influenced by others.

At that time, he had looked around at the room and had noticed the shift in the atmosphere, from Doc to Sarah, to Ray and finally to the team leader.

They all had had strange expressions, but no one said anything, and the oppressive atmosphere stopped him from inquiring.

Now, after Orel had assigned four of the six MIO agents to guard the chalet, they were preparing to leave.

“First the victims, bring them to the car.” Orel spoke, his tone stripped of the theatricals.

The six agents moved into the chalet and emerged from it moments later with the three children in their arms, their small bodies still limp from whatever drugs had kept them unconscious.

They were placed into the back of the first SUV, secured with blankets and restraints to keep them stable during transport.

Then they returned for the rest, the three adults and two teenagers that Danielle’s team had discovered on the second floor and loaded them into the second vehicle.

The six cloaked figures would have to wait, the two SUVs would return for them once the priority victims were delivered.

They would be taken to Houston, kept and interrogated.

“Makun, you with me.” Orel spoke to Makun who had lagged behind beside Ray.

Ray leaned over with a smirk. “Uh oh, rookie. Teacher wants to see you after class.” He patted Makun on the shoulder. “Try not to cry.”

Makun shook his head, by now he had gotten a gist of Ray and his jokes. He knew his approach at lightening the mood, and making others feel good.

He smiled then walked towards Orel, but before he could reach Orel where his car had been, someone came in the middle.

Danielle.

“Orel, Makun is coming with us, we have to report.” Her voice was steel, each word bitten off like she was holding back something far worse.

“And?” Orel could not care less what she had to say.

“We are a team.” Danielle stepped forward. “I am his leader.” Another step. “It is our mission.” She stopped directly in his path. “He comes with us.”

“And?”

“And he is not following you.”

Orel turned around and moved to his car.

“Makun follow me.” He then shot a cold glance at Danielle. “He is your team member, I am not. In MIO, I am ranked higher, when I decide you shut up! Stuck up bitch.”

He turned around.

“And you wonder why the tragedy happened.”

He did not look back.

Danielle went rigid.

The words hit her like a blade slipped between ribs.

She knew of Orel and his tendencies, she as everyone else in MIO had accepted this was who he was and never took his provocations seriously, only those that had no idea of who he was took offence.

But those words, they were precise and cruel, designed to wound where it would hurt most.

She had been holding herself together all morning, the stress of the mission coiled tight in her chest, the questions she would have to answer about why a first-grade apprentice had been allowed to enter a hostile zone alone.

And beneath all of that, still fresh, was the clash with Makun, his words, his defiance, the unbearable truth that he had been right and she had been wrong.

She had swallowed it, all of it, because that was what leaders did.

But this, Orel dragging out the tragedy, throwing it in her face like she needed reminding, like she did not carry it with her every single day, this was too much.

Her route core pulsed, Ashe threatening to break out of her skin, begging to be released.

She wanted to scream or even break his jaw. She wanted to let loose everything she had been suppressing since the moment Makun told her he did not care about her orders.

But she could not.

Not in front of them, and while he was ranked higher.

So she stood there, silent then turned to their car, her expression cold.

Bang!

The car door closed, leaving a stunned crowd.

“Oh man, it is going to be a cold ride, no need for the spirits to know that.” Ray joked, before rushing towards the car, followed by Sarah who shot an angry glare at Orel before moving to catch up.

The only ones left behind were Makun, Orel and the Doc.

Makun had no idea what the tragedy was about, but he could tell it had hit hard. He should have been happy, Danielle had angered him earlier, however, he could not bring himself to feel joy over her pain, a pain he had no idea about.

Orel had gone too far, he usually limited his taunts, but this was not the case at all.

He really had been affected by that name.

“Was it necessary?” The tiny healer asked not caring one bit about Orel’s demeanour “If someone triggered your traumas, would you not want to destroy them? Dumb idiot.”

He moved to the car, followed by a Makun who knew he should not provoke Orel right now.

It was not advisable.

In the car, the Doc sat at the front, driving in the direction of Houston, his small frame barely visible above the steering wheel, hands gripping it with the same no-nonsense efficiency he brought to everything else.

In the back, Orel sat by the window, his orange-tinted glasses catching the light as he stared at the passing trees, his expression unreadable while Makun sat on the opposite side leaving the middle seat empty between them.

Makun rode in silence, waiting for Orel to break it. He had called him, he should speak.

“Makun.” Orel started. “Listen carefully. What I am about to tell you does not leave this car.”

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