Days with the demon queen-Chapter 44: Home at last

Squad 12 managed to get back to base in one piece, although not without injuries. Some had more injuries than others. Cynthia and Dylan waited in front of the gate as they came through. When she saw that they came back complete, Cynthia let out a sigh of relief. Her hands trembled as she clenched the file she held tightly.

"I’m so— I’m so sorry. I almost got you all killed" her voice shook. I’m so sorry, my incompetence almost—" her voice shook.

"It’s okay. We’re back in one piece, see? It wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known" Jay reassured.

"But—"

"It’s wasn’t your fault. Shit happens" Zeke said. He pat her gently on the shoulder.

"You were sloppy" Dylan said, unphased by their appearance.

"Asshole, you missed us" Zeke stated.

"I don’t know what you’re talking talking," Dylan responded, walking away. His lips curved into a smile, the happiness in his eyes hid behind the thick frame of the glasses he wore.

Cynthia turned her attention to the three rookies, like she had just noticed their silence.

"Are you guys— okay?" She asked, her eyes landing on Josh.

"I’m— fine. It was quite the experience" Josh replied.

Cynthia smiled and nodded. She then turned her attention to Lily and Ronnie. They both didn’t say a word at first.

"I need a hot shower" Ronnie said, walking away. Lily followed behind him in silence.

Cynthia kept silent for a few seconds, staring at the two as they disappeared into the back room.

"He seems—"

"Different? Yeah" Zeke interrupted Cynthia.

"What happened down there?" She asked.

"We’ll tell you sometime. I’ll steal his idea and take a hot shower, later" Jay said, walking past her.

"Yeah me too" Zeke concurred and followed suit.

Josh and Cynthia remained in the gym room. He avoided her questioning gaze.

"Um, we’ll—"

"Talk later?" She interrupted.

"Yes, we’ll definitely— talk later" Josh said, awkwardly walking past her.

She stood there motionless, with a puzzled expression.

"What in the world— happened down there?" Cynthia thought.

Dylan was out, Cynthia had to submit some files to the head office, the chief and Mason were out, leaving only the members who just returned from the lycanthrope extermination mission.

They sat around in the common room, somber and quiet. The room had a tense atmosphere.

"Are you all going to keep moping or address the issue at hand?" Lily asked.

"The issue at hand? How do we even bring this to the attention of the higher ups? There’s a fucking mole in the agency" Jay said, gritting his teeth.

"Jason," Zeke called out, shooting him a glare.

"Right, right I should calm down" Jay responded.

The room went back to being silent, and uncomfortable.

"You don’t" Lily stated.

"Don’t what?" Jay asked in a slightly irritated tone.

"You don’t bring this to the attention of the higher ups" she replied.

"Why not?" Jay asked.

"You’d be acting on the assumption that the comprise is happening on the lower levels. If that’s not the case, then it’d be a different story entirely" Josh stated.

Lily gave Josh a warm smile.

"Very perceptive Joshua. Unlike the rest of these humans. Thinking doesn’t seem to be their strong suit" she jested.

Both Zeke and Jay were too deep in thought of what she said, they had no reaction to her provocation.

"We can’t tell them about it, this stays between us" Ronnie said, stroking his chin.

"Look who finally decided to come around. For a moment there, I almost forgot you were present, master" Lily said.

"You’re just repeating what they said. We absolutely have to tell the captain. Not telling him would be insubordination" Zeke replied, his tone sounding agitated.

"If there’s truly a mole, we have to assume that information of the sword of the light is spreading already. If we’re careless with this information, we risk exposing ourselves and the sword to danger within the agency. Don’t you get it? We’d all have targets on our backs. We have to be discreet, and find the mole somehow." Ronnie explained.

There was a short silence after Ronnie voiced his concerns.

"Ronald, do you not trust the chief?" Zeke asked.

"I don’t trust him, or any of you. Not yet anyway" Ronnie stated.

Jay got up from his seat. "We’re telling the chief" he said.

"We sure are. He’ll be sure to deal with this carefully" Zeke said.

"Or get himself killed" Josh muttered.

A clapping sound echoed twice across the room suddenly, and everybody present in the common room except Lily, looked to the source. Their eyes widened and they grew speechless.

"None of you noticed him come in?" Lily asked in a nonchalant tone, her armed crossed.

"You don’t expect them to be as perceptive as the queen of demons, do you?" Captain Carpenter asked. The man had a knowing smile on his face as he walked to their midst.

"Chief, we were just—"

"All valid concerns. There’s no wrong opinion on this case. I get one part of the squad wanting to let me in on the issue, and I get the other part wanting to keep everyone safe from being targeted" he explained.

"What do we do about it?" Ronald asked.

"Not we, what do I do about it?" He questioned.

"But chief, we can—"

"You’ll do nothing. It’s a direct order. No one is to look into this. There are dangerous people in this agency, people just as dangerous as the monsters we face everyday." He expressed, a cold look clouded his eyes.

"Do I make myself clear?" He asked.

Lily shrugged, Ronnie looked away.

"Crystal clear sir" Zeke and Jay chorused.

"Ye— yes sir" Josh added.

"good" He responded. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Ronald" he called out.

"Captain?" Ronnie responded.

"Keep your nose out of trouble son" He said, staring daggers through Ronnie.

"Yes, of course Captain" Ronnie responded. Captain Carpenter gave him a warm smile and walked towards the door.

"You’re all dismissed for now. Go home, have fun or something. You’re young people after all" He voiced as he walked out.

Zeke and Jay shot Ronnie a sharp look.

"Wait here" Lily said, as she hurriedly followed behind the captain.

Jay and Zeke exited the room, leaving only Ronnie and Josh.

"It’s been a crazy past few days, hasn’t it, Ron?" Josh asked.

"Crazy among other things" Ronnie responded.

"We should go to school tomorrow. I could use a break from all of this" Ronnie suggested.

"I wasn’t planning on missing lectures. Unlike you, I take life very seriously" Josh said, wearing a serious expression.

"Congratulations then, Mr. Serious" Ronnie said. They kept talking and exchanging laughs for a moment before Lily reentered the room.

"Did I keep you boys waiting? I apologize" she said. They all left the room, walking towards the elevator. Ronnie stared at Lily suspiciously as she walked ahead of him.