Chapter 725: The Face Behind the Bars
Chapter 725: The Face Behind the Bars
Annabeth had only come out for a small break.
She had no idea what she was expecting, but damn, the work at the medical facility wasn’t easy. She had only just joined, and though there were no major cases, one had to read continuously. Getting information from research done, trying to experiment with various herbs, learning their uses and their disadvantages—it was a lot, and she had to admit she was enjoying it too.
The medical facility at the Nightshade Pack really lived up to its name and the rumours.
She was also thankful for Rita and the other trainees, though most of them were preparing for the placement test. Annabeth wasn’t going to join them. She had only just joined, after all. There were others like her too, though few, and they were getting to know each other and the work in the facility.
She stretched her arms above her head, rolling her shoulders to ease the stiffness. The cold air felt good against her face after being inside for hours.
That was when her wolf picked up two scents.
One she knew very well, and her heart rate quickened just from it.
They hadn’t spoken properly for a while now. Both of them had been busy with their respective work. The last time she saw him had been at the square earlier in the day during the census.
She swallowed and then turned.
Ronan stood a few feet away, and beside him was Sophia, who gave her a small smile and a wave.
Annabeth waved back.
"What’s going on?" she asked.
Ronan stepped closer.
"Can you come with us?"
Annabeth frowned.
"Is something the matter?"
He hesitated, then said, "Honestly, there is something. But it’s not something we can discuss right here. You have to come with us."
He paused, then added, "Are you free?"
Annabeth glanced back at the medical facility, a frown on her face.
"I still have a few minutes before my shift ends. But I’ll rush in and take permission first."
Ronan nodded, and then she turned and walked back inside.
The warmth of the facility hit her again, along with the familiar smell of herbs and clean linen. She found Genevieve near the supply closet and explained that she needed to leave early. Genevieve didn’t mind at all and gave Annabeth the go-ahead, waving her off.
A few minutes later, Annabeth walked back out, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders.
"I’m ready," she said.
They nodded and began walking.
The path was familiar at first, then less so. They passed rows of houses where families had settled in for the night. Snow fell steadily, dusting their shoulders as they walked.
Then they stopped at a heavy wooden door set into the side of a stone building. The wood was dark, stained by years of weather, and the iron handle was cold.
Ronan opened it, and then Sophia and Annabeth walked in.
This was the first time Sophia was stepping into the dungeons, same with Annabeth, who had a frown on her face.
They continued moving, and the farther they went, the air felt different.
"Where are we going?" she asked with a frown. "What is going on?"
Sophia glanced at her.
"You’ll find out soon enough. And also, don’t worry, you are not the one in trouble."
Ronan groaned.
"That didn’t do anything to help reduce her worries, sis. You just let her know there’s trouble."
Sophia’s eyes widened.
"Oh," she said.
Ronan shook his head, then turned to Annabeth.
"Just follow us. You’ll find out soon enough."
They continued walking.
Torches burned low along the walls, their flames weak and wavering, casting crooked shadows that stretched across the stone floor. Dust clung to the corners of the ceiling in thick webs.
Annabeth noticed the place smelled like something that wasn’t in use frequently.
Annabeth’s nose wrinkled.
"What is this place?"
"The dungeons," Ronan said quietly.
She frowned, and the farther they walked, the more she noticed the cells and the more her senses sharpened.
Her wolf picked up scents ahead.
One was Orion.
One was Brynhild.
And the last...
She paused.
Josiah?
She shook her head.
Surely she was mistaken?
But even as she said it, she knew she wasn’t.
Her steps picked up then, her boots echoing off the stone walls. She walked faster, leaving Sophia and Ronan behind, and soon she saw them.
Orion standing with his arms crossed, Brynhild beside him, her gaze fixed on something ahead.
Behind the rusting iron bars of one of the cells, Josiah sat on a narrow bench, his hands folded in his lap.
"What’s going on?" Annabeth asked immediately.
Orion turned to her.
"That’s what we want to know."
Sophia and Ronan reached her a few seconds later, and then Sophia spoke up.
"The census that happened earlier... it was more than what we told everyone. There is... was a traitor in the pack, and we needed to find out who he was."
Annabeth stared at her, a frown on her face.
"A traitor?" she asked.
Sophia nodded.
"Yes. The vision I had in the square showed a traitor. I didn’t think it would be easy to find him, but we did. And yes, it’s Josiah."
Annabeth shook her head, her eyes wide.
"That can’t be possible," she said. "This has to be some kind of joke, right?"
She turned to Josiah.
"Come on, Josiah. What’s going on? Explain it to them. Clear their doubts."
Josiah stared at her for a long moment.
His eyes flickered, searching for a way out.
Then he said, "Perhaps there’s a misunderstanding. I’m not a traitor. I would never do anything to hurt our people, either."
The words had barely left his mouth when Orion’s body reacted.
The air was sucked from his lungs.
A sharp ringing pierced his ears.
Noctis rolled over in pain, and a wave of nausea overtook him.
It lasted only a few seconds.
Orion’s jaw tightened.
He stepped forward, unlocked the cell door, and walked inside.
The iron bars groaned as they swung open.
He stopped in front of Josiah.
"Say that again," Orion growled. "And this time, perhaps you would like to tell the truth."
