C392 One Last Night

At the Mooney residence, dinner had just ended. The plates had been cleared from the table, but nobody seemed in a hurry to leave. The atmosphere was different tonight. Alicia's phone suddenly vibrated. She picked it up and looked at the screen. There was a message from Hammer. Madam, you and your group must be at XXX Road at eight tomorrow morning. Make sure everyone who is going to disappear is there. Everyone must drive in separate cars. Alicia read the message twice. She quickly replied. No problem. You did great today. A few seconds later, Hammer responded. Thank you, Boss. Alicia smiled faintly before placing her phone on the table.

Everyone noticed. "What is it?" Peter asked. Alicia looked around the table. "I think we're disappearing tomorrow morning." The words immediately changed the atmosphere. Mark's expression became serious. "Hammer contacted you?" Alicia nodded. "He said our entire team must be together tomorrow morning." Mark sighed. "My child, you must be careful." His voice was softer than usual. "Now that I won't see you every day, I don't think I'll ever be completely at ease." Georgia immediately looked at him. "If a grown man like you says that, can you imagine what the rest of us are feeling?" Mark shook his head. "I may be a grown man, but Alicia is still my daughter." He looked at Alicia. "Ever since her mother left us, I've always known that protecting her was my responsibility."

Alicia's expression softened. She stood from her chair and walked toward her father. "Dad, take this as me training to avenge my mother." Mark stared at her. "You don't have to worry. If something happens to me, I know Lions will avenge me." The room became silent. Everyone looked at Alicia. There was confidence in her voice, but everyone could hear the seriousness behind those words. Mark slowly nodded. "I know you can take care of yourself." He paused. "But that doesn't mean I won't worry." Alicia smiled. "I know." She turned toward me. "Mike, I'm tired. Let's go and get some rest." I stood. "Good idea." I followed her toward our bedroom. Behind us, everyone remained seated around the table, their expressions still filled with worry. Nobody said anything. Tomorrow, everything would change.

Alicia and I had barely entered our bedroom when both our phones rang at almost exactly the same time. I looked at my screen. Group Video Call. This time, Faith had started it. I answered. A few seconds later, Chris joined. Then Sarah. Then Samantha. Then Laura. Chris had added Amanda to the group earlier that day, and she joined almost immediately. The moment Amanda's face appeared on the screen, she smiled excitedly. "Hey guys!" Chris laughed. "Look at this. We haven't even started and the newcomers are already taking over." Amanda frowned playfully. "Newcomers?" Everyone laughed. "You've known me for a long time," she argued. "Have you forgotten that I was your secretary?" Chris grinned. "That was before you decided to become crazy enough to join us." Amanda rolled her eyes. "Thank you very much." The laughter continued. It felt strangely normal.

For a few minutes, none of us talked about danger, disappearing, enemies, or death. It was simply a group of friends enjoying what might be their last ordinary night together. Then Samantha looked toward Faith. "Kiddo, what happened?" Faith raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" "Are you really not going?" Faith smiled. "I knew they were going to refuse." She paused. "But don't worry, Survivor. I'm going either way." Samantha's expression immediately brightened. "Really?" Faith nodded. "Really." Samantha visibly relaxed. "Good." But Alicia was watching her carefully. She didn't say anything. I noticed Alicia's expression. She was thinking. She always did that when something didn't add up. Before she could say anything, Amanda spoke excitedly. "Well, guys, my family agreed!" Everyone looked at her. "See? I'm coming with you." Everyone laughed again.

Laura suddenly appeared on the screen, leaning back against something. "Guys..." We all looked at her. "I think I drank too much." She blinked several times. "I'm dizzy." Amanda immediately complained. "That's so unfair! You guys drank without us." Chris answered without hesitation. "That's because you're all newcomers." Amanda immediately protested. "But I've known you for a long time!" Chris laughed. "You were my secretary." "Exactly!" "And now you're one of us." Amanda smiled. "Then stop calling me a newcomer." Chris shrugged. "No promises." We all laughed again. Laura suddenly raised one finger. "Guys, I think the room is spinning." Sarah laughed. "Laura, you really need to stop drinking." Laura shook her head. "I think I'm already halfway gone."

She looked toward the camera. "Is there anything else we need to discuss before I completely black out?" Everyone laughed. I looked at her. "Yes." Laura raised an eyebrow. "What?" "Spend one last night with your husband." Chris immediately burst out laughing. "Exactly." Laura rolled her eyes. Chris continued. "But don't get pregnant, otherwise you'll be left behind." Laura laughed. "If I were meant to be pregnant?" She shrugged. "I would've done that a long time ago." Chris stared at her. "What do you mean?" He paused dramatically. "Is Bright infertile?" Laura exclaimed. "What?" Everyone burst into laughter. Sarah covered her face. "Chris!" I couldn't stop laughing. "Brother, where do you even get these questions?" Chris shrugged. "I'm just asking."

Sarah looked at the camera. "Why do you men always discuss private things like they're casual conversations?" I laughed. "What's private about it?" Sarah stared at me. "Everything!" I laughed again. "If it were completely private, it wouldn't be a two-person activity." Everyone suddenly went quiet. I looked around the screen. "Why did everyone become so quiet?" Chris slowly nodded. "Brother, I think you just made things worse." Alicia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Sarah shook her head. "You men are unbelievable." Chris suddenly looked at me. "Brother, does this mean you and Alicia will..." Alicia immediately interrupted him. "Chris, stop." Chris laughed. I leaned back. "She just gave birth, brother. I'm starving tonight."

Chris laughed. "Same here. I can't even spend proper time with my son." Sarah immediately looked at him. "Who stopped you?" Chris turned toward her. "My enemies." He paused. "And my wife doesn't want to live with me." Sarah stared at him. Chris suddenly smiled mischievously. "Tell me, am I bad?" Sarah frowned. "What?" Chris leaned closer to the camera. "You know what I mean." He paused. "Am I bad in bed?" Samantha immediately tried to hold back her laughter. She failed. She burst out laughing. Sarah's face turned red. She shook her head. "If you were bad, would I have become pregnant?" Everyone erupted into laughter. Even Alicia smiled. The conversation continued for several minutes.

For once, nobody cared about tomorrow. Tomorrow was going to be dangerous. Tomorrow they would disappear. Tomorrow they would leave behind their names, their families, their businesses, and their normal lives. Tonight, they were simply friends. But Alicia was still watching Samantha. Something had caught her attention. Samantha had been unusually lively whenever Faith spoke. And every time Faith smiled, Samantha looked relieved. Alicia suddenly smiled. "Survivor." Samantha smile. "Cipher." Alicia smiled "Why do you look guilty." "What do you mean?" Alicia laughed. "You know exactly what I mean." Samantha shook her head. "I don't." Alicia leaned closer to the phone. "Then why do you look so nervous?" Samantha looked away. "I'm not nervous."

Faith suddenly became very quiet. Sarah noticed. Chris noticed. I noticed. Alicia smiled. Then she asked the question everyone had been avoiding. "Will you finally tell us what is really going on between you and Faith?" Sarah suddenly choked. She coughed violently. Chris stared at the screen. Laura, despite being half-drunk, suddenly looked completely awake. Amanda's eyes widened. Faith froze. Samantha opened her mouth. Nothing came out. She tried again. Still nothing. Alicia continued smiling. "Well?" Samantha stared at the screen. Her face had turned red. Faith looked down. Nobody knew what to say.