287. It had been raining since dawn. Devin sat by the table, and Petra lay on the couch with a blanket draped over her legs and one hand resting protectively on her round belly. Devin kept stealing glances at her every few seconds. She looked extremely tired and her skin was paler. Pregnancy had changed her very much. Petra used to have a sharp tongue, but lately, she wasn't her usual spitfire self which he adored. Not that he could blame her, she was carrying life. There was a knock on the door, jolting Devin out of his thoughts. Petra slowly sat up. "That'll be her." Devin frowned. It was just then that he remembered that Petra's mother was visiting. "Are you sure about this? We've been trying to keep this place off the grid." "She's my mother, Devin." Petra said gently. "She's been calling nonstop. I couldn't ignore her forever. And besides, she's already here, so she knows." Devin sighed, wanting to say something, but Petra spoke immediately. "Don't worry, I'll h

289. Devin sat alone in his study, looking like he was going to fall off and break apart. He hadn’t slept in days. He rubbed his eyes, staring at the files Ryan had sent to him, encrypted, scrambled, and routed through seven ghost servers. The kid had done well. He would be proud to sponsor his future. Devin clicked on a folder marked “PROJECT ECLIPSE” and then he came across videos, financial records, and photographs. He opened one clip, and there was a popular politician laughing at a dinner table while two security men dragged a young woman out of frame, screaming. Another file showed Gloria’s men loading sealed crates into trucks labeled “City Relief Fund”, but he had already seen what was in those trucks on another file. It wasn’t good nor medicine but bones. Human bones. He picked up the old phone on the table, dialed one of his contacts in the underground press. “Devin Stone?” The person asked in a hushed tone. “Yes, it’s me.” Devin said. “I’ve got something that’ll

291. Devin hadn’t really slept. He’d sat by the window for hours, and even though his eyes were heavy, his mind was moving too mad for him to rest. The events of last night had troubled him greatly, and before he knew it, it was dawn. He finally got up to get some coffee, only to head Amanda’s scream. “DEVIN! DEVIN, OH MY GOODNESS!” Devin immediately checked to see that Petra was still asleep before moving out gently. Then he ran down the house. He couldn’t grace where exactly her screams were coming from, but she met him halfway. Her hands were shaking violently, and all the colour had drained from her face. “What is going on? Petra is asleep!” Amanda shook her head, unable to say a word. She led him to Dmitri’s open room and pointed. Devin didn’t like these games but as soon as he looked in, he felt cold all over. Dmitri was sitting on the edge of the bed, and his head was slumped forward over his body, and his eyes were open but empty. There was a knife which he loosel

293. Devin stood by his car, checking his watch. The satellite trace was running, the coordinates leading straight to the central district where Gloria’s grand project had risen over the ruins of the sinkhole. It was dark already, and he had been running on serotonin. All his meetings had gone well, and Petra had been stable since the last… event. Things would get better, he was sure of it. Devin got back into the car and fired up the engine. By the time he got near the Eclipse City, the place was alive with activity. Security drones hovered around quietly overhead, a lot of workers rushed around setting up massive digital billboards, holographic displays, cleaning, and generally putting things in order. Devin stopped to read a well-decorated banner: -ECLIPSE CITY GRAND OPENING! GLOBAL ENERGY ERA BEGINS TONIGHT! ARE YOU READYYY?- Devin stared at it for a moment, feeling like something was off. “Energy era, my ass.” He muttered. “You’re calling an enchantment session a celebra

295. Cameras were still flashing as the Mayor stood on the stage. He held a hand out to Petra who took it immediately, and walked up the podium, smiling. "I would like to introduce this wonderful woman who has been adversely affected by who her partner is, and how he has become. Tonight, with her, we begin a new era! An era where energy and life become one!" Devin felt bile rise in his throat. Amanda stood beside him in the crowd, pretending to clap, whispering out of the corner of her mouth. "He's really going to do it, Devin. This is the real thing, we have to leave and look for the back source." Devin's jaw clenched. "No, not yet." "Don't act impulsively!" She hissed. "You'll blow our cover and we can't afford to do that yet." He wasn't listening to her. His blood was boiling, and the only person in his line of sight was Petra. The trance had deepened, and she wasn't even blinking or moving anymore, just standing like a porcelain doll while the Mayor lifted his