I gasped as I appeared in the room again. My heart racing for dear life. I looked at Charlie on the bed and she was sleeping like an angel. I just smiled. How did she even agree to get involved in all this crap?

One thing I didn’t want, and I was trying so hard not to think about that. But the possibilities of that happening now were more, and I needed to see how best to deal with it all. I not only have to deal with Sunny and the ring of the dammed. But Desire and Despair as well. Whoever they are.

I walked to the bathroom quietly and took a shower. Everything that I just went through coming back to me. what Nameless told me. He didn’t say much, but he was sure glad to see me. And I can’t say I wasn’t happy to see someone that is my family, apart from my mother.

Though I kept my thoughts open for anything at all. If it turns out, he was not related to me and the like. If this all thing was a ruse and he just wanted to know me better so that he knows what he can do to hurt me more.

But again, why would he even lie to me? He was able to call me at will without my concern. He also knew about Charlie and my mother, he could have easily taken one of them and do whatever he thought was okay and kill them to hurt me.

So, maybe he was right all along. But he was a sociopath, and that was why they locked him in the prison. All I needed to do was be careful with him.

There was a knock at the door – knocking me out of my thoughts.

“Will you hurry up!” she shouted. I shouldn’t have taken her in.

Well, she had her job and she could have easily found a better place for herself now. But I just thought she was going to be safe with me. Not after what happened to her family because, somewhat, I was involved in it.

I don’t know why, but the message the killer left seemed for someone, and that someone was me. Telling me that things happened the way they were supposed to happen, and that I was going to pay even more.

But it has been almost a year now and I haven’t heard anything from them. Maybe it wasn’t for me. Maybe it was for Roland.

Charlie was an angel and I’m sure she didn’t piss off someone that will kill her parents. The poor thing was terrified. And from that day we have been leaving together.

“Almost done!” I shouted back as I wrapped a towel around my waist and walked out.

“You bath like a girl. Taking your time,” she teased as she walked into the bathroom. “I think I have rubbed off on you, princess,” she laughed, making sure I heard every word she just told me.

I just smiled as I dressed up. That was why I loved her. She understood me even when she knew nothing of what was happening. I was in distress at the moment and I needed a laugh. And she just gave me that in the morning. Joy comes in the morning.

I dressed in cargo pants and a black t-shirt to go along with it. Then I wore sneakers.

I looked at the phone and I had no messaged from Roland or father Michael. But I had one from Sunny, confirming and reminding me that we are meeting and he gave me the location of our meeting.

Just hope Roland was okay with all this now. Because I need him when this goes south, which there is a higher possibility of that happening.

After a while, she came out of the shower, all fully dressed in her rice cream track uniform. And I have to say she looked dashing in it, too.

“Hope you changed your mind about doing this without Roland or father Michael’s concern,” she spoke and she fastened her cap.

“I’m still doing it, Charlie. I have to or we are all screwed. He is the only one who knows where the shapeshifters took the ring of the damned. Don’t worry, I told you about this yesterday, I will always be fine. For you,” I told her and stood up.

Then I ripped open a gateway to where I was meeting Sunny. The place at the center of the molten ring looked to be a forest of some kind. But there was a clearing at a place I presumed I was going to find the man.

“I’m always careful. But you are never careful. You, on the other hand you are always trying to be a hero. Doing all the crazy things that will end up killing you. Aren’t you supposed to be listening to your mentor or something?” she looked at me.

“Well, if my mentor is scared to do something then, no. I don’t have to listen to him. I’m doing this for all of us involved,” I said, and turned to the gateway.

She sighed behind me as she walked to me, “you are a crazy man and there is no coming back from that. Just take care. And pinch Sunny for me. Actually, blast him with a firebolt or something because he deserves it,” she smiled and spanked my ass as I walked through the gateway.

I just smiled at her and winked the gateway shut. She is a keeper.

The place was bright, at least. If it was at night, I wouldn’t have been able to survive the horror of the place. But it was all trees and birds singing in the air. Trees dancing about as the breeze grew bigger.

I took my phone and called him. I don’t have all day with him. For all we know, the man that took the ring was killing more people. And that in turn will make the father of Suzan want to bring me down even more.

“Where the hell are you? I have been waiting for quiet sometime now,” I lied.

“I will be there in a short while. I had a bit of a problem I was dealing with,” he spoke.

“Just hurry. I have other things I need to take care of,” I said and hang up the call.

I walked to the log and took my sit. Then a thought hooved in my head. I didn’t mention what happened to me to Charlie. But I didn’t also want her to get involved. Though she was already involved in all this crap, I can at least keep certain things from her.

And I was yet to get more news about Desire and Despair. So, I couldn’t tell her a thing about them. And I wasn’t going to tell either Roland or father Michael. They needn’t know about them. At least not now. We have a lot on our plate as it is.

I just sighed as I saw Sunny approaching me.