Page 123 of Shattered Omega

“I think… I might, too,” Shatter said. “If I had mine, I mean.”

“Actually…” Dusk said, scratching his chin. “About that.”

Shatter’s whole body went rigid. “What?”

“Last few puzzle pieces came out. Decebal was in contact with your uncle for more details and… well. He found something. A history. He’s pretty sure it’s you.”

“Pretty sure?” she asked, voice weak.

“He wouldn’t have given it to me unless it was indisputable. There’s just very little hard evidence because the Institute covered their tracks well.”

“I can find out where I came from?” I felt her through the bond, ever so vulnerable all of a sudden.

“Only if that’s what you want.” Dusk handed Shatter her own envelope.

Her hands shook as she took it. “Is this… real?”

“It is.”

“You okay, Nightshade?” Umbra asked as he sat beside Dusk, gaze fixed on her.

She nodded, drawing the envelope against her chest.

“You think you want to open it?” I asked, leaning closer and tucking her hair behind her ear.

“I’m not sure. Maybe… you guys go first?”

“Dusk goes first,” Umbra said, turning his file in his hand. “Since he might be the only one.”

Dusk caught my eye, shaking his head. Neither of us believed Umbra was seriously going to chuck his past into the flames. Dusk tapped his envelope for a moment, looking around at us. I don’t think I’d ever seen him this nervous.

“I mean, we could just all—” Umbra leaned forward, about to drop his in the fire. Dusk grabbed his hand with a growl.

“Just. Wait. I’m going to look.”

“Why does that matter for me?” Umbra scoffed.

“What if I find something… good and then you want to, as well?” I asked.

Umbra cocked an eyebrow, but shrugged. “Go on then.”

With a breath, and not wasting another second, Dusk tugged out the paper from within his envelope

We were all silent, Shatter clutching hers to her chest with eyes wide as Dusk scanned the page.

I watched as his brows furrowed, jaw clenching.

“What… what does it say?” Shatter whispered.

“Uh…” Dusk seemed lost.

Umbra peeked over his shoulder, reading over the words.

His eyebrows rose.

“Tell us.” Shatter begged.

“Looks like…” Umbra scanned a bit longer. “Grew up in New Oxford. He was a… street kid pickpocket turned con-artist…” Umbra read on. “…Ejected from the Harpy gang after an unexplained seizure ruined a heist operation. Aura triggered upon rejection from the community. Admitted to Cimmerian Vaults due to chronic IAVD… It says the Doctors theorise illness is connected to the seizures, which are also… idiopathic in nature—or…” He frowned. “Something like that?”

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