226: Just No Way 226: Just No Way Axel sat in his car, the folder Reiner had handed him resting on the passenger seat.
His fingers drumd against the steering wheel, his jaw tight.
The city lights blurred through the windshield, neon signs casting flickering shadows across his face.
For the past week, sothing had been gnawing at him.
Raelynn had never been the type to just vanish without a word.
Even if she was upset or needed space, she would at least send a short ssage.
But now, there was nothing.
Silence.
He had called.
He had texted.
Each attempt was t with the sa infuriating response—undelivered.
His grip tightened around the steering wheel.
He knew sothing was off, but now, as he sat in the dim glow of the dashboard lights, he was certain.
Sothing had happened to her.
With a sharp exhale, he reached for the folder and flipped it open.
The first few pages contained basic details—Raelynn’s past job, her last known residence, and the ti fra in which she had been fired.
His eyes scanned over the neatly printed words, absorbing everything.
She had t Elion right after losing her job.
Coincidence?
Maybe.
But then there was a gap.
A missing puzzle piece that didn’t sit right with him.
His brow furrowed as he turned the page.
The deeper Axel read, the more his gut twisted.
Axel’s eyes skimd over the docunts, his fingers tightening around the pages.
Elion and Raelynn.
Sa hotel.
Sa hospital.
His pulse quickened.
No.
It had to be a coincidence.
It had to be.
But the dates lined up too well, like pieces of a puzzle clicking together in a way that made his stomach churn.
The night Raelynn had disappeared for a while?
She had been staying at that hotel.
The dical records that followed a few weeks later?
She had gone to that hospital.
And so had Elion.
Axel exhaled sharply, shaking his head.
“No, no, no.” There was no way Raelynn was having Elion’s child.
It just wasn’t possible.
He forced himself to think rationally.
He was tired—exhausted, really.
He had been reading through endless reports, flipping through books and files for hours on end.
His mind was bound to start jumping to absurd conclusions.
And this?
This was ridiculous.
Axel leaned back, pressing his fingers against his temple.
He was sure—so sure—that Elion couldn’t be the father.
He had already ruled it out after reading through so many dical texts, researching things he never thought he’d need to.
But… what if he was?
The thought refused to leave.
His grip on the papers tightened as his chest ached with sothing sharp and unfamiliar.
A part of him wanted to laugh at himself for even entertaining the idea.
But another part—the one that never ignored details—told him he couldn’t just brush this off.
Axel let out a sharp breath, his frustration boiling over.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the folder onto the passenger seat beside him, the papers inside shifting slightly from the force.
He clenched his jaw, gripping the steering wheel tight as he shoved the key into the ignition and started the car.
The engine rumbled to life, but his thoughts were louder.
This was getting to him—more than it should.
He pulled out of the parking lot, driving through the dimly lit streets, the city passing by in a blur.
His mind raced just as fast as his car did, looping over the sa damn question he didn’t want to ask himself again.
But thankfully, before he could spiral further, he reached his apartnt building.
He parked, shut off the engine, and grabbed the folder, tucking it under his arm as he stepped out.
The cold night air did little to cool his nerves, but he forced himself to move.
One foot in front of the other.
Just get inside.
He entered the lobby, pressing the button for the elevator.
As he waited, he adjusted the folder, hiding it behind his back, slipping his jacket over it for extra cover.
It wasn’t as subtle as he would’ve liked, but it would have to do.
The elevator dinged.
The doors slid open, and he stepped in, watching the numbers climb.
When he reached his floor, he strode toward his apartnt door, fully expecting to walk into an empty space like usual.
But the mont he stepped inside, he knew sothing was off.
The air was different.
Lived-in.
Then, he heard it.
The soft sound of the television playing in the background.
Axel exhaled through his nose.
Thalia.
Of course.
He glanced around quickly before shifting the folder behind him, tightening his grip on it.
He couldn’t let her see this.
No one could.
Putting on a neutral expression, he stepped further into the apartnt like nothing was wrong.
And just as he predicted, there she was—lounging on his couch like she owned the place, feet propped up, eyes lazily flicking between the TV and her phone.
She barely glanced at him.
“Took you long enough.
Where were you?” “Out,” Axel replied smoothly, shutting the door behind him.
Thalia snorted.
“Yeah, I figured.
Did you eat?” “Yeah.” A lie, but she didn’t need to know that.
She humd, stretching her arms over her head before giving him a once-over.
“You look like hell.” “Thanks,” he deadpanned, walking toward the hallway.
“I’m gonna shower.” “Mm.” She waved him off, already refocused on the TV.
Axel didn’t waste ti.
He walked briskly to the bathroom, closing the door behind him with a quiet click before locking it.
Only then did he exhale, dropping the act.
He pulled the folder out from behind his back, staring at it for a mont before shaking his head.
No one can see this.
Moving quickly, he stepped into the bathtub, placing the folder down before reaching into his pocket.
His fingers found what he was looking for—his lighter.
It clicked open, a small fla flickering to life.
Axel didn’t hesitate.
He touched the fla to the edge of the folder, watching as the paper curled, darkened, then caught fire completely.
The flas spread fast, devouring everything in their path.
He watched in silence, the orange glow flickering in his eyes.
This needed to be erased.
No one else could know about it.
Not Thalia.
Not anyone.
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