If I hadn't already been sitting down, I would've collapsed.

"I'll kill her myself," Zach muttered.

I chortled, "Isn't it funny how fates work? Your mother gave me my first assignment, but she's also the reason I lost someone I loved. I should be thankful, but also resentful.

"She's your mother, Zachary, regardless of whether or not she's a monster."

He looked away, "It doesn't matter."

I pondered over the revelations, "You said it yourself, she won't actually kill me. That means I still have whatever it is that she wants."

But what did she want? What was my dad protecting that it cost him his life?

I stared at him, remembering Abby's warning not to research into Catherine or Zach, "How much does Abby know?"

"She hasn't said anything, but I assume everything."

There are some things, some people, that could get you into trouble.

Wasn't I already too involved to withdraw from the situation?

"So what's the plan, Zach?"

"Cam, are you certain about this?"

I looked at my friends, lingering on each of their most prominent features, drilling it into my brain for the unforeseeable future.

Then I turned to Zach, the only one whom I may have contact with during our unrecognized mission, "Do we have a choice?"