Chapter 53 – Shelter from the Storm

Jack let out a long, weary sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Maddy,” he said, his tone heavy with seriousness. “We need to talk.”

Madelyn’s ears perked up, her body tensing at the weight in her father’s voice. His gaze flicked briefly to Sarah, and he hesitated. “Privately.”

“No,” Madelyn said firmly, shaking her head. Her tail swayed nervously behind her, but her voice didn’t waver. “Sarah will stay. She’s my best friend, and I’m going to tell her anyway.”

Jack studied her for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. “Alright,” he said, his tone softer but no less grave. At that moment, Emily walked into the room, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern. Lyra flitted closer, perching delicately on Madelyn’s shoulder, her tiny wings shimmering faintly in the light.

“What’s going on?” Emily asked, her gaze shifting between her husband and Madelyn.

Jack motioned for everyone to sit down. The room felt heavier, the air thick with unspoken tension. Once they were settled, he took a deep breath, his eyes meeting Madelyn’s. “Marcus, Dana and I found a definitive link between the Astralyth Corporation and the missing people,” he said, his words slow and deliberate.

Madelyn’s heart dropped, her hands gripping the edge of the couch. “A link?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jack nodded. “Yes. And not just a connection—something concrete. Their experiments and the neural technology they’ve been developing... it’s all tied to the disappearances.”

Emily’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “What kind of connection?”

“Everything we’ve uncovered points to Astralyth Corporation, they are targeting what seems like random people, at least for now” Jack explained, his tone growing darker. “Players, employees, anyone who might be seen as useful for their experiments. And once they’re taken, they disappear completely. We still don't know exactly what happens to them.”

Sarah gasped, her grip tightening on Madelyn’s hand. “That’s... that’s insane. How can they get away with something like this?”

Jack’s expression hardened. “They’re powerful. They have resources and influence that go beyond anything we’ve dealt with before. But... we finally have a lead.”

“A lead?” Madelyn asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and hope.

Jack’s eyes locked onto hers, his expression unreadable. “We’ve found someone willing to talk to us—a spy from within their organization. Someone who’s seen what they’re doing firsthand.”

Madelyn’s breath caught. “A spy?”

“Yes,” Jack confirmed. “They’ve been working undercover, gathering evidence for a while now. They reached out to us, but it’s a delicate situation. Meeting them is risky for both sides.”

Lyra, who had been silent until now, fluttered into the air, her delicate voice carrying an edge of curiosity. “Do they know anything about Aeloria?”

Jack’s brow furrowed, his gaze shifting to Lyra. “They might know something. They’ve mentioned projects that align with what we’ve uncovered about the missing people—things that could be connected to Aeloria’s captivity.”

Madelyn’s heart raced. A spy, someone who could provide answers about her mother and the dangers surrounding Astralyth Corporation. It was a fragile thread, but it was something. “When will you meet them?” she asked, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions within her.

“Tomorrow,” Jack said, his tone firm. “But we need to be careful. If they’re discovered, it could all fall apart.”

Madelyn nodded, determination flashing in her amber eyes. “Then we have to make it count.”

Jack leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he continued. “Yes. Right now, they’re trying to find out more about Aeloria and a possible location where she might be taken captive. It’s not easy—Astralyth Corporation has layers of security and misinformation. But this spy thinks they’re close to uncovering something tangible without raising suspicion.”

Madelyn’s mind raced, the weight of the revelation pressing heavily on her. There really was a connection between Astralyth Corporation and the missing people. But what did that mean for her? She swallowed hard, her gaze dropping to her lap as her thoughts spiraled. What else does the Astralyth Corporation know? Do they know about me? About my transformation, about who I really am?

Her tail twitched nervously, and her ears flicked back. “If they know about Aeloria, could they know about... me? I’m her daughter after all.” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if they’re already watching me?”

Jack’s expression softened, his stern demeanor giving way to a father’s concern. “Maddy,” he said gently, “we don’t have any indication that they know about you specifically. But that doesn’t mean we can be careless. That’s why we’re being cautious. The less they know, the better.”

Jack’s gaze was steady, his concern etched into every line of his face. “It’s the reason why I said I don’t want you to play the game, Maddy,” he said, his voice firm but kind. “And honestly, it might be better if your friends took a break from it too.”

Madelyn swallowed hard, her ears flicking slightly in her nervousness. “I’ll talk to them,” she said softly, her voice laced with both sadness and determination. “They need to know what’s going on.”

Jack’s expression softened at her response, though the concern in his eyes didn’t waver. “I know this is difficult, Maddy,” he said gently. “But you need to understand how dangerous this is. Astralyth Corporation is operating on a level we barely comprehend. If they even suspect you’re involved, especially with your connection to Aeloria… I don’t know what lengths they’ll go to. That’s why, for now, I need you to stay out of the game a little longer.”

Madelyn nodded reluctantly, her tail curling around her waist in a gesture of unease. “I understand,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But Dad, this isn’t just about me. Aeloria needs help. If I don’t look for answers, who will?”

Jack sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. “That’s why my team and I are digging into this as quickly as we can. Let us take this step first. Once we know more, we’ll figure out how to move forward safely. Until then, I need you to trust me.”

Madelyn lowered her gaze, the weight of her father’s words pressing heavily on her. “Okay,” she said after a long moment, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll stay out of the game for a bit longer. But please… find something. Anything.”

Jack nodded, his expression resolute yet filled with compassion. “We will, Maddy. I promise.”

He reached out, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder, his grip steady and warm. “I know how much this means to you, Maddy,” he said, his voice softening. “But this isn’t just about finding Aeloria or stopping Astralyth Corporation. It’s about keeping you safe too. You’re not just some key to all of this—you’re our daughter. And we can’t risk losing you.”

Madelyn’s heart clenched at his words. She nodded again, the heaviness in her chest easing slightly under the reassurance of his touch, but her mind still buzzed with unease.

Sarah, who had been sitting quietly, leaned forward, her voice cutting through the moment with a mix of firmness and empathy. “Mr. Roth, I get it. You’re worried about Maddy, and you should be. And if I know James, Lillian, and David, they’ll make their own choices, and they’ll do it carefully.”

Jack’s gaze shifted to Sarah, and for a moment, the room was silent. Then he gave her a small nod, acknowledging her words. “You’re right,” he said finally. “I hope, when she tells them, they’ll understand the risks.”

Madelyn glanced at Sarah, who gave her a reassuring smile, then back at her dad. “I’ll tell them everything,” she promised. “I know they will make the right choice.”

Jack exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. “That’s all I can ask, Maddy”

Lyra fluttered forward. “We’ll be careful, Jack,” the fairy said, her voice soothing. “And we’ll wait for your signal before taking any more steps.”

Jack gave Lyra a reluctant nod, though the lines of worry on his face didn’t ease. “Alright. But promise me, Maddy—if you feel unsafe, if anything feels wrong, you tell us immediately. No hesitation.”

“I promise,” Madelyn said.

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of the situation settling over them.

Emily’s gentle voice broke the heavy silence that had settled in the room. “It’s getting close to dinner time,” she said, her tone calm but warm. “Sarah, are you staying to eat with us?”

Sarah, still seated next to Madelyn, perked up instantly. “Oh, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d love to!”

Emily smiled, her motherly warmth shining through. “Of course not. You’re always welcome here, Sarah. You know that.”

Madelyn managed a faint smile at her mom’s words, but her mind was still racing. The confirmation of the connection between Astralyth Corporation and the missing people had hit her hard. It wasn’t exactly a surprise—deep down, she’d suspected as much—but hearing it from her father made it undeniable. The weight of that knowledge pressed heavily on her chest.

Sarah nudged her gently, breaking her spiraling thoughts. “Hey, Maddy. You okay?”

Madelyn glanced at her, her amber eyes tinged with worry. “Yeah… I’m just trying to process everything,” she admitted, her voice soft. “I knew there was something wrong, but now… it’s real. And it feels so much bigger.”

Sarah gave her a reassuring smile, her hand briefly brushing against Madelyn’s arm. “You’re not alone in this, okay? We’ve got your back.”

Lyra, perched on Madelyn’s shoulder, chimed in, her voice like a soothing melody. “And don’t forget, you’ve got me too. We’ll figure this out.”

Madelyn nodded slowly. “Thanks,” she said quietly, her tail swaying slightly behind her.

Emily clapped her hands lightly, drawing their attention. “Alright, girls, let’s set the table. Jack, can you finish up with the salad?”

“On it,” Jack replied, his tone a bit lighter as he moved to the kitchen.

Madelyn and Sarah stood, making their way to the dining table. As they worked together to set the plates and utensils, Sarah leaned closer. “So,” she whispered, “what’s for dinner?”

Madelyn chuckled softly, grateful for the small distraction. “Probably something Mom cooked up to cheer everyone up.”

Sure enough, the aroma wafting from the kitchen hinted at something hearty and comforting. Emily brought over a casserole dish brimming with baked ziti, the melted cheese bubbling enticingly. Jack followed with a large bowl of fresh salad, and Lyra buzzed excitedly in the air at the sight of the feast.

As they all sat down, the atmosphere felt a little less heavy. The warmth of family and friendship filled the room, softening the edges of the daunting revelations from earlier. Madelyn still felt the weight of it all, but with Sarah’s unwavering support and her family’s presence, she knew she wouldn’t face it alone.

As they finished dinner, the clatter of dishes and soft conversation was interrupted by a distant rumble of thunder. Emily glanced toward the window, where raindrops began to streak down in earnest. Outside, the sky had darkened to an ominous gray, and the sound of heavy rainfall quickly followed.

Sarah groaned, pushing her empty plate away. “Ugh, no way I get home without getting completely drenched,” she said, pouting dramatically.

Jack set down his glass of water. “I can drive you home if you’d like,” he offered. “No reason for you to walk in this weather.”

Sarah’s expression shifted instantly, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Oooor,” she said, drawing out the word for effect, “I could just stay here. You know, keep Maddy calm and stuff. She’s super stressed, after all.” She winked at Madelyn, who immediately blushed, her ears flicking faintly despite her attempts to keep them steady.

Madelyn shot her friend a flustered look. “Sarah!”

“What?” Sarah asked innocently, though her grin suggested she knew exactly what she was doing. “I mean, we both know storms freak you out a little. Thunder especially.”

Madelyn’s face heated even more as she opened her mouth to protest, but Sarah quickly cut her off. “Hey, no judgment here. If I didn’t love storms so much, I’d be scared too. It’s loud, it’s sudden—it’s totally fair.”

Jack raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching in an effort to suppress a smile. “Is that true, Maddy?” he asked, his tone teasing but gentle.

Madelyn groaned, covering her face with her hands. “It’s not that bad,” she muttered, her voice muffled by her palms.

Emily chuckled softly, shaking her head. “It’s fine with me if you want to stay the night, Sarah,” she said. “The guest room is always ready.”

“Really? Awesome!” Sarah said, sitting up straighter, her excitement barely contained. “Thanks, Mrs. Roth! I promise I won’t be a bother.”

Jack raised his eyebrow again, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You’re sure, Sarah? We don’t mind driving you.”

“Nah, this is way better,” Sarah said with a wave of her hand, her grin widening. “Besides, I need support too, you know. It’s been a tough day for me as well.”

Madelyn gave her an incredulous look. “You? Tough day?”

Sarah nodded solemnly, her expression comically serious. “Totally. I mean, Maddy, you can support me, right? Like one of those emotional support dogs. No wait—” Her eyes lit up mischievously, and her grin widened. “Scratch that. Emotional support fox. You’d be perfect! Just imagine—one of those vests that says, ‘Do Not Pet,’ except it’ll say, ‘Only Sarah Can Pet.’”

Madelyn’s face immediately heated, her ears flicking as she groaned. “Sarah, stop!”

Lyra, perched on the edge of the table, started giggling so hard she nearly toppled off, clutching her tiny sides. “I don’t know, Madelyn,” she managed between bursts of laughter. “You do kind of fit the description!”

“Not helping, Lyra,” Madelyn muttered, burying her face once more.

Sarah leaned closer, clearly enjoying her teasing. “Come on, Mads. It’s a compliment! Emotional support fox—you’d be the cutest one ever. And let’s face it, who wouldn’t feel better with you around?”

Emily chuckled softly as she started collecting plates. “Well, whatever title you give her, I think it’s sweet you’re staying to support each other.”

Jack sighed, standing to help his wife. “Alright, Sarah, you’re staying. But no staying up all night giggling or plotting world domination.”

Sarah gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. “Mr. Roth, I would never! Giggling, maybe, but world domination? That’s more of a weekend thing.”

Madelyn couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped, despite her embarrassment. “You’re impossible.”

“But you love me anyway,” Sarah shot back with a wink.

Madelyn sighed, her tail flicking lightly in exasperation, but her smile lingered. As the storm raged outside, the warmth of her friend’s presence and her family’s love made the weight of the day just a little easier to bear.