Chapter 130 - I'll Take It To My Grave

Usually, it would be in this part of the story where Briar would get abducted once she was lured into another place.

[Author's Note: This is a joke for obvious reasons.]

But, this wasn't that type of story. 

"Alright," Briar agreed, still a tad bit sceptical of where he intended on bringing her.

When Adrian had brought her to the woods, Briar couldn't help but ask him the question, "Did you already have someplace in mind before you asked me?"

"Honestly? No. I just thought of it very last minute," Adrian admitted, adding, "However, this is a secret place that only I know of. So, don't tell anyone. No matter what happens."

"Promise me you won't tell anyone," he said to her.

Briar found it strange he wanted her to promise him she wouldn't tell anyone, but she agreed to it, since she knew she could trust him. After all, they were friends. And he had been treating her splendidly ever since lunch, being a gentleman and skipping work for her. 

"I do," she promised, nodding.

"Excellent," he said, prompting Briar to feel a bit skeptical of where he was leading her to.

Was he leading her to an abandoned place out in the woods?

Showing her his findings? 

So many possibilities!

Briar knew it was best if she stopped overthinking it and placed some trust in him instead. He was leading her somewhere, not doing something else. 

'Why am I doing this to him? He's shown me nothing but kindness and acted like a gentleman the entire afternoon. And then I'm suspicious of him. Why, why why?' She thought to herself, wanting to smack herself in the head and call herself all kinds of names. 

"Even Xavier doesn't know of this place," Adrian mentioned as he stopped for a moment to check if there was anyone following him and Briar.

However, he doubted anyone was. The coast was clear, he and Briar were free to go to the place he intended on bringing her to. 

Breathing a relieved sigh, Briar felt a bit concerned. Whilst nibbling on her bottom lip, she wondered where Adrian would be taking her. However, she kept quiet about it.

__

"See you tomorrow," Madeline said to Emilio, waving him goodbye whilst she braved a smile on her face.

Emilio managed to smile, "Bye now."

And then, Madeline faded from sight. 

Now off to visit Indiana and tell her the news, Madeline had what she was going to tell her in mind. It wasn't as big a deal as she was making it, Madeline knew that. Sort of. 

"Madeline! I've been expecting you," Indiana said, a jolly smile plastered across her face when she opened the door to see Madeline's face.

She had heard footsteps approaching her door and quickly put the pieces together. Only Madeline would be visiting her at this time. Briar was off somewhere with Adrian. She hadn't any other friends, and Madeline should have been done with her visit with Emilio by that time.

"Seems like someone's in a good mood," Madeline chuckled, taking a step into Indiana's room. 

"Yeah, I had a great night of sleep last night and started my day off with my two favourite people. Why wouldn't I be?" Indiana asked, closing the door behind her once Madeline had entered her room.

"Great to hear that. Girl's night was fun," Madeline commented. 

"So, moving on, what brings you here? Got anything to tell me?"

Indiana gasped.

"Got any news from Briar and Adrian?"

Madeline shook her head, a frown forming on her face. 

"Wish I did, I'd love to know how their lunch is going but so far, I've got nothing."

"Hmm, shame," Indiana said, pouting. 

She would have loved to know how Briar and Adrian were doing at the moment. The way Briar had talked about Adrian, he was a particularly interesting individual. One that had managed to catch Briar's eye and also get her to have lunch together with him. 

Briar wouldn't have lunch with just anyone who asked her, even if it was Eudora's beta. It was part of the reason why Madeline and Indiana wanted to know more.

Usually, Briar was tight-lipped about her and Adrian's friendship.

However, whenever she talked about him...

Strangely, there was something else to her. 

Her eyes would glimmer, and the way she talked about him nearly convinced Madeline Briar had turned to a completely different person. Not to mention, Briar could be extremely immature when it came to him. The littlest things he did set her off, and the thoughtful things he did touched her. 

It was strange to see Briar behaving this way. It wasn't anything bad, or anything to be worried of. 

It was just something Madeline had never seen before. 

'I'm straying away from the reason I came here,' Madeline reminded herself. 

She came to inform Indiana of something, not to get carried away talking about Briar and Adrian. She could always do that afterwards anyway. 

And perhaps once Briar returned, she'd be in a good enough mood to share some of the things that happened to both her friends.

Keyword, perhaps. 

"Right, I didn't really come here to talk about Briar, although we can do that later," Madeline admitted truthfully.

Inhaling sharply, she wondered if there was a book that had been written. A guide that told her exactly how to inform her friends she had powers, because she had never done this before. 

Not only a guide that would teach her how to inform friends of one's powers, but also a guide informing her how to control her powers. That would be helpful. 

There was a high likelihood there was a guide like that written. She probably hadn't searched in the right places.

'Hmm, maybe I can stop by Xavier's office and ask him for some books to read after I'm done telling Indiana. Maybe that would help.'

Madeline tilted her head, seeing Indiana fidget with her hands. 

She started by telling Indiana, "Don't tell anyone."

Having no idea what Madeline was about to tell her, Indiana nodded.

"Alright, I won't. Your secret's safe with me, whatever that secret is.. I'll take it to my grave if I have to."