Chapter 44: Hanover's Haven I stood there, stunned, staring at Ms. Hanover. My mind was a scrambled mess of questions, adrenaline, and disbelief. The image of Noah crumpled on the ground, juxtaposed against Ms. Hanover’s surprisingly calm demeanor, didn’t compute. “Are you alright, Jim?” she asked, her voice surprisingly calm. I blinked, trying to clear the fog. I managed a shaky nod, still trying to process what just happened. “Yeah… I think so. What… what did you do?” She barely glanced at Noah’s unconscious form. “I did what was necessary. He was becoming unhinged. I couldn’t let him hurt you.” “But… how did you know he was going to attack me?” I asked, my mind racing. "How did you know about any of this?" It felt like the world had tilted on its axis. One minute I was facing a jealous, unhinged Noah, the next my English teacher was standing over him with a pipe, calm as could be. She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “I’ve been watching you, Jim. Protecting you. For a long time.” My eyebrows shot up. “Protecting me? From what? From who?” The whole situation was officially spiraling into batshit crazy territory. She hesitated for a moment, then looked me directly in the eyes. “There’s a lot you don’t know, Jim. About Noah. About Demitra. About me.” “Then tell me,” I urged, my voice trembling slightly. “Tell me everything.” My patience, already stretched thin, was about to snap. She took a deep breath, her expression hardening. “I can’t tell you everything, not yet. But I can tell you this: Noah wasn’t working alone.” “What do you mean?” I felt a knot of dread tighten in my stomach. This was bigger than some jealous rage. “There are others involved, people who want to hurt you. And they’re much more dangerous than Noah could ever be.” “Who are they?” I pressed, stepping closer to her. “Why do they want to hurt me?” The questions tumbled out, desperate for answers. “I can’t say,” she replied, shaking her head slightly. “Not now. But I will tell you this: you need to be careful, Jim. Very careful. You’re in more danger than you realize.” She bent down, picking up the metal pipe. It glinted in the dim light, a stark reminder of the violence that had just unfolded. “Come on,” she said, gesturing towards the darkened doorway. “We need to get out of here before the police arrive.” I hesitated, looking back at Noah’s unconscious body. He looked pathetic, lying there in the shadows. But the threat he represented was all too real. “What about him?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t worry about him,” she said, her voice cold. “He’ll be taken care of.” There was a finality in her tone that made me uneasy. She grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the doorway. Her grip was surprisingly strong. I followed her reluctantly, my mind reeling with confusion and fear. I wanted to call Lenny, but she would notice. What was going on? Who were these other people she was talking about? And what did Ms. Hanover have to do with all of this? Was she some kind of vigilante? Or something even stranger? As we disappeared into the shadows, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was stepping into an even darker and more dangerous world than I had ever imagined. Ms. Hanover clearly knew more than she was letting on, and I had a feeling that the truth was going to be far more complicated and terrifying than I could ever have anticipated. We moved quickly, Ms. Hanover leading the way through a maze of narrow alleyways. The city’s noise seemed to fade into a dull hum as we navigated the darkened streets. I risked a glance back, but there was no sign of anyone following us. Still, the feeling of being watched lingered, a constant prickle on the back of my neck. “Where are we going?” I asked, my voice tight with apprehension. “My place,” she replied, her tone clipped. “It’s the safest place for us right now. I can explain everything there.” I swallowed hard. “Explain everything? You mean, actually give me some answers instead of cryptic warnings?” She didn’t respond, her focus fixed on the path ahead. I trailed behind her, trying to make sense of the situation. Ms. Hanover, my English teacher, the woman I’d always considered strict but fair, was now leading me through the back alleys of New York after knocking out a dude with a pipe. It was like something out of a movie, except way too real. A million questions swirled in my head. Who were these people who wanted to hurt me? What did Noah have to do with them? And what was Ms. Hanover’s role in all of this? And then there was the elephant in the room: why was she protecting me? Was it just a teacher’s concern for a student? Or was there something more to it? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. We emerged from the alleyway onto a less crowded street. Ms. Hanover flagged down a taxi, rattling off an address I didn’t recognize. We climbed inside, the silence thick with unspoken questions. I glanced at her profile, trying to read her expression. Her jaw was set, her eyes narrowed. She looked determined, but also…sad? It was hard to tell. She was a closed book, and I had a feeling she wasn’t about to open up easily. The taxi sped through the city streets, the flashing lights blurring into streaks of color. I tried to relax, but my muscles were tense, my senses on high alert. Every passing car, every pedestrian on the sidewalk, seemed like a potential threat. After what felt like an eternity, the taxi pulled up to a nondescript building in a quiet residential neighborhood. Ms. Hanover paid the driver and we got out, the cool night air hitting my face. The building was old, but well-maintained, with a stately brick facade and a secure-looking entrance. Ms. Hanover swiped a keycard and we entered the lobby, which was dimly lit and smelled faintly of old books and potpourri. We took the elevator to the fifth floor, the silence broken only by the hum of the machinery. When the doors opened, we stepped into a narrow hallway lined with antique paintings and potted plants. Ms. Hanover unlocked the door to an apartment at the end of the hall and ushered me inside. The apartment was surprisingly cozy, with soft lighting, plush furniture, and shelves overflowing with books. It was a far cry from the sterile, intimidating persona she projected at school. “Make yourself comfortable,” she said, her voice softer now. “I’ll get us some water.” I hesitated, taking in the surroundings. “What is this place? Are you sure it’s safe?” “It’s my sanctuary,” she replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “And yes, it’s safe. Safer than anywhere else right now.” She disappeared into the kitchen, and I took the opportunity to examine the apartment more closely. The walls were lined with bookshelves, filled with everything from classic literature to obscure philosophical texts. There were framed photographs on the mantelpiece, but they were all turned face down. The furniture was comfortable and inviting, but there was also a sense of order, of control. Everything was meticulously arranged, as if she wanted to present herself as perfect, even in private. It made her seem untouchable. The scent of lavender hung in the air, a calming contrast to the chaotic events of the evening. I wandered over to the window, looking out at the city lights twinkling in the distance. It was a beautiful view, but it did nothing to ease the tension in my chest. I was still on edge, still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Ms. Hanover returned with two glasses of water, handing one to me. “Here,” she said. “You look like you could use it.” I took a sip, the cool water soothing my parched throat. “Thanks,” I said. “So…are you going to start explaining things, or are we just going to admire the view?” She sighed, setting her glass down on a nearby table. “I will, Jim. But it’s a long story. And it’s not going to be easy to hear.” She hesitated and looked away. “I want you to hear it.” I braced myself, ready for whatever she was about to say. “I’m listening.” She took a deep breath. “It all started a long time ago…” She paused, searching for the right words. “With your father.” I frowned. “My dad? What does he have to do with any of this?” She shook her head slightly. “He doesn’t know. He’s not involved. But…he’s the reason they’re after you.” “Who’s ‘they’?” I demanded. “And what does my dad have to do with them wanting to hurt me?” She hesitated. “’They’ are… an organization. A powerful group of people who believe in maintaining order. By any means necessary.” I stared at her, dumbfounded. “An organization? What, like some kind of secret society?” “Something like that,” she said, her voice low. “And your father…he inadvertently stumbled upon something they wanted to keep hidden. Something that could expose them.” “What did he find?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. She shook her head. “I can’t tell you that, not yet. It’s too dangerous. But trust me, Jim, it’s something they would kill to protect.” “And that’s why they’re after me?” I asked, incredulous. “Because of something my dad found?” “Not just you,” she said. “Anyone connected to him. Your mother, your brothers, your sister…they’re all in danger.” A wave of fear washed over me, cold and paralyzing. My family…they were all targets. “But…why haven’t they done anything yet?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Why wait until now?” “They’ve been watching you,” she said. “Waiting for the right moment. And with your recent…troubles, they saw an opportunity to strike.” I frowned. “My troubles? You mean the fight at the cafe? The arrest?” She nodded. “It made you vulnerable. It made you a target.” “But how do you know all of this?” I asked, my voice laced with suspicion. “Who are you, Ms. Hanover? Really?” She hesitated again, her expression conflicted. “My name is Evelyn. And I’m…I’m one of them.” I stared at her, stunned. “One of them? You mean…you’re part of this organization?” She nodded slowly. “I was. A long time ago. But I left. I couldn’t stomach what they were doing anymore.” “So you’re a…double agent?” I asked, my mind struggling to grasp the situation. “Something like that,” she said. “I’ve been working against them for years, trying to protect people like your father. And now, you.” “But why me?” I asked. “Why risk your life to protect me?” She looked at me, her eyes filled with a strange mix of sadness and determination. “Because, Jim…you remind me of someone. Someone I failed to protect a long time ago.” I frowned, confused. “Who?” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m not going to fail you. I’m going to do everything I can to keep you safe.” I stared at her, trying to decipher the truth in her eyes. Was she telling the truth? Or was this all some elaborate manipulation? I couldn’t tell. “So, what do we do now?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. She stood up, her expression hardening. “We fight back. We expose them. We bring them down.” “How?” I asked, feeling a flicker of hope ignite in my chest. “How do we fight an organization like that?” “I have a plan,” she said. “But it’s going to be dangerous. And it’s going to require you to trust me completely.” I hesitated, weighing my options. Trust Ms. Hanover, a woman who had just revealed herself to be a former member of a shadowy organization? It seemed insane. But what choice did I have? My family’s lives were at stake. And she was the only one offering me any answers. I took a deep breath. “Okay,” I said. “I trust you.” She nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “Good,” she said. “Because the first thing we need to do is…” Before she could finish her sentence, a loud banging echoed from the front door. We both froze, our eyes widening in alarm. “What was that?” I asked, my voice trembling. “They found us,” she whispered, her face paling. “They know we’re here.” She grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the back of the apartment. “Come on,” she said. “We need to get out of here. Now.” We raced through the apartment, Ms. Hanover leading the way with a sense of urgency. She led me to a back door, and opened it. I froze. “Where does this lead?” “The fire escape,” she said. “It’s our only way out.” Without waiting for a response, she pushed me out onto the metal platform. The wind whipped around us, cold and unforgiving. The city lights twinkled far below. We started to descend, the metal steps creaking beneath our weight. The banging at the front door grew louder, closer. “Hurry,” Ms. Hanover urged, her voice tight with fear. “They’re going to break through any second.” We climbed down the fire escape as quickly as we could, adrenaline coursing through our veins. The sounds of splintering wood echoed from the apartment behind us. Just as we reached the bottom of the fire escape, the door to the apartment burst open. Figures spilled out onto the platform, silhouetted against the light. “There they are!” one of them shouted. “Stop them!” Ms. Hanover grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the street. “Run!” she yelled. “Run as fast as you can!” We sprinted down the alleyway, our footsteps echoing on the pavement. The figures were gaining on us, their shadows stretching out like grasping claws. I risked a glance back, and saw that Ms. Hanover was lagging behind, struggling to keep up. “Ms. Hanover!” I shouted. “Come on!” But she didn’t respond. She just kept running, her face contorted with pain. Suddenly, she tripped, falling to the ground with a thud. The figures were almost upon her. “Jim, go!” she yelled, her voice hoarse. “Get out of here! Save yourself!” I hesitated, torn between my instinct to help her and the knowledge that staying would only put us both in danger. But then I remembered her words: “You remind me of someone. Someone I failed to protect a long time ago.” I couldn’t leave her. I wouldn’t let her fail again. I stopped running, turning back to face the figures. “Leave her alone!” I shouted, my voice filled with defiance. The figures stopped, their faces obscured by the shadows. “Well, well,” one of them said, his voice dripping with menace. “Looks like the little basketball star has decided to be a hero.” I clenched my fists, ready to fight. “Get away from her,” I snarled. “Or you’ll regret it.” The figures laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the alleyway. “You think you can take us on, kid?” one of them said. “You’re out of your league.” I glared at them, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m not afraid of you,” I said. “I’m not afraid of anyone.” “That’s what they all say,” the figure replied. “But in the end, they all break.” He stepped forward, his hand reaching inside his jacket. “It’s time to end this,” he said. “Once and for all.” I braced myself, ready for whatever was about to happen. But then, a voice rang out from the shadows, a voice that made my blood run cold. “Stop!” the voice commanded. “Don’t hurt him.” The figures froze, their faces turning towards the sound. I turned as well, my eyes widening in shock. Standing in the shadows, her face pale and drawn, was Demitra. “Demitra?” I said, my voice barely audible. “What are you doing here?” She stepped forward, her eyes fixed on me. “I’m here to protect you, Jim,” she said. “Even if it means…betraying everything I believe in.” “What are you talking about?” I asked, confused. “Who are these people?” She hesitated for a moment, then looked me directly in the eyes. “They’re…my family, Jim. And they want you dead.” I stood there, stunned, not knowing what to say or what to think. Demitra, my friend, the girl I was starting to fall for, was part of this organization? I couldn’t believe it. It didn’t make any sense. “I know this is hard to believe,” she said, her voice trembling. “But it’s the truth. I’ve been lying to you, Jim. About everything.” “Why?” I asked, my voice filled with pain. “Why would you do this to me?” “Because I had no choice,” she said. “They threatened to hurt my family if I didn’t cooperate. I had to do what they said.” “But you’re helping me now,” I said. “Why the change of heart?” She looked at Ms. Hanover, who was still lying on the ground, struggling to get up. “Because I can’t let them hurt you,” she said. “I care about you too much.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “There’s something you should know. Ms. Hanover and my mom… She didn’t get to finish the sentence. Before she could, Ms. Hanover had managed to stand up. “Jim, run!” Ms. Hanover yelled. “Run far away from here, and don’t trust anyone!” The last part about not trusting anyone was directed at Demitra. Ms. Hanover’s advice filled my head, I couldn’t let them get to me. I couldn’t let her down. Even if I didn’t know her for that long. She turned to me. “Jim, they’ll try to seduce you. They’ll give you promises and tell you to go with them.” I paused for a moment and then grabbed Ms. Hanover, hauling her up. I looked at Demitra again, who was with tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Jim,” Demitra said. I didn’t say anything, and started running, while hauling Ms. Hanover in my hands. I could see it in my head, Demitra would eventually try to make me stay, to promise her something, but I can’t. I just can’t. That was, until I felt a hand on my back. “Jim! Stop!” I was running with Ms. Hanover still at hand, adrenaline was pumping through my veins. This was what I was training for, this was what the game was. They thought they could get to me. That they could hurt the Feder family. They were dead wrong. I wasn’t going to let them. I was going to fight for them, and protect them. That was until Ms. Hanover stopped me. “Jim, they’re gonna try to seduce you. They’re going to tell you promises. Don’t let that happen.” I paused for a moment and looked at Ms. Hanover again. “What do you mean?” “They’re going to seduce you, Jim. Make you fall for them. That’s their plan.” My eyes widened. “What?” “Don’t trust them. Even if they look like they’re on your side, don’t trust them.” Demitra was running towards us, while her ‘family’ was standing back and watching. Were they really her family? Who knows at this point. She kept on talking until I couldn’t take it anymore. “JIM!” Demitra stopped in front of us, finally running at full speed. “Please, they’re going to kill you, stop running!” I looked at her again and it was as if I was looking at Valeria’s face, begging me to forgive her, with tears and sadness in her eyes. I didn’t know who to trust anymore. They were all telling me so many different things, so many promises, everything was a lie. Ms. Hanover then says in my ear again, snapping me back to reality: “Jim, trust no one. If they try to touch you, run. If they try to give you something, run. I’m telling you, don’t trust anyone. You have to get out of here.” Demitra was getting closer, while I was getting more and more conflicted, until- “ENOUGH!” Ms. Hanover screamed. Ms. Hanover grabs me by the hand and pushes me down the alleyway, while yelling at Demitra. “He isn’t going to be with you Demitra, he doesn’t care about your promises and your bullshit!” “ENOUGH!” I yelled, tired of them and this bullshit. I needed the answers, now, so that I can make a decision. “Demitra,” I began. “Tell me everything that’s happening.” “I-I can’t Jim, they’re going to hurt you, I’m telling you, go!” Demitra was still tearing up, begging me to believe her. I couldn’t believe her. Not anymore. The same way I couldn’t believe Valeria anymore. Was this what it felt like to be betrayed? “Demitra is telling the truth Jim, you have to get out of here! They’re going to kill you!” Ms. Hanover yelled again, grabbing me by the hand. “STOP!” A voice screamed from the back. It was one of the men with Demitra, who seemed to be the oldest in the group. “Demitra, come over here now.” He demanded. She hesitated but then went with them, while crying. “I’m sorry Jim,” was the last thing I heard. Ms. Hanover then grabs me by the hand, while running. “Alright, we gotta get you out of here right now, they’re getting closer. Don’t trust Demitra, or anyone else in your life.” We kept on running, until- “Alright, we should probably go to my place,” Ms. Hanover suggests. We stopped in our tracks, while I look at Ms. Hanover up and down. “We’re going to your place? What makes you think that I’m going to trust you now? You’re part of some organisation, or used to be, how can I trust you?” “Jim,” Ms. Hanover began. “I know it seems hard to believe, but I’m telling the truth. You don’t have anyone else to trust, I’m the only one that can get you the answers. I know it’s hard, but trust me.” She looks at me, waiting for an answer. It seemed like she wasn’t going to say anything until I did. I didn’t know what to do. This seemed all too much. A few days ago, I was just hoopin’ and now I was facing this. What had I done to deserve any of this? She looked at me, still expecting an answer. What was it going to be? I had no idea. “Alright,” I began. “I’ll go with you. But I swear to god Ms. Hanover, if you try anything funny, I’m out.” I was expecting her to smile or something, but she was still serious. “Alright, come with me.” She then begins leading the way, as we head to her apartment. The sounds of the city fade away as we walk away, as I keep on thinking to myself. What was I doing? Was this a mistake? Was I going to get roofied by Ms. Hanover, and wake up with my kidney gone? All I know is that I needed the answers. And she was going to give it to me, one way or another. I couldn’t help but think that she will probably try to seduce