I apologize for not having written in some time. I have been using this time as carefully as I could, gauging my enemy and the possibilities of opposing them, and now I believe I am ready to make a move.
I took Ero’an’s advice seriously, starting with the need to know my target well. Much of the past days I have spent with Alex, tailing him, reading him, learning more about him. As I suspected, his soul is not as hardened as those of the rest of Mr. Hill’s staff, and he has begun to reveal some things to me. I have seen the difficult journey of his childhood, being shunted from place to place, never feeling that there was anyone or anything that he could be a part of. He ended up with Mr. Hill after having taken a loan from the man himself, hoping to be able to afford college, but when he defaulted on more than one of his payments, he was dragged out to get a “warning” from Hill’s men. Alex’s quick mind noticed the fine car that these men drove and their assurance and confidence, and he offered to work off his debt. Mr. Hill was amused by his daring and impressed by his initiative, so he agreed.
This explains how Alex is a part of the staff, but shows no signs of the rewards of their wickedness. He also has not managed to make connections to the others, partly due to the differences in their ages, partly because they hold him in some disdain, being so young and also a debtor himself. He is part of the organization, but not truly one of them—in their world, but not of it. Which makes him the perfect agent to change it.
I was not only observing Alex this time. All through the days and nights I have passed with him, using much of the time I can spend on Earth, I have washed him with love. I have told him that he did not deserve the things that he suffered, that it was not wrong of him to dream of better things. I have reminded him that it is not too late to do better. I have shown him that there is good still in his heart, and I have suggested that if he lets this good rule, he will find good things coming back to him.
And I have seen results. He retains his sharp edges, but the soft core of his soul has begun to show itself. To him it feels like he has been able to wake up, and he is seeing the world around himself more clearly. He can see the darkness in the hearts of his companions, and he knows that the same darkness does not yet live in himself. Most importantly, he feels hopeful once again that he can get out of the shadows where he lives now.
In the last day or two, I have been drawing his thoughts back to Miranda and Evan, weighing him down with compassion and sharpening the edge of his determination to do something. And this morning, just when he first opened his eyes, Alex had an idea on how he might begin to help them. It will be dangerous for him, but he is ready to try. I think that is because on some level he understands that he will not be alone.
But I must go—there is work to be done. I will write again soon.