A:N This one's a doozy 
As Aiden rode to Vecuria, Rico, Dulcie, Pollux, and Bryson followed his tracks. Aiden has been right- Dulcie really hadn't believed him, and had sat in her room, guilt brewing in her stomach.
After a few minutes, she woke Pollux up and told him about her fears.
He suggested that they go get Rico and Bryson, but not before checking Aiden’s room.
As they feared, Aiden’s bed was empty, and the twins retrieved Bryson and Rico.
When they got downstairs, food, a map, and Nitika were all missing.
As quickly as they could, the group saddled up Alistair, Alden, Mesla, and Keiko.
Aiden, unfortunately, was too far ahead of them to catch up easily.
It was a race against time. Who would find Aiden first? The Catago, or The Ravens?
---
Aiden already knew the answer to that question.
The Catago who had delivered the frightening sentence spoke again. “So, boy,” he said. “What's your biggest fear?”
Aiden didn't answer, but his eyes flitted away from the Catago to face the deep river between Vecuria and himself. A bridge crossed it, but Aiden wouldn't be able to climb onto it if he was underwater.
Aiden watched in horror as the Catago’s eyes followed his, and landed on the water. Their lips curled into a haunting smile.
“Huh. Drowning. I agree, it's a pretty nasty way to go. A few of your Raven buddies could attest to that… if they were still alive, that is.”
Aiden kicked and screamed as the Catago took him to the river, and eventually, his voice got hoarse and his frenzied screams turned into quiet sobs.
This is it, he thought. This is how I'm going to go out.
He stood above the depths of the river for a few more seconds before he was pushed.
Aiden made the mistake of screaming as he fell, water filling his lungs the minute he hit the water. The cuffs made him sink, holding him firmly to the bottom of the river, not allowing him to swim up.
He was pinned by the cold metal, and he shut his eyes and buried his face into the dirt at the bottom of the river.
This is not
how I go out, he realised.
I refuse.
With his remaining strength, Aiden threw the cuffs over his head, the power bringing him to his feet. He swung his leg up and it, miraculously, hit the river edge.
He managed to struggle his head above water just as the world started to dim, and as fast as he could, he used the weight of his cuffs to pull himself to shore.
He flipped over onto his back, gasping for breath.
It was then that he saw the Catago, still standing there waiting.
He froze in place, and the Catago kicked him back into the water.
Aiden winced as the metal of the cuffs struck him in the face, and as he plunged back into the unforgiving water, the last thing he saw was the Catago’s smiling face before the world turned black.
---
Bryson turned to the prison, alone. The others were trying to follow Aiden to Vecuria, but they couldn't risk that he was already imprisoned, so Bryson volunteered himself to check the prison.
He changed into the white robes of the Catago warriors, and headed into the prison, keeping his head down. He passed by several empty cells until he heard someone shaking the bars and shouting for help.
The prison was oddly empty, and Bryson headed to the cell.
There was a name plate in the cell that read Loren.
Inside the cell was a twenty-something man with platinum blond hair, hazel eyes, and skin so white he could've been mistaken for a mythical Vampire.
“What happened?” Bryson asked, staring at the key still in the door.
“My guard locked my cell and left in a hurry. It takes a while to get the keys out, so he just left. I think they're attacking The Ravens today.”
Bryson’s eyes widened. He unlocked the door and pulled Loren out, then locked the door again, leaving the key inside.
“Did you see a fifteen-ish boy with black hair here?”
“No, sir, I'm the only one.”
“No need to call me sir. I'm a Raven.”
“You are?”
“Yes. Now let's get going, we can't stall.”
---
Bryson rode as fast as he could to Vecuria. He'd likely meet his comrades on the way back.
Hopefully…
---
Pollux held his breath as they approached a group of Catago.
This is close to Vecuria, he thought.
Could they have…
Suddenly, Rico’s horse bowled into the Catago and one of them fell into the river that they were watching so intently.
“Aiden!” Pollux called, as Dulcie hopped off her horse and helped Rico hold down the Catago.
As Pollux feared, someone lay at the bottom of the river.
“Aiden!” Pollux called again, before going into the water and grabbing his friend’s arms.
Aiden was slack, and Pollux wondered if he'd drown with his friend.
Finally, Pollux lay, soaked, on the dirt, Aiden's still form beside him.
He heard someone come up behind him.
“Pollux?”
“Is Aiden…?”
“There's a pulse. Rico’s getting him up right now.”
“Thank Ishevia.”
Pollux’s own world dimmed.
“Have a good rest,” Dulcie said as her brother shut his eyes and fell asleep.
Pollux was held in between Dulcie and Rico, while Aiden stumbled along beside them, resting on Rico’s shoulder.
“We’re at New Horizons,” Dulcie announced, and Aiden flicked water out of his hair.
“I'm ready,” Aiden sighed, squeezing the water out of his robes.
Aiden knocked on the door, and he heard a familiar voice coming down the stairs.
“I swear if this is about me attending therapy…”
She opened the door.
“...Aiden?!”
Aiden smiled sheepishly.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Aiden!” She said again, pulling him inside.
“That's the first time you've called me Mom in almost thirteen years…” She cried.
“Who are the people with you? Why is one of them passed out? Why are you drenched? Come inside, all of you. Set the boy on the couch, I'll tend to him.”
The group did as they were told, and Aiden tried to explain without making Ada tie him to his bed.
“You deserve the truth,” he began, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Dulcie has red hair. So does Pollux. Rico has dark brown hair. Dulcie and Pollux are twins. They're all a part of The Ravens.”
Ada shook everyone's hands, except for the unconscious Pollux. Leslie was patting his shoulder and singing.
“Pollux is passed out because I almost drowned, but he saved me.”
Ada narrowed her eyes at him. “And where have you been for the last three weeks?”
“I joined The Ravens,” he confessed.
Ada sat down as her face turned as white as a sheet.
“Aiden,” she said, slowly, her voice shaking. “That's incredibly dangerous.”
“Please, you have to understand,” Dulcie pleaded.
“Aiden is important.”
“Of course he is. He's my son.”
“Important to The Ravens, I mean. Look, we can help you continue communication. Aiden can choose to stay here forever if he so pleases. But don't make him.”
Ada sighed.
“I know it's his choice in the end, but you must forgive me. For three weeks we didn't know if Aiden had ever existed, then he just turns up in my doorstep with three strangers? Let me think for a while. Grab yourselves some food, sleep in the guest rooms, whatever you please. It's not much, but you're all tired and Pollux isn't fit to travel yet.”
Aiden raced upstairs to his old room and changed into his old pajamas.
For the first time in three weeks, Aiden felt safe.
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by frankie (dup) » Fri May 12, 2017 4:45 am 
