Chapter 18

chapter Eighteen

*Ariya*

As he released me, I stared at him. Unsure of everything that just happened.

"Does it all make sense now, Ariya?" Caleb asked me.

"Yeah. That was a lot of information. I'm still absorbing everything."

"Yeah. It will feel like that at first kiddo. There was a lot that happened." Caleb laughed.

"It's weird though. It's so different from what I remember" I told Caleb, all of it sinking in.

"I know. But you have to remember. A lot happened. My memory of it should fill in the blanks."

"It does, but it is still weird. I remember parts differently, but like you said. I was in and out a lot."

Caleb looked up, "We don't have much time left here. In a couple seconds you'll wake up."

I nodded in understanding as the world around me faded out to black.

I opened my eyes and released Caleb.

"I don't know how to heal you." I told him.

"Don't worry about it. You'll have to learn it later."

"How long has it been since I left the house?"

"About 7 hours." Caleb told me.

"Good. Then we still have time." I looked at him knowingly.

Caleb nodded, "So what are you going to do now?"

"Depends on their answer."

As I headed to the room where Link and Mya were. I bumped into Drake.

"Hey. How do you feel?" Drake asked me, he saw Caleb and walked over and healed him, then returned to me.

"A lot better. Stronger."

"There's a lot that you have to learn now, Ariya."

"Well it's going to have to wait." I told him.

"Ariya" Drake warned.

"No Drake! You don't get to choose this time! You left ME! FOR 14 YEARS!" I shouted, seeing red. "I expected a couple months, but 14 years?! You abandoned Caleb and I! And I don't even know whyMaybe one day we can figure it out and you can tell me, but I have a deadline to make. This time we are going to follow my plan. You're just going to have to trust me Drake" I hadn't realized how much I had held in, but it felt good to finally let it out.

Link and Mya came out from around the corner.

Drake nodded, "You're right. There's a lot to explain. I'm sorry, Ariya. I'll follow your plan, but you're going to have to tell me."

"I will, but for now. Trust me."

Drake nodded in response so I looked at Link and Mya, "So you didn't try to kill me"

I watched their expressions. They didn't seem afraid or shocked or even nervous. They both seemed like they had already decided their fate.

"Here's the thing, Link, Mya. You both have a decision to make. I'll give you an hour to think through it separately. What you choose is completely up to you. Ok?"

They nodded in response so I continued.

"You can join me right now and fight with me or you can take me as your prisoner and head back. I won't fight or resist you. Drake and Caleb will let us leave without resistance. You both will be allowed to return to Boss with me as your captive. The choice is yours. You have an hour to decide."

Mya and Link looked at each other and nodded without speaking.

"We don't need an hour. We've already decided." They told me.

"So then, what's it going to be? Will you stand and fight with me? Or take me prisoner and turn me in?"