The Elemental Trials

Eighteen

Luke

Aurora said nothing to me for almost the full duration of our journey. I had tried to talk to her on multiple occasions; in the taxi, at the airport, during security, and even now as we sat in our private cabin on the plane - facing one another. I either got nothing or the most blunt, one-worded answer she could muster. 

I tried to run through what she could be angry at me for. Was it the way I spoke to Marcus at the cash machine? I admit I'd been short with him but I didn't think it deserved the silent treatment to such an extreme degree. 

Was she still upset about what happened in the bubble? I hadn't really apologised to her, so maybe that was it. The words she said still echoed in my head, but I was trying my best not to take them to heart. 'Who are you?' Why the hell had she asked that? Recently, I'd been hyper-focused on getting us off the island, sure, but I wasn't that different to the usual me. 

Was I?

I tried to consider it, but my brain felt woozy and it was tricky to string any coherent thoughts together. It had felt like that for the better part of these three months. It was like I'd been moving on autopilot the entire time; except now all I could think about was Pat, and I knew in my heart that the fog over my brain would lift as soon as I saw her. 

Maybe that would be the best time to talk to Aurora. But I still couldn't pinpoint exactly what she was mad about, and the thought of not knowing was itching at me vigorously. I thought of what had happened before the taxi, when she'd walked in on mine and Skye's kiss. I wasn't sure if she actually saw the act, but even so it wasn't rocket science to figure out what we'd been in the middle of.

Could it be...that's what she's angry about? 

I took a glance at her face as she stared out the window of the luxury cabin. I'd figured since it was Alex's infinite card we were using that we might as well travel in luxury, though neither of us had taken full advantage of the hostess' frequent offers of food, drink, films, music, and about a hundred other novelties. 

They must have figured out pretty quickly that we weren't in the mood, cause it had been a while since one of them had made an appearance. I'd tried to send Aurora a sly wink when I told the girl at the ticket desk we wanted a special cabin, but she merely scoffed under her breath and turned away. 

Apparently I couldn't do anything right. 

Thinking about her annoyance in turn made a slimy feeling of irritation crawl up my neck. Not only did I think her treatment was unjust, but the fact she wouldn't even speak to me about it irked me tenfold. Eventually, after dwelling on it to the point I thought I was going to burst, I finally let it out as I sat up straighter and gripped my legs tightly.

"So," I started, leveling my gaze at Aurora as she gave me little more than a bored glance, "you ever gonna actually talk about what's annoying you?" I could hear the irritation in my own voice. I knew it was bad to come out the gates swinging, especially with Aurora, but a part of me couldn't help myself. 

Her harsh eyes narrowed imperceptibly, as the corners of her lips tugged downwards blatantly. "Not if you speak to me like that." She said simply, her voice as calm and cool as I'd ever heard it. 

Aurora's blatant dismissal sent a spike of annoyance through my gut, but as I opened my mouth to retort she let out a small sigh by way of interrupting me. "I just don't know what's happened to you." Her voice sounded quiet and genuinely confused; and something about the way she looked at me made my stomach twist violently. 

It was as though she was staring at a stranger. 

"What are you talking about?" I asked, gripping my knees a little tighter.