Fates Intertwined

14. | White Light

Aurora was the first to step out of the diner in the city of Brookings, South Dakota, the wind playing in her hair. The five had stopped off in the city for a proper meal, with what little money they had, and now they were on their way to their next bus.

Zyran walked beside Aurora, a book bag hanging from one shoulder. "I have a question," He announced. "You escaped, but were there any others who escaped?"

Aurora blew out a breath. "Not that I know of."

"What about eighteen-sixty-four?" Lina asked.

Aurora turned to her as she thought about it. 1864... "Now that I think about it, there was one." She nodded her head. "Well, it's a rumor. I'm not sure exactly how much of it is true."

"Oo, spooky lab gossip. Do tell." Nara bounced over to her, wrapping her arm around Aurora's neck.

"Nara, let's not call it that." Zyran grimaced.

"What? It is." She defended.

Aurora laughed before speaking, "There was a rumor a while back that during a fire in the main building, that one of the experiments escaped. Though, people also say that the fire was set on purpose in the intention of freeing as many experiments as they could."

"Did they ever find them?"

"No. Only one of them escaped, that they know of." She answered. "It was when I was still new. I hadn't been locked in those cells yet, as they hadn't found it necessary. I..." She trailed off as she thought harder on it.

"What?" Nara leaned off of her, pulling her to a stop.

"I..." She was pulling further and further away from reality, back to the past.

Flames surrounded her and there was a shadow. She was reaching for it, collapsed on the ground. "Please! Don't leave me here!" She was yelling. The figure was dark, but the flames managed to illuminate some of their face. Only, her vision was blurry. Likely from smoke inhalation or a serum. Then everything went black.

"Aurora." Zyran called, suddenly standing in front of her, shaking her by her shoulders. "What happened? Where'd you go just now?"

She stared at the ground, face scrunched in confusion. "I... I think I might've known who escaped."

"Really? Who?" Nara asked. "Was it a friend? A foe? Can they help us?"

"Slow down, Nara." Eric said, laying his hand on her shoulder.

"I said I think." Aurora spoke to Nara.

"Well," They turned to Lina, who raised her chin, disguising the death stare she was giving to Aurora. "I need to make a phone call before we get on that bus."

"Make it quick. We can't take forever waiting on you." Zyran stated. She rolled her eyes, then walked off.

"Wonder who she's calling." Nara spoke. "Anyway, let's go." The four began making their way to the bus station, Nara's arm linked with Aurora's. They waited at the station for Lina, the bus pulling up just as she made her way to them.

They climbed in, claiming their seats at the back. This time, Zyran sat beside the window, Aurora next to him, with his arm leaning against the headrest of the seat in front of him.

"So what did you guys have back then? You don't know, like, anything." Nara said, engaging in small conversation.

"We didn't have any— what did you call them?"

"Movies?" Eric offered.

"Yes. That." She smiled. "We didn't have movies. We had renditions of Shakespeare, and live music. There were bull fights though, which were quite entertaining."