Kaskia: A Hero's Awakening

Chapter 17

"Rina! Where are you?!" Aiden yelled as he ran through the woods.

"Boo!" Rina shouted back, jumping from behind a tree.

"Ha... ha..." Aiden replied. "That's not..." He paused, feeling as if they had already gone through this.

"Not what?" Rina asked, poking her brother in the arm. "Not what?" She repeated herself, this time her voice deeper, rougher than a girl of her age should be.

"What?" Aiden asked, his head feeling fuzzy.

"Run little human." Rina said, this time in a voice that was not hers.

Aiden stared at his sister as her skin grew scales, her arms, legs, and neck stretching to an inhuman length. Her head altering into that of the lizard people that had attacked them. "What... What's happening to you?!"

"Run boy, run!" The lizard creature ordered, raising a sword into the air.

Scared of what he saw, Aiden turned and ran, running through the woods as fast as he could, hearing the mocking voice of the lizard who was his sister, yet not. Moments later, Aiden burst from the woods, seeing his house in the distance. The faster he ran, the further the house became. Aiden slammed into the door of his room, falling backwards onto the floor.

"How did I end up in my room?" He thought, rubbing his head.

"Are you alright, honey?" Aiden heard his mother ask from the other side of the door. "I heard a loud noise."

"Mom!" Aiden yelled, springing to his feet to open the door of his room.

"Yes dear?" His mother asked.

"Mom..." Aiden stuttered as he beheld the sight of the creature with his mother's voice. Aiden stood there facing the same lizard creature, that now wore the same clothes as his mother, had her voice, her personality, yet was not her.

"What's wrong Aiden?" She asked, reaching a hand towards him. "What's wrong child?" She said, this time in another voice. A voice that Aiden had heard before. The only voice that ever referred to him as a child.

"It's okay Aiden..." Rina whispered to her sleeping brother as he showed signs of having a nightmare. "Everything will be okay."

"He's having another nightmare?" Teddy asked as he stood beside her, placing his hand over Aiden's head. "I will ease his mind. You should go eat some breakfast with the others."

Nodding to Teddy, Rina left Aiden's room to join Squishy, Grape, Jr., and Arlington, who all sat on cushions on the floor, each eating their fill of bread, cheese, and various types of meat. Squishy asked if she would like to try some of his food, which she politely declined, asking for only some bread and any fruit that they may have.

"Rina, don't be afraid, okay?" Grape said, kneeling next to her. "Your brother will wake up and we will rescue both of your parents."

"I'm not afraid anymore." Rina replied, holding her head high. "I will become stronger and save them all!"

"I'm glad to hear that, Rina!" Grape stated, giving her a hug. "We will be back in a few days, try to learn everything you can from Teddy."

"Where are you going?" Rina asked, frowning that Grape, someone who she has come to think of as her best friend, was leaving her.

"I'm going to try and find out where exactly they have your mother, so when the time comes, we can rescue her." Grape answered. "Arlington and Jr. are going to search for your father."

"Please be safe!" Rina said, hugging Grape tightly, then running to Jr. and Arlington and hugging both. Only receiving a genuine hug back from Arlington, Jr. only patting her on the back awkwardly.