Dangerous Game

Chapter thirty: Into the Woods

"Aislin and I stayed up half the night coming up with a plan of action," I suppressed a yawn as Kason filled everyone in on our strategy. "We've found the location of the facility where they're holding Dax. There's no telling how many guards there will be, so we need to be prepared to fight. Try to keep as little contact as you can manage, but use your abilities to your full extent. It's our advantage over those people."

I quickly added, "That's only if we run into trouble. We don't want to give ourselves away too early. If we can manage to get inside undetected, we'll already have an advantage."

Kason nodded in agreement. He went on informing everyone of their instructions. We needed to split up into two teams and find separate entrances to cover more ground. We all had small earpieces that let us communicate at all times.

I tried hard to hide my anxiety. I wished Kason had just let me go alone. Or with him. I couldn't shake the feeling that this mission wasn't going to end well. I didn't want to be responsible for anyone on this team getting hurt...or worse. 

I'd had that dream last night. Or rather, the vision in the form of a dream. It was different this time, though. The results were the same; Kason shot Seth, I couldn't help him, Seth died. It was morbid, I know. This time, though, instead of being isolated in some white limbo-type-room, we were in a forest. Nadia was there, too. She just stood there doing nothing, no emotion showing on her face.

I shuddered at the memory. I felt anxious and insecure, because I knew Kason probably saw it too. When I woke up, the weirdest thing happened. I hadn't told anyone about it, because I myself was scared of it. I opened my eyes to find myself hovering, yes hovering, over my bed. I was about a foot and a half in the air and I bit back a scream when I noticed Kason was still sound asleep. As soon as I was completely awake, yet far from relaxed, I dropped like a ton of bricks onto my mattress causing a loud creak of the springs. I let out an oof as I landed, my teeth ground tight together and my hands balled into fists. I dared a glance at Kason, who had been wearing a slight frown, but never opened his eyes.

Kason didn't say anything to me that morning, but I knew he probably read my thoughts like an open book. I cringed at the thought of him seeing my worst fears, but as long as he didn't bring it up, I could live with it. But what I was really worried about, was whatever that toxic serum was doing to me. I couldn't have imagined floating midair in the middle of the night. Or could I? It did sound pretty crazy when I thought about it. I just hated not knowing what was going to happen. Was I truly going mad? Or was I turning into an even bigger freak with powers I couldn't control? Both scenarios scared me.

"Aislin?" I snapped out of my groggy thoughts at the sound of my name. I realized now, that all eyes were on me, waiting for some response.

"Huh?" I gave a questioning glance to Mal, who'd been the one to wake me from whatever sleepy trance I was in.

Mal flashed me a worried gaze, "You're okay with that aren't you?"

I shook off the remnants of my daydream and sheepishly said, "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Okay with what?"

"The teams," Mal said, "You, me, and Kason. Nadia, Erin, and Seth. I figured we wouldn't get distracted that way." He gave an apologetic gaze to Erin. 

I nodded in approval. That was a smart way to do it, I guess. Plus, I could keep an eye on Kason. As much as I hated to admit it, I was having a super hard time trusting him after that stupid dream. I felt like we were finally getting to be friends, and I know it was just a dream, but I couldn't shed that uneasy feeling around him. "I'm fine with that." I simply replied.

"Are you alright?" Kason asked eyeing me carefully. There was a measure of warning behind his gaze. It was barely there, but there none the less. It didn't strike me as threatening, though. More like, don't let your guard down. I sighed and got up from my huddled position on the floor.