Kingdom of isolation - you can't hide

Thirty Nine ~ Aurora

Aurora

I'm walking in a dark hallway with doors on either side of me, the outlines illuminated as though the lights are on inside. I push open the one closest to me, instantly transported into yet another dream that feels too real.

A fireplace crackles at the far end, an artificial tree covered in tinsel standing right next to it. My small hands clumsily place the ornaments on the tree, struggling to put any around the top. From my peripheral, I can see that someone is helping me put them up.

"Uncle Noo, why do we keep moving around all the time?" My voice is small, curious and a little sad. He looks different, a bit younger too. His eyes are droopy from jet lag but he manages to keep them open, a small smile playing on his face as he gently places each ornament on the tree properly.

"So they can't catch us."

"Who?"

"The really bad people."

He must see something on my face because he takes a deep breath, closing his eyes momentarily and gently lifting me up in his arms. I snuggle against his side, sniffing. I know it's been a few years, but I still miss Mama and Papa. They've left me. And it makes me sad that I'll never know why.

"Don't cry, kiddo. You know I hate seeing those pretty eyes look sad."

"I'm..I'm n-not crying." I hiccup, hiding my face in the crook of his neck. "Okay, I'm c-crying." I sob. He hums in response, patting my back gently.

"I'll explain this in the most kid friendly way possible," He murmurs, taking a seat on the couch with me still in his arms. "Before you were born, your dad made a promise to a very bad man without thinking too much." A pause, and then, "Pft, you'd think there'd be a brain with all that brawn, huh?"

I lift my head up and look at him, teary eyed.

"The bad man used that promise against your dad. And he asked for something that was too valuable to give."

"W-what did he ask for?"

"You, kiddo."

"But..I'm nobody. I'm not special." I pout, blinking another fat tear. Uncle No wipes my tears away with his thumbs.

"Hey, now. You know that's not true."

"But why?"

"Well, the bad man wanted to..uh, how do I explain this. The bad man has a son who's just like him. And he wanted you to marry him when you both got older."

"Marry? Like Mama and Papa?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Does the son..is they.." I twist my fingers anxiously, my brain still struggling to form coherent sentences just yet. "Is..uh, is h-he a bad person too?"

"Let's hope we never find out, shall we?"

"What if..if we get caught?" I whisper, panicking.

"Not gonna let that happen. We'll hide you until the promise expires, okay?"

"Promises can expire?"

"Only the rotten ones do."

***

"How was therapy?" Caspian's voice echoes in the underground parking lot as he walks up to me, ruffling my hair playfully when I'm in touching distance.

"It was fine." I grumble, craning my neck away from him and heading for the passenger side of his car. I am physically drained and I haven't even done anything.