Choices

Reunited

Animila's Pov (Next day)

I can't believe I actually get to see my friends again. And I get out of this room for once. It's a miracle.

I sit eagerly on my bed waiting for Alric to come. I watch the door. I can't wait.

The door finally open and the smell of vanilla and mint fills the air. Alric walks in.

"Well I see you're ready." Alric says.

"Can we go now?" I ask jumping from my bed.

"Yes come on." Alric replies.

He gently grabs the chains hanging from my wrist and walks towards the door. I follow eagerly.

We leave the room. I'm actually outside of my room for the first time in three years. We walk down this long hallway.

I look around taking in everything. Everything looks so dreary. I see people pass. Every time they past they would bow to Alric and continue to walk. I hear them whisper about me after we pass.

"Ignore them. They are all idiots." Alric says.

I nod. I didn't know he heard them too.

It takes awhile but then we come to this room. It's guarded. This must be where my friends are.

Alric walks in and I walk behind him. The guards bow to Alric and go back to their post.

"You want to tell us why we are here." I hear a deep voice say.

I can't see over Alric so I don't see the person.

"I have a special gift for you guys." Alric says.

"We don't want it. It won't be any good." A female voice replies.

"Yeah." Harmonized voices say.

Wait speaking together. The twins did that.

I try jumping to see over Alric but my chains restrict me especially since he is holding them.

"Shame. I was sure you would like this gift." Alric says.

Alric steps aside and let's my chains go. Now I see 4 people standing in front of me.

The first is the tallest of them, a boy. It looks like I reach right under his nose whereas to Alric I reach just to his shoulders. And I'm pretty tall. His bright red hair stands out the most.

The second and third are two female who look alike. One hair is longer than the other. Their piercing green eyes capture my attention.

Lastly a girl who looks the youngest with bright blue eyes. She is the shortest of the group. Her innocence radiates off of her.

"No way." They all say.

"I'm sure you all remember Animila. Animila you remember Blaze, Flora, Fauna, and Aqua." Alric says.

"Is it really you Animila?" Blaze asks shocked.

"In the flesh." I respond.

The girls run over and tackle me in a hug. They start crying.

"We missed you so much." They all say.

"I missed you guys too." I say.

Blaze comes over and joins the hug. It seems like we've been hugging forever but I love it.

We finally pull away from each other.

"What's the meaning of this Alric? Why would you bring her to us?" Blaze asks standing protectively.

Looking at the two boys, Alric just looks more powerful. His height and body structure is more than Blaze. His stance itself shows power. While Blaze is strong Alric outweighs him clearly.

"Simple Animila wanted to see you guys so bad. How could I say no to her. Besides I love seeing her bright grin." Alric replies.

"It's true. I asked him and he agreed." I say.

"How have you been Animila? Are you ok? Has he been treating you well?" Flora and Fauna ask taking turns asking questions.

"I'm fine. I'm not in any bad conditions. Only thing he's done to me is lock me in a room for three years straight. But it was a big room and I ate everyday so it wasn't bad. Just awfully boring." I answer.

"Three years straight! Are you out of your psychotic mind Alric?" Aqua exclaims.

"No I'm not. She's safe and she's with me like she should be." Alric replies.

"Of course. Let me guess you are still trying to get her to like you back. How many times did she reject you? A hundred?" Blaze says with a smirk.

"More like two hundred knowing Animila." Flora says slyly.

"She probably tried to attack him a few time." Fauna says.

"Or told him to drop dead." Aqua adds.

They all start to chuckle.

"Shut up or I'll give you all something to laugh about." Alric growls.

I don't think I ever seen Alric get mad ever since day we saw his parents.

Blaze shuts up and looks away. The twins and Aqua huddle closer and look at their feet. To be honest I've never seen Blaze back down so quickly.

"Anymore smart comments." Alric says to them.

Everyone shakes their head no. I've never seen this. The very people who rebel from his orders from time to time, backed down with one threat. How bad can he really be? Does he punish them?

And apparently he's way worst than this. I shudder at the thought.

Alric looks at me and his eyes soften. I flinch from his gaze. I go closer to Aqua.

"You've never seen that side of him, have you?" Aqua asks.

"No." I respond.

"Come on we haven't seen you in three years. Let's talk." Fauna says.

We spend hours talking and playing. Alric stays to the side just watching.

His presence disturbs me.

My feelings may be locked up but that doesn't include fear. But part of me wants to forgive him.

Wait that shouldn't happen. I shouldn't feel that. I should only feel hatred and possibly fear. Not remorse for him or happiness with him. What's going on.

I see a red flash in my eyes. But it's brighter and stronger than ever before. It hurts and it throws my head in to a fog. I fall backwards and immediately Alric is by my side. He catches me before I hit the ground.

"Animila are you all right?" Aqua asks worried.

"I don't feel well." I say weakly.

All of my energy feels like it disappeared.

I know what's happening. It's the side affects of a spell breaking. Breaking in the wrong way. The harder the spell the worst the affects.

"I'm taking her back to her room. This visit can continue another time." Alric says.

Alric lifts me up bridal style.

The last thing I see is Alric looking down at me worried.

Then all I see is black.