The Time We Have Left

Chapter 10: Cerberus

(Previous Chapter: he sound of the door we came through opening prompted everyone to look that direction. Tyrone came in and closed the door behind him. He smiled at the sight of me and sat at the table. "Are you going to introduce me to your friends?" He asked, still smiling. "No," I said, bluntly, "Tell me what you haven't been telling me... I want to know more. I need answers now." I said. He chuckled to himself and folded his hands neatly at the table. "Ask away, Aidan."

Everyone turned to me, waiting for me to ask my first question. Matthew, Ava, and Hope were all surprisingly quiet. But didn't Tyrone already know my question? Did he hope that I had forgotten? The first time I asked, he lied to me.

"Why can't I see your number?" I asked, seriously. "And tell me the truth... this time.")

Chapter 10: Cerberus

  "I'd learned that some things are best kept secret."  - Nicholas Sparks, Dear John

Tyrone chuckled, "I didn't really lie to you. You see, me and your grandmother joined this cult years ago comprised of those who are like us. The cult is called Cerberus... those in the cult cannot see the numbers of other members. Your mother left the cult, afraid you'd be born with this ability... of ourse, that didn't help considering you're here now." Tyrone explained.

Everyone except Tyrone and my grandmother looked at me oddly. "Wait... I'm in a cult?" I asked, nervously. How is that possible? I never get involved with anything and hardly anyone. Tyrone nodded, "What a question!" he said, and began laughing as if I had honestly just told a joke. "Aidan, without you... there would be no Cerberus... well, practically." He said.

I creased my forehead, "What do you mean? What's so important about me?" I asked, still confused. Tyrone and his wife chuckled, "Well you're kind of like the chosen one, so to speak. You're the youngest and the last one known to this date to have this ability. After you were born, there has been no other child born with this ability on record. Meaning, you may be able to see things we may never be able to see and possibly even more." Tyrone said

I shifted uncomfortably. I wasn't sure I wanted to see things no one else could see, it was intense enough to see the numbers of those I was afraid to lose, and feel powerless as to if I could save them or watch them die.

"Okay... what's the cult for, though?" I asked. "And aren't cults illegal...?" Ava asked. Tyrone made a very unamused face at her, almost as if he was mad. Then he turned back to me, as if to dismiss her. "It originally began by a man with your exact name, he believed he could travel between different dimensions if we all gathered and made sacrifices of those who are mundane..." he trailed off.

"Mundane? What does that mean?" I asked. "Those who are normal," Matthew said, "So you'd sacrifice innocent people in the belief that you could travel into a sort of parallel universe?" He asked. Tyrone chuckled, "Well, that was years ago."

"So, what's the goal now then?" Ava asked. All of our curiosities were piqued. Tyrone's wife sat next to me. "To live forever." She said, sinisterly.

I felt shivers down my spine. To live forever? Was that even possible? No matter if it was or wasn't, I definitely didn't want to get involved. 

"And you're very much involved, Aidan... whether you'd like to be or not." He said. I sighed heavily. "What does any of this have to do with me?" I asked. "Well, you do have a choice.... whether to abuse your gift or put it to good use." He said. Hope seemed really disturbed by all of this. "So, you're basically saying... he has a choice whether to let you guys use him or not." Matthew said, and he seemed angry.

Tyrone smiled and turned to me, but he had his head tilted in the direction of Hope. "Well, that... but I think if you don't want to lose what's most important to you, you'd do the smart thing." He said.

I suddenly felt like punching a wall. Was he threatening Hope?! I stood up abruptly, "What are you planning?!" I yelled at him, I felt a rush of emotion flush my face. He only smiled calmly at me. "Not me, Aidan. Make your decision, and come back to me if you've made the smarter choice." He said simply.

It's just a threat, I thought to myself. There's no way something would happen to her simply if I decided no to participate in the cult. Matthew grabbed my arm and lead me to the door, where everyone else had begun to gather, but I felt like I was in some state of Trance. If something happened to Hope... I don't know what I would do. 

"And Aidan." I head my grandmother call to me. I turned to her and she put her mouth to my ear. "Why do you think your mother and father were killed?" She whispered. I felt my heart begin to pound rapidly in intensity. "She made the wrong decision." She said.

I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth. "What if I kill you?" I asked bitterly, my heart still pounding. I felt like I was talking completely through emotion and had no control at this point. She smiled, "Do what you want, boy. The consequences remain the same." she said. I felt weak all of a sudden. Did I even have a choice...?

Matthew pulled me through the door with everyone else and closed the door behind us. "Aidan, what's wrong with you?! Pull yourself together!" He yelled at me while shaking me by my shoulders.

I felt so distant from everyone. Why did I have to come to such a brutal decision? Ava stood by me. "Aidan, you aren't actually thinking of joining that, are you?" She asked. I felt Hope grab my hand. "Aidan, please. Don't join" She begged. I refused to meet any of their eyes. They had no idea what was at stake. This wasn't just a threat, this could be real.

"And what did Tyrone mean by, 'if you don't want to lose what's most important to you'?" Matthew asked. I felt a little dizzy all of a sudden. "A better question...." I said, "What's the harm in joining?"

I felt all of them stare at me, concerned. They didn't want me to join, but I couldn't lose Hope. Why was she so important to me? I shouldn't have ever come here. The bus pulled up, and we all went back home. No one spoke, and everyone drowned in their own concerning thoughts. Why did I even bother leaving? This wasn't up for discussion. I needed to join.

-

Everyone went their separate ways, and I met my foster mother at the dining room table at the house. 

"I need to talk to you." I told her, seriously.