The Time We Have Left

Chapter 12

(Previous Chapter: Tyrone smiled a toothy grin, but I didn't smile back. He took my hand in both of his and shook it happily. "I knew you were a smart boy, Aidan. And I'll see you again." He said. He left the house as Ava entered and met us in the kitchen. She smiled at all of us.

"Hey guys. What'd I miss?" She asked. Matthew smiled and slapped me on the shoulder. "Aidan joined Cerberus." He exclaimed, proudly. Hope seemed to force a slight smile and nodded. I wasn't as happy as they were or seemed to be. I had a feeling we had no idea what would happen next. Ava's smile completely faded and she coughed laughter, "Why on Earth are you happy about that?!" She asked, angrily.)

-Chapter 12- 

I sighed. "I had to, Ava. If I didn't, Hope would have died." I said. She shook her head. "What are you talking about? You mean she would have been killed?" She asked. I shrugged. "I don't know, but Tyrone threatened her. I didn't want to take chances." I explained, briefly.

"Okay, that's sweet. But you do realize she's going to be killed, anyway?" My aunt said, leaning against a wall in the doorway. I turned to her. "What are you talking about?" I asked. Everyone's attention was on her now. 

"Cerberus has a history of sacrificing those who are mundane in return for power. What do you think they're going to do? Spare her because you're in love? She's not one of us." She said. "But that's not definite. Tyrone said they didn't murder anymore. And what do you mean by 'us'?" Matthew said.

She glared at him and stood upright. "Listen, four eyes. You're all going to be killed so that people like me and Aidan can live forever. Aidan didn't save anyone." She said, bitterly.

Ava coughed laugher. "so, we're going to die no matter what? It's like I survived for nothing. What do you think, Aidan? Are you okay with dying?" She asked, frustrated. I sighed, feeling awkward. "Well, actually yes. However in this case, I'd survive either way. It's you all who have something to worry about. I wish it could be different, but what should we do?" I asked. I was tired of having to come up with plans and decisions on my own. 

Hope shifted uncomfortably. "Is there anything that we can do?" She asked, hopelessly. My aunt shook her head. "Not unless Aidan leaves Cerberus, no."

"But then someone will go after my sister." Matthew told her, anger in his tone. She shrugged. "You'll all die anyway. The only thing to think about is if you wanna die together or die alone. But you know what? You kids are on your own. I have nothing to do with this." She said. She took a long drag and left. 

"I-I have.... a proposal for us. But only if Aidan is okay with it." Hope said. I sighed and sat down. "I'm already involved. Don't really have a choice." Ava punched my arm, "Of course you are, I don't wanna die so listen to her." She demanded. I turned to Hope. 

"Well, it's just that I was thinking... why are we only looking at 2 options? Remember Mr. Tyrone said that there would practically be no Cerberus without Aidan? Doesn't that mean we have a huge advantage? It's not like we're up against the supernatural." She said. Matthew's eyes gleamed, "So, if we kill Aidan or something quite unfortunate befalls him, can I experiment on him? Autopsy maybe?? I just want to see what his eyes are like, Maybe even just the irises!" He said, excitedly.

"NO!!" Ava and Hope yelled at him in unison. "She's saying we can fight back." Ava said. Hope nodded and then turned to me. "What do you think, Aidan?" She asked. I shook my head. "I think I hate that I'm so involved." I said, in a whine. Hope put a hand on her hip. "Seriously, Aidan." She demanded. But I was very serious. "Why do we have to resort to violence, anyway?" I asked. 

"Because violence equals experiments and hypothesis?" Matthew said. Ava tolled her eyes. "What are you getting at, Brainiac?" Ava asked me, ignoring Matthew's burning desire to experiment on me. I leaned back. "I mean, we have no idea how Cerberus actually is, who they are, where they are... anything. We can't just up and fight them. That's certain death and would get us in legal trouble if we survive. Besides, we're teenagers. I say, if we die we die. If we don't... that's a little depressing. No one in their right mind wants to live forever." I said.

Ava glared at me. "I get what you're saying. You're saying we should wait and let them come to us before we plot anything. But what's with your casualty with death? Do you want to die??" She asked. 

I felt awkward and turned to Hope. "I'm hungry." I said, changing the subject. "Are you ignoring me??" She yelled, stomping and practically throwing a tantrum immediately. Hope smiled. "What do you want to eat?" She asked. I shrugged. "Food. Anything." I said. 

"Oh my God. You're really actually ignoring me." Ava complained. I ignored her tantrum and turned to Matthew who was suddenly quiet and distant. What was he thinking about? I thought.

Hope began taking things out of the cabinet and fridge to begin cooking and Ava was still carrying on about. "What's wrong?" I asked him. He turned to me, slowly. "Huh?" 

"I said, what's wrong?" I repeated. He forced a wide smile. "Oh-ho? Are you worried about me?" He asked. I huffed and rolled my eyes. "No, die Matthew." He laughed and stood up. "I'm just tired. I'm going home." he said. I studied his false smile. "Right. See you later." I said. 

"Bye, Matthew!" Ava said, fist bumping him. "Later, bro." Hope said. He left the house and I heard the door close behind him from a small distance. I stood by the counter next to Hope and folded my arms along my chest. 

"Something's bothering Matthew, but I don't really want to get involved." I complained to her. Ava huffed. "You never want to get involved with anything. Even when you do." She said. Hope nodded. "Yeah. Well, I know, Aidan. Something has been bothering him for a long time... ever since our visit with Tyrone." She set plates on the table. "It's been bothering all of us. Aren't you scared of what may happen next?" She asked. 

I sat at the table and began eating. "Yeah." I said, quietly.

I felt Ava and Hope studying me intently, but I ignored them and continued on eating. 

"Hey, Dead Heart?"

"What do you want?" I asked Ava. She took a breath. "What if one day we woke up and... I mean, we don't wake up?" She asked. I didn't entirely understand the question. "You mean that you die in your sleep?" I asked. She thought about it as if she didn't even understand it herself, and then nodded. I coughed laughter. "Then you'd be lucky." I said, simply. She grumbled. "Aidan, seriously. How are you going to save us from these crazy people?" She asked.

I set my fork down and sighed. I noticed Hope was waiting for my answer, too. "I don't know. Let's just meet with them tomorrow morning and get this over with one step at a time." I suggested and stood up, pushing my chair in. "I'm tired, too. Goodnight." I said.

I left them at the kitchen table and went to my room and closed the door. My room was spotless and the bed was already made up. I thought of Hope and lied down in bed, closing my eyes. I really don't want to lose her, I thought.