The United

Chapter 5

 "Please wake up Maria.... Please wake up..." Aaron was by my bedside as I blinked my eyes open.

 "What..... Happened?" I asked before adding, " My name is Shadow, Aaron...."

 "Right.... Um... We made it to the base, and you lost all energy... You pushed yourself too far, and fell from very high up. I caught you, but you were still weak, and you ended up blacking out.... You were unconscious for three days Shadow.... And you were fading in and out of your realm, so I couldn't help you...." Aaron said with worry shining in his eyes.

 "Three days?! N-no way.... How is that even possible?" I said in fear.

 "You pushed yourself too far. You used you abilities the entire time, while hot-head and I only used ours to fly..." Jayda walked into the room. 

 "I know... But you and Aaron give me strength.... I shouldn't have had a problem..." I muttered, and shifted to the side of the bed to get up. 

 "I don't think you should stand yet..." Aaron said calmly, his concern growing. He grabbed my arm, and I closed my eyes, and stood, pulling my arm through his. 

 "I'm fine. What about the children?" I said remembering all at once the mission. 

 "Ariel and John are fine. And they are counters. Ariel can make powers stronger, and make things larger, while John weakens the enemy and shrinks the problem." Aaron said with a slight smile. "They are alive because of you Shad... You saved them...." 

 "No... You and Jayda saved them... You were the ones who carried them all the way to the base... I was too weak." I said softly.

 "No.... You are the one who saved us all. We would not have made it in there or out again were it not for your shadow storm, and I don't want to think about what would have happened to us or them without your help...." Aaron said honestly. 

 I looked over at Jayda who was being unnaturally quiet. If only I could read her.... Get in her mind... Then I could help her without talking.... "Jayda.... Are you feeling okay?" I asked walking over to her. 

 Jayda said nothing, but she blinked her Violet eyes before turning to leave again.

 "Jayda.... Please.... Don't shut me out.... We are sisters... Please don't shut me out... You are the only family I have left..." I said sadness filling my words, but I blinked back tears, because I could not afford to be weak... Not now....

 Jayda left me standing there is silence, but I followed her. "Jayda.... Please.... Don't do this.... Please.... I can't lose you.... You are my sister.... Please Jayda....." I tried again, but my voice was lost among the dark halls as Jayda left me, without a word. It was then that I couldn't stay strong anymore.... I let the tears that I had been blinking back fall, and they streamed down my face and hit the stone cold floor. Aaron walked out and saw me standing there. He place his arm around me sheltering me from harm, and then wiped away my tears with his thumb as he placed his hand on my cheek. 

 "It is okay Shad.... Everything will be okay... Jayda just needs some time... Okay?" Aaron said soothingly. 

 I focused on staying strong, and I stopped myself from crying anymore. I was not this weak... I shouldn't have allowed myself to break at all... I looked into Aaron's ocean eyes, and they seemed to glow. He pulled me closer to his, and bent down to kiss me. I closed my eyes in shock, but I accepted his warmth, and tried to let the pain fade into the back of my mind. 

 I heard someone whistle, and cat-call me, and I pulled back slightly, very annoyed. I saw anger flash in Aaron's ocean eyes, as he glanced over at Rin who was watching us. I walked over to him, and used my shadow storm to put my hand through his head. He was frightened, and then made my arm up to the point of Rin's forehead solid. Rin reached up to pull my hand away from him, but as soon as his hand touched my arm, he fell to the floor unconscious from the fear that my solid hand was in his head.

 "What did you just..." Aaron said fear in his voice.

 "I just fazed my hand through his head. No damage was caused, he just was scared. I didn't think he would pass out... I'm sorry...." 

 "It's fine... I'm just glad you can fight him off... without murdering him. Rin can be a bit.... Much...." Aaron said trying to find the right words. 

 "You mean he is a major flirt and he needs an attitude adjustment." I said calmly and glanced over at Rin who was still on the floor. 

 I turned back to Aaron, and suddenly heard Rin stir. 

 "Wow.... I am liking the view here....." Rin said slyly, and I knew all at once he was talking about me. I tensed up, and Aaron walked past me, and seemed to be helping Rin to his feet. He had an outstretched hand to Rin, and then turned to speak to Rin.

 "What do you mean by that brother?" Aaron said his voice full of venom. 

 "I mean you have a total babe, and she has an amazing-" Rin was cut off by Aaron's fist slamming into his gut, sending him flying into the wall again. "Augh! What the hell mate? You have gone soft." Rin hissed.

 "No. I am protecting my girlfriend from the pervert that is you. Back the hell off if you know what is good for you." Aaron said before putting his arm protectively around my waist.

 "You know I don't do what is good for me. I never have never will." Rin said slyly again. 

"Don't you have anyone else to harass?" Aaron said glaring at Rin. 

Before Rin had a chance to reply, I took Aaron's hand, and used my shadow storm and hid Aaron and I from Rin's view. We snuck around him, and went outside, I wanted to look for Jayda, but Aaron seemed to just be enjoying being with me. He followed me to the edge of the property, and I sensed Jayda, but she was very very far away. I probably could open a gate through my realm, though, if Jayda is where I think she is, she needs some time. I layed down on the grass, and looked up at the stars, praying that I would be able to save my sister from her past in the morning. 

When I opened my eyes again, Aaron was watching the sunrise, close enough to be laying next to me. I sat up, and Aaron looked over at me, his ocean eyes glowing in the rising sunlight. I smiled slightly, and leaned on his shoulder while I began to focus on Jayda's spirit. I then looked over at Aaron, and whispered, "Goodbye..." Before I opened the gate in my realm, and walked through, strait into Jayda's little nephew's' room. I saw her there... Her hands were bleeding, and her black clothing fit in with the gray walls. It was almost as though the sunrise with Aaron was a different reality on it's own, and I had my realm, his and Jayda's to walk through. I walked closer to Jayda, but she turned away from me. Refusing to even look at me. 

"Please.... Sister.... Don't leave me..... I can't do this without you.... You keep me strong, and you got me through my mother's....." I started, but began to choke on a rising sadness. It took me a few minutes to recover and continue. "You got me through my father's and brother's disappearance... You keep making me feel okay about the powers.... And I am so sorry that you probably caught the plague from me.... And then your family might have caught it from me also.... I'm over there enough.... I'm sorry.... I didn't mean to ruin your life.... And I can understand if you don't want to be my sister anymore..... But..... if you don't want to be my sister..... At least tell me.... So I won't have to wonder why you hate me now..... I'm sorry for what I have done sister...." I said quietly, with pain in my voice, and I started trembling. I am too weak.... I need to become stronger.... 

Jayda turned to me and said, "It's not your fault, That wasn't my family, they died before I met you. I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at this. I have to leave though." 

"Why can you not stay with me? Why do you have to run? Think about that other organization.... Think about what they will do to you if you get caught.... I can't let that happen to you Jayda.... I don't want them to get ahold of you...." I said relieved that Jayda wasn't angry at me specifically. 

 Jayda had other plans though. She took off flying, and didn't look back, her wings outstretched as she soared farther and farther away from me. I couldn't help but feel sad, as I watched my sister, the only family I had left fly farther and farther away. I made a silent promise to her as she disappeared from my view. We will meet again sister.... I swear by that.... I will find you again... someday.....