The Haven

Chapter 6

I remember the first time I met River. I was sixteen and my brother was eight, and we were both hanging on a thread for dear life out in the middle of the desert. It's been a year since then. Today is River's eighteenth birthday. I remember what he gave me on my seventeenth birthday a month ago and have to top it.

I see him walking back from putting my brother to sleep and admire him. He is muscular but lean, his hazel eyes make me melt and I would love nothing more than to tangle my fingers in his dirty blonde hair. I've never done this before, but I know it's right. Everything's right with him.

He sits down next to me in the soft grass and we both look out at the shimmering lake reflecting the gorgeous starry sky. His hand grabs mine and I instantly feel the sparks ignite through my skin.

"I love you Aaliyah." My heart skips a beat in my chest. There is no doubt, since the night he saved my brother and I, that I've always loved him.

"I love you more River." I say with so much passion and honesty. He's my other half, and a half is all I am without him. Now, I question how I ever survived before without him.

"Impossible." I smile and look into his hazel eyes. God, he's so perfect, so beautiful. I look at his perfect lips and feel the need for them to be on mine. He is my happy place.

Before I can, he presses his lips against mine with so much love and passion. I want to show him how much I love him, but how can you even put something so meaningful and strong into words? I just kiss him like it's our last night and he does the same. My hands tangle in his hair and his gently rub the skin beneath my shirt. I turn and sit on his lap, and soon enough we are rolling on top of one another half naked.

"Are you sure?" I can see the love in his eyes and know, I know for sure I'm ready.

"Yes." I say then bring his lips back on mine. Nothing could be more perfect. The night is cool, but I couldn't be more warm in the heat of this moment. Nothing is more perfect than this, than him, than us. We are forever.

***

"Aaliyah." My eyes flutter open and I find myself staring at a pair of hazel eyes. Why did he call me Aaliyah? She's the girl from my dreams, and he...he looks just like River.

If he's River and he thinks I'm Aaliyah, does that mean I'm actually Aaliyah? That's impossible. I...how?...What happened?...nothing makes sense! Those were just dreams, right?

Memories, Aaliyah, they were memories.

I'm so confused, memories? How, why? I don't understand! I'm Aaliyah he's River and my dreams are true, but why can't I remember everything? I look back into River's eyes and feel some little pieces of memories coming back.

"Your River." I manage to say and his eyes start to water and a smile grows on his face.

"You remember me." His lips come onto mine and I can feel the lightning bolts prick at my tender skin. The love and devotion of this kiss is so real I loose my breath.

"I don't remember very much." I say after we break away.

"You remember me right?" I turn my head to face this new voice. I see a young boy standing there with hope shining in his sky blue eyes. I know his blonde, curly hair that's identical to mine. Something ignites in my mind, and I remember more.

"Willow." I say, remembering my little brother. His smile could brighten the most grey of days, he is so sweet. In an instant he is on the bed hugging me till my bones crack.

"I missed you sissy." I can feel his wet tears soaking the shoulder of my shirt.

"No, don't cry I'm here now and I promise I won't leave again." He pulls away and I wipe his tears.

Looking around it looks like I'm in a trailer. I remember this trailer, this was where River, Willow, and I lived.

I hear footsteps approaching and turn to see Raven enter the room. River's fave tightens as well as Raven's as they glare at each other.

"Aaliyah who is this dude you brought along?" River asks with I hint of venom in his voice. I guess he doesn't really like him.

"Her name is Dove." Raven interrupts, also in a rude manner.

"No, it's Aaliyah. I think I would know the name of the girl I'm in love with." This gets Raven even more pissed, and I know I need to do something before they rip eachothers throats out.

"Uh Raven, this is my brother Willow and this is my uh...my...ummm," River looks at me expectantly, "River, this is River."

They just continue to glare at each other, until we hear a noise. It kinda sounds like a car coming towards us from a distance.

"Takers," River mumbles as he rubs the back of his neck, "Now everyone you have to stay quiet. The place were in is hidden, but if they hear us they will find us."

"What are Takers?" Raven asks, earning a glare from River.

"I'll explain everything later now shhh!"

It took ten freaking minutes, but eventually the Takers finally left. I stare at my self in the mirror as I comb through my hair with my fingers. I just finished changing out of my dirty white suit from the Haven and am now in jeans and a flannel. River said it was my favorite outfit and I wore it all the time before I was taken.

I hear a click and the bathroom door slowly opens revealing River's loving face. He closes the door and sits on the edge of the bathtub before speaking.

"Aaliyah, I know you don't remember much from before. I want to tell you everything, but first you need to know a little bit more about what's going on. We don't know much about the Takers, but we do know that they capture people and erase their memories...we don't know where exactly they take to people they capture but-"

"The Haven," I say, cutting him off,"They take us to a place called the Haven. Its a wonderful place, I never noticed anything wrong with it." I really don't understand why the voice is so afraid of the Haven. It obviously knows more about it than I do.

"If there was nothing bad about it why did you escape?" Should I tell him about the voice? He'll probably think I'm crazy...

"You have the voice too, don't you?" My eyes widen in surprise, he has the voice too? How could we both have it in our heads?

"You-You have it too?" He nods.

"That's how I knew where to bring the jeep to pick you up and bring you home."  He stands up and his arms wrap around my waist.

"You have no idea how much I've missed you. I-I thought you were gone, I thought I lost you,"He brings his forehead onto mine and closes his eyes, "I beat myself up everyday you were gone. I should've done something, I-I should've..." I cut him off and press my lips against his.

I don't know what possessed me to do this, but I can't have him feel guilty for me being caught. I don't know exactly what happened, but seeing him hurt burns inside and I don't know why. I feel something deep inside for him, but can't remember everything. I can feel the love I felt for him still, but how do you love someone back if you can't really remember them?

His grip tightens as our lips move in sinc. I pull away, but am still in his arms when the door comes flying open. Raven just stands there with his hands balled into fists and his face hot with anger. I look into his blue eyes that still make me melt and see the hurt I've caused him.

My heart breaks seeing how sad he looks, and it's all my fault. He turns to run outside and I quickly follow. He slams the front door behind him and I waste no time opening it up again to chase after him. Only, I don't have to run far because his body is curled in a ball in the dirt as he screams in agony.

"Raven!" I sprint to him and crash beside his body. He looks like he is in so much pain and his veins are becoming darker. Seeing him like this brings tears to my eyes. What's happening to him?!

River comes running out of the trailer and falls on his knees on the other side of Raven. River carries Raven inside and lies him on the bed. Ravens blue eyes start to roll into the back of his head and his body is flinching around. Then the most insane, crazy, bizarre thing happenes.

In an instant, a pair of black wings shoot from his back, ripping his white shirt and his eyes flutter close.