The Haven

Chapter 8

Fire really amazes me, especially when it coming from a 5 year olds hands.

We brought Illia back to the trailer and she told us about how she won the Calling just like Raven and I, but a year before. She said that they said the Calling was like a drawing where whoever wins gets to move on to a new society they were creating. They told her she needed to be changed if she was going to go to this new place. After being genetically modified (genetic mutations) for her gift, she woke in a place that was some kind of training camp. They called it the Blaze and when she was there they taught her about her gift and how to use it. The only problem was that her gift had glitches. Her gift was to be able to control fire, but sometimes it would glitch and her fire would become uncontrollable. Because she glitched, they set out to kill her. That's what they do to all of the glitches.

It took a ton of begging and encouragement to get her to do it, but eventually she gave in and is now showing us her gift.

Orange, blue, and yellow flames burn just in the palm of her hand, it's embers flying in the sky. I flinch at the thought of how much that would hurt and how painful it would be to hold fire, but Illia looks unaffected.Before they can get out of control, Illia blows both of the fires out.

"Wow." Raven exclaims as we all stare in amazement. His black hair is shining in the moonlight and the bluish lights from the moon and stars make him look so angelic. At this time of night, his black hair is like the night sky and his icy blue eyes are like glowing stars. Now, with his wings, he is like and angel of the night...

Wow. I am really getting off track. I peel my eyes away from Raven and look back at Illia. I can't believe what the Haven has put her through, and she's only five.

It truly astounds me. That's what the Haven is doing, making a new society? I'm starting to see how that is bad, ya know, killing people if they glitch and all, but why would they want to do this in the first place? What was so wrong with humans that they thought to change them?

I feel sparks erupt on my hand and see Raven now sitting beside me and holding my hand. Darn it, why does he have to look so freaking gorgeous in this light! I can't help the butterflies now frantic in the pits of my stomach, and my heart is slamming against my chest harder than a wrecking ball.

I can't do this. I can't be cornered by both Raven and River, especially when I need to focus on figuring out everything that's going on! Concern is imminent in Ravens eyes as he notices my stress and fear. I don't want to break either of their hearts, not Ravens nor Rivers. I need time.

But what if you run out of time? Who knows what could happen, I mean, you are kinda stuck in the middle of a revolution.

Stupid voice. I don't even know what the voice is, obviously it's not my own self talking in my mind.

You got that right.

Oh shut up! I can't deal with this right now. I push myself off of the dirt and unintentionally stomp off to the trailer.

"Hey, hey, what's going on?" River asks in a concerned voice while grabbing ahold of my arm. I feel the sparks fly from his touch, just like Raven's and see Raven standing and watching worryingly over River's shoulder.

"Listen, I just need some time to think ok?" He nods and I hurry into the trailer and onto the bed, surrounding myself with the covers.

"Um Aaliyah?" A small and sweet voice asks, I didn't even hear her come in.

"Yes sweety?" My voice sounds so gentle and motherly...I wonder what happened to her mother anyhow.

"May I sleep with you tonight?" I smile at how cute she looks, her eyes are heavy with sleep and the little tired pout she has on her lips seals the deal.

"Oh, of course you can! Come on." She tumbles onto the bed and looks like she could pass out at any moment.

"Hey Aaliyah?" She asks as I pull the covers over her small, fragile body.

"Mmhmm" I snuggle into my own pillow and look into her red, red eyes.

"Will you be my mommy?" I didn't get to answer, because right after she asked and let out a tired yawn, she drifted off into a deep and restful sleep.

***

"Aaliyah, wanna know a secret?"

"Hmm." Everything around us is tunned out as I get lost completely in River's natural vanilla scent and twiddle with the pull strings of his sweatshirt.

The starry sky couldn't be more bright, the light making everything more beautiful. I love night skies.

"Aaliyah" Aren't the stars magnificent? I love how phenomenal they are and how easy it is to get lost in their beauty...

"Aaliyah!"

"Yes?" I lift my head up from his chest and stare at him, the love of my life.

"I have a secret I want to share with you." What secrets could he possible have? I-I thought we knew everything about eachother?

"Y-Yes?" I'm starting to worry. what if he wants to say he wants a break or needs space? He wouldn't do that, would he? No, he couldn't, we're in love and-and...

"Aaliyah, I want to marry you."

***

My body shoots up to a sitting position and my fingers furiously run through my tangled hair. He asked me to marry him? Are we, are we married?!

"Morning Aali" River grins as he casually sits on the bed.

"Arewemarried?Imtooyoungsothantimpossibleright?Isittruethougharewemarried?" I ramble out without thinking.

"Wait wait wait, what?"

"I-I had a dream, you asked me to marry you but then I woke up. River, are we married?!" His eyes go dark and he looks at his hands in his lap.

"No, that was the night you were taken." The images of my very first dream in the Haven come flying back. The trees, running, the river, the bullet, then the blackness.

"Right after I proposed, we herd Takers getting really close. We couldn't run back to the trailer since we were to far away and the Takers were so close. We also didn't want to put Willow in any danger since he was asleep in the trailer. We ran, and split up. I thought I could drive them away from you, but they wouldn't follow me. I made it across the river, and. Jesus Aaliyah, I saw them take you away," Tears escape his eyes and he doesn't bother to wipe them away, "I chased after them, but by the time I even got close you were already gone."

"River, I-" I wanted to apologize, I didn't know what else to do, but he cut me off.

"I died that day. I thought I lost you that day, and if it weren't for your little brother I probably would've killed myself." I bring my hand up to wipe his tears away. He looks like a broken little boy. I wish I could remember everything, feel the love we shared, but something is still keeping us away, and I know it's the damn Takers' faults for erasing most of my memories.

I'm going to figure this out. I am going to get to the bottom of this heinous trap they make people think is a safe haven and nobody is going to stop me.

I am going back to the Haven for answers.