Trines

Trines (16)

Chapter 16

“You really are a bunch of geniuses, aren’t you?” Ava asked sarcastically when they had all woken some time later. To say the least, she was not impressed by their skills as saviors. “And to think all our lives lie on your hands!”

Jennifer groaned at Ava. She had not shut up since she had got her mouth working again, and they all were getting terribly tired of her voice.

“We could have just left you here to die,” Alex said, not letting his annoyance seep into his voice.

“Yeah, and now we will all die instead of just me. Really great, guys,” she replied.

“I know we should have just let her be here,” Drew muttered, wiggling his hands in the tight bound rope.

“I knew there was a reason I liked you Drew. You have so much more sense than your girlfriend,” Ava told him.

“You don’t like me,” Drew dead-panned.

Ava pretended to think, the only thing missing the finger she would be tapping on her chin.

“Yeah, you’re right, I don’t,” she said eventually.

Jennifer rolled her eyes.

“This is hopeless. We can’t just sit here and argue. We need to find a way out of here,” Alex said reasonably. His thoughts were still on the kiss and that he needed to get out of there.

“You’re right,” Drew agreed.

No one said anything.

“Why don’t you start with what the hell happened?” Drew asked looking directly at Ava.

The scowl on her face was wiped off, replaced by a completely blank look.

“What do you mean?” Ava asked her voice monotone.

“We saw Aaron, Ava,” Jennifer said softly, her eyes studiously ignoring the younger girl.

A panicked expression crossed her face, before the story came bubbling out of her.

“I didn’t know, I swear. We were just walking and then a woman showed up and… and….” She broke of, her breath coming out quick and hard.

“You know who the woman is, don’t you?” Alex asked quietly.

Tears welled up in Ava’s eyes. “My mom,” she whispered.

All their limited movements halted, their eyes moving to look at Ava in shock.

“That black-haired woman who knocked me out is your mother?”

Ava nodded.

They were all in shock, not expecting that.

“Are you kidding me?” Jennifer asked; her mouth wide open.

“No, but I swear I didn’t know,” Ava whispered, one single tear running down her cheek.

For a moment, Jennifer could see the vulnerable fourteen year old girl Ava was, and not the hard façade she put on. Jennifer could see the girl who only wanted a mother who wouldn’t abandon her and leave her with a family she didn’t know, who would love her more than she loved power.

“It’s fine, Ava. I believe you,” she said softly.

Ava looked at Jennifer gratefully as the silence reigned over them again.

****

Another hallway was on the other side of the door. Aaron was limping his way forward, supporting his weight and cursing Drew softly. Rebecca rolled her eyes at his dramatics. She was sure Drew couldn't have hurt Aaron this much. He was two inches taller and broader than Drew, and she also knew Drew would be too preoccupied with his mind to even think about using his power.