Challenging Directions - Book 1 (Completed)

Chapter 18 - Waking

After Sir Atticus woke up, Lani and Enya stayed with him. Rai and Riac stayed outside the door in case of emergencies. Everyone went to wait for the others to wake up, Arrio and Mia with Louis, Corin and George as back up. Ashe with Moss, Nandin making sure he is not a traitor, still un-trusting, but not letting Enya know. Lani asked Fia to guard Ercan, so no one messed with him. Kalila with Kai, she volunteered.

Louis was the first to get up, and the first person he saw was Arrio. He jumped up and grabbed him by the throat. Louis' eye started glowing and before Arrio could react he was thrown against the walls. Mia came up behind him, kicked his shin to get him to her level and hit his temples. She only hit him hard enough to stun him.

"DO. NOT. TOUCH. HIM. AGAIN." She helped Arrio up, not looking at Louis. Mia sat Arrio on the bed and looked at him, making sure he was okay. "Everything is fine." She said to Corin who had burst through the door.

"Okay.." He stared at Louis, backing up, George behind him.

"Why are you helping them." Louis asked still confused.

"Because they have shown me the side I was really on, not the one I thought I was on..." She responded still worried about Arrio, who refused to go to the infirmary.

"I-I don't understand." He looked like he wanted to cry. "You-you want to be with killers and people, who-who-who broke Ercan's leg!" He started shouting.

"If you would stop being a big baby, maybe you would!" She turned around, eyes wide with anger. Louis actually took a step back.

"Fine.. Explain it." He nodded after a while, wanting to understand her.

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Moss was next, when he saw Ashe, he hugged him. He looked so worried, and Ashe was taken aback. Unsure of how to respond, he patted his back.

"Why. Are. You. With. Them." He said not wanting to yell at his oldest friend.

"It is hard to explain." Ashe started, suddenly finding it hard to speak. "They-They are my sisters." He managed.

"Sister?!" Moss scoffed. "You don't have sisters, I would know."

"You do kn.. you did know." Ashe stopped trying to figure out how to say this. "It is about our past, what you can't remember.. What has been changed. What."

"I remember everything I need to." Moss cut him off.

"This is why it is so hard." Ashe sighed. "You are unwilling to listen." Ashe went to leave.

"No!" Moss shouted. "Tell me, if you have sisters what else am I forgetting? What are we cousins? Were we friends before? Who are you? WHO AM I? Explain!" He was now in Ashe's face.

"FINE!" Ashe pushed him back. "You want to know? I will tell you." Moss looked a little taken aback never has he seen Ashe look so mad, or heartbroken.

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Afterwards it was Ercan. He was laying in bed under his covers hiding from Fia. It took her a while to notice he was up, and went she went to give him water, was shocked at how he recoiled. 

"It is okay." She was still confused, but tried to be calm and gentle, like Lani. "I won't hurt you." 

He was back up against the wall now, his face looked like a lost puppy, and it broke her heart a little. She backed up. 

"Please. I don't want to scare you. Just make sure you are feeling better." Fia pointed to his now healed leg. 

"Oh." He looked down, forgetting all about his injury. "Th-thank you." He looked surprised. "But, why?" 

"Hmm?" Fia looked confused. "Oh, you mean why are you healed?" She was amused. "Believe it or not but violence is not our thing. We believe in peace, and humanity. But that speech is for later." She chuckled. "Right now my mistres- I mean captain wants me to protect you, and make sure you are okay." 

"Oh, thank you." He looked at her and smiled. "What, what are you going to do with us?" He was suddenly worried again. 

"That is up to you. You can join us, or... well... I don't know the rest..." Fia blanked. "I am just the muscle." She laughed at her joke which eased Ercan's mind.

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Kalila was next to the bed crying when Kai woke up. He was startled and wondered if he could trust her. But seeing her there broke his heart. 

"Don't cry!" He said hugging her from behind. "Please."

"You-your awake?" She was surprised, this was the first time she had let her guard down. He could have killed her.. Why didn't he? 

"Why were you crying?" He asked. 

"I am worried." She said without thinking. 

"Why?" He let go and looked at her. 

"If you don't join, I am worried that they will kill you." Tears flowed again. 

"But, why are you worried abut me?" He looked confused, hope flowed through his body, but he quickly crushed it. It is a trick he told himself. 

"The same reason you hugged me." She said avoiding his eyes. 

"I-I don't believe you." He said backing away. Her eyes looked hurt and the sound her hand made when it hit his face hung in the air. 

"How dare you tell me how I feel!" She lashed out. "You don't know me! You don't know anything. You don't even know who you are really working for! You are just a stooge!" She started sobbing again, and even though his face hurt and he had so many questions, he held her tight. 

"I am sorry." He said. "I-I" He struggled to find the right words to fix his mess. Instead he took her face and kissed her. He surprised himself, and her, but she didn't fight. No, she deepened it. It was decided in that moment, he was joining them. For her, he would never leave her side. Ever.