The Twelve Heroes: Finding Our Identity (Editing)

Archery And Prophecies

Jason's P.O.V.

Phillip recruited me and taught me how to fight and defend myself. Those are valuable skills, but when you're outnumbered, it doesn't matter if you're trained or not. People think that once you're a trained fighter, you'll be tough in every situation. That may be right about some people. but that's not me.

Anthony and Valerie were the ones who suggested everyone take turns leaving the house. I didn't like that idea at all. No one else considered the dangers. I mean, take Sophie for example. She went on a walk and got captured. Vaughn could be watching us every second we leave the house. By now, he probably knows everyone's day to leave the house. Now he's waiting to make his move. Vaughn isn't dumb. He's cunning and deceitful. He won't make any mistakes when it comes to capturing us. 

When I took Sophie out, I had a feeling Vaughn was watching us. While we were driving to the closet archery ranger, a sleek, black car was following us. Just when I was about to head off course, it turned. Then, a blue van was following me. This time, Sophie told me about and suggested we head back. The blue van turned. This went on and on until we reached our destination. I knew we should've went back to the hideout, but I wanted Sophie to be able to do the one thing she loved to do.

"Thanks for taking me to do this." Sophie said as we headed over to an empty target.

I nodded my head in acknowledgement and stood back as she shot countless arrows towards the target. Every now and then she would glance over her shoulder to make sure I hadn't left. Eventually she stopped and stared at me for a long moment.

"You know you can talk, right?" She asked.

I just shrugged my shoulders.

She made a silly face and I smiled.

"One of your rare smiles." She commented as she turned back around to continue shooting.

I walked away and sat on a bench. Sophie continued shooting until she got bored. She gathered her arrows and came to sit next to me.

"The quiet, dark type." She announced.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"That's what you are. You don't talk much. Or even flash a smile now and then. You sulk around with your hood pulled around your face, acting like everyone is beneath your notice. I've never seen you without that hoodie, even on a hot Summer day. You always wear it with the hood up. I never get to see your perfect green eyes." She explained.

"I don't act like-" I stopped short when my phone rang.

Josiah was the one who called me. He was babbling so I couldn't understand him.

"Whoa, dude, slow down. Repeat all of that, please." I requested.

"Anthony went missing. He went on a walk by himself when I specifically told him not to. He asked Valerie for permission. Valerie! She's younger than him for crying out loud! She's acting like she's in charge of everyone. Then Austin went out to search for him and he never came back! Vincent rounded everybody up and we all went searching for them. There's no sight of them anywhere. That only means one thing has happened..." He explained in a rush.

"Vaughn took them. He's using them as bait to get Sophie. You have to get them back. I'll take Sophie back to the-" 

"No! Don't take her there! You guys need to get far away from there. I'm sure where you are now is fine, so-"

"No, Vaughn's men have been following us. Or someone has because it's always a different car. I'll take Sophie back to...somewhere. Don't worry it's far away and she should be safe. We won't stay long."

"You'll take her where? You must have gotten cut off."

"No, I don't want to risk saying it. Just in case Vaughn's men are listening in."

"Oh, good idea. I'll talk to you later then. Keep us posted!" Josiah hung up.

"What happened?" Sophie asked skeptically.

"I'll tell you in the car. We have to go." I gripped her bicep and pulled her along with me. She barely had time to grab her bow and sheath of arrows.

"Let...go!" She pulled away and stopped.

"Sophie, come on! I'll tell you in the car! We need to get out of here!" I yelled. She reluctantly followed me. She was going slow, so I grabbed her bicep again and pulled her after me.

Sophie's P.O.V.

Jason has never been that rough with me, so I knew that we had to leave. I didn't protest when Jason gripped my bicep. He kept glancing back over his shoulder, as if someone were watching us. For all I knew, someone was.

Thanks to Jason half dragging me, we made it back to the car fairly quickly. As soon as we were in the car, Jason took off. He wasn't wasting any time.

"Explain." I demanded as I rubbed my bicep.

"Anthony and Austin have gone missing. I'm taking you back to my house so we can figure out a plan. We can't go to any hideout because Vaughn knows where they are. Josiah says he and the others are searching for Anthony and Austin but are having no luck." He explained.

"Anthony...and Austin? I knew someone would go missing, but...I didn't know it would be them." I caught a picture of myself in the mirror. I looked stricken and a ghostly pale.

"You knew? Why didn't you say anything! We could have saved everyone! What else do you know?" He yelled.

I closed my eyes and tried to remember my prediction, "Someone will go missing. We will run. Vaughn will attack. Someone will die. The gods will help us. Then, they will be removed from us." I recited.

Jason gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.

"I'm sorry! I thought it was just me being paranoid! It was just a silly prediction! I didn't think it would come true!" I tried in vain to apologize.

"You have Zandra The Foreseer's knowledge. You've most likely received the gift of fortune telling, too. I'm sure you had enough sense to think that! I'm sure you thought that your prediction might be a prophecy! If you had told us this, we could've saved people's lives, Sophie! Don't you dare say that you never thought of that because I know you did!"

"You act like this is my fault! Even if I told you this earlier you wouldn't have been able to prevent the events that happened! You act like any of this affects you! It doesn't! Austin is my brother! He's my twin! Anthony was my boyfriend! He may have been your friend, but he was my boyfriend. They are the people who are most likely to get killed. If either of them get killed...it will be my fault and I'll have to deal with the guilt of their death forever!"

"It won't be your fault, Sophie. It will be Vaughn's fault." Jason said softly.

"You just said--Look, can you just please hurry up and take me to your house?" I turned to look out the window and let one tear slip out of my eye.

Maybe Jason was right. Maybe everything would be my fault. But, I can't afford to think like that. Not now. Not ever. 

We reached a red light and Jason sighed. He reached over and brushed away the tears the escaped against my will. 

"I'm sorry. All we can do is hope, now." Jason patted my back reassuringly.

"Hope is never enough." I whispered.

We sat in silence the whole ride to Jason's house. It was a long ride, and not because it was two hours long.