The Pale Cage

Chapter 13

“Montmore?”

Raeburn's eyes flashed open. He had heard her, he had heard her voice. “ROANGY!” Raeburn yelled. He sat up, but he could not see an exit. Then a light shined above him. Looking up at the sky, a hole was being made in the fabric of the memory. Roangy slipped through it and landed like a cat on the ground. The hole healed itself and vanished. She was grown now. Raeburn couldn't stop himself from giving her a hug. He was ashamed of how scared he had been. He thought he was going to be trapped for forever.

“Montmore...where are we?” Roangy asked, returning the hug. Raeburn pulled back, concern etching deep into his face. He held tightly to her hand.

“This is what really happened.” He led her back to her room, where it had all begun. “The truth that was stolen from you and your brother. Its painful, but you need it. You deserve the truth.”

Roangy looked around the room until it flickered and rewound. She held Raeburn's hand tightly as she watched it all play out... She didn't cry when it ended. She sighed. Releasing her hate for Amewen in that one metaphysical breath. She tugged at Raeburn's hand. “We don't need to see it again, its time for us to wake up.”

“I couldn't agree more.” Raeburn answered her and this time, a new door appeared where it should have been before. It had been restored and fixed and it led back to her consciousness. Raeburn and Roangy stepped through it hand in hand.

Raeburn dropped his fingers from her temples. He sagged in his seat. He had been in her head much longer than what was safe and he was drained. Roangy opened her eyes and blinked as fresh tears flitted down her cheeks.

“They're awake!” Orrin announced. Amewen, Roanby and Kathrin gathered around them. Roangy turned to Roanby and hugged him.

“They were right, he isn't our grandfather...and it wasn't Amewen who killed them. Grand- He...he killed our parents and took us...changed our memories. Everything he had told us was a lie.” Roanby had tears streaming down his cheeks and he held his weeping sister.

“So its okay if I go without punishment, then?” Amewen asked.

Roangy's face crumpled and she hid it in Roanby's shoulder. “I'm so sorry.”

“Its okay.” Amewen took Roangy's hands into hers. “I was supposed to protect you and I failed. I am the one who is supposed to be sorry.”

“You protected us before...didn't you...?” Roangy asked.

Amewen nodded, her face was still solemn, “Me and Orrin...we were a team...”

“So there is no one left then...our grandfather is evil...and our parents and grandparents are dead. What will we do now...?” Roanby asked.

“What about your Uncle Ethan...?” Raeburn prompted, he was out of breath, and staying awake became difficult.

Roangy and Roanby looked to Amewen and she nodded. “Ethan is alive and well in America...we will take you to him, we'll travel with Ben tonight and as soon as we can we'll go back.” Amewen told them. “And also, Jackson and Elisha are still alive.”

“Who are they...?” Roanby asked.

“Ara's parents.”

“We still have grandparents who are alive...?” Roanby asked, he dare not believe nor trust the possibly that their story could have a happy ending. But when Amewen smiled and nodded; Roanby and Roangy cried tears of joy. They were going to have a family, a real family.

“That leaves you, Doctor...we need to find your Tardis.” Kathrin added.

Raeburn cast a weary glance towards her, “Actually, about that. I thought I would inspect that unidentified spaceship.” Raeburn told her.