Rise and Fall- The Fight Inside

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Grainger could no longer keep his eyes open. He hadn't slept in days and all the missing sleep was finally catching up to him. He dreamed of his ideal life. Him and Sofia raising the twins on Albea Point. In his dream, they were happy. Everything was as it should be. Grainger's parents or Luka, Mackenzie, and Reagan would come over and watch Ryland and Ben as Sofia and Grainger went out on a mission. Eventually, Ryland and Ben were going to be sucked into the Ragnarok lifestyle. It was inevitable. Life was amazing, ecstasy. Grainger couldn't have been more happy. For one time in his life, he was free of all the problems and the evil that wears him down. He could be free to live the life he had always wanted to live- the life he deserved. Reagan's gentle tap on the shoulder was all it took to wake him from his fantasy. 

"Grainger, you've been asleep for days. We are on Earth." Reagan whispered.

Grainger sat up to a blinding light coming through the front windshield. 

"What is that?!" Grainger snarled.

"The sun." Reagan answered as Grainger raised his arm to deflect the bright rays of light from his eyes.

Grainger continued to wake up. He cracked his neck on one side and did the same thing to the other. Reagan handed him a cup of coffee. 

"Careful. It's hot." she warned.

"Did Ryland eat this morning?" Grainger asked wearily. 

"Yeah." replied a small voice. 

Grainger turned around slowly to see a small child.

"Ryland?" Grainger gasped.

"What?" Ryland asked.

Grainger was in shock. He looked down at his hands and then at Reagan.

"I told you that you've been asleep for a while." Reagan muttered.

"I didn't think that the ageing would catch up this quickly, it didn't for you and Luka," Grainger started, cutting himself off. 

"Luka and I were only here for a couple of hours. We have been here for almost a week." Reagan explained.

Grainger pulled himself from the reclined chair to gain a better view of Ryland.

"He looks just like his mother." Grainger murmured. 

Ryland had medium colored brown hair and the brilliant blue eyes like Grainger had. He also showcased light freckles across his face. 

"My mother? Who was she?" Ryland was quick to ask.

"He name was Sofia Loretta and she was the most amazing woman I've ever met. You look just like her." Grainger told him.

"Were is she now?" Ryland continued.

"Uh. She is gone. She passed away a little while ago. Sorry, Ryland." Reagan interjected.

"How did she die?" Ryland questioned.

"Wow. You are full of questions. How old are you? What- like five?" Grainger responded.

"Nine." Ryland retorted, raising an eyebrow. 

"I know what you did." Ryland barked.

Sheer panic washed over Grainger's face. Who could have told him? Could he read minds?

"What?" Grainger shrieked.

"Relax, dad. Not everyone can hide gifts well." Ryland expressed.

"Gifts?" Grainger replied, wiping the sweat from his forehead. 

Ryland pulled out of his pocket a cellphone.

"It's amazing, dad. Thanks." Ryland laughed.

Grainger fake laughed and side glanced at Reagan. She winked back at him, letting him know that she had gotten it for Ryland but let him take the credit. Grainger had not the slightest clue what this device was but he knew that Reagan got it for a reason. 

"Grainger, you should really talk to him. Ryland is extremely smart. He can tell you the model and origin of this ship." Reagan whispered as Ryland went to unbox his new gift.

"Really? I wander were he got that from." Grainger teased.

"I have no doubt it came from Sofia." Reagan replied. 

"Very funny." Grainger laughed.

He jumped up from his chair and went to find Ryland. He had never realized how big this ship was until he was trying to find a tiny person in it. 

"Hey Ryland," Grainger began as he spotted Ryland in his room. 

Ryland was sitting on the floor in front of his bookcase. He was holding a piece of paper in his hand. 

"Yeah?" Ryland answered, startled by Grainger's voice. He rushed to put the picture back on the shelf before Grainger could come in. 

"What are you looking at?" Grainger asked with caution.

"Nothing...I was just admiring the scenery." Ryland lied.

Grainger was surprised by Ryland robust vocabulary.

"You found it didn't you." Grainger sighed, walking over to the bookshelf.

"Is that mom?" Ryland questioned, sadness in his voice.

Grainger sighed, sitting down on his bed. He motioned for Ryland to come to him. Ryland stood on his tippy toes and grabbed the picture once more. He joined his father on the bed, sitting beside him. Ryland held the photo out to Grainger. His eyes were becoming glossy. Grainger smiled briefly as he watched Ryland's emotions change. Grainger grabbed the corner of the picture and stared back into Ryland's cold, blue, eyes.

"Yes." Grainger admitted.

"Dad, what happened to her?" 

"I...." Grainger began, his voice trembling. 

He was faced with the ultimate decision. He could tell his young son the truth about how he accidently killed his mother, his aunt Reagan killed Azalea, and how his brother was somewhere on Earth but he would risk loosing Ryland forever. Grainger loved they way Ryland looked at him with mystery in his eye. He loved that he finally had something, someone, to hold on to. Or he could lie and hope that Ryland never finds out. 

"What?" Ryland demanded.

"I'll tell you when you're older." Grainger compromised.

Ryland stared into Grainger's eyes. A small  voice in his head was telling him to explain what really happened to Ryland but he tried to fight it.

"I know you had something to do with her death. I can feel your guilt and sorrow." Ryland announced.

Grainger's jaw hit the floor. Ryland had discovered how to use his powers. But to what extend? He jumped up from the bed and brushed himself off. 

"I... that's enough for right now." Grainger gasped.

Ryland held out the picture and followed it with his eyes as it floated through the air, back onto the shelf. Grainger raised his eyebrows. If Ryland was able to do this without any formal training, who knows what else he could do.

"Ryland, did Aunt Reagan teach you how to do that?" Grainger questioned.

"No. I have always been able to do that." Ryland told him. 

"What else can you do?" Grainger asked, fearfully. 

Ryland held out one hand and it erupted in flames. He held out his other hand and ice formed around his fingers. Then he looked directly into Grainger's eyes again. Grainger knew what was about to happen. He slammed his eyes closed and tried to clear his mind of anything he didn't want Ryland to know. 

"I see much pain. Many deaths, Valarina. She nearly killed you but you felt remorse for her. You didn't want them to kill her. The roof, she was pushed." Ryland showed Grainger.