Rise and Fall- The Fight Inside

Secrets That Kill

"I'm sorry, what did you say your name was again?" Ben asked.

"My name is Ryland Cross. Our sister, Bailey, our aunt Reagan, and this is my girlfriend Arielle." Ryland restated.

"Just double checking because I have heard mention of a Reagan from my mother before. I never knew who she was but apparently, she is a real person. Ryland, my mother has never mentioned having a brother or sister in my life. This has to be some kind of mix up but I don't think we are related." Ben explained.

"You don't understand! We were there, together. We were raised together for a short time but together! Reagan can confirm, she was there- she named us!" Ryland shouted.

"Calm down, Ryland. I can assure you we aren't related but I think it is time for you and your friends to leave." Ben remarked.

"No, please! You have to believe me! We are triplets- you, Bailey, and I! Ben, we are the last living members of the Loretta blood line. We have to carry on the legacy!" Ryland shrieked.

"I have no clue what you are talking about! Now, I said leave! Get out of my house or I am calling the cops!" Ben yelled at Ryland. 

Reagan and Bailey shook their heads and got up to leave. Ryland continued to sit on the sofa and stare up at Ben with tears in his eyes. Arielle stood next to Ryland, coaxing him to get up and leave. 

"Don't you see?! You can do things no other can do! If you are in as much pain as I am, please, tell me!" Ryland begged. 

Ben looked shocked from his words. He looked down at the ground. Reagan and Bailey waited by the door. As soon as Ryland had uttered the words, her head began to hurt. 

"Bailey, what's wrong?" Reagan asked as Bailey put her hand to her head in pain. 

Arielle glanced over to see Bailey stumbling towards her. She put her hands out., ready to catch Bailey as Reagan came running behind her.  Bailey stood tall in front of Ben, ready to reveal his secret. 

"You liar..."  she began. 

"Excuse me?" Ben argued. 

Ryland and Reagan watched as everything became undone. 

"You, you looked it up. You knew you could do things but you didn't tell anyone. You didn't tell Lena or the kids- her kids. That night, you think you killed her but it was an accident. You had a dream about her dying, and you didn't think anything of it. The next morning, she didn't wake up. You didn't have anything left other than what Lena had left behind, Sam and Tovey." Bailey explained.

"Yes, yes it's true! It's all true! The cause of death couldn't be determined and I can't help but think I killed her! What was I supposed to do?" Ben cried. 

"You have to believe us! You are special in a way you can't fathom. You are gifted with unique powers, abilities. Most importantly, you are my brother..." Ryland exclaimed.

Ben stood still, squinting at Ryland. He stepped back some and looked to Ryland and then back at Bailey. 

"Are you trying to tell me I am your brother?" Ben asked.

"No, he just said 'you are my brother' because you guys are such good friends. Come on Ben! Get it together! Bailey, Ryland, and you are triplets- the only known triplets in the galaxy." Arielle barked.

Bailey side glanced at her. Arielle turned her head, knowing that Bailey was rolling her eyes. Ryland bit his lip as he watched Ben's countenance change from frightened and melancholy to confused and surprised. 

"What she said," Reagan added in.

Ben turned his attention from Arielle to Reagan. He stood with his arms crossed and a smug smile on his face. 

"Triplets? I am at least double your age!" Ben yelled.

"Calm down, I can explain. Time passes faster on Earth than it does where we are from. So on Earth, you might be twenty-five but home you are only sixteen. I am sixteen and so is my sister." Ryland worked up. 

"Okay, so I'm an alien from another galaxy who is sixteen. My father killed my mother and now I am supposed to reunite with my long lost brother and sister to fight evil with my superpowers." Ben laughed.

"Basically," Ryland confirmed.

"You're definitely insane. Superpowers are only in the movies, kid." Ben chuckled.

"I'm not crazy! They must have wiped your memory somehow! Ben, please remember- please!" Ryland cried. 

Reagan and Bailey grabbed hold of Ryland as he tried to push through them to get to Ben. Arielle turned her foot impatiently. At first glance, she didn't find what she was looking for but then she spotted a baseball bat leaning against the wall beside the staircase. 

"I'll be right back." Arielle announced. 

She quickly ran to grab the baseball bat and snuck up behind Ben.

"Arielle! No!" Ryland shrieked. 

Ben turned around to see Arielle with the baseball bat ready to strike. 

"Nighty, night." Arielle muttered as she swung. 

Reagan closed her eyes as the bat hit Ben's head.

"Nice one, Arielle. Good job, you killed him." Bailey yelled.

Arielle shrugged and dropped the bat beside Ben's body.

"Relax princess. I knocked him out. As much as I would have liked to kill him, I didn't- your welcome." Arielle barked.

Reagan raised her eyebrows looking at Ben collapsed on the ground.

"I guess that will have to work for now," Reagan stated. 

Bailey narrowed her eyes as Arielle crossed in front of her to help Ryland pick up her brother. Ben's body fell limply over her shoulders as Arielle and Ryland carried him out of the door. 

"What about the kids?" Arielle asked.

"I mean you could always knock them out too," Bailey answered sarcastically.

"No, no more. I will place a time freeze on the house. The children and everything else will be frozen in time so it will be as if  nothing will ever happen." Reagan planned.

Bailey nodded in agreement and watched eagerly as Reagan raised her hands. She held them even straight out in front of her. She closed her eyes and pictured time stopping. Bailey analyzed the clock hanging on the wall, waiting for it to stop ticking. Soon enough, she quite ticks of the clock hands became silent, cueing them to leave the house.

"Onward!" Bailey yelled as Reagan followed her out the door.