24 Dreams Of You And Me

83) Robb's Words

"Words can inspire. And words can destroy. Choose yours wisely."
-Robin Sharma

***

Robb went back inside and told everything to Levi.

"It does make sense," Levi said. "The second Alyssa touched it, Aradia knew it. Because her life is tethered to it."

"But that also makes everything that more difficult. We desperately need and she'll protect it with everything she has." Robb added. "Not to mention, she'll sense we have it so we can't even trick or stall her off."

"Great."

"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it, right now we need to figure out the Garden's exact location." Robb said and started packing his stuff.

"Where are you going?"

"Alyssa can't be moved out of there yet." Robb replied. "We have to search for the Garden so I figured Rachel and I would do that while you stay with Alyssa."

"I thought you didn't want to put Rachel in danger by keeping her around you." He smiled knowingly.

"Oh," Robb rolled his eyes. "You know how it works."

Levi laughed.

"While I spend my moments with Rachel, you make sure to get her back. We don't have much time. Rectify the problem you caused by lying."

The smile got wiped off from Levi's face.

Robb zipped his backpack close and hung it over his shoulder. He removed his ring and gave it to Levi.

"I don't think this is safe out there."

Levi nodded. He took it and shook his hands with him. "We're almost there. Good luck."

"To you, too." Robb said and walked out.

On his way, he stopped for a second and headed down to the dungeon. He stood at the door and watched Alyssa's half unconscious figure.

"This may be it, Alyssa." He called out.

She lifted her head up and saw him.

"I've never known you," he said, "but mother would be proud to have a niece like you. I'm sure Uncle John already is. You're a strong girl, Alyssa. You'll be just fine and you'll be a good leader. It was nice to have met you at least once in my lifetime. Even after all this, I don't know if we'll ever meet again."

Alyssa's narrowed eyes stayed glued at him. His words were heartwarming to the girl who had trusted her cousin brother when she met him first time in 22 years of her life. The girl, who even after being betrayed, wanted to reconcile and understand him.

"I wish you strength to get yourself back and I know you will." He smiled before saying, "Levi won't leave you behind. He really cares about you. When you went missing, he was driving him crazy. And I get it, it's something similar to how I already feel knowing that Rachel and I can never be together."

She didn't even blink as his words soaked in on her.

"Give him the credit he deserves. This is hard for him as well whether he admits or not. And I know all this business between you two will create more troubles back home, it'll be mom and dad all over again but as a part of the family it makes me think.. was it such a bad thing? Because I see mom and dad as the happiest couple there is."

He smiled fondly at the memory of his parents teasing each other, celebrating any family occasion, let it be their anniversary, Renee, Ian or Robb's birthday, how Steven made sure Victoria felt at home when they were newly married. After all, Victoria had lost half a tribe and a brother. She made herself sick in worry of John and how he would manage revolting people all the way across the ocean in a foreign land with foreign people alone.

But John had Lauder blood pumping through him. Leading came natural to him.

Robb respected John immensely so he didn't hesitate to say, "you have Lauder blood pumping through your veins, as do I. So I know you will fight your way out. Goodbye, Alyssa."

Alyssa's eyes moved as Robb walked out of her vision. She didn't show any emotion but even her silence was a sign here. She had listened without any interruption by pointing out that she didn't care and that she'll kill him and everyone he knows.

No. She was silent.

Robb had no clue about the impact his words had had.

....

Robb started his journey back to Seattle. He called Rachel and they decided to meet in the middle so that they can go on together.

When they met near a highway, Crystal took her leave to persuade the Angels to help with the spell in the cemetery and the Garden door.

As Robb and Rachel drove silently, he couldn't help but think how these were his last potential last moments with her.

No one knew what the outcome would be. They could succeed.. or they could not.

Aradia might have a secret way out or something that everyone is unaware of. The risk was at its peak.

He didn't wish to have any regrets when it came to her. That's why he had decided to spend time with her in the first place.

He glanced at her. She was looking straight ahead without a trace of worry on her face.

The evening was getting dark and they still had hours of driving to do.

"I wanted to tell you something." He spoke nervously.

"If it's about how everything is coming to an end and how you feel letting me go, then save it." She replied without looking at him.

He felt a dark and heavy burden in his core.

He turned her head to look at him. "You think I don't know you? All this silence, that stupid brooding face of yours.." she chuckled.

He immediately changed his expressions to a blank one.

"We don't have to talk about this, Robb, because there's nothing to talk about. You'll be fine and so will I. What else?"

"Uh, the part in between where we won't be together?"

"But we'll be fine." She insisted. "At the end, that's what matters. And look how better this realm will be without Aradia. Even Earth. Everything will be better."

"Your optimistic nature is so cliché." He playfully rolled his eyes.

She hit him.

"Don't hit the driver!" He shouted.

"I'm already dead." She shouted back.

"I don't know how I feel about you being casual enough to joke about it." He said amusingly.

"You feel proud of me. And now we're gonna go Seattle. Search every corner of that area and soon the Angels will be here to break the spell and we'll have your brother safe and secure-"

"Speaking of Angels," Robb interrupted. His brooding face back on. Rachel silently turned towards him, realising that he brought something up twice so it must be serious.

"I.. I don't want you to be mad, alright? I think you should know everything before it's too late to tell."

"Stop beating around the bush. You're scaring me." She said anxiously.

He juggled around with words for a while, trying to make out the right ones. When he failed, he just used the ones that came to mind.

He told he about the deal he had made with Alyssa to resurrect her and the price he had to pay.

Overwhelmed was the word that maybe began to describe her emotions.

Robb had no clue about the impact his words had had.

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