The Lost Gems

Chapter 23

March 11 1,034
9:00

Aqua's POV

''Be careful Breccia!" I yelled as my little sisters hair almost went into the candle she was about to light.

"Sorry sissy!" The child looked up at me and said. I stared into her pale grey eyes. Color or not they were still beautiful.

"Here let me help you with that." I replied as I took her hands into my own, we lit the candles one by one. We had to be patient for the flame to catch onto the wick. Sometimes it would catch right away and other times it would start to burn then would go out. I didn't mind. It was quality time that I got to spend with my sister, while also teaching her a lesson on being patient as well as careful.

"Aqua, Go and call everyone into the dining room so we can sing happy birthday before the candles blow out!" She yelled out to me in excitement and I only chuckled.

I called everyone into the dinning room quickly so Breccia wouldn't freak out. As soon as everyone stood around the table she screamed something along the lines of 'hurry sing sing before the candles blow out!' She was such an innocent little girl. On my sisters count everyone sang Happy birthday to me in an off but soothing pitch.

"Make a wish." My mother cooed as everyone intently stared at me with wide grins, waiting for me to blow out my candles. I took a deep breath, held in my thoughts and wishes, and blew out the candles all at once.

The swift motion must have woke me up from a deep sleep. I sit up with a wide grin on my face remembering what day it is today. I think of the dream that I had just woken up from. My lips were unable to break from the smile that was permanently pasted onto my face. I hadn't seen my sister in two years. After she and the rest of my family had died I had only memories left of them. No pictures, no videos, no items that had held great sentimental value to me. Only bittersweet memories that would eventually fade. After they had been gone for around a year the dreams had stopped occurring . Tanz, Diamond, and I were living in a lonely world with only the three of us to keep each other sane. My greatest fear was forgetting my family. They were the ones who always assured me that everything was going to be ok. But was it really? They had lost their lives protecting mine. And now I am barely holding onto only mere memories of my mother, father, sister, and brother and it broke my heart. I owe them everything I have, and everything I am. It broke my heart when the dreams stopped happening but I could only be mad at myself, I prayed and prayed I'd have a dream just so I could seem them all together again. It was a birthday wish come true and I couldn't contain my happiness being able to see them, only though it was just a dream.

Today is my 18th birthday. 18 years ago on this date my parents brought a blue eyes baby into this world, blessing or not it ultimately cost them their lives. I have to do this for them and my siblings. This day was usually one that a person would celebrate but given my conditions it was a date that determined my parents fate and changed my life forever.

My plan was to keep this day a secret so nobody could feel bad for me but I blew that yesterday. Hopefully they will forget it is my birthday. Just as I think that Clay sits up from his sleep and looks strait at me.

"Hey birthday girl!" He says as he's stretching out his arms. (Well that didn't last long I think to myself.) I reply with a thank you, get up , and give him a big hug. Everyone else seems to still be sleeping.

"What's the plan for today?" I ask him

"Well we have the flowers, I know a way to get them into the air vents. There's just going to be problems with that." He said while looking down in the dirt. He can tell I'm confused and I ask what's wrong with that plan.

"The down fall of that plan is Genieth. He's not a mutant, he won't be affected by the odor of the flower. But it will effect all the other mutants and that makes things a lot easier for you girls." Which lead him into his next point. " Rod and I cannot go into the base and help you girls out. I'm sorry but your going to have to do this all on your own, unless you want to loose Rod and I also."

"You guys have already sacrificed enough for us, and we had only met but a few days ago. I feel bad enough that you are going back to the place you had escaped from." I replied. I totally understand why Clay and Rod can't go back into the base, I wouldn't want them too anyways.

"Speaking of our escape I'm going to draw a complete map of the inside of the base and show you were the air vents can be located and the areas that they effect. Rod and I were able to escape because of a secret tunnel we found within the base. We believe it to be an old escape that was buried underneath the base. We were able to find this one day while cleaning the tiles in one of the supply rooms we realized the grout was worn and was able to lift the tile revealing a cover and ladder that led into a tunnel and draining system. It was the perfect escape. We were able to cover our tracks and buy us some time. We will lead you to the exit of this drain cover and you will be able to enter directly into the base." Clay explained. "But we have to go soon and very soon because of Sal. Geneith is a cruel man and I can only imagine what he has done to Sal so far." Clay said. I appreciated his honesty even though it terrified me. His words only prove how serious this is to all of us, it's a case of life or death.

Clay draws a map of the base with a piece of paper I had brought in my bag. He draws everything very detailed. Around 20 minutes later he hands me a very detailed and complete drawing of the base with all hallways labeled exits and entrances, but most importantly the vent system and the tunnel entrance. In the middle of the base is a circular hallway with another hallway cutting through the middle horizontally. I remember this shape, it is the sign of the Onyx . It is an O with a horizontal arrow cut through the middle. It is a sign of evil in my eyes and it is very unfortunate that it has been branded on the necks of Clay and Rod, two individuals who do not deserve this mark in any way. Clay marks all possible rooms that Sal may be hidden in and with every mark he makes on the map the more hope I have. The tip of the arrow was Geneith's office. The only question is do we save Sal first or do we put the flowers in the vents?

I think to myself about all the different possibilities. How do we not get caught? There are no women inside this base besides the Grey woman, there going to know when they see us that we are not one of them. Situations like these kept passing through my thoughts and it was beginning to stress me out.

While I was thinking everyone else began to wake up. We needed to get out of here soon. For Sals sake and our own. If we were going to do this and succeed we are going to need more than just a flower and a map.

11/18/18

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