Beyond

Skylar

I woke up to a loud bang. It sounded like lightning struck right next to me. I looked up and saw Theo in front of me. I grabbed his hand and slid out of the blankets. Everyone else was up and standing already.

"What was that?" May whispered.

"I don't know," Peyton answered in the dark.

"Sam, what time is it?" Alex asked as Sam had turned the electric clock around to block the light.

"5:37 am" Sam answered. A light came from the staircase. My heart pounded in my ears as I heard multiple footsteps step onto the staircase. I held my breath. What seemed to take hours that also took seconds for the footsteps to come up the spiral stairs. I was blinded by a bright light and shielded my eyes. 

A moment later, my eyes adjusted. And there, standing at the top of the stairs, was a large man in a swat uniform. My stomach released as I realized that our parents had found us. Well, not our parents but the police. 

"Theodore Arena?" the man asked Theo as he stood between me and the stranger.

"I am," he responded.

"That must mean you are Skylar Jones?" He asked. 

"Yes." 

He looked around at the others. "Oh my god. It's all of you?" 

"All but the baby from six months ago," Peyton told him. "Enough small talk. I want to see my sister!" 

We walked down the stairs and were met with three more people in the same gear. We followed them up the maze of stairs. At the top, we saw many adults handcuffed to each other or behind there backs. 

"Wait let her go," Peyton told them. "That woman there. Her name is Six."

"She saved my cousins," Theo told them.

"No, it's ok. I made my bed its time for me to lay in it." Six told us.

Theo finally let go of my hand and made them remove her handcuffs. When he started back to me he stopped, closed his eyes and put his hand to his head.

"You ok Theo? Sam asked.

"Yeah, just a little light-headed," Theo said continuing to stand next to me. I saw Ryan give a small smile.

"What did you do?" I asked aloud. "He did something."

"What do you mean?" the swat team said.

"Him. Theo said he was lightheaded and Ryan smiled. He did something to him." I explained.

"Sky...we were only here a couple of days...what could he have don't to me?" Theo asked.

"I don't kno-" I stopped midsentence as Theo collapsed. I wasn't strong enough to keep him up but I was able to slow his fall. 

"Oh my god." A woman swat member said before talking into her walkie-talkie. 

"Theo, Theo wake up," I said to him. May, who was closest, checked his pulse. 

"He's freezing," May said moving her hand to his forehead.

"Here." Six gave us the sweatshirt she was wearing. I held Theos head in my lap.

It didn't take long for the paramedics to get to where we were. They lifted him onto the gurney. I held his hand as we got off the boat. 

"Peyton?" May said. "Are we going home?" 

"Yes, we are," Peyton explained. (2/15/19)