The Awakening

Chapter Twenty-One

     What happened?
Andrew?
    Ella, what happened? They say you went mad!
Where am I?
    I don't know you disappeared we have no trace on you.
Emma, and Frost?
    They must be with you, we don't know where they are either. All our trackers were lost.
Our?
    Yes, Ella, they tracked you. I guess we all have one, but yours is gone.
We?
    They, well I made them believe me.
What do you mean?
    It was me... I thought I killed you...
You sent that missile!
    I'm sorry! I had to, it was the only way...
No, Andrew no. Do not be sorry. You are in with them now?
    Yes, and I also know something else.
What is it you know?
    It's about Emma. Ella, it wasn't her fault.
What do you mean?
    The facility forced Devin to mess with her mind. They threatened and tortured him.
What? What are you saying?
    I am saying they thought this might happen, that you would escape.
How?
    They know you are powerful. They thought because you cared so much for her, you would never hurt her, no matter what she did to you. They were right, but they had a flaw in the plan.
What was the flaw?
    She was too strong. Your friendship was too strong.
Wait so Devil did this?
    Ella no-
He made her hate me!
    Ella, they hurt him!
I don't care!
    You have done the same!
What...
    Ella... I am so sorry...
No, you're right. I have...
    Ella! Please, I didn't mean-
I have to go.
    Don't go!
    Ella?
    "Ella stay!"

    I sit up with Emma leaning over me. I look around, trying to figure out where we are, but there is no snow on the ground beneath me.
    "Where are we?" I question, looking straight at Emma for answers.
    "I thought..." It is just now that I notice the tears forming in her eyes. I have never seen Emma cry. Not even when she is hurt.
    "What?" I ask, turning my body as she hugs me. I am starting to get worried.
    "I thought you were dead!" She cries to me, pulling away to clean herself up.
    "How could I leave you? You would be so bored without me," I smile, which makes her laugh.
    "Where did you bring us?" She then asks.
    "What do you mean?" The puzzled look on my face explains too much, and she is already on me.
    "You let your stone take over again? That is why your eyes went so blue! Ella, you could have died!" She accuses, her smile fading to a frown.
    "Listen I don't remember anything after we went through that portal thing. I knew what was happening, I just want in control," I say calmly, but I am not helping my case.
    "Well after that we all ended up here. You healed Frost's wounds, but then fell over, and have been unconscious for three days!" She exclaims, throwing her hands in the air.
    "Oh look who finally decided to join us," Frost adds, and I whip around to see him, carrying a dead turkey over his shoulder. The cuts that used to cover his face, are now simple pink lines, and I am shocked by how fine he looks. He doesn't even have a limp.
    "Yeah, and she is lucky to be alive right now," Emma says angrily, giving me a death stare that makes me laugh.
    "Seems fine to me," Frost smiles, sitting down a couple feet away from us as he plucks the feathers of the bird.
    "This is not funny!" Emma fumed, but I can't stop laughing. I grab my stomach and fall backwards in giggles.
    "Oh have I ever missed you!" I laugh, wiping tears from my eyes. Emma stares at me with anger, but when I break out into another fit of giggles, she can't help but smile.
    "How did that ever happen?" She chuckles, watching me roll around on the grass.
    "Devin," I say, finally serious.
    "Oh, Ella will you give it a rest!" She rolls her eyes.
    "No! It wasn't his fault though," I tell her, tentatively.
    "What do you mean?" She asks, raising her eyes at me, and I begin to explain. I explain how Andrew has been talking to me, and how he told me what happened with Dein, and how I was so sorry that I didn't see it. She lets me talk, not interrupting me once, and when I am done she smiles.
"Why are you smiling?" I ask, looking at her sideways.
"Because they try too hard," she grins, finally looking at me with emotion in her eyes.
"Who does?" I ask, confused.
"They forgot how much I care for you, and how I am stronger than a simple mind game," and now it is her who is laughing. I look at her and smile. I finally feel something I haven't felt around her in what seems like forever. I feel the warmth between us, and I can't stop myself from breaking down my side of everything that has happened since she went on that mission.
"Wait so you blew up a stage?" She asks, taking in my every word.
"Yeah, it was awful," I moan, but when she smiles I smile back without hesitation.
"Hey!" Frost yells from where he has lit a fire with a bird cooking across the dancing flames.
"What?" Emma sasses, which makes me snort.
"Are you guys eating or what?" He asks picking up the stick holding the bird. Emma and I move closer to the fire and pulling off the legs of the turkey.
"Could use some barbeque sauce," I say, glancing at Frost.
"Oh yes, and some spice would help too," Emma smiles, and we both look at the scowl Frost gives us, and laugh. As the sun begins to set, we lay on the soft grass on the forest floor. Our suits keep us warm as we begin to drift to sleep, but just as I about to drift off, I feel Emma's hand slip into mine. Smiling, and with my heart full of joy, I fall into a deep, peaceful sleep.