Tales of Aridia

Reborn

Rubbing off the blood was no use, it stuck to me like glue, forming like crust in between my fingers. I walked on ahead, my hands held in front of me. "Robyn?" Someone said, as I crawled along the floor, making sure the path was safe. The voice came from a man, standing a few meteres ahead. He stood oddly, perched over a rock eyeing my movements. His face was hidden with shadow but I could see the silhouette of a broad shouldered man with skinny legs and stoutly arms. As he walked forward he stepped into the light, "Hello, Robyn." He said, with a voice so familiar it was recognizable. "It can't be..." I whispered, not wanting to let my hopes rise. My heart beat fast, pumping out of my chest. "It's me," He said again, stepping closer. Two hands reached out of the darkness towards me, as I stood frozen in shock. "Jayden..." I whispered, holding my hand out. I shivered as something touched my fingers, then moved down into my palm. He clasped my hand and pulled me towards him. It was him...His dark hair brushed against my face as he hugged me. "It isn't safe here," He said, holding my head in his arms. I pulled myself away from his chest, looking up into his eyes. "You're dead," I said. 

Jayden smiled, picking up a piece of hair and throwing it behind my head. "But I'm here now," He said, his voice making my heart melt. "Your hands are like Ice," I said, tracing them with my fingers. "It's just cold," He said dismissively. Our hands parted and we walked along the path, staying close to each other. "We have to find Elliana and Max," I said, stopping us in our tracks. As we stepped down the slope I saw the last flickers of the fire, struggling to stay lit. Elliana lay fast asleep, curled in a small ball. Max lay on the other side of the fireplace, using a rock as a pillow. 

"Max," I whispered, prodding him with my shoe. His body rolled over and he woke with a start, bouncing onto his feet. "Who are you?!" He screamed, unable to see our faces clearly. "Max it's okay, It's me Robyn," I said. His frenzy stopped and he calmed down, wiping away the sweat that had collected on his forehead. He looked over to Elliana, who you could just about make out in the darkness. Jayden knelt down by the fireplace and used his powers to ignite it. Once it was lit, Max's eyes fell upon Jayden, in disbelief he stumbled forward. "How are you here?" He asked, still in shock. "I don't know," Jayden said, shrugging his shoulders. Max frowned with a sense of suspicion. "Who are you?" Max asked, rubbing his forearms as he shivered in the cold. "Well it's me, Jayden." He replied, looking at me for help. The air was filled with silence, as Max stared awkwardly at Jayden, unsure of what to make of it. The silence was broken when someone wondered through the trees and into the opening, standing in our view. The person reached down to his knees, placing his hand on each one. He panted as he regained his breath. "Who are you?!" Jayden yelled, jumping in front of me. The figure came into the light, gesturing his hands for a hug. 

It was Jayden, but it couldn't be. There were two of them. Their eyes locked onto each other, staring up and down, examining one another. Max leaped into action, standing between them both as he sensed the growing tension. He placed his hand on the other Jayden's chest. "Where did you come from?" He asked. The other Jayden stuttered, still bewildered as he pulled his eyes away from the Jayden which I had found. "I was just here," He said, filling Max with doubt. "Just here?" Max questioned, removing his hand from his chest. The other Jayden nodded slowly, staying still and submissive. I walked out from behind Jayden, to face the other. They stared at me from both sides, putting me in the spotlight.  "Robyn," They said, in unison. The eeriness of their voices crawled up my spine, chilling me and Max. Elliana rolled over in her sleep, to face the fire. As the heat hit her she tensed and rolled back over, not waking up. I raised my finger to my lips, "shh," I whispered, gesturing to Elliana. Their eyes fell upon the girl who was sound asleep, both smiling in the way Jayden did. 

The peace did not last for long, when suddenly I was tossed to the ground by a force. The fire raged into the sky, shining bright over where we stood. I could just about make out the figure looming above me. Her short black hair dangled in my face, with a fringe covering the scars that ran along her forehead. Her lips were purple and as she smiled, you could see the blood pour from her gums, mixed with yellow puss. "Hello Robyn," Lucy  said, grinning as she pinned my head into the floor with her foot. Both Jaydens rushed forward, but Max struck his arms out, stopping them. Lucy removed her foot gently, letting me face her. I grabbed her leg and chucked her to the side, watching as her neck whipped back and smashed against a rock. She yelled in anger, pulling herself to her feet. "I was surprised you made it out alive," She said, flustered. I was flooded with guilt when reminded of how Jayden died for me. Lucy smiled, taking joy in her torture. "Let me explain what's going on here," she said, pacing back and fourth, on a leg that limped as she walked. "Before dawn you must decide which Jayden is real and which one is not, The fake must be killed with a dagger through the heart. If you have chosen correctly his body should turn to dust, but if you don't they will both die very human deaths," She explained, placing her hand above the fire and smiling as the embers sizzled into her skin.