Deep Down

Momentary Peace

"Guys, I want you to start going. Fast. Hailey, stay close to Aiden and Dakota. Vale and I are going to strengthen this area up, we'll catch up later." Devina sternly ordered.

Aiden started to sprint into the opposite direction, Dakota had a scared look on his face. I took one last glance towards the beautiful lake, not sure of what was going to happen next. I took off sprinting, slightly behind them. Aiden slowed down so I could be beside him, he and I made eye contact. We're on the run, we are hungry, we are tired, we're scared and uncertain. Dakota's lip was trembling and by the way, his chest was rising up and down, I could tell that he was panicking.

I looked at Aiden as were running, weaving in and out of trees. He tried to look like he wasn't worried, but he was. We all were. I bit my lip.

"Aiden, where are we going?" I huffed.

"Somewhere, I don't know where, but somewhere." He replied.

We continued at full speed until my lungs started to burn and my ribs hurt. I clenched my fist, forcing myself to continue. I kept telling myself that pain is just a feeling that tells you that you're still alive. But my legs were going numb and I knew that I couldn't continue. Aiden was slowing down too. I bent over and rested my hands on my knees.

"Aiden I'm sorry but I can't continue." I apologized.

"It's okay, we need a rest too," He looked around for a moment, "Let's rest in a tree while we wait. We're a good distance away so we should be fine.

Aiden had let Dakota back on the ground as he looked for a tree that we could climb, and had good coverage just in case too. After a few minutes of looking, Aiden called Dakota and me over.

"Here. I'll lift you up there." He slightly lowered himself and cupped his hands so I could get up there.

I took the help and put my foot into his hands and felt as he lifted me up. He simply lifted Dakota up and Dakota instantly went into my arms. Aiden used his rough hands to make the way up the tree by himself. We all had calmed down by now.

"Hailey, I'm hungry." The littlest of the three said.

"I'm sorry, soon we'll get something." I gave him a wide smile, I realized that we had left the basket of berries back with Devina.

I rubbed his back as he hugged me. My hair is growing too long, and it's basically one big mess. Aiden and I had made eye contact, but I quickly looked away. I wasn't mad anymore, instead, my mind was flooding with questions about what was happening with Vale and Devina. Had the scientists found them? Are they on their way right now to come to find us? Aiden rested his hand on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring squeeze

"I'm sorry for overreacting." I genuinely apologize.

"No, it's fine. I shouldn't have done that in the first place. I'm sorry that I caused this situation between us." He gave me a smile that made me happy in my mind.

"Thank you for being here with us, protecting us." I thanked him.

"Hey, I would just about do anything to keep you guys safe."

I smiled at him and stroked Dakota's hair, he gave me another smile and made my heart flutter. I guess I just needed that reassurance right now.

Dakota kept his grip on me tight, even though he and Devina were the closest ones to nature, I'm sure he could feel what was going on. We were all dense, but out of all us, he had no control as feel the unnaturalness in the air. I glanced over at Aiden, he was wrapping leaves around sticks then breaking him. I couldn't imagine how he must feel, not knowing what was happening with his twin.

I rubbed Dakota's back with one hand and played with his hair in a relaxing way with the other. I looked over at Aiden.

"Hey, look," I said, directed towards the older male.

He looked at me with pained eyes. "At what?"

I looked towards the other trees, where vines hung, connected one tree to another. Light from the sun making its own designs from the leaves and branches. It was a long day for all of us, so the night had started to fall. Even though the pair hadn't come back yet, I tried to focus on the natural beauty around us.

"Aiden, try to pay attention to everything around us. They'll come back, they may even be on their way back now. Those two are good at setting up barriers, strong ones too."

"I know, but I just can't seem to fully pay attention."

I slightly shifted Dakota to my right side and scooted over to Aiden. My right hand was still rubbing Dakota's back. I put my left hand on Aiden's forearm and rubbed my thumb up and down it.

"Everything will be okay," I pointed to the bases of the trees."See all the flowers?"

"Uhm, yeah?" He questioned.

"Look at all the flowers and the moss on the rocks. It's on the trees too, I wonder how long all this has been here."

He put his hand on mine and gave me a smile. Next, to that I know, he's jumping from the tree and heading over to the flowers. He crouched down so I couldn't see him, what was he doing? He was there a few minutes and kept on glancing my way every now and then.

The male climbed up the tree, with one hand behind his back. How in the world could he climb with one hand? He sat next to me and told me to close his eyes. I took a deep breath in and did as he told me to. I felt something light go on the top of my head. A flower crown.

"This is to make up for earlier. I'm sorry," He gave me that smile of his, "That looks beautiful on you."

My heart skipped a beat, "Thank you Aiden."

"Don't thank me." He chuckled.

"Already did and you can't do anything about it." I laughed back.

I looked over to Dakota and realized that he had his eyes closed, but I could tell that he was pretending to be sleeping so he could eavesdrop on our conversation. I poked his nose.

"Hey silly," I let him know that I was aware of his act, "You might want to stop pretending to sleep."

His eyes shot open, "How did you know?!" He exclaimed.

"I know everything." I scrunched up my nose and furrowed my eyebrows.

"Hmph." He noticed the flower crown and gasped. "Hailey! You look like a princess!" He took the flower crown to examine it more. This was also my first time seeing it, as I just felt it and knew that is what it was.

It was truly beautiful. Purple, white, blue and pink flowers weaved in and out. Green leaves poked through, showing the beauty of it all. My hands scanned through it, feeling the softness of the flowers.

"Aiden, how do you know how to make this?" I questioned.

"Devina taught me. When we were little they made us exercise our abilities. I never thought it'd come in handy though." He laughed

We were interrupted by the sound of leaves crunching and twigs snapping. Someone was coming. Aiden jumped down first to check. "Come on! They're back!"

Dakota climbed on my shoulders as I made my way down the tree. Aiden was giving Vale a big hug, glad that they were okay. Dakota hopped off my shoulders and joined the hug.

"Is everything all right over here?" Devina came up to me and asked me.

"Yeah. It was fine. What about over there?"

"It's well secured. And what's that flower crown about?" She smiled.

"Aiden gave it to me, to show that he was sorry," I answered.

"Oh just to show that he was sorry? Right, okay." She smirked.

What was all that about? I was about to open my mouth to say something until I heard something in the air. We all looked up, helicopters.

"Everyone get down low and tread underneath the trees! Stay as low as you can, even if it means you have to crawl!" She commanded, and everyone followed, not questioning.

It wasn't long before we heard loud sounds of curse words and the sound of bullets bouncing off of the ice. Others were trying to slice through the vines. My heart was pounding.