The Valley of Mysteries | Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 2 - THE OCTAVE

"You okay?" Aaron asked after catching his breath.
"Yeah, you?" Natalie replied, covering her arm with a cloth to cover the cut.
"It's still bleeding. Lemme take a look!" Aaron said.
"No, I'm fine. It's not that bad."
"Looks pretty bad to me!" Aaron was concerned as yet another drop of blood fell onto the ground.
"We have to keep moving. Let's get out of here!" Natalie stood up but Aaron pulled her back.
"Are you crazy? We're outnumbered!! We have to stay low until we have a way to escape."
"You've lost your mind? What if they find us?" Natalie tried not to yell.
"You haven't completed your education at Hale's but I have! I know just what is to be done. So shut up and follow my lead." Aaron said angrily.
"I DON'T TAKE ORDERS... FROM ANYONE!" she gritted her teeth.
"Yes, clearly! Because if you did, we wouldn't be here. We're in danger, running for our lives because of you. Now shut up and let me handle this." he ducked his head out of the groove to check. He could see at least 4 figures lingering towards the left and 7 on the right. He sat down and sighed heavily.
"What?" she asked, impatiently.
"We don't have a chance. At least, not yet. There's at least 11 of them."
"So, what do we do Mr-Know-It-All?" she scoffed.
"No need to be this cold. Put up all the acts you want but you aren't fooling anybody!" Aaron said, plainly.
"What act?"
"I know you're worried about your friends." Aaron turned towards her and placed his hand over her shoulder. "We'll find them. Just cooperate! Okay?"
"Mmm-hmm" she sighed. She looked around. There was barely any space to spread legs. She sat back and closed her eyes. Aaron crawled next to her and sat down. He cleared some space between them.
"Ignis!" he muttered and moved his hands in the air. A tiny ball of fire lit up. It was enough to keep light and provide some warmth.
"What if we don't make it?" Natalie looked at him, grimly. The gold of fire illuminated her face.
"Don't worry. We will. You'll see!"
"Hmm. What if something bad happened to Harrington and everyone else?" she started panicking. Aaron took her hands and squeezed them gently.
"You need to stay calm. As long as you listen to me, we'll be okay. And about your friends, if they're together and Sean is with them, they'll be okay. Now, you can take a nap, I'll keep watch. We'll take turns!" Aaron took a deep breath. He sat attentively. Natalie curled up next to him and closed her eyes.

*FLASHBACK*

"Ms Brown, what a pleasant surprise!!" an elderly woman squeezed Natalie into a generous hug.
"It's nice to see you too, Mrs Harrington." Natalie walked in and placed her coat on the back of the chair. She followed the fragrance of food and bumped into Edward.
"Being 'nosy', are we!!" he laughed.
"Urghh, your next joke is always more pathetic than the previous. When will your grandma stop calling me Ms Brown? And whatcha making?" she pointed towards a pan.
"She loves it that way. And... honestly, woman? Can't you see?" he picked up bread and a bowl full of garlic paste.
"Garlic bread... mmm!" she licked her lips.
"Not for you!" he smirked.
"Haww, why? I'll kill you if you don't give it to me!" she crossed her arms.
"That's precisely why! You always treat me badly. I hate you." he pouted and dramatically looked away.
"Seriously?" she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"You bought it?"
"No!" she kicked, and he jumped back. He gave her a plate full of bread and beckoned her to walk out with him.

"So, what brings you here, missy?" Edward asked.
"I think mom and dad are hiding something from me." Natalie placed her plate on the table and crossed her arms. Edward choked and started coughing. She passed her a glass of water and rubbed his back.
"What did you say?" he asked after a few seconds.
"Mom and dad are hiding something from me."
"Why, why... why would they hide anything from you?" he shook his head in disbelief, guilt filling him up.
"The other day, I heard them talking about something like - I can't know. they can't find me! Something like that."
"Who can't f-find you?" he fumbled.
"What's wrong with you?" she raised an eyebrow.
"N-nothing. Erkk, my throat hurts." he faked a cough. Natalie sighed.
"Nevermind. I think I'll head back." she got up and turned to leave.
"Wait, I'll walk with you!" Edward gathered himself and stood next to her.
"No need for that!"
"I have to go that way." Edward pulled her outside, picking up her coat.

"You're acting oddly. What's the matter?" Natalie asked.
"Uhh, nothing." he didn't meet her eyes.
"Look, I might be a crack-head when I'm angry. But you're my best friend. I know when there's something bothering you." she said. He sighed.
"I... I just miss my mom. This holiday stuff and all she used to do, I just miss that. My grams isn't that healthy to keep up. I've been trying but I end up giving up." his shoulders rose and fell in a heavy sigh.
"Oh, my God! I'm so sorry." she pulled him into a hug and patted his back.
"Thanks."
"Come with me. My mom loves holiday stuff too. I mean it won't be as great as your mom's but it's something." she smiled.
"Thanks. By the way, what's up with Scotty and you? Cooking something?" he winked.
"Pfft. Nothing much. He just smiles and leaves."
"That bad?"
"I don't really care."
"Yeah, right!"
"Hey! I ditched his match and came to that stupid play you never showed up for!!" she said angrily.
"Okay, okay! Calm down!!" he hugged her sideways while walking and squeezed her shoulder.
"So... any plans for tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?"
"It's Christmas and I'm turning 18..."
"Yeah, I bought you two gifts. Don't worry." he laughed.
"Yes!!" she whooped.

"Hello, Mrs Watson." Edward hugged Caitlyn.
"Hello, sweetheart!" she replied. Garry shook his hand as usual and they settled on the couch near the fireplace.
"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting the family time!" he rubbed his forehead.
"Rubbish! The more, the merrier." Garry smiled.
"I'll change and be right back!" Natalie ran upstairs.
"Before she comes back, listen close!!" Edward leaned forward and whispered. Caitlyn and Garry joined him.
"What is it, son?" Garry asked.
"She knows you're hiding something. Why aren't you guys careful before talking around her? Actually, that's not an important question. Why haven't you told her yet? You know it's dangerous. The sooner she finds out, the better." Edward hushed angrily.
"Don't look at me! Ask her!" Garry straightened up and pointed at Caitlyn. Edward turned to her.
"I just want her to be safe. And for her, away is safe!" Caitlyn said sternly.
"Mrs Watson, I know you want the best for her. You might be able to protect or hide her from the others. But what about her own self? Who's gonna save her from herself? She's losing control with every day passing. I can only do so much to protect her..." He furrowed his brows and looked at them. Caitlyn and Garry exchanged nervous looks.
"How do we tell her?" Garry asked.
"We are not..." Caitlyn couldn't complete her sentence when Natalie ran downstairs angrily.
"Tell me what?" she asked, appearing behind her.
"Umm..."
"If you're gonna lie... just don't! And you Harrington, you know what's happening? You tell me!" she barked.
"Yes, I will. But first, sit down!" he answered calmly. Caitlyn gave him an angry look but it didn't bother him. Garry placed his hand on Caitlyn's.
"Say it!" Natalie said impatiently.
"Okay. Listen closely and don't yell!" Edward said.
"Skip the build-up!!!" she stomped her foot on the floor. Edward took a deep breath and nodded.
"Your anger... is not just an emotion!" he said. Natalie stared at him, blankly.
"What...?" she said, confused.
"Let me finish first. Save your whats and buts!" he said. She nodded.
"The anger you feel is the result of the energies pulsing in you. You're not a normal human being! You're an octave. Like Mrs Watson and myself!"