The Last Hope

Chapter 8~ Rae

After the morning meal, Axle retreated to his chair in the half separated room and lost himself in a book that had been left sitting on a small table between the chair and couch. Abe sat silently, unsure of what he should be doing. "Could we go out in the yard?" I asked as I turned to Aria. She smiled at me and nodded, rising to lead me out. I followed her closely, very aware of Abe's eyes watching us carefully, even after the glass door was closed behind me. We sat on the edge of the deck, which was not very high, but more that the height of a stair step. The morning had turned perfectly delightful. The sun was just barely behind the house, leaving us in brisk morning shade, with the heat of the sun reflecting off the warm grass in front of us. Close enough to stretch out a leg and feel the sunrays pour over cool skin.
"Hey, Rae?" Aria began, "do you mind if I ask you something?" My stomach squeezed for some reason from nerves, and nearly all of me was egger with curiousness.
"You just did." I teased without revealing my twisting stomach. It took her a moment to realize my joke, obvious when she caught on when she scoffed and nudged me with her shoulder. "Go ahead." I laughed. She smiled and sucked in a breath, as though it was going to be something hard for her to be able to say.
"This question may seem odd, but it means a lot to me if you truly answer it honestly." I nodded when she turned to face me; needing to see my reaction. I made it set in my head to not change my posture or face when she asks. "Are you remembering anything of this place?" And there it was- a reaction. I couldn't help my confusion and shock. My mind tore through so many thoughts that I couldn't even keep track of them to be able to put them back together again. How can she know about the random little recognitions I have been having? I soon remembered that she would be expecting an answer. Slowly, I nodded at the ground around my feet. I didn't want her to continue with the question I knew followed; "What do you remember?" and not because I didn't want to tell him, oddly enough, but rather because I don't even know yet myself. So, all in a rush I decided to distract her. I turned to her quickly and suddenly, as her mouth began to form the question. I flicked the end of her slightly concave curved nose, jumped off the edge of the deck and ran about fifteen feet into the lawn in practically no time, then dropped to my knees as I turned to face her in a playful stance. The shocked and amazed look on her face lasted a moment, and it melted into the same look of that one young girl on the swing. I recognized her now. The girl on the swing that gazed into eyes I had forgotten. More thoughts and memories flooded through my mind. "our parents", "do you remember anything?"  I pushed all that out of my mind to go over later when Aria sprung from her seat and rushed towards me. I froze as she also dropped and slid, stopping so her face was only inches from mine, making all the air rush from my lungs. She paused for a moment, then lifted a hand and returned the flick. Embarrassed, I stood up and turned away from her hopping she wouldn't see me blushing, when I noticed a swing set. I walked straight for it, the closer I got the more I realized how old and aged it was. I could see the slight lean to the left as I approached it, as well as the layer of rust that has swallowed it. I walked around the swing without looking back at Aria and sat myself upon it. The next second there were large hands gripping my waist, making me jump. I hadn't heard Aria approach me, and that unsettled me; I have noticed over the years that my senses are heightened. I should have been able to detect her... I turned to look at her and  all I could manage to say was; "Wha-" before my body was hurled forwards with the upward curve of the chains giving me a boundary. I gripped the chains, making my hands turn white and whipped my head around to face forwards. The swing stopped with a frightening amount of slack as a feeling of free-fall overwhelmed me, causing me to let out a small squeal. Gravity and my momentum pulled me backwards behind my starting point and beyond until I felt Aria's hands on my hips again. I looked down at her with a scowl, trying not to show my amusement.  She seemed to look right through me to find the enjoyment. I have always loved being pushed on the swings, and didn't completely realize how much I did until now; Dakota rarely goes to playgrounds with me when we pass by them, he finds them too immature.
    After a few minutes of her pushing me and it never losing its thrill, she joined me on the adjoining swing seat. I giggled lightly as I continued rocking with the momentum of the last thrust. "You have an amazing giggle." Aria smiled. I couldn't help but blush and didn't respond to her compliment. Am I supposed to return the compliment? Or try and deny it? Both options felt too much like flirting, and the moment to say something had passed. Again, I had to force the fact they captured and kidnapped me back into my mind. I look back at her, and she was already watching me, which made my heart lurch in my chest. Suddenly, she looked so familiar again. Like when you know someone since you were a child, and suddenly you realize they have grown up, and you only recognize the features left behind after they matured. For a moment, it was our eyes that caught hold for what may have been a moment too long. Slowly; my eyes wandered over the dark skin that coated her cheeks, that rounded under her eyes, but caved in under her sharp cheek bones: How this made her nose and mouth seem to be more protruding from her face by its shadow. Her nose was large, but fitting perfectly between her eyes. Her nose was just shy of being considered a scoop nose. Between her eyes was a small curve that angled out very straight, with a rounded tip, contrasting the squared shape her nose held as it blended under her eyes. Her thin top lip balanced out by the plump bottom one. Her jaw was set strongly; the foundation of her kind but serious face. I felt the blush of my cheeks radiate stronger as my eyes glance slowly down her muscular neck and shoulders. The neck of her t-shirt hiding more of her skin, but a teasing hint of her collar bone streatched from a bulb under her neck to the top corner of the end of her shoulders.
I snap myself out of my daze. I can't look at her like that...
"Why did you take me?" I asked.
No response.
"Why can't you at least answer me that?" I demanded.
"Because you're not ready for the truth yet." She replied simply. Anger started to build up in me, until I looked back at her face and her expression seemed remorseful, but stubborn. I rolled my eyes and sighed while my momentum moved me behind her. I feel like the waiting isn't bad any more. Suddenly I think of Kota and feel desperate to get back home to him again. Before I can continue the thought, though, Aria interrupts by asking; "What do you want to get back to so badly?" How am I supposed to answer that? My life. My family. My boyfriend. City noise. Traffic. Meaningless conversations with good friends. Television. Endless, mundane hours of work... "I have a job, and rent to pay. I have pets that depend on me. Friends of mine, who laugh and like to goof around. My family-"
"Your family?" She blurted.
"Uh- yes. My Mother and Father."
"Your what?" She asked, more serious. Why does the fact I have a mother and a father confuse her so much? I just looked at her as she dug her heels into the ground, stopping mid swing. 
"What?" I ask as I pass her, brushing my feet on the  ground to slow myself.
    "....Never mind." She whispered as she looked away. "Anyways, continue."
    "I have really missed my boyfriend." I said as I stared passed the side of the cabin. At the mention of Dakota, she seemed to be very distraught, maybe she's feeling guilty. Maybe, if I indulge on this, I can snipe my way into escape.  "I've been with him for quite a few years now. He has always been there for me, through years of bullying and hard times. I have always had him close and hate being away from him for so long. I have never loved someone so much." More than a twinge, complete pain in my gut twisted my organs all together by the time I finished speaking. I clutched my shirt and tried to be subtle. What is this emotion? I hear Aria suck in a wet breath through her nose. She gets up and begins a slow walk back to the house without a word. Something about the way she carries herself makes my heart ache. I close my eyes and try to reject the urge to run and hug her; to force her into explanation as to why she reacted that way. Rather; I consider why I reacted like that...