The Final Hope: Awakening

Chapter Seventeen

Dear Alvan,

I wanted to say I'm sorry. I know that those words can't ever undo the pain I've caused, I betrayed you, tortured you, and almost killed you. There is nothing I can do to make it up to you. I know that. All I can do is say sorry, and hope that you'll forgive me.

I know that I have no right to ask this of you Alvan, but I need your help. Desperately. You were right, when you told me I couldn't trust the draiths. I should have listened, but I didn't. And now, the draiths are planning to trick us by giving us inhuman bodies. I have no idea what to do Alvan. Please, I am begging you. Even if not me, save Ryan. I was the one who persuaded him into doing all this. It's not his fault. Leave me to die here if that will satisfy you but please, save Ryan. That is all that I ask.

With regret and apologies,

Freya.

Silently, I read it over and over again to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. It genuinely was Freya. Finally convinced, I handed the letter to Jake and he began reading it. When he stopped, he looked up and glared at me.

"Don't tell me you're thinking about doing this Alvan," he said. "Please, tell me you can see that this is a trap."

"Don't worry," I replied. "Of course it's a trap, I'm not stupid."

He smiled in return, "I'm glad. The way you looked, you had me worried for a second."

"The letter just took me by surprise that's all," I responded casually. "I need some fresh air, let me take a walk."

"Alright," he replied. "But you must return within the hour."

"I will."

Alone, I walked around the city. It was amazing that I managed to defeat the hydra. I didn't think I could do it, yet I did. But what was even more unexpected was that letter. I never expected to hear from those two again after everything that happened, at least not them personally. I knew I would have to fight the draiths possessing their bodies, but it wouldn't be the same.

Yet, here she was, asking me for help. How could she? How could she ever think I would help her after all that she did to me, to Ben! Even if the letter wasn't a trap, so what? It's not like I cared what happened to them.

"Oh sorry!" said a man as he crashed into me. He dropped some of his stuff so I helped him gather it up. "Thank you," he said.

"No problem," I replied, then spotted an expensive looking doll. "Who this for?" I asked curiously. It looked really pretty.

"Oh that," he said, taking it back. "My friend just had a child, so I bought him a gift. Any ways, I'm in a rush. Bye, thanks for the help again." I watched as he ran back down the street. Friend... I remembered calling Ryan that once. When we had travelled through the tunnels, we became close.

Even if he never admitted it, there was no way that wasn't true. Nobody could fake that. And what he said, about those days reminding him how it felt like to connect with people, he looked sincere when he said that. Maybe, just maybe, if things had turned out differently, we could have become best friends.

Don't you even think about it... hissed a voice inside of me. It was the book.

What do you want? I thought.

Going back there is suicide, you're too valuable, you can't risk it for those two losers!

What do you care anyways? I retorted.

I care because I chose you. I will not watch as you let yourself die a pointless death.

I didn't reply. It was true. If I chose to go back, it would probably be the end of me. I barely managed to make it out the first time, the only reason I did was because of Mia, but she wasn't here now. Even if she was, she would never help me. I would have to do it alone.