The Valley of Mysteries | Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 24 - ASHTON

"Now I feel energized again." Sean flexed his muscles.
"Aww, you're so cute!! Isn't he?" Edward laughed.
"What's cute about it?"
"You feel replenished after talking to your buddy! It's cute!"
"Well, in the past month, I've learnt one thing. Don't be afraid of accepting anything. I missed my brother, I accept I did. I feel great after talking to him, I accept that too. At least I didn't cry." Sean scoffed.
"Hello, Mr Big Talk!! Hello... is it... is it, Aaron?" Edward imitated him.
"Blah blah. You cried."
"We all cried!" Alyssia said.
"Yeah. I think even Aaron broke down a little. I could tell!" Sean smiled.
"You're happy that he may have cried?" Edward asked.
"Aren't you? It's proof that he's human and can feel things other than anger." Sean laughed. They had reached the ruins of an abandoned warehouse by the docks in London. The Sun was swimming in the river.
"This is it!!!" Edward stopped.
"I'll go and check. When I signal, only then you will come. Okay? If someone catches me, you run. You run the hell out of here! Don't be stupid enough to come and save me." Sean gulped and walked towards the ruins.
"Always a hero!" Alyssia rolled her eyes.

After 7 minutes, Sean walked out of the ruins and back to Edward and Alyssia.
"What?" Edward asked.
"It was empty!" Sean shrugged.
"What?"
"Are you sure?" Alyssia asked.
"Yeah!" Sean ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"I don't understand!! According to the information we got, she should be here with at least 10 more people." Edward said.
"What if we had it wrong?" Alyssia sighed.
"No, wait! Look. There!!" Edward pointed towards an electricity room. It was almost 15 feet away from the warehouse. "What if they're there?"
"Let's check!" Sean marched towards it. He swung the door open and gasped at the sight.

*_*_*_*

"Are you sure about this?" Natalie asked.
"Yes. It's now, or never!" Aaron took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" a fragile voice came from inside.
"Umm, it's umm... Sean... Sean Watson!" Aaron shrugged at Natalie and scratched the back of his head. Natalie stifled a laugh.
"Won't let an old lady live, will ya?" a very old and small woman appeared behind the door. Her voice was shaky.
"Mrs Ashton?" Aaron asked.
"Do you think I'm dumb enough to live in this house if it ain't mine?" she pointed towards the cracks in the walls.
"I'm sorry. I just... do you live alone?"
"Listen to me pretty boy, if you wanna steal something... I got nothing." she gestured towards the empty hall.
"I'm no thief!! I just wanted to ask if you knew Allora?" Aaron asked. Mrs Ashton stiffened at the mention of her name.
"I... I... Who are you and what do you want? Allora sent you? I told her not to come back or send anyone!! Took away my girl's son and then came back asking for more favours!!" she said angrily.
"Your... daughter's son?"
"Yes. What was the name she gave him? Ah... yes... Aaron! I named him Jonathan! But she took that away from him too. I..." her eyes lingered on Aaron's eyes, which were filled with tears. She gasped. "You... My boy!! You're... you're so big!! Oh... oh!! Forgive your old granny... oh! If she could see you today!! Ohh... come here!! come here!!" she hugged Aaron and cried. "You look like her a lot!! Your nose and all!!" she mumbled.
"You're... you're my..."
"I'm Helena!! I'm your old granny!!"
"I can't believe it. Look, Natalie! It's my grandma!! I do have a family!! I..." he cried. Natalie hugged him and wiped her own tears.
"Yes, yes!!" she rubbed his back.

Helena couldn't take her eyes off, Aaron. She occasionally glared at Bob, who was busy telling them what was wrong with the cookies.
"I'm telling you... a little more sugar and choco chips and this would have been marvellous!!" Bob whispered in Natalie's ears.
"Who's the girl, Jonathan? Do you mind if I call you that?" she asked.
"You can call me whatever you like. And this is Natalie. She's..."
"She's really pretty. You're Caitlyn's girl, aren't you? Look just like her!!" Helena smiled warmly.
"Yes, I am." Natalie smiled back.
"And this is Mr Garrett Watson, Natalie's..."
"Step-father!" Helena narrowed her eyes at Garry and then smiled. "I heard you were a fine man! Words don't do justice!" she laughed.
"Uh... thanks." Garry half-smiled and blushed.
"And I'm..." Bob opened his mouth but Helena stopped him.
"The man who hates my cookies. I baked them Mr-add-more-choco-chips. And I know who you are. You should be grateful I didn't kick you out!! I'm baring you here only because of Jonathan!" Helena barked.
"Woah!" Bob stood up and jumped away from her.
"Mrs Ash... I mean... Grandma! He's a friend!!" Aaron said.
"Friend? A friend? You think he's a friend?"
"Um, yeah! I helped them when they were at Coleford..." Bob mumbled.
"Don't you dare, talk to me!" Helena reached for his shirt's collars. She was too fast for her age.
"Grandma!!" Aaron placed his hands on Helena's shoulders, softly. She let go of Bob and turned towards him.
"Oh, my dear boy! Do you not know who he is?" she sighed and placed her hands on Aaron's chest.
"I'm Bob... Ro..."
"ROBERT MICHAELSON!!" Helena roared. "You did it all!!" she shrieked and sniffled. Aaron wrapped her in his arms and looked perplexed.
"I don't know! Is she crazy?" Bob mouthed and shrugged.
"How do you know him? What did you mean he did everything? And what do I not know?" Aaron asked, still hugging her tightly. She parted away and walked towards a broken cabinet. A photo frame laid face-down on it. She picked it up and turned it to get a look. After wiping her eyes, she passed it to Aaron. He looked at the picture and suddenly, his head was filled with voices. He staggered.
"Wha-" he fell to the ground and passed out.
"AARON!!" Natalie rushed towards him and grabbed his head. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?" she screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"He'll be fine! It's a spell. When I hid him in the forest, I took away his memories. I thought he'd get them when he turned 18 but didn't return because of what he had seen." Helena sat down.
"What?" Natalie looked between Aaron and Helena.
"He was a child!! He wasn't ready!! I had to do it!!" Helena clutched the sides of her chair and shook her head.