The RavenStark Quest: Awakening

CHAPTER 30: WHY YOU?

"Make sure she is alright, okay?" I said grabbing Drakes's elbow.

"I promise. Wait here till I give my signal, then you can come out of hiding." He said and sped off in the direction of Chris, passing behind the pillars. Though Christina was barely visible to my eyes I could see the tip of her head. What an idiot? I thought to myself and went towards Ethan to help Katherine get back to her feet.

"Was she able to wake up?" I asked a gloomy Ethan. The thought of balancing both Katherine and reaching the secret passage taunted him. He was way beyond worried. "We will get through it," I said softly. He quietly exhaled and picked Katherine up, we stabilized Katherine on both of our shoulders and waited patiently for Drake's sign.

"I am not as worried about things wrong as much as it terrifies me that something will happen to you." Ethan suddenly said looking down.

"Nothing will happen to me...as long as I have my brother by my side." I smiled at him. He is my brother, though we have no past together it will never be late to share our future as siblings. I can see it in his eyes how much I mattered to him, how much he wanted to protect me. And even when it is taking me time to accept that I have a brother now, he is giving me space to work it all out. I hope after all this we could sit down and talk until then we have to escape death.

We were waiting for Drake's signal just then a few seconds later a mild whistle sound floated in our ears.

"It's Drake," Ethan said eyes wide open. "Let's go."

We slowly peeked out to see whether the coast was clear. Once, we made sure it was safe to move, we slowly made our way towards the office. Katherine still being unconscious was making it tough to move stealth and quick. Nevertheless, we managed to reach the front door to the office, Ethan slowly pushed it open with his other hand and we made our way inside.

All this while I had a fear at the back of my head, what if leaving Chris wasn't a wise choice? As a friend is leaving her in turmoil even if it meant saving other lives considered fair? Would she have done the same thing if she was in my position or would she have pulled my back from my stupid stunt of self-sacrifice? I can't go to the past but I can make sure that the future doesn't get messed up. I could only pray that she is alright and I can meet her soon. 

"Where is the secret passage?" I asked in a hushed voice. The office was pitch dark with all the windows and curtains closed. It was suffocating a bit but not as much as it was in the biochemical lab.

"It's---umm, let's see," Ethan said looking around with his eyes wide open due to the insufficiency of light in the room. "Here, come on."

We went towards the painting that hung beside Olisen's desk, the painting of the old man which I saw last time. The skillful painting had an aura of its own and every time it mesmerizes me.

Ethan was looking for a hatch on the wall, "Who is he?" I asked him still observing the painting.

"Who? Him? That is Oliver Ravenstark." Ethan answered hastily and kept on swaying his hands on the wall.

So this is Oliver Ravenstark, the person I was created from? Weird, I thought, how all your life you have heard people say "You resemble you parents a lot." but in reality, you turn out to be created from another person, and the worst part is that the person has been dead for years. I haven't met him and I probably never will, but every time I see that painting a sense of weird, unusual feeling arises within me, just like when I see Ethan. Maybe deep down I know this is my real family or maybe I want to have a real family. 

Just when my mind was clouded with so many messy thoughts I heard a sudden click sound in the room. My eyes swiftly moved from the painting to Ethan, he too was shocked. Was it Drake? Or was it someone else?