𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕒𝕞𝕡 𝕠𝕗 𝔻𝕦𝕣𝕪𝕠𝕕𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕒

Ch.31

Boo P.O.V (first person - sorry bout the random p.o.v. changes - Trips):

I woke up to a splitting headache. Mini's Advil pills only worked for so long, but luckily, she kept them by me so that I could take another one to help relieve my pain I was about to take another and go right back to sleep, but that's when I saw Mr. Acharya sitting by the fire, contemplating something.

I walked up to him in an attempt to scare him, but I stepped on a twing and ended up tripping, smashing my face into his back. Aiden toppled over, and fell on his face, just inches away from the fire.

He quickly got up and dusted his face and clothes off, before helping me up, "You gotta be more careful, Birdbrain. I'm only letting you off because you're ten, and don't know any better."

I gasped, feigning hurt, "I AM NOT 10! I am in fact-"

Aiden cut me off with his hand and a roll of his eyes, "Yeah, Boo. We know. Just messing around."

He went back to staring at the fire, and I decided to join him, but after a while, "I'M BORED! I WANNA SLEEP!"

Aiden's eyes widened in alarm,"SHHH, BOO," he whisper-yelled, "You're going to wake up the entire east coast."

"We're in Alaska," I deadpanned.

He grinned sheepishly, "I knew that. It's as chilly as New York though, honestly."

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, you gotta deal with that," I stared at his eyes. They looked so tired, so...scared. "Aiden...what's on your mind?"

"I-I just- Nothing. Just nothing. You might want to get back to sleep before Mini wakes up and tells you how you could die by staying up next to the cinders."

Boo chuckled, "Something's troubling you. I might be 'ten', but I'm not clueless. Explain."

Aiden sighed, "Something's wrong with Aru. I-I don't know how I know that, but it's just a gut feeling. It's like when you have the instinct to take a kid that's all alone to the police station or something. You know? Like when you have this protective feeling, but there's nothing you could really do about it."

I nodded at him, not fully understanding, but slowly getting what he meant, "Aiden...something might have happened to Aru. Okay. Fine," I watched him look at me in surprise, "But...she came back from death. I don't think anything can stop her. If she's driven, she'll stay alive for as long as she's needed. Aru's strong. Even if she breaks every bone in her body, she'll miraculously find a way to wake up, be delirious, and then kill off Kiera in some ridiculous way. Of course...you'll hopefully find her before that happens."

That made Aiden crack a small smile, "Thanks, Boo. I needed that."

I nodded to him, "Why don't you go on and sleep. I'll take the next watch."

Aiden nodded, and I watched him retreat to his tent, finally getting the rest he needed. I stayed up for the rest of night, contemplating what the children had been through. Too much. My betrayal just added to that list. I furrowed my eyebrows trying to figure out what I could do to help them. To amend my wrongdoings.

And that was why I was determined to do this. Everything I was about to sacrifice was for them, and there was not a single soul who was going to stop me from giving these kids the life they deserve. Even if I have to give up everything I live for.