18 Untold Secrets

Amelia didn't know what to feel. Blood rushed to her cheeks hearing the doctor's words. At the same time, she could feel her hands trembling. Small drops of sweat formed at the back of her neck. She didn't know whether to reply to Schwann or protect her brother and the others from whoever trespassed into their hiding.

Dr Schwann could see Amelia's nervous state. He had expected such a reaction. Especially, as he told her his feelings in such chaos. Amelia's character had striked him in their very first meeting. He had a crush. It grew into love in the past three days. Love at first sight! Amelia's strong character had made him fall for her. But today, he did not expect her to react to his words. He was aware of the incoming danger too. He did not want Aster to be in trouble. He did not want Amelia to be in trouble. He held his breathe and walked towards the two long shadows. Those shadows had become more darker. The two people had reached the mouth of the cave.

Schwann walked towards them leaving Amelia behind. Amelia panicked. She held his hands and shook her head, pleading him not to go. He just smiled and walked again.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside the cave, Aster and Hogman had collected the necessary firewood and some fish. Eventhough Aster had promised that he would show them a water source, he knew of none. He just got lucky to find one at the back of the cave. They had got enough fish, to last them for two days. Hogman carried all the firewood as he considered Aster too fragile to carry those. Aster found a big round leaf and somehow packed all the fish they caught. This reminded him of the ancient humans leaving in the depths of the forest, hunting and gathering each day. That thought had not left him since the time they came there.

They had been walking back towards the cave. They talked casually on their way. Aster had not trusted Hogman fully eventhough he had helped them out of the court. Aster couldn't understand why he was helping them. Aster talked cautiously with Hogman. He made sure that he did not let out anything more than what Hogman already knew. As they moved closer to the cave, they saw some movements in the bushes near the cave's entrance.

It was Hogman who saw that first. He immediately motioned Aster to stop. Aster halted suddenly, not knowing what made Hogman do so. Aster casted a perplexed looked at Hogman. Hogman pulled Aster by the sleeve, which caused all the fish to fall on the ground. Aster looked disgusted. He looked at Hogman angrily. Hogman had dropped all the firewood on the ground too. Without taking Aster's angry look into consideration, Hogman pulled Aster and moved behind a tree. Aster couldn't understand what Hogman was doing. For some reason, Aster felt that they were hiding from someone. Hogman glared at Aster. Aster immediately understood the meaning of that glare. 'Shut up!' Hogman put his head out and tried to look what was going on near the cave. Aster followed Hogman's gaze and saw the movements in the bushes.

Aster was relieved that Hogman noticed it. He felt glad that Hogman was with him. Suddenly, Aster's mind rushed into the cave. Amelia.... She and Schwann were still inside the cave. Aster's jaw dropped. He wished they were safe. Aster and Hogman still couldn't see who was behind the bushes. What if it was a wild animal? Aster didn't know anything about the animals living nearby. Or what if, it were humans? What if they were found out? Aster couldn't even imagine. He just wanted his sister to be save. 'Humans are more dangerous than animals.' His mother had told him once. He wanted to rush out and see what it was. He was about to run when, Hogman stopped him right in time.

They watched again. They saw two dark figures appear from the bushes. Those figures walked towards the cave. They were humans. But Aster could not see them clearly as they were too far away. Aster couldn't stand it. He wanted to take a closer look. He pulled Hogman and walked out from their current hideout behind the tree. Hogman tried to resist. But, Aster was stronger than he thought. Aster wanted to make sure that his sister was safe. He walked towards the cave boldly, without even the slightest doubt in his mind. He did not care for his life. But his sister's life was precious.

As he moved closer, he kept on looking for the trespasser's companions. Those people wouldn't dare to come there and arrest them without reinforcements. But he could see none. Hogman's eyes kept on searching for more people. He was searching for familiar figures. If those two were from the ministry of public welfare, he would recognize them and also their companions as he was one of them too. But he couldn't see anyone either.

They understood that the trespassers hadn't seen them yet. Aster, eventhough resisted in the beginning, decided to move forward taking cover behind the trees and bushes on their way. Their became more clear as they moved forward. Aster could see the two figures clearly. He could see their backs. He could see that one of them was tall and muscular with jet black hair. The other looked more feminine with a bright red hair.

Aster suddenly ran towards the cave. He could feel his heart beating fast. His legs moved faster than it used to. Before Hogman could protest, Aster was halfway towards the cave and still running. Hogman had no choice but to follow. Hogman cursed Aster for being so foolish. If they were exposed, it was a 'game over'. Hogman didn't know what Aster was thinking. He just wished, they weren't found out by the authorities. Aster was running as if he had seen something. A tinge of recognition flashed in eyes a second before he started running. Hogman found no point in pondering over these. He ran as fast as he could to catch up with Aster. But Aster was too fast.

Aster saw someone he wanted to see for days. He ran towards the mouth of the cave. He saw the people more closely. He saw their hair clearly. Yes. He was sure. His doubts were cleared. It was them. He panting heavily as he ran. He reached the entrance and touched the shoulder of the taller one. The person turned and casted a shocked look at Aster. The red hair turned too. She was a girl. She seemed shocked too. Her hazel brown eyes were about to pop out from its sockets. Aster was shocked too. The shocked expressions suddenly changed into something else.

Tears flowed from their eyes. They smiled for a moment. They couldn't speak. Then, as if a reflex, they flung their arms around eachother. They stayed huddled together in the hug for several moments before they separated. When they separated they couldn't stop crying. They just cried. They all smiled while crying. They hugged again. When Hogman arrived at the entrance, they were hugging hard. Hogman couldn't believe his eyes. Aster was hugging those trespassers. On a closer look, Hogman recognized him.

A figure emerged from the cave. A man. He walked towards the hugging trio. He took a glance at the three and let out a sigh. Amelia emerged from the dark cave too. Her heart was beating faster and faster with each shadow that emerged at the entrance of the cave. Now she felt a bit relieved. She had thought that those two people had brought reinforcements to arrest them. But no, it was just them. She felt a lot relieved. Her tension was off. But Hogman's and Schwann's faces hadn't cleared yet. She noticed it.

The three came out of their hug and just looked at eachother. For several moments, they just held their gaze. Aster broke the silence.

"How did you?"

"Thanks to her." The talker one replied.

Aster was confused. She? How did she know that they were there?

"Sienna, how did you find us?" Aster asked. Amelia, Schwann and Hogman were listening intently.

Sienna smiled at him. She was overwhelmed with happiness. She and Eren were planning an escape from the hospital for the past three days. Last night, they could escape without anyone spotting them. They roamed about in the forest for some time, before they found the cave. Sienna explained their escape from the hospital and she also explained how they reached there.

"But, how did you know we were here?" Aster asked again.

"Aster... I cannot tell you that." Sienna suddenly became nervous.

"Why?"

"I just cannot. Don't force me."

Eren heard Sienna's words and got furious.

"Why can't you? I have been asking you the same thing all this while and you did not answer me either."

"Please... I cannot. I have promised someone that I won't." Sienna pleaded.

"Didn't we promise eachother that we won't have any secrets?" Eren asked, feeling hurt by her words.

Schwann, Hogman and Amelia were shocked to hear the word promised.

"What do you mean by 'promised'?" Hogman asked.

"I haven't given away your location to anyone. We came here to meet Aster. We were worried about him." Her words were met with angry glances from everyone except Eren and Aster. Sienna turned grave. It was the biggest secret she had. She was not meant to break the promise she had made. But now.... The situation demands it. She had to tell.

"Ok! I will say." She said at last. She bit her cheeks drawing blood. She steadied herself to speak something she should never speak.