20 Chapter 20

So Clara slowly coaxed the man into giving her money. A girl all alone and helpless so it was right to give her money. The good thing to do, that's all it was. The man had a choice of how much and he handed over one hundred dollars. That would last them a bit but not long enough.

"Did you get enough?" Brento asked and Clara shook her head.

"For some food but not enough for even a night at a hotel unfortunately. I hate doing this to people. Making them feel helpful and that giving money to me is noble when really I'm just tricking them. I know I'm doing it for good though," Clara kept the money though. The others didn't really know how it worked.

"how much do we need?" Brento was the only one really talking

"Uh well it's pretty early in the day here so let's get a start on finding Maddox. I don't think we'll find him in a day but we have enough to stay at a terrible hotel for a night and for food I think." Clara looked at the money before folding it and putting into her skirt pocket. It should be safe there.

"Okay so how do we start?"

"We go to that terrible hotel and get a room. Emmett will enhance me and I'll start looking for Maddox, it is gonna be crazy loud for me so don't bother trying to talk and keep your minds somewhat quiet. Im opening to everyone because I can't find him any other way. His mind is so hidden but I can find it again, it should definitely be easier."

So they all headed to a really cheap hotel. It took a bit of walking but they made it. "Okay don't sleep on anything or really touch anything. This is just a place to stay safe until we get Maddox," Clara explained quickly. She made a telepath link to Brento though. "I need you to check on my family. If the people are here in this world who knows if they did something to them too."

"I will do so but no following me. You know how dangerous it would be if they saw you," Brento added the reminder.

"Okay," she began out loud. "The hotel only charge fifty dollars so we still have fifty left for food or another night. Hopefully neither and I can give this to someone who needs it." Clara looked around the room at everyone. "Time to get started on this plan."

"I will be right back everyone. I have some stuff I would like to check up on," Brento said before ducking out.

"What could be possible have to check on here?" Katryn had a puzzled look before she realized. "You asked him to check on your fake family didn't you Clara?"

"They are in just as much danger. He is no help to us here right now so it is best if he goes and checks. It is really none of your concern anyways," Clara was blocking it off. She didn't want the fight that was about to happen but it couldn't be stopped at this point.

"You really are worried about them over your father? He has been kidnapped because they want you and you care about them?" Katryn lashed out but Clara held her head high.

"Oh yeah and where were you the last thirteen years huh? Who raised me? It was them, not you, not Maddox and I didn't have Philip as an older brother. I am worried about them yes but I am worried about Maddox too. That is why I sent Brento and didn't just force him to tell me and go myself. Please don't do this right now Katryn," Clara looked away and moved towards the door. "I will handle this right but I need to know everyone else I care about is also okay."

"Yeah but you should be focusing on your father! He could be seriously hurt," Katryn was just freaking out right now and Clara knew that.

"Katryn. I am going to go out and do this outside. Everyone else is staying here got it? I will figure this out," and Clara stepped outside before anyone said anything.

She was going to make such a foolish mistake but she had a bad feeling that both her families were in danger, Maddox and her normal human family. "Maddox!" she shouted through her mind to him. The link worked great because he instantly appeared. "I'm gonna let them know I'm here."

"Clara no you aren't doing that." Maddox had a look of panic even as Clara was completely calm.

"You need to be with Katryn and Philip. They need you more than me and if my gut feeling is right my other family is in danger too. I'm doing this for everyone right now. I will get out myself," Clara smiled and reached her hand out to Maddox.

"Clara it's not safe. They want to hurt you really bad, they've hurt me pretty bad." That when the image Clara saw changed and it made Clara sob out loud. Bruises and gashes all over Maddox.

"Oh Maddox. You need to get those treated by Elijah immediately. Let me help you please. I need to get you home," Clara's voice cracked as she held back the tears.

"Clara I'll be okay. You'll find me soon I know it," he had a smile on his face even as there was blood on his clothes.

"And you know I'll find my way home alright once this is done. It'll be an exchange. My freedom for yours," Clara entered his subconscious this time without permission. He pushed but she pushed back harder which caused his subconscious to just give up easier. "Awake Maddox, just a little."

He woke up and just a little. Enough for Clara to slip through and find the voices of who ever was doing this. "Hello?" Clara said to what seemed like two people.

"Oh so you finally decided to join the party Clara? About time honestly, neither of your fathers could take much more." A voice spoke back to her. They did endanger her other family.

"Just had to get to the right planet I guess. Very hard to track from one planet to another. Good trick though, I'll give you that much. Meet me in Times Square in an hour with both of my fathers and my sister. Hurting a child truly defenseless is what makes you real monsters."

"We'll be there in an hour Clara. Be alone though for it. You don't know what you are getting yourself into though," the voice spoke back before disappearing. Clara snapped back into reality now.

She went back into the hotel and sighed quickly. "We need to make a food run quickly. Using the telepath the way I am is really making me hungry. I got to him easily but he is still refusing to let me track right now, " Clara spoke quickly before grabbing Avery's hand and going outside again.

"Katryn didn't mean what she said to you Clara honestly. We don't process being scared very well or stress you know," he was really being sweet and that would make this a lot harder for Clara.

She had a plan and she had to follow through no matter what. It was just better anyways for Clara to do that. "So when we buy stuff here we hand them the money so here," Clara handed him the money. "You can carry it okay?"

"Okay," he took the money and tucked it into his pocket. "Let's go," he said as he grabbed Clara's hand.

They walked to the grocery store, it wasn't very far from Time Square so she can slip away later. "Vegetables since you guys are vegans," Clara took a cart over to the fruits and vegetables. She grabbed lots of different foods since she didn't really know what they'd like. They also wondered around and Clara pointed out some things she used to eat which kind of grossed out Avery, especially the meat.

It had been about forty-five minutes and time for Clara to do the rest of her plan. "I'm gonna be right back Avery okay? Just pay like I told you and bring everything outside. You should have plenty of money to pay for it all," Clara let go of his hand and gave him a small smile before heading out.

The plan had begun... She made it to Time Square five minutes early but she knew that they'd be there already. Clara connected through Maddox quickly. "I am here already. I was to heal Maddox before we finish the trade so he can get everyone to where I want them to go."

"Fine whatever but after that you are coming with us," the voice was so creepy to Clara. It wasn't even a creepy voice to begin with but Clara couldn't tell if it was a man or woman talking to her.

She tracked towards them and almost broke into tears as she saw Maddox. He had black eyes and there was a decent amount of blood but no one was look their way. Something much be causing them to look normal. Her dad and sister were in even worse shape then Maddox. Clara kept her distance from the captures who she still couldn't recognize. She gripped Maddox's hand. "Tell Avery I'm sorry for tricking him and tell everyone I'll be okay. Just take care of them too, have Elijah look at them for me. I will get you healed up," Clara sent it through their link. "You can wake up fully now." She whispered ever so quietly as she healed him. He glowed bright for a few minutes and then he woke up. "I put a map into your head just now, follow it and you'll find Avery. Tell him this was my decision too and he has nothing to feel bad for."

"Clara...." Maddox's mental voice trailed off as a tear fell down his face. "We will do our best to get you back."

"Don't worry about me," Clara brushed away his tear and got up. "Time to go Maddox. You know the way," she said this out loud before feeling drained.

"Time to go Clara," the voice commanded and Clara followed it. Before they whisked her away, she watched as Maddox got her dad and sister onto their feet and began their walk to Avery. "You made the right decision giving up Clara. No point in fighting fate."

"Never said I gave up and I never said I would help. Just said we would do a trade, you get me and release Maddox and my other family." Clara did have a slight smirk and relaxed herself.

"You'll listen," and then like that she was taken away to a random location. She did try to transmit but that was no use right now. She'd have to work past whatever was stopping her abilities this time.

For now, wherever Clara was in the world, she was gonna sleep for a while. She went to sleep on the cold floor of the room she was locked in. In her dream, she saw Avery. He was really upset but he saw her and it just got worse. "Great I lost you in real life so now my dreams must be hunted by you. Why'd you go Clara? Why'd you do it?" he was so furious and upset.

"I had to Avery. They had Maddox and two of my other family members. I will be alright but just make sure everyone sees Elijah," Clara tried to run over to Avery but she couldn't. Some wall was stopping her.

"Wait... is this real?" Avery had puzzled look and Clara did too.

"It's a dream. You are a figure of my imagination right now," Clara laughed at how weird her dream was.

"No Clara this is real," Avery looked down at himself and around.

"But how? This shouldn't be possible," Clara sat down on nothing, it was just a dark room so the floor was just black.

"Clara it's real, I'm not joking or just saying this in your mind because I had no idea your other family was involved in this," Avery was now sitting too holding his hand up weirdly.

"I thought Brento would be back by now? He was checking my family here like I'd asked but he should have gotten back... that's no good Avery," Clara lifted her hand to meet where he had his up and he just smiled.

"Yeah I realize that but you were the one who kept us together and moving forward with plans. What are we supposed to do know? I know you are the youngest but you were the smartest here," Avery hung his head and looked extremely sad.

"You'll figure something out. I believe in you and if you can't I will. Nothing to worry about but I'm gonna see how much they truly removed my powers. Maybe I can hide you tracking me by continuously trying to transmit to someone?"

"That could actually work! Your transmitting is so loud they wouldn't be able to focus on anything else and it would give me a better chance at finding you."

"I know this is risky to ask but get everyone home and sneak off okay? I'll get us back easily but I just need someone else to help me honestly."

"I also know you don't want to endanger your families again. I will be there as fast as possible."

"You know I hate to ask this of you too right? I really do care about you Avery already and it hurts that I have to ask you to risk so much to help me."

"Trust me Clara. I know but it hurts me to see you trapped there. We'll see each other again once we are asleep and we can keep working out plan okay?"

"Don't go just yet Avery. I want a little longer before I wake up in the dark room I'm stuck in right now," Clara pleaded as she laid down the way she was sleeping. Avery laid down as well.

It's not like they were crazy far from each other, maybe two or three feet is all. They stayed like that until eventually Clara was shaken awake by her captures.