The Surprise Visit

I remember falling asleep next to Liam on the sofa last night, but I woke up already tucked in bed. How deep was my sleep? How could I not wake up when Liam brought me up here? I'm a light sleeper! Was last night just a dream? No, it can't be because it felt so real!

When I push the comforter aside, I realize that no shed of clothing covers my body. Yup, last night was real, after all!

Before I get up from the bed, I see another note on the nightstand beside me with my name scribbled out in cursive letters on the front page.

"Rise and shine!

I'm out for work, and I'll be home before lunch. Kenny is coming over. Get dressed and eat your breakfast! Oh, you might want to cover that hickey.

Love, Liam."

WHAT?

I sprint to the bathroom, ignoring that I'm still fully naked. When I reach the mirror, I see a dark bruise on my neck above my collarbone. Damn it, Liam! I'm going to punch his neck later!

"Ava?" Ken's voice comes out from the opposite side of the bathroom door.

Reflexively I jump into the shower even though I've locked the door.

"Wait, I'm taking a shower! I'll be out in a minute."

So I take a quick shower and brush my teeth. Shit, where are my clothes? I wrap a towel around my body and step out of the bathroom. Then I sprint out to the bedroom without looking for any sign of Ken. I quickly find my clothes and put them on before walking downstairs as I leap out two stairs at once.

"Ken?" I call him from the living room.

I hear a rattling sound before a voice follows soon after. "In the kitchen!" as Ken shouts back at me.

My legs move to the kitchen as fast as they can. I finally spot Ken in the kitchen, cutting up something white.

I smile at him when he catches my eyes. "Whatcha doing?" I ask him before giving him a playful wink. I don't know what's wrong with him, but I swear he's blushing.

"Umm," he looks down at the food in his hand. "Making Liam and myself sandwiches for lunch."

"Aren't you guys going to eat lunch with me here?" I ask him while reaching for the cabinet above the sink, but it's too high. I try climbing on the counter, but a hand appears behind my shoulder. Ken reaches out to the cabinet, takes a mug out of it, and then hands it to me. "Thanks," I accept the cup from him and give him a grateful grin.

Ken nods and returns to cut the crust from the sandwich. "No," he says without looking at me. "Today is our turn to gather the fish and go hunting."

I pour a huge glass of coffee and add a little milk to the mug. I catch a glimpse of two plates with pancakes in them on the table. I believe one of them is for me.

"Can I come?" I say while walking towards the table with my coffee.

Ken shakes his head. "Nope."

"Why?"

"Because Peter will kill us all if we let you out of the camp," he wraps the sandwiches in a ziplock and shoves them into a brown paper bag. "You're going home tomorrow anyway."

Ken walks to the table, and I cup my hands around my mug. I clasp the mug so tight I might break it in my hands.

"That's not my home," I respond to him coldly.

Ken's lips part open slightly before he closes them again.

"I'm sorry," Ken finally says after he hesitates.

I shake my head and finally put the mug on the table. "It's okay... you don't have to apologize!" I put my hand on his. His cheeks suddenly turn bright red like a tomato, and he averts his gaze from me to the pancake before him.

I quickly took my hand off of his before his whole face could turn into a fresh ripe tomato. Why is he so shy around me now? He shot a bear with confidence just three days ago!

Then we fall silent while eating our breakfast, and I enjoy his company. I never had a little brother, and I've always wanted one. Now I don't want one anymore if Ken is around. I can tease him all day; his face will be red, and he will feel awkward.

"Where's Liam?" I ask him after we finish eating and washing our dishes.

"He's in the archery training area," says Ken before sipping the coffee from his mug.

"Aren't you supposed to be there too?"

"Nope. I used to be good at archery, but now I'm losing my touch," Ken smiles at his words as if he's thinking about something that makes him happy. "Liam taught me how to use a gun. He always has a clear sight of the target; he's impressive! He's not just the best Archer but also the best hunter in this camp."

I smile at the image of Liam with a bow and arrows in his hand. It reminds me of the old times back in the lake. He used to teach me archery, but I suck at everything like always, and he's good at everything.

We fall silent again, lost inside our own thoughts.

I imagined a shirtless Liam shooting his target with a bow and arrow in his hand when Ken suddenly gasps loudly from his seat. I'm suddenly back into my senses.

"What?" I ask him, worrying that he might see through my dirty mind.

"Is that a hickey?" asks Ken, his eyes fixated on my neck.

You dumbass, bitch! You should've worn a turtle neck!

I shake off the voice in my head. I quickly cover the hickey with my hand before adjusting my shirt collar closer to my neck. Now, I'm the one who's blushing.

***

Ken and I are sitting face to face on the sofa, playing chess in the living room, when Liam barges in through the front door. His eyes meet mine, and a huge smile is formed on his lips.

"Oh no, you guys are having fun without me!" he says, making a fake sad expression. He ruffles Ken's hair and walks towards me before kissing my temple.

"Yeah, Ken just beat me five times in the past hour! Some fun it is," I scoff at him.

Liam laughs before saying, "I'm not surprised. I told you a long time ago that you suck at everything!" as he teases me.

"Shut up, Liam!" I look up at him and narrow my eyes.

"Are you ready, Kenny?" Liam turns his face to Ken, sitting cross-legged in his place, watching Liam and me with curious eyes.

He doesn't respond momentarily like he's still processing something in his mind. Then he suddenly stands up and walks towards the kitchen without saying anything. Five minutes later, he walks back to the living room with two paper bags in his hands. He tosses one of them to Liam, who catches it perfectly.

"Let's go!"

"Wait, I'm bored! Can I go outside?" I stand up abruptly, knocking the board game to the floor. Chess pieces are scattered all over the carpet.

Liam shakes his head and looks at me with guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Ava! You can't go anywhere, not without Ken or me with you."

"But why?"

Liam squeezes my hand before answering, "I don't want you to get hurt! The last time you were out there alone, you almost got beaten by the guards."

"Do I have a bruise anywhere aside from the one on my neck?"

Liam's eyes bulge out, shocked by my impudence, "I said no, Ava!" Liam's voice is firm but I can see he almost falters when his eyes catch the dark spot under my jaw, the one he left last night. "Stay here! I'll send someone to keep you company."

"But-"

Liam cuts me off, "Ava, please just listen to me this one time!"

When I don't say anything, Liam starts to use his Obel's authority tone on me, "Go to your room and stay there until I send someone here!"

I sigh in frustration as I glare into his green eyes, wishing I look convincingly furious. It's so unfair that he can control me with his Obel's ability that I don't own. Why wasn't I born with one so I could use it to confront him right now? I can do that all day, throwing each other tantrums using our power. But I still drag my feet unwillingly to the bedroom and slam the door as hard as possible.

***

I don't realize I fall asleep until someone knocks on the door. I grunt in annoyance and lazily drag my body down the stairs and to the front door. "Liam's not here at the mom-"

I stop in my place when I catch the figure behind the door frame.

"Aiden?"

My brother is standing in front of me with eyes that display guilt when he stares into my eyes.

No wonder why Peter figured out that the person in front of me was my brother. We share the same brown eyes even though his hair color is lighter than my dark auburn. But if someone pays attention, they can see a little of me in him.

"Hey, Lil sis!" He quirks the corner of his lips up slightly. "Can I come in?"

I hold the door, contemplating slamming it on his face. But I nod at him and open the door wider to let him in.

"How are you?" asks Aiden casually, like I just arrived home from vacation.

I ignore his question and frown at him, "Did Liam send you here?"

"And I'm fine too! Thanks for asking," says Aiden sarcastically. "No, Liam didn't send me here. I asked him to see you."

"Oh," I cross my arms in front of my chest and stare at him. When he says nothing, I walk past him to the kitchen, and he's tailing behind me.

"I thought you forgot that I'm still alive," I say while pouring water into a kettle before putting it on the stove.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to come to visit," I hear Aiden's familiar voice from the barstool. "Peter always put me to work from morning until late."

"Yeah? What kind of work?" I ask him nonchalantly. To be honest, I don't care about his work, but I still have to make sure. Why am I still mad at him? He's already here, isn't he?

"To train the Warriors and to find new recruits." He sounds like he's actually proud about it, outwardly forgotten what he's doing is going to kill his own sister.

I pour the boiling water onto the mug with teabags inside each and then approach him. "The council members of the Monarch have our parents, Aiden," I say while putting one of the mugs in front of him.

"I know," he stares down at his steaming tea. "That's why I'm here."

"That's why you're here to kill your own sister," I say, intentionally wanting to punch him square in the guts with my words.

"No, Ava!" Aiden turns his body toward me

"Yes, you are!" I scoff at him. "What do you think this camp is for? And where do you think I've been hiding all this time?"

"I know you've been with Lucas, but that does not mean you have to go into battle alongside him."

I stare at him in disbelief and arch my brows at him. "Of course I do! He's been training me for it, Aiden. Whatever the Monarch has been doing, I will fight them for our parents!" With or without the Warriors stopping us, I will still go into battle next to Lucas. The Monarch has to be stopped, and I will not let myself sit around and hide anymore.

"Ava, you can't go! It's too dangerous! I have a plan for us! Once we're-"

I cut him off and scoffed at the word plan. "Whoa, isn't your plan a day late and a dollar short now? Should I even trust you with this plan? Because I remember the last time you told me you had one was only to stop me from running away. Well, guess what, Aiden, I'm already on the run!"

"Ava, listen to me-"

"No, you listen! Stop being a scaredy-cat, Aiden! We had the chance to run away, but you told me to grow up and face reality. And I am now, Aiden! It's your turn to grow up and act like a brother and a son. Look for your way out of here and find our parents!"

"That is a tall order, and you know that! It may seem easy for you, but it's beyond my capability even to find a way out!" He looks so desperately tired and sad. I notice that he's lost weight, and those dark circles under his eyes can't cover his restlessness. Maybe I'm not being fair to him, but I can't help myself.

"Have you ever tried to run away from here?"

He nods his head slightly, "I always got caught. They just haven't killed me yet because they still need me."

"For what?"

He looks for my eyes, and I can't stop reading what's behind them when our eyes meet. Lost. He's lost and scared.

"The Monarch wants me to turn Lucas and you in," he pauses for a moment, and another look of horror comes across his face. "And they want me to be a part of the end of the Riotist and Alloyist bloodline."

My jaw hangs low from its socket, and my head suddenly swirls around. "You know about this?"

He frowns at me before whispering, "Wait, you mean you knew it too?"

I nod slowly, scared that if I move too quickly, it will roll off to the ground.

"Who else knew about the annihilation?" he catches my arm and squeezes it as if he can get the answer by cutting off the bloodstream in my veins.

I don't know if I should tell him about Liam and Ken. What if I put them both in danger? Can I trust my own brother? I bite my lips so I don't blurt out all the information I know without thinking it through.

"Ava, don't ever mention this to anyone! You're not safe!" He runs his fingers through his hair. "Look, they called me in during the meeting about the annihilation. They were about to call Liam in too, but he ran away before we could say anything to him. The Monarch knows about Lucas and you, about the changes in your body. They think you and Lucas will be the missing piece of their puzzle. They want to find people like you, then use your power and legacy to conquer the world. The world where only Obel exists."

"What do you mean?" I try to speak, but my voice comes out in a wail. I freeze in my place and suddenly become clueless about my own body.

"You're a mix of all bloodlines and the balance of this world," as Aiden starts to speak.

"There are so many stories about your kind. They told me that centuries ago, Foubourgh was the land that people like you used to inhabit. They called themselves the Vigorist bloodline, and they are the strongest bloodline. But when the Demits were uncontrollably expanding, it brought destruction to Suburbia. Foubourgh was the only isolated island to keep the Demits away from the continent. You know Demits cannot swim, right? The Monarch had no choice but to take over Foubourgh from the Vigor. So they did. Now the Monarch wants to kill all the Rebels and Anarals in Suburbia so they can use the Vigorist in your blood as a weapon."

"How could nobody ever know about this bloodline? I never found anything about it in the history book!" My head is so full of questions, and my brain becomes fizzy.

"Because they don't want people to know about them. The old councils of the Monarchs erased them from history. Vigors people love to live in secluded and always in hiding. That's why nobody knows about them. Everyone who knew about them thought it was only a myth. But when they received messages about you and Lucas, they believed you two could be useful."

"But how are they going to make us weapons?"

"I don't know," his voice stutters.

The tea in my mug is no longer hot as I try to sip from it.

"Wait, where did you find out about all of this?"

"I'm good at paying attention or what some people call eavesdropping," he pushes his mug away with a smug smirk.

"Does Lucas know about this bloodline? About who he is and who I am?" I ask rhetorically, but Aiden answers it anyway.

"I don't know," he answers firmly. "I hope not because if he does, he will be unstoppable."