Betrayal abounds

Aden blinked against the blinding light that surrounded him. The shadow of a person stood before him calling out a name he was unfamiliar with. Jaden. Jaden who? How many names was he going to hear in this weird void of existence he was trapped in? And many more 'people' are going to deliver unwanted visions and memories of who he supposedly was? He had to figure a way out of here. He raised himself to his feet and faced the latest stranger that stood before him.

A woman this time. Her appearance resembled that of a woman in her late thirties, early forties with a modest build and silvering hair. "My name is Johanna Nekirk. You may call me Joey." She said as she raised her hand in greeting. "I'm glad to finally meet you Jaden."

"It's Aden, actually." He stepped away from her reach looking at her suspiciously. "Should I know who you are?"

She smirked at him, her bright eyes never breaking contact with his. "Not at all. I am just the one that can unlock all your memories."

"My memories, huh? How? Got a fruit orchard for me to graze from? Maybe another snake to bite me?" Her laughter unsettled him a bit more causing him to back away further.

"Twila asked me.." Confusion filled his expression stopping her words mid-sentence. "That's right. Jinka said you remember the new…" She mumbled under her breath, though he heard her words. "Forgive me. Rose. Rose asked me to 'fix' you before she brings you back to reality."

"Reality?"

"Yes. Right now, because of what Jason did, you are currently trapped in your own subconscious. This emptiness is the void that was created when your memories were blocked from you. I can unblock them. Will you let me?"

"Do I have a choice?" His wariness remained ever present in his eyes.

"Of course. Though if you refuse, you will remain here in this void and eventually your body will die of neglect."

"Is Rose here?"

"Nearby. She will wake you up once I have fixed everything." Her hand raised in his direction once again. This time he took it in his and in the split second of contact his entire world came crashing in down on him in waves. His mind buzzed as pain shot through every fiber of his being.

Every fuzzy memory of his nightmare came to life. Every face came in clearly. Eache vent from his life flashed before his eyes. The stranger in Winnemucca that led him to Idaho to meet with a demon. The deal, the high school, the girl. The girl, Twila. He paid to get close to her. Paid to betray her.

He was supposed to get her trust by making her fall for him so he could get her to let her guard down long enough for Adrian to find her. To kill her. It was him that tipped Adrian off about when and where their wedding was to take place. He thought Adrian would come before the ceremony, but the man Adrian possessed was late. Their vows were exchanged. They had become husband and wife before the killer arrived.

"You may now kiss your bride." The preacher had said.

Aden, who was known as Kaden at the time leaned towards Rose, known then as Twila and whispered, "I'm sorry." Against her lips and he meant it. He hadn't wanted to betray her because he had fallen in love with her and just wanted to protect her. But he couldn't go against a demon, could he? Part of him knew she would survive anything and trusted that she wouldn't die so in the end he let his fear win and upheld his deal to betray her to her enemy.

"So am I," she whispered back as she pressed her lips to his. Upon contact a jolt shot through him, rendering him unconscious. He woke up in a hospital days later being told he had been in a terrible car accident and that his parents had been killed. He couldn't remember anything then.

But now he remembered everything. Now he knew. Now he understood why he wore a wedding ring with no memory of having a wife. Now he understood why he was so drawn to Rose. Rose is his wife and he had betrayed her. She was the one to block his memories with that kiss. She knew. She knew then that he was sent to earn her trust and betray her. Did she also know that he had fallen for her?

"Er… Um, Joey?" He asked with wide eyes. "Does she hate me?"

The woman smiled at him knowingly without uttering an answer.

*

"Jinka?! How the hell did that thing find us here?" Screamed Nickolas at the two cowering figures before him. "How could you be so reckless?"

Jason raised his bruised face to his friend and glared at him with his good eye. "You forget he's a tracker? He came looking for the boy. You know as well as I there nowhere one could hide from them."

Nickolas ran his hand through his in frustration. "This ruins everything!" He bellowed. "All you had to do was unlock his memories. Remind him that he works for me."

"I tried," cried Jason. "I told that. But the person who blocked him is stronger than me. I couldn't undo it."

"You're the one that suggested getting Joey here to do it. Why didn't you call her? Why drag this idiot here?" He growled jabbing his finger in Tommy's direction.

"I thought he could do it. He's stronger than me in that area too."

"So, you are all of sudden useless?" He quipped causing Jason's jaw to tighten. "How long have been friends, Jason?"

"A millenia or more."

"A millenia." Nickolas agreed. "A millenia. And in all that time when have you ever mentioned being weak?" Jason's face dropped in defeat. Nickolas walked closer to Jason until they were nearly touching noses. "I despise being lied to, Jason."

"I know, sir."

"It makes me think the one lying to me assumes I'm stupid."

"Yessir."

"Do you think I'm stupid, Jason?" His lips twitched a bit as Jason dropped his gaze to the floor. He let out a mournful sigh then shifted his focus to Tommy. "Get out." He ordered. "Find the girl and report her whereabouts to me. I'll find the boy myself." He scoffed as Tommy left the room without words. "As for you, my friend."

"I really couldn't undo the blocks in Aden's mind, but Jinka showed up and overpowered us both." Jason pleaded.

"Tommy I can understand, he's a bit of a pansy when it comes to fighting. But you, Jason. When did you become so weak as to let a mere child like Jinka beat so badly?" Nickolas took Jason's chin in his hands and moved his face back and forth to inspect his injuries. His cold golden eyes bore into Jason ice blue eyes as he seethed through gritted teeth. "I don't know if you really brave or super stupid to have the nerve to lie to me after all these years together." His dropped to Jason's throat and in an instant Jason was thrown across the room to the wall. "I'm not going to enjoy this, my friend. But I can't tolerate betrayal." He said as he stalked over to where Jason had landed.