Chapter 123

*Ivan*

I stayed with Ariya for a bit longer. I ran down what I was thinking about while she was talking to her Mom. I told her I had my own quick conversation with her as well.

*That explains why Keo and I had some time to be able to talk to each other before she showed up.* Ariya giggled.

*Well you know, I had to say hi too.* I laughed.

*When do you think we should try swapping?* She asked me.

I could tell she was still mentally drained from all the work with Keo.

*Maybe we can try once after I've run with Caleb. You're still exhausted, princess.* I told her.

*You're right about that. I didn't realize it was going to be so draining and frustrating to get through all of this.* She told me.

*You'll get the hang of it. I know it's a lot right now but think of your mind like a muscle. You're suddenly pushing it to its limit and it is going to take some time for it to catch up. I was thinking it would be better not to focus on only 1 thing. That will drain you guys too much. Besides, getting a different viewpoint of other things might help you figure out something you are stuck on.* I pointed out.

*You're a genius.* Ariya told me.

I smiled at her and kissed her on the lips. I loved being connected to her. I wished we were out so I could actually go to sleep with her in my arms and not worry about us getting caught for it.

*That's the biggest reward for getting out of here.* Ariya said.

I laughed, *Part of it. The other part is we'll be free from here.*

*You know we're going to be on the run at first right?* Ariya thought.

*True, but it will be pretty hard for anyone to get close to us with all 5 of us together. We'll have to continue training so we can fight the Enforcers.*

*There's 8 of them, right? Do we know anything about them?* Ariya asked.

*Not really. I know that they're immensely stronger than us. I'm surprised that Boss didn't have them come back when he found out that Drake was still alive and that you were a Navi.*

*He probably doesn't want to have to deal with them getting crazy either. I have a feeling when Boss is ready, some of them will come back. It's also possible that they're on their own assignments.*

*True. I wish I could find out more information on them but I don't think I could without making Boss question my loyalty to him.*

*Yeah, let's not do that. Maybe I can figure something out on my end. Boss likes to ask me questions and he seems willing to give me some information as a reward.*

*Yes, but Boss is careful about the information he gives you. Telling you that your Mom is still alive was to hurt you. To hold you here. He knows that as long as you know there's a chance your Mom is here, you won't leave.* I added.

Ariya's face fell, *You're right, knowing that my Mom might be here makes me not want to leave, but something is telling me that if we're going to save her, we'll have to leave first. Taking on Boss outside of the facility is going to be a lot easier than taking on Boss in the facility. Same thing goes with the Enforcers. If we take them out one by one, we'll stand a better chance.*

*True. Something's bugging me though. Boss mentioned Ryker and I don't remember anything about him. Your Mom said to try to think back to the beginning when I first got here. But I can't even remember why I was sent here. I need to ask Drake about that. But I can also ask Boss about it. I just have to ask it in the right way.*

*Another mystery.* Ariya grumbled.

I kissed her on her head. It was getting late and I needed to leave. I hadn't left the room since we'd gotten back. So I hadn't seen anyone after we had fought. A part of me was interested to see the reactions. If they were the same or if they changed. I had given it my all to fight Ariya. There was still a little bit more I might have been able to do but what I'd shown had been plenty. It was enough to scare Boss and everyone there. They were all stunned. Ariya had done well in showing that she had a lot more power than initially believed.

*I need to leave here, princess.* I told her, reluctantly.

*I know. It's getting late. Besides, you need to run still. You've gotta whip Caleb into shape.* She giggled.

*It's not that he's slow, I'm just a lot faster. I know that had to do with my training when I first got here. I also know it had to do with something my parents had worked with me on. Even though they weren't there when I shifted for the first time, they had taught me some stuff before they died.*

*You're just a beast overall.* Ariya smiled at me.

I grinned, *You'll be with me? Or did you want to sleep?*

*I'm definitely going to be with you. I can sleep after. Besides, you let me take a very much needed nap today.* Ariya said.

I gave her a big hug and kiss before I left the room. My hair changed back but our connection was still there.

*That's kinda crazy feeling your memories pull away a bit.* She noted.

*It's weird for me as well. But I'm getting used to it.* I told her walking down the hall.

I checked Boss's office to make sure he was gone before leaving. If he had been there I would have checked in with him before leaving but he had already left for the night. As usual, I was the first one here and the last one to leave.

*I honestly would have thought Boss would have been the first one in and last one out.* Ariya mentioned.

*I would too, but I've always beaten him. I vaguely remember that I've been beating him since my training with Ryker. It must have been him that taught me to be here as early as I am. I just wish I knew why.* I grumbled.

*We'll figure it out. Maybe Drake can search your mind for more blocked memories?* Ariya suggested.

*Maybe. We'll ask him when I see them.*

I came up to the front and Ariya went silent. The guards all stared at me in shock when they saw me but immediately turned their gaze to the floor. I had to try really hard not to laugh.

"Out for the night?" The guard who usually addressed me asked shakily.

"Yup." I answered.

"Have a good night." He responded in his usual way but with an added amount of fear of me.

As soon as I left the building and made it a block away I felt my hair change back and my memories return to me once again. Ariya began laughing hysterically in my head.

*Wow, they are so terrified of you!* She laughed.

*I couldn't imagine why. I'm super nice to everyone.* I laughed.

Ariya laughed harder, *By everyone you mean me.*

*Pretty much. I'm nicer to Keo, Caleb, and Drake though. They count too.*

*They're not in the facility. You give everyone a 1 word answer unless absolutely necessary. Then they watched you break multiple bones in my body. They're terrified of you.* She laughed.

*Good. They better be. They better keep that fear because when we get out, the only person we're going to have to fight is Boss.*

*Do you think they'd hesitate to fight if Boss was out?* Ariya asked.

*Possibly. I'm not totally sure. I'm sure there would be a few that would think about fighting me. But if they realize I'm fighting with you they're likely to back down.*

*Too bad we can't just take off the bracelets and walk out the front door.* Ariya thought.

*That would be too easy. I'm sure Boss has some tamper thing on it that would alert him if they were taken off or if they were being messed with. Same as the second you leave the room he gets an alert. Then if you leave the building apparently it's electrocution.*

*Guess we gotta be ready for the hard way then.* She grumbled.

I made my way to the forest. As soon as I got there a thought came into my head.

*Ari, you can feel what I can right, can you smell what I smell?* I asked her.

I could tell she was focusing hard on trying to catch any scent I was getting so I sniffed the air. There was a faint smell and I was hoping she would catch it.

*There's a very faint smell. I know I can smell stronger scents. It's kind of like memories, it's faint but it's there.* She answered.