Chapter 25

chapter Twenty Five

*Ariya*

"Ariya, don't!" Keo said, "What if it's a trap?"

"It doesn't matter. I have to go see."

"But, Ariya"

"It doesn't matter!" I growled, "I have to go back. Even if it is a trap. You should keep moving forward. Find Drake, tell him what happened and he'll fill you in on the plan."

"Are you crazy? I finally found you. I'm not leaving you!" Keo said, taking a step towards me.

My eyes went to where Keo was bleeding at, "You have to. You're really weak right now. And I don't want everyone here killed."

"Ari, we can come back. We have to anyway" Keo trailed off.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "What do you mean?"

"There's someone else we need to get out of here." Keo sighed.

"That's why I need to stay. Besides, I'm not leaving, not without Caleb. If there's even the slightest chance that he's here. I have to go back."

"Hey! I know that Caleb means a lot to you but" Keo trailed off, "Caleb meansAriya! Did you bond with Caleb?"

I nodded in response, "I think so. I don't know! Keo! I don't know anything at this point! My head is all mixed up and cloudy!"

"Shhhhh, it's ok. It's just" Keo sighed, pulling me to him, "Ariya I'm sorry. I know I wasn't here. Do you know what it means to bond though?"

I shook my head looking up at him.

"It's ok. Drake locked away a lot of your memories, Ari. You'll start getting them back soon. It was just supposed to be someone else you bonded with. That's all. It also doesn't totally make sense on how, but that doesn't matter. You'll know soon enough. But Ari, we have to get out of here. You can't stay here. Caleb is fine."

"Keo, it doesn't matter. I have to go back."

Keo sighed, "Alright let's go then."

I looked at him confused. "You're not coming with me."

"Are you kidding me? I'm not leaving you, Ari. I just got you back." Keo said, getting angry. He cupped my face in his hands looking at me. He was scared to leave me again. I knew he wouldn't leave. Not by choice.

"Keo, you need to get in touch with Drake. You need to tell him to go with Plan B. He'll fill you in on the rest. I'll be ok." I said grinning up at him.

"You came up with some mastermind plan, didn't you?" Keo grinned at me.

"Yes, and you need to make sure I didn't miss anything. Twin powers remember. We used to make crazy plans all the time to mess with the boys" I paused, confused. Who were the boys?

Keo smirked at me, "You're memories are coming back a little bit at a time. There was more than just Caleb, Ari. That still isn't enough to convince me to leave. I'm staying with you this time. I didn't have a choice last time, but this time, I do. I'm not leaving you."

"I love you, Keo. But you also don't get a choice this time either." I whispered, squeezing him tightly.

"Wait, what?" Keo looked at me confused.

I put both my hands on his chest and shoved him as hard as I could, "I'm sorry." I said as he fell through the door behind him.

"Ariya!" Keo shouted as he stumbled and fell through the door.

I grabbed the door and closed it before he could catch it. Keo banged on the door cursing. He was going to hate me for that. Especially after he found Drake and learned what the plan really was. He was going to be so pissed at me. But I couldn't have him here. Not if what I thought was going to happen, happened. I couldn't deal with it.

I had made up my mind though. I was going to find Caleb, even if it turned out to be a trap. The likelihood of that being pretty high. But there was more to Boss's comment. Even if it is a trap. He has someone. Someone important. Either way, it would be over quick or it would buy us some time. And time was needed. Since control comes with time and isn't instant.

I waited until I knew Keo gave up trying to get inside and left. I took a couple deep breaths. As I regained full control, I focused on trying to locate where Caleb might be. I knew he was in room 2 or room 4 based on Keo being in room 3 and Tex being in room 1. Boss's order was to throw me in room 5 so that was also off the list. Boss was overly OCD, so he didn't like anything going outside of what he wanted. As I focused, I caught a scent that was similar to Caleb's. The scent was coming from room 4.

Surprisingly, I made it very easily over to room 4 without running into anyone. I was definitely suspicious but I had already made up my mind. When I opened the door to room 4, my breath caught. Laying in a pile on the floor in chains was Caleb.

Darkness.