Chaos

by Katie Holland

  That made Alix smile. “Okay, but I’m going to have to tell Shay. If she finds out from someone else, we’re both dead.”

  “ I believe that. I’m pretty sure my mom and dad are going to figure it out as soon as they see us, though. You know how parents are, they seem to know about the things we want to hide.”

  “True. So, I’m going to tell Shay right away and you can tell your parents. I’ll talk to mom when I see her.”

  “Fair enough. Now let’s go see if there’s any news.”

  Chapter 28

  Alix and Ben walked back into the house, hand in hand. Natalie noticed and smiled but didn’t say anything.

  “Anything new on Sonya?” Ben asked.

  “Kris and his team are still about an hour away from her location. So far, they haven’t met any resistance, but they’re prepared in case they do,” Natalie said.

  Since there was nothing to actively do at the moment, Alix went to the bedroom to call Shay. She remembered the time difference and was glad it wasn’t as late there as it was in Brazil. Shay answered on the first ring.

  “Alix! You’re alive.”

  Alix giggled. “Yep, can’t get rid of me that easily.”

  “I was worried when I didn’t hear from you for sooo long.”

  “I heard you finally called Ben. I’m sorry about that.”

  “I’m just glad you’re okay. So, how’s it going there?”

  Alix told her about Sonya and the rescue.

  “I hope she’s okay,” Shay said.

  “Me too. Hey Shay, I have something to tell you. Uh … um … well … Ben asked me out and kissed me.”

  Shay squealed so loud that Alix had to hold the phone away from her ear.

  “Tell me everything,” Shay said.

  So, Alix did.

  “I’m so happy for you. I told you didn’t I.”

  “I know, I know.”

  “Are you happy about this?” Shay asked.

  “Yes. I told you about being worried and that hasn’t gone away,” Alix admitted.

  “You two are meant to be together. Trust me on this,” Shay told her. “So, do you know when you’ll be coming back here?”

  “No. I don’t know anything right now actually. I haven’t checked in with the Council. I watched on the news what’s been going on, but I’m not going anywhere until I know Sonya’s safe and back with us. How are you feeling?”

  “Still a bit tired but other than that okay. I’ve had Lyla’s ice cream every day and watched a ton of movies. It’s actually the best Christmas vacation I’ve had,” Shay said laughing.

  “You always were a glass half full kind of girl. That’s one of the things I love about you.”

  “Face it, you love everything about me.”

  “You know I do. I need to check and see how things are going with finding Sonya, but I wanted you to be the first to know about me and Ben.”

  “Thank you. Now be safe and be good,” Shay said with a smile in her voice.

  “I will. Love you, Shay.”

  “Love you too, Alix.”

  Alix went back to the living room only to discover that there was no new information on Sonya. She sat on the couch with Ben and stared at the TV. She was too busy thinking about Sonya getting home safe to even see what was happening on the screen. The next hour was one of the longest in her life. She jumped when Rick’s phone finally rang. The conversation only lasted a minute and Alix was anxious to hear what had happened.

  Rick hung up and turned to face them. “They’ve got Sonya,” he said, but his face was grim.

  “What’s wrong?” Alix asked.

  “They hurt her Alix, badly. She’s unconscious. Kris thinks they tortured her for information when they found out she wasn’t you.”

  “Oh my God,” Alix said. “I have to get to her. I can heal her.”

  “They are bringing her back here as quickly as they can but are still at least half a day away.”

  “That’s too long. If she’s that hurt, she needs to be healed as quickly as possible,” Alix told him.”

  “Alix, I can’t let you leave here without any protection, it’s just not safe.”

  “Maybe I can be of assistance,” Miguel said from the back of the room.

  “How?” Alix asked.

  “Perhaps I can meet them halfway and take a look at your friend. The Grynn aren’t looking for me, so I’ll be safe and that way she can get help more quickly than coming all the way here to be healed.”

  “That’s a great idea, Miguel. Are you sure you can spare the time?” Alix asked.

  “Anything for the Kaelneth and her friends,” he said.

  “Rick, can you coordinate this?” Alix asked him.

  “Certainly, and thank you for your help Miguel,” Rick said and called Kris.

  A few minutes later Miguel was on his way to meet Kris and the team. As soon as he healed Sonya they would be back on the way to the safe house. There was nothing for Alix to do but wait. Wait for Sonya. Wait for a call from the Council. Wait for who knows what else.

  By this time, it was almost 3:00 in the morning. She noticed everyone around her yawning.

  “Why don’t you all get some sleep. I’m not tired so I can wait by the phone in case any of us are needed. I’ll let you know if I hear from Kris or the Council,” Alix told them.

  “Are you sure?” Natalie asked.

  “Positive.”

  “Okay, I could really use some rest. Come on honey, let’s go get some sleep,” Natalie said to Rick and they left the room.

  “What about you?” Alix asked Ben.

  “I go where you go. And besides, I slept a lot of the time you were sleeping so I’m not as tired as mom and dad.”

  “Okay. Well, I’m going to read but you can watch TV if you want.”

  Alix went to the room to get her eReader. When she looked in her bag for it, she noticed her journal. A lot had happened since the day after Christmas, so she decided to write in it then read.

  Back in the living room she sat down beside Ben and opened her journal.

  Dec 30 – very early morning – Rio safe house

  It’s been a very crazy and scary few days. I woke up the day after Christmas so happy, then I found out what the Grynn had been doing across the world while I was sleeping. I was horrified and angry, but I immediately wanted to help. Dealing with the fires in California made me really nervous but I knew I had to find a way to stop them and I was thrilled when I figured out. The scariest thing about California was the Grynn that tried to attack us. If not for Kris and the Warriors they would have succeeded. I didn’t tell anyone this, but when I was altering their memories, I realized I had the ability to take away every memory they had, all the way back to when they were born, and I almost did it. The only thing that stopped me was if I did something like that it would make me just like them and I want no part of me to ever be like a Grynn.

  Then, in Rio, the worst possible thing happened, Shay got sick and if I didn’t find a way to stop the virus she was going to die. I’d never felt so frantic or desperate than in that moment. I was not going to let my best friend die. Now that I think about it I don’t think it was an accident that the pearl fell into my hand. I think it was the magic at work helping find a solution. I had the most terrifying dream while I was sleeping after saving the people of Rio. I can still see Ben and Shay lying dead in the street. I don’t know what it meant but I’ll do anything in my power to prevent something like that from happening.

  After I woke up and became myself again, I learned that the Grynn had captured Sonya and taken her away somewhere. I figured out where she was, but I wasn’t allowed to help save her. I understood but I was the reason she was even there, so I felt it was my responsibility to get her back since it was me that she was impersonating. When Kris finally found her, she’d been badly hurt. No one will ever understand how that makes me feel and no one can tell me it’s not my fault. She was pretending to be me to keep me safe and she was hurt beca
use of it. That’s not acceptable to me but I don’t know what to do about it. Right now, all I want is Sonya back here, safe and healed.

  Now for the good stuff. Ben asked me out!!! Eeeek!! I was super nervous at first, but Ben made me feel comfortable. He’s so hot and confident that I forget he has no more experience with this than me. So, journal, I have a boyfriend. I never thought that would happen to me until I went to college. But Ben has always been different. I felt comfortable around him from the very beginning. And he kissed me … on the lips. It was a super sweet kiss. Pretty good as far as first kisses go, I think. I’ll certainly never forget it.

  Alix looked up from her journal and saw that Ben had fallen asleep beside her. She found a blanket to put over him and turned on her eReader. There was nothing for her to do but wait for a phone call. She started reading and quickly got lost in the story.

  Chapter 29

  Several hours had passed and Alix was so into her book that she jumped when the phone rang. It was Rick’s.

  “Hello, this is Alix.”

  “Alix, it’s Kris. Where’s Rick?”

  “I made everyone get some rest. Is everything okay?”

  “Yes. I was just calling to update him on Sonya. Miguel met up with us and healed her. She’s still unconscious but no longer in pain. We’re on our way back to you.”

  “That’s good. How long will it take you?”

  “We’re still a few hours away.”

  “Okay. See you then. Be safe.”

  “I will.”

  Alix hung up and looked at the time. It was just after 8:00 am. She decided to go to the kitchen and see what she could find to eat. The first thing she noticed was the coffee maker. She looked in the fridge and smiled when she saw hazelnut creamer. She was thankful to whoever went shopping. She started the coffee maker, making the full pot. When it was done, she took her coffee and a muffin back to the living room and started reading again.

  It wasn’t long after that Natalie walked by the living room.

  “Do I smell coffee?” she asked.

  “Yes. I made a pot about fifteen minutes ago.”

  “Thank you, I could really use a cup,” Natalie said heading for the kitchen.

  Alix followed her. “Kris called about a half an hour ago. Miguel was able to heal Sonya but she’s still unconscious. It’ll still be a few hours until they are back here.”

  “That’s good news. I hope they don’t run into any trouble on their way.”

  “Me too.”

  “So, you and Ben, huh,” Natalie said with a smile.

  Alix felt her cheeks heat up. “Uh, yeah, I guess.”

  Natalie let out a small laugh. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Alix. We all knew it was inevitable. I’ve known for a while how Ben felt about you. Don’t worry, he never said anything. I just knew by the way he talked about you. I know this is new but I’m here if you ever need to talk to me about anything.”

  “Okay, thanks,” Alix said.

  Over the next hour, both Rick and Ben woke up. They were all anxiously waiting for Kris to return with Sonya. Alix still hadn’t heard from the Council and was wondering what they were up to. While they waited, they watched the news for any new information. It was much the same as yesterday. The world was slowly getting back to normal, except for the escalated violence in the Middle East and South Africa. As Alix was watching she realized something.

  “Hey guys, you know that all of the places in the world where the Grynn caused something are all countries where Council members live, except the Middle East.”

  “You’re right Alix,” Rick said. “You don’t think that the Grynn know who the Council members are, do you?”

  “It would be an awfully strange coincidence if that wasn’t the case. But how would they know who they are?”

  “Could there have been a spy at your Induction Ceremony?” Ben asked.

  “I don’t think so otherwise they would have known my name was Alix, not Ashley. And I’m sure they would have come for me in Sunset Creek if they knew that.”

  “This might be something to talk to James about,” Natalie said.

  Alix agreed but really didn’t feel like talking to any of the Council members until they got Sonya back. She didn’t want to be sent off somewhere until she could see her with her own eyes.

  They went back to waiting. A few hours later they heard a vehicle drive up in front of the house. It was Kris. They rushed out to meet them. Two Warriors carried Sonya into the house and laid her on a bed in one of the spare rooms.

  “Why isn’t she waking up?” Alix asked.

  “She’s been through a very traumatic experience. It’s probably her brain’s way of dealing with it right now,” Natalie said.

  “What do we do now?” Ben asked.

  “We’re going home,” Alix said.

  “What? Why?” Ben asked her.

  “We’ve all been through a lot here and Sonya needs to finish healing at home. If the Council needs me somewhere else, they can just let me know but for right now we’re all going back to Sunset Creek.”

  No one argued with her. They simply went to their rooms and started packing. Natalie made a quick call to Celia and within the hour they were back in the room of rooms headed for home. They took great care in carrying Sonya back up the spiral staircase in Sunset Creek. Once back in their house they tucked Sonya into a bed. Alix wanted her close until she woke up.

  Even though they’d only been gone for five days it felt like forever for Alix. She was so glad to be back somewhere familiar. She texted her parents and Shay that they were back home and went to her room and fell asleep for a while.

  When she woke up, she’d decided that being a world traveler was exhausting, just from being in different time zones, never mind trying to save the world. By the time she went back downstairs someone had made a fire in the den, Natalie had made dinner and her dad was home. She gave him a great big hug and he was just as happy to see her.

  After Alix finished eating, she checked on Sonya, she was still sleeping. Then she decided she’d better call James.

  “James here,” he said answering the phone.

  “Hey, it’s Alix. I just wanted you to know that we’re back in Sunset Creek. Sonya was badly hurt and is still unconscious, so we brought her home.”

  “I see.” Was all he said.

  “Are you okay? You sound distracted.”

  “Sorry, I am. I feel like I’m being followed but I don’t see anyone.”

  “That reminds me. Did you realize that every country the Grynn did something in, is the home of a Council member, with the exception of the Middle East?”

  “You know, it’s been so crazy that I hadn’t thought about it. It can’t be a coincidence.”

  “That’s what I thought too. So, you’d better keep your eyes open, just in case. Is there anything you want me to do now?” she asked.

  “Not right at this moment. We don’t want you near the violence right now as there are too many Grynn in those locations. But stay close to your phone,” he told her.

  “Okay.”

  “I have to go now Alix,” he said and hung up. Alix was starting to realize that he never said goodbye.

  When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she heard her mom’s voice and went straight to give her a hug.

  “Hi honey,” her mom said. “I’m so glad your back home.”

  “Me too,” Alix told her. “Can we talk for a minute?”

  “Of course, why don’t you come to the kitchen with me while I get some dinner.”

  Alix followed her mom. She took a seat at the breakfast bar while her mom got herself some dinner. She took a seat beside Alix.”

  “So, what’s on your mind kiddo?”

  “Well, Ben kind of asked me out and I said yes.”

  “I see,” her mom said smiling. “I can’t say I’m surprised by that Alix.”

  “Really? That’s what Natalie said. Did I miss some flashing neon sign or something?”
>
  “No honey, it’s just that sometimes when you can see things from an outside perspective you see more than the people involved. Just like we could all see that your mother and father were meant to be together before they did.”

  “Oh.”

  “So, what’s really on your mind honey?”

  “I don’t know how to act around him anymore. I’ve basically ignored him since last night. Not really on purpose, I just don’t know what to say. I’m kind of just feeling awkward.”

  “Do you not like him?”

  “No, it’s not that. I really like him.”

  “Is he being pushy about this?”

  “No, just the opposite in fact.”

  “Do you want to have a boyfriend?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I don’t see the problem, Alix. Just be the person you’ve always been with him. That’s the person he likes.”

  “You make it sound so easy.”

  “It is honey, you’re just over-thinking things again,” her mom said smiling.

  “That’s just the way I roll,” Alix said smiling back.

  “How’s Sonya?” her mom asked.

  “She’s still unconscious. I’m kind of getting worried. It’s been over a full day since Kris found her. What if the Grynn did more than just the physical torture we know about?”

  “You mean like they did to Logan?”

  “I don’t know. It just seems strange that she hasn’t woken up yet.”

  “Have you used your magic to check her?”

  “No. I thought she would wake up and be okay. But it’s been so long, that’s why I’m getting worried.”

  “It can’t hurt to check right?”

  “No, you’re right mom. I’m going to go do that right now.”

  “Okay honey, but you should probably let someone else know what you plan to do, just in case.”

  “Good idea. I don’t know what I’d ever do without you mom.”

  “I love you too sweetie.”

  Alix went back to the den to look for Ben. He wasn’t there so she went to his room and knocked on the door.

  “Hey,” she said when he opened it.