Thank you, my Tethered Bunch, for reading. You guys are the best. 😇
*Luna*
Cami and I stood next to the stove in the cabin as we continued to hug each other. Only she could pull off wearing head-to-toe polka dots and still look ravishing in them. Her glorious light brown curls bounced around her face as her sparkling hazel eyes illuminated from the light above us. Even in pajamas, she made me look dull with my puffy eyes and nappy hair tied in a ponytail.
Cami finally let go and picked up her wooded spatula, continuing with her early morning cooking. "Sorry. I was in the middle of making breakfast and I suddenly felt the need to see you," she said, a huge smile across her face.
I stared at her attempt to not burn the eggs and wondered how best to guide her in cooking them properly without hurting her feelings. But at least she was trying, and that was enough. Burnt eggs weren't that bad. "That's okay. I'm glad you came to me." I peered over at the clock as it read five-thirty in the morning. "You're cooking early."
"Well, Faisal is still asleep and will wake up shortly for his morning prayers. And Sarah sometimes wakes up around seven to watch cartoons. So, I figured after everyone went to bed and three hours of sleep that I'd surprise everyone. We all take turns making the meals and doing security around here."
She scraped out a few eggs onto a plate and threw away a half-burned section into the trash. I gazed around and saw a few boxes lying in the corner, one marked 'Seven-Day Meal Supply.'
"Max and the guys boxed our food whenever we leave here. We have a few months' worth of food set aside for us," she said after noticing my eyes wandering around the room.
"Where are all of you leaving, if it's okay to ask?" I keep forgetting that I shouldn't know too much. Chase and his minions could tap into my mind at anytime.
Grabbing a glass and filling it with some orange juice, she gulped a big sip and turned my way. "To get you, silly. You are our mission, Luna." Cami ambled toward a small table beside a window and sat down, then I joined her. "As soon as everything goes as planned, we'll be on our way. About twelve of us. Maybe more."
Gazing around the kitchen, I stared at the country-style interior, feeling the homey essence inside the cabin. It made me miss home even more. I also didn't want to uproot everyone on the account of me. We only needed a few people to get us out, and everything would be alright; I hope.
"Twelve?"
She leaned forward and took a huge bite of her eggs. "Yeah. We aren't sure the exact number, yet. I know we have Cyrus, Gabi, Enya, Fe'ya, Mila and Raj Petel, Max, Raul, Ahmed and Faisal, along with a few other allies who are all willing to do what they can to break you out. Cassidy Kwan will arrange the flight details for us. We just have to let her know when."
I looked down at my lap and cleared my throat. "Oh. Um . . . Do you know anything about the Khan's? Are they okay?"
"You weren't told anything?"
I shook my head. "No. How are they?"
"Faisal told Faris to send his family into a private bunker he knows of until he gives them the all-clear when it's safe. I thought you knew they were okay."
"I didn't. Or maybe I did. My mind gets reprogrammed these days." I gave her a sad look and then looked away before I tear up like a baby. I loved this girl, but I didn't want to ruin her morning by the reality that I've been facing. "Anyway, tell me about Amir. How he has been. And what happened after I left earlier?" I was curious to know if he remembered anything after he kissed me back. That was some kiss.
"He is his normal self. He mopes around here. A lot. Sometimes he will join in on a few conversations, but other times he spaces out." She grinned as she laid down her folk. "But I know one thing he enjoys. His dreams. Eh?"
Cami stood up from the table and placed her plate onto the counter, and then headed to the sink, washing her hands. "Luna, we have the whole world hanging in the balance here, but you and Amir having dream sessions together is an outlet. And I think it's really hot. Very erotic. Husband and Wife. The passion and love between you two. Oof. You and Amir have a Cosmic love."
I bit my lip and shook my head. "How do you know we see each other in our dreams? Has he... said... anything, maybe in his sleep?"
Oh, please tell me that our dreams can help with his memories.
Drying her hands, she tossed her head over her shoulder. "Sister, he didn't have to tell us anything. Max did a few weeks ago when we heard Amir mumbling in his sleep. He explained about you and Amir sharing an ability together." Pausing, she yawned. "Both of you see each other . . . right?"
I didn't really know what to say, because this is something Amir and I should work out first. I don't want anyone to know this and later catch Amir doing something private in his bed. That's embarrassing. But she is my sister. I guess I could tell her about it. It's not like I wasn't ever going to say anything. "Yeah. We saw each other once, in a shared dream. But that's all you're getting."
"I wasn't going to ask you to go into detail. But... that sounds really amazing. Now I want to have a shared dream with Faisal." We both laughed and glanced outside the window as we watched Sergeant Decker and Max patrolling the grounds. "They wanted to go out there together. Both of them are still messed up over what Chase did."
"The memory wipe?"
She nodded. "Chase messed with Colin all these years, and he never knew he was a tethered soul. Chase did, though. His blood sample showed positive to him, but it was invalid to us. Chase could make him to do almost anything he wanted."
"But what about the invalid result? If he was positive before, then how did he show up on Faisal's device as invalid?"
She shrugged a shoulder. "We don't know, but Chase might have messed with his ability somehow. Colin said he remembered seeing Chase inside a chemistry lab and tested tethered souls who hadn't had their powers activated. The only thing we know for sure-" She paused for a moment as she looks out the window.
"Is...?" I asked, bringing her gaze back to me.
"Oh. Chase is a snake. He is a slimy, no good snake. I can't wait to get you out of there." I smiled a little as she gazed down and then quickly sat in the chair next to me. "So, are you really going to name the babies Aluna and Ibrahim?"
I smiled and nodded, rubbing my hand over my belly. "Definitely. Ibrahim is after my husband, and Aluna is after us. Both names are special."
"Oh, I wasn't saying they weren't. They are really unique and very nice. Aluna will become a household name before you know it." I chuckled, and then we heard a noise coming from the hallway. "Did you hear that?"
I nodded. "Is anyone else up?"
She shook her head. "Just me and the two men outside. Faisal should still be asleep on the couch."
My eyebrows rose. "Couch?"
"Yeah, we chose to sleep in separate areas of the house. I mean, he will stay with me and comfort me until I fall asleep in my bed, but he and I are committed to not engage into any adult-related activities until we marry. Like you and Amir did. However, we aren't doing the whole blood oath thing. That's a true Aluna moment that was meant for you two."
I smiled and took her hand. We heard the noise again, someone murmuring in a closed room. Hopping up, we darted toward the hallway as I followed her to the room until we heard the noise. Shortly after coming close to the door, I recognized the sound. Amir. He was rolling around in his bed and mumbling in his sleep.
Cami opened the door softly, and we peered into the room, gazing at him lying on his side, twitching. "What's happening to him?" I asked.
"Just stop... please," Amir said, mumbling in his sleep.
She shrugged. "I'm not exactly sure. But earlier Faisal and I heard him talking to himself in the bathroom."
"Talking to himself? What do you mean?"
She stepped back and left the door ajar just an inch. Then whispered toward me. "I don't know. He was irritated about something and was talking to himself in the third-person. We even heard him mention about kissing you. It was like . . . someone was talking to him, and we couldn't see anyone in there."
"Why does this scenario seem so familiar?" She busted out laughing. "But in all seriousness, what could that mean?"
"He hasn't been the same since you disappeared," she murmured.
"I'm sure. I know I was in Russia recently and placed in a room with lead embedded into the walls. No one could reach out to me." She turned my way and frowned, then moved forward to give me a soft hug.
"I'm sorry. We tried to look for you everywhere. We had teams around the world helping with our search." I hugged her for a moment, and she closed Amir's door.
"I know. Apparently, I was kept hidden away. I just wished that I knew what happened to me during that time."
Strolling slowly into the kitchen, we noticed Maria standing beside the fridge with a tall Asian man. Zan, who was part of Maria and Sloan. I gave them a gentle wave with my hand and smiled back.
"Guys, this is Luna. Luna, this is Maria and Zan who are paired with Sloan," Cami murmured, formally introducing us.
"Hi," I whispered, glancing between Maria and Zan as she prepared her coffee. She and I saw each other earlier, but we didn't get to officially meet. I turned back to Cami, and asked, "Is it safe for all of us to use our telepathy at the same time? Max always seems adamant about using the video conferencing method."
Maria snorted as she took a sip. "Max can kiss my ass. My girlfriend is on one side of the world, and my boyfriend is on the other. So Maria will see one of them, if not both, before she loses damn her mind." I glanced over at them as I watched Zan wrap his arms around her waist, laying his chin on her shoulder.
"Both of us are okay," Zan said, whispering into her ear. I know she was scared for them, just like I am for everyone who was looking after us. He turned his gaze toward me and then ushered her down the hall. "It's nice to formally meet you, Luna. It's a difficult time, so please excuse us. Dylan informed me that Sloan was given two rounds of shock therapy, and Maria's head is hurting."
"Oh My God. That's horrible. Both Sloan and Dylan were really nice," I told him as they walked into a room toward the back of the house.
"This is what Maria has been dealing with for months now," Cami said, turning her gaze my way. "It's been an emotional time, and Zan only pops by with information. Dylan is his eyes and ears in Sweden, and Zan is Dylan's in China."
"Zan seems caring. Like Amir."
"He is. And once we have you away from Sweden, we'll be ready to take down all the facilities. We just have to wait for the right move."
The right move.
That seemed almost impossible to me, but I trusted them. I trusted that Dylan and Sloan and possibly the new woman on our side who was an implant could help get us out. I had to wait, even when I was tired of waiting.
Ten minutes rolled by and I said my goodbyes to Cami. She reassured me about Sarah and my family being okay, and that my parents are spending more time together. When I heard the door beep outside my room, I jerked my attention toward it, and watched as Nurse Smith made her way inside. She stepped forward, holding a small metal tray with a tall glass of water and three pills beside it. She stood two inches from my body, staring down at me.
"It's time for you to take your medication, Luna. It is for your recent accident. These will not harm you and will only help you feel better," Nurse Smith said in a calming tone.
"What... What are they? Could you please tell me?" She rolled her eyes like I asked an annoying question. Maybe I've asked that same question for weeks. Who knows. I didn't know what my normal routine had been.
"One is for any headaches you may have, and the other will help you relax. We were told that you weren't sleeping well. So, you may feel a little tired and groggy. If you please..."
I picked up the pills and swallowed them quickly, just to please her. I hoped these weren't the mind-controlling kind, and I'd go back to having my mind wiped again. I didn't trust these pills, but I had to keep up with this act. Hopefully, no one was onto me.
She stared down at me as I swallowed the rest of my water and watched me get comfortable in the bed. Slightly smiling my way, she nodded and exited the room. I slowly felt the medicine flow through me and closed my eyes, feeling the darkness consume me. Now I was asleep, and lying next to my husband in our beautiful, shared paradise.
***