My arms ached, and I couldn't stop the thoughts in my mind. They left you, don't you see the pattern? They always leave, like Missy, like your parents did, and your brother too, he didn't want to be in your life.
I shook my head wildly, a whimper leaving my lips as my head hung downwards, hair like a curtain around me. "No they didn't," I whispered.
Do you see them here? You always have to save yourself - where were they when you got kidnapped with Kayla? With Malcolm? Aaron didn't save you from that bear, dead ghosts did.
"No," tears rolled down my cheeks, eyes burning as I closed them tightly. Then show me how I'm wrong, tell me. They never have to leave you, they always do anyway though.
My chest heaved, mouth parted as I sucked in air, trembling. A cry of anger, misery, and frustration left me, unable to do anything now.
I hated being helpless, I hated being controlled, and... I hated being alone. Sure, sometimes I liked being helpless for my guys but... they weren't here...
I held in a sob, pressing my lips together tightly. This was all my own fault, I got us into this mess. It was always my fault.
The door opened and I kept my head down, I didn't want them to see me crying. I didn't want to have any weaknesses.
My arms were freed, and I fell to the ground, on my knees. A wrist grabbed my hand, and I flinched as lips touched my palm. "Raven," River's voice.
"Leave me alone," my voice cracked, eyes on the floor.
"Pancake,"
My eyes slowly went wide, heart beating faster. My head slowly lifted and I stared at River. "Pancake?" I echoed, lips parting.
"It's me, Raven, third times a charm, isn't that what you said?" his eyes were soft and filled with sorrow.
I lurched forward, arms going around his neck as I broke down sobbing. My twisted my fingers into his shirt. "Don't leave me behind," I pleaded breathlessly, finding it hard to breathe.
"I'm here now," he soothed and ran a hand down my hair, holding me to him. "I'm so, so sorry," he whispered. I pressed my cheek against his and pushed my fingers through his hair, gripping it tightly as I kept my other hand entwined in his shirt.
"Take me home, I want to go home, I don't like it, I don't, no, no, no," I weakly laid my head on his shoulder.
"I know baby," River's arms tightened around me. "Soon- today,"
I closed my eyes, feeling feverish as I rested in his arms. The smallest smile filled my full mouth, feeling safe for the first time in a while.
"Use your magic, Raven," River whispered, kissing the top of my head. "Use it as much as you want,"
"Clair said not too," I murmured, eyes still closed. I didn't want to think about that woman.
"Clair is a fool," River said firmly. "Besides, you know magic should cost you something, so it will. When we get back to our world, you won't be cheating the system I think."
I lifted my head and touched his face lightly, looking into his eyes. "You are my River," I kissed his eyes and he closed them easily.
"Forever and always," he agreed and laughed a little. "That was cringy, huh?"
I smiled a little. "Doesn't mean people don't dream of hearing those words," I told him and leaned into his palm when he touched my cheek. "I want out of this room," I whispered.
"How long were you like that?" River asked warily, a hint of rage in his voice.
"A few hours, my wrists hurt," I admitted and paused as he rose and helped me to my feet, holding my fingers and kissing my red wrists gently.
"It looks painful," River said softly. I smiled.
"I'm okay," I told him and looked eagerly at the door. "Did everyone work together to infiltrate the building to rescue me?"
River nodded and I quickly snatched up his hand. "Yes, we even used those rebels as a fantastic distraction."
I nodded and pulled him over the door impatiently. "Come on! I need to make sure Fallon is okay, and kiss Faith, and, and, and," there was so much!
River moved forward and looked at me fondly. "Okay, okay, lead the way,"
"River! When we get back, Dune is making hot chocolate, and Aaron and I have puppies at his house! I need to name them! I'm sure Cyprus is worried too, I'm sure he'll yell at you all, oh!" I giggled and hugged River tightly as we stood in front of the door. "And I want to watch the stars with Fin, I want to make Cross and Aaron best friends." I took a deep breath and River gazed at my face.
"What else?" River asked softly.
"I want to cook with Faith and Dune, that would be fun, we could listen to BTS, I'm going to make Lion cuddle with me, and maybe join him on his morning walks, I can work in the office more with Aaron, and maybe we can all have movie nights! We could.... we could..." I looked at my hand in River's. "I don't want to be separated anymore."
"Then let's do all of that," River agreed and opened the door. There were a few men, but they didn't give us a second glance.
I grabbed River's arm and snuggled into it. "I missed you," River murmured and looked down at me as I looked up.
"Then don't leave," I said simply, cocking my head to the side. River clicked a button the elevator and we went inside.
"What if we run into you?" I questioned and looked at the numbers moving down.
"Then I'm sure your magic can do something," River said simply, not concerned.
I furrowed my brows. "Are you sure I can? Clair made it sound like I would destroy the world."
River's eyes flickered to mine. "Do you trust me?"
I scowled and looked away. "That question is so unfair it hurts,"
The door opened and I paused, seeing Cross who wasn't my Cross, pointing a gun at someone.
I snapped my fingers. Go to sleep and rethink your life choices, Cross crumbled and I gasped, feeling a pull of energy. "That didn't happen before!"
River looked down at me knowingly. "Because you, whether you realize it or not, discovered the rules."
I scowled again. "Rules suck," I complained and closed my eyes, imagining us to be invisible. "Now they can't see us, and," I looked at my hand. "I feel like I just ran a marathon, why does that cost so much energy! I liked it better when I could do whatever I wanted," I whined.
"Would you rather have black holes and alternate universes?" River questioned as I pulled him to the front door, side stepping a soldier.
"Fine," I grumbled. I stepped out into the sun and gazed at River. "Where is everyone? Please tell me they aren't at the rebel base- River! They hit me with a truck!"
River faltered and gazed at me. "What?"
I waved my arms around. "They hit me with a truck! And locked me up!"
River nodded, eyes filled with mirth. "Clair forgot the mention the truck,"
I nodded eagerly as he led the way. "Uhhu, a truck! It hurt, a whole lot,"
River seemed to be holding back a smile. "Your stories are always extravagant, what happened again, with the cliff?"
I gasped. "Emma Phillips pushed me off a cliff, and I had to defend myself from a pack of evil blood thirsty wolves! All I had was a stick!"
River laughed outright. "Nicholas never mentions the wolves,"
I crossed my arms. "They were gone when he came, duh,"
River pressed his lips together and stopped in front of a rusted trailer. I knocked and trembled with excitement. The door opened and - "Nicholas!" I screamed and jumped up into his arms.
I closed my eyes and laughed in pure delight as Faith yelled my name and I was suddenly surrounded by my loved ones.
Clair stood against the wall and watched with crossed arms, face blank.
"Fucking scared us to death," Lion told me. I gazed up at him, ready to respond.
"Use magic more, and we can all go home," Clair called, making me pause.
"Like... what?" I asked blankly. Clair looked at me in disbelief, and I couldn't hear her, but it looked like her lips shaped the word, 'idoit'
"Like," Fallen grabbed a plant. "Make this grow," I hovered my hands around the plant and everyone watched as the flower bloomed.
A buzz filled the air and Clair pushed herself off the wall. "Fucking finally,"
I closed my eyes, and when they opened we were in a trailer, but not the one previously. A old man in a towel yelled.
"My God, Bessie! Aliens!" He yelled and stumbled back. Faith slapped a hand over my eyes as his towel slipped.
I was led outside and Cross looked disgusted. "That's something I'll never unsee,"
"We were in his house," Dune pointed out and grabbed me, lifting me up onto his shoulders.
"Now we have to find our way home," Fin pointed out with a sigh.
I ruffled Dune's hair and looked at Aaron, touching the collar around my throat. He met my gaze and I closed my eyes, smiling at him.
I paused hearing a rustle and tilted my head to the side as Aaron shifted into his wolf. "Here we go," Dune said and grabbed my hips, walking over and setting me on the wolf.
I touched the fur, and leaned forward, me and the wolf's eyes meeting. Black, this was Lycos, not Aaron. "Don't go crazy?" I asked then screeched as he bolted forward.
"Don't go too far!" River called out with a laugh.
"And don't play the game you played last time!" Dune shouted.
"What game?" Fin asked warily.
"You don't want to know," Faith advised.
Raven is finally back where she belong! :)