Unedited
Colony Six: Military District ( Underground Secret Base)
Raven the reports were about you and Annika.
Raven the reports were about you and Annika.
Raven the reports were about you and Annika.
No matter how many times that dreaded statement echoed inside of Raven's head, she couldn't believe that that was what she had heard. She wouldn't believe it. Why would there be records on her and her sister? They were nobodies; living day by day to survive in a nightmarish district. They held no special traits that needed watching. Thier intelligence was average and neither had combat training; unless fighting on the streets with local thugs and jealous women was consider combat training. It made no sense to Raven why anyone would have reported on them and she let her father know as much.
For the first time since reuniting with his family, a small smile appeared on Eric's face. His daughters had no clue how truly amazing they were. Eric considered Annika to be his daughter. Always have and always will. The way she had been conceived would always be horrendous to him but when he saw her on the sonogram his heart skipped several beats and love for their child started to grow. Allric may have forcibly made her but he will always be her daddy. Raven and Annika were one-half of his soul and Mary the other half. He was incredibly fortunate to have three phenomenal women in his life and no one will take them away from him. But now his baby girl was sitting on the dirt floor hurting and in shock of all the recent events. Providing comfort was becoming extremely hard to resist but he knew now was not the time for that. Raven had to know the truth. The whole truth. The truth that would more than most likely make her and Annika hate them but he longer had a choice. Still, he was a father and had to offer some sort of comfort no matter how small. '
' Even without the reports you girls are amazing,'' He said,voice full of pride. '' Living in a decadent district would turn many people into savages. Easily, they forget their humanity and become cold, heartless people that prey on one another. True, they only become that way to survive but they forgot that no one can survive alone. You and Annika grew up surrounded around those people and the poor conditions that were forced on us and still you two grew to have loving and caring hearts. You did not let your environment influence you, instead, you follow your own path. So, when I say that you girls are remarkable please believe it to be true.'' Smiling gently at his daughter, Eric let his words sink into Raven. He truly believed every word that had been spoken.
Raven saw the truth in her father's eyes. Heard it in his voice. She knew that he really believe what he was saying. She wanted to believe him, she really did but her father had been gone these last few years and she was no longer that innocent pure girl he once knew. No longer would she ever be considered innocent and pure especially not since last year. Those words of praise belonged solely to her older sister. Annika would never have degraded herself like she did. Turning away from her father's eyes, Raven couldn't bear the love and pride she saw in them. It would break his heart if he knew how much of a whore she had become.
Raven desperately needed a distraction. She knew her parents wanted to tell her something important. Something that would most likely damage her further but dammit she needed a break. A heart could only take so much pain and pain is what she knew awaited her. Slowly getting up from the ground she looked at her surroundings for the first time. It truly was amazing. Yes, it was an underground dirt cave but it was made to resemble a room. It was small and circular shaped with two low burning torches attached to both sides of the wall by a makeshift door. Raven guessed that the door led into the first room she had arrived it. There was one chair but her parents occupied it. On the ground ,where she woke up, there were thick blankets made into a pallet. There wasn't make to keep her distraction but still Raven walked around the small room pretending to take interest in anything. Out the corner of her eyes, she noticed her mom giving her dad a certain look,her mother knew she was procrastinating and the answering look her father gave back said he also knew. Raven turned her back to her parents lowering her head to look at the ground.
'' Whatever those reports contained... please... don't tell me.'' She pleaded softly. '' I know that whatever it is... whatever it is will break me, right.?I am not strong like Annika. I do not handle situations clear headed. I just -just got my dad back after thinking he was dead and now ... now to find all this stuff out at once is... overwhelming.'' Raven was silently telling her parents to understand. It was true, that she did not handle stress well. When she thought her dad was dead the first time she had gone into a deep depression. She was even still to this day dealing with it. '' Just please don't,'' she whispered, brokenly.
Mary once again looked towards her husband in anguish. His eyes said it all. He too didn't want to hurt her but they had no choice; not when she had already met Christian. Sooner or later the truth will be known to her and they would rather it be told to her by them. They were the ones who committed a great sin against their children and there would be no hope of forgiveness, but she needed to know why they did what the did. It was at that time the only way to save her and Annika. Both looking towards their youngest daughter, her back still facing them, Mary and Eric both stood up from the chair and walked toward Raven. Mary reached her first and wrapped her arms around her daughter's waist from behind, offering unspoken comfort for what she was about to hear. Thinking sadly that this also might be the last time her daughter let her hold her.
Eric walked around to the front of Raven, lifting her head up by her chin, he forced her to meet his brown eyes. '' Raven, I know that this is an enormous amount weight on your shoulders and anyone that is human would crumble under it but your sisters' and your life is in danger and you need to know why,''
Raven's breath hitched in shock as she stared into her father's eyes. Why would their life be in danger? '' I don't understand. Why would our life be in danger? And why now after all these years?''
'' You really think receiving that invitation was just lucky coincidence?''
Raven looked over her shoulder at her mother flabbergasted. '' It wasn't?'' She asked in outrage.
Mary turned away from her daughter's accusing eyes. '' No Raven, it wasn't,'' she answered gently.
Looking back and forth from her parents Raven was in shock. '' Why didn't you tell us? '' She asked . '' Why all the secrets, mom. Did you not trust me and Annika to keep our mouths shut?''
Quickly shaking her head no, Mary went to stand in front of her daughter beside Eric. '' It's no that we didn't trust in you girls, but you and Annika were so young and we had... certain groups of people and not to mention the watchmen, watching our every move. These people had to believe your father was truly dead so they wouldn't suspect what we had planned. They needed to see a real grieving family.''
This was unbelievable. Raven understood why her mother kept it a secret but still her heart felt like it had been betrayed.
'' Raven,'' Once again she met her father's eyes. This time they expressed seriousness. '' Nothing about this day was a consequence. The invitation was sent as a means to an end for an evil man. He had been planning this day for years. But as he watched you three, I watched him'. So I knew when to attack and how. The only flaw in both our plans was Annika not being there.''
'' But how? How could you have known we would be visiting this district? I had decided spur of the moment.'' Raven asked.
Mary giggled lowly. '' I know my daughter. I knew you would ask to come here. So we planned according to that.''
''What!?'' Raven yelled out in shock. '' You based our survival on a what-if? What would have happened if I never asked, huh?'' That was complete madness to have organized their attack based on her. True, she did scheme to wiggle in the visit but on the slim chance she had been unsuccessful, then what?
'' You are not one to give up on what you really desire, Raven. I knew you would find a way.'' Her mother answered, a teasing grin forming. '' And I knew you couldn't pass up the chance to ogle hot and sexy men, as you say.''
Well, that was kinda embarrassing for her mother to say but Raven knew she was right. She indeed would have found a way. Just not for the reason her mother thought. I wanted to see HIM again. Head jerking suddenly at that thought, Raven realized that she had completely forgotten her mission. She did want to see HIM again but with meeting Christian and- wait! Christian. That's right where was he? Dammit, How could she had forgotten to ask about him. Everything that her parents just told her suddenly became less important. Christian was foremost in her mind now. Grabbing her mother's arms in a tight grip, panic almost taking her over, she rushed out question after question.
'' Mom, where is Christian? Is he okay? Harmed in any way?'' Fear for him was making her eyes enlarge and her heart started pounding hard in her chest. '' I know he is the enemy... but I- you just...you can't hurt him, please'' She pleaded desperately.
Mary looked towards her husband with her eyes filled with trepidation. Was it too late already to save her daughter? Did Annika feel the same way about Nathaniel, already?
Eric narrowed his eyes on his daughter,thinking. He had hoped that it wasn't too late but looking at his daughter and noticing how hysterical she quickly became,he knew it was. '' The Halo is alive but...'' He trailed off. He Looked away from his daughter's worried eyes. Mentally trying to find a way to tell her what was being done to him.
Raven's heart dropped in dread. '' But what, dad.''
'' We... Raven, that Halo is one of the top ranking soldiers in the military. Information is needed from him.'' Eric explained slowly.'' For now, he is confined and being question.'' He prayed Raven would be satisfied with that information but again he knew she wouldn't be. This was all their fault.
Releasing her mother's mother's arms, Raven stepped closer to her father. Angry was evident by the look on her face. Did her father think her a fool? '' Halo's never give information, father. They would rather die first. Even I know that. But... you knew that too, didn't you? So, how exactly are you planning to gather information from a rock?''
'' There are ways.'' He said dismissively. Staring hard into her eyes. He clearly was trying to intimidate her wanting her to drop the subject.
Raven didn't. '' What ways?'' She sneered. '' Are you torturing him?''
When her father again looked away from her she had her answer. Turing around to walk towards the make-shift door, Raven went to find and rescue Christian. The thought of him suffering while she had been sleeping made her feel sick. A large rough hand grabbed her right arm to stop her. She tried to shake her father's grip of her arm. He would not stop her. Raven will get to him no matter what.
'' Let go of me, now,'' She yelled out in rage. Struggling wildly to be free. No one will stop her and that included her parents.
'' Raven, you can not,'' Her mother said watching sadly as Raven fought to get free. It wasn't her daughter's fault she felt so protective of Christian. Felt the strong need to be with him. It was theirs alone.
Still struggling to break free, Raven snapped. '' You know he will never give any information. You are just making him suffer because he is a Halo. Your enemy. How are you any different from the Watchmen.''
Astounded by her words her father'ss grip loosen. Raven took that opportunity to yank her arm free and went running. A tall figure at the door froze her in place. Eyes widening in disbelief her legs became weak and unstable. She fell hard to the cold ground never taking her eyes off the stranger.
It was HIM.
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Ok, I was gonna do a two parter but my hands are cramping and all those words are starting to get blurry. That means this woman needs her beauty sleep. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
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