"Mom!" Lilly yelled back to Miriam every time she heard her mother yell her name. Suddenly the yelling stopped, and everything became too quiet. Nerves were all over the place as Lilly pushed herself through the forest. The familiarity of this darkness was too unreal and seemed too similar to Brayden's most recent dream."There you are." The deep voice from behind Lilly had her freezing in her tracks. Holding what breath was left in her lungs she forced herself to face the voice she had only ever heard in her dreams."Why am I here?" Lilly forced out the moment her eyes locked onto the red glowing eyes before her."Ah right to the point." An evil sneer came across the man's lips as he stops walking a mere 20 feet from her. "Esteban I'm not playing any games, what do you want?" Lilly says reaching for her bracelet only to realize it was not there."Oh come now you really think I would let you bring that in here?" He says smirking before adding, "You really should respect your elders y
"Where have you been the last 2 weeks?" Brayden said to Lilly and she only stopped to look around her. The confusion didn't leave Brayden, he was just as confused he thought he was just talking to his grandfather."Where's my mom?" Lilly said, without waiting for an answer she quickly turn to run up the stairs to their apartment."Lilly!" Brayden yelled running after her only to stop at the open door of their apartment. "Lilly, what's gotten..""That's not my mom," Lilly said watching the woman sitting on the couch staring at the blank wall."I know?" Brayden said as if they had already discussed this. But they hadn't, how did he know that wasn't Miriam?"She's in the in-between," Lilly said turning to Brayden holding out the necklace for him to see she was also there. They both stared at the shining metal in her hand before Brayden broke the silence."How?" Brayden asked taking the necklace between his fingers. The only time he has seen this sword is when Lilly uses it in his dreams
Stepping through another blinding portal Brayden finally find his voice just as the wind picked up and started blowing Lilly's hair into his face. "You are going to tell me what's going right?"Lilly laughed as she pulled her hair from Brayden's face while saying, "Would I ever hide anything from you?""Lilly you basically have been since the moment I realized I lost myself, but you knew where everyone was." Brayden could feel his fear seeping in not knowing where exactly Nia was. The fact he had lost everyone for 2 full weeks was beginning to weigh him more than he expected."Son everything will be fine." Jessica said coming forward to pat his arm."Trust in those that you love and all will work out." James said shortly following Jessica to Brayden's side. With those words the wind began to fade and their eyes adjusted to the sun's rays."Of course I trust you all, I'm worried about myself. How could I got 2 weeks not knowing what was going on, and think the fake you
"He's not going to be happy with you when he discovers this plan." James says lowly as he catches up to Lilly."He already knows the plan." Lilly says as they make their way out of the field and to a little farmhouse."How does he know the plan?" James asked in total shock."The same way you and Jessica know the plan." Lilly spoke as if they were speaking of the time of day."But Jessica just had the vision this morning?" James said as they came to the farmhouse door and he knocked."Brayden saw this day and conversation happening the day before Nia was born." Lilly said taking in a deep breath. "I've known this day and conversation was going to happen for awhile. However, I think I am going to change part of it and he won't know until after.""Am I allowed to know the change in plan?" James said trying to read Lilly's hints.Before Lilly was able to give a full answer the door opened to a surprised Ivan. "It's early is it not?""I feel the an
Without a word from the group the small group made their way to the barn to continue their conversation. Lilly slowly looked around for Brayden and the girls to ensure Jessica was still with them. “I already linked her and told her what was going on.” James said from behind Lilly as if reading her mind. “Brayden took the girls to get ice cream, we really should hurry I don’t think Claire will last longer than 2 hours. She has a high pain tolerance but I counted 3 contractions only minutes apart while you and Ivan had your stare down.” “Okay, it’s best we get this out of the way anyway.” Lilly said following Ivan and Frank into the barn. She came to find Frank attempting to whisper to Ivan asking what what going on, before James cleared his throat. “I know us coming unannounced kind of puts a damper on your family plans, or unplanned family events, but we need to get this conversation over with in about 30 minutes so you can see your child’s birth.” James said as he made his way to a
"I put you in his hell and I am the ONLY one that will ever be able to get you out." The words echoed through Miriam as she came to a stop. She knew that voice had to be Lilly but she couldn’t dare look to see who she was talking to. With a bright flash, everything was slowly fading to the darkness around her and a thicker chill began to fill the air. Crouching down to the ground and attempting to make herself small Miriam attempted to focus on the sounds around her. She could only hear silence, no wind, no birds or animals scurrying along the forest floor. How could such a place exist?“I know you’re out there sweetheart.” Miriam’s entire body shivered from the sweetening voice of her memories, a much simpler time. Refusing to let her emotions take the better of her Miriam chose to burrow herself into a tree. “Daddy will always find you, no matter what.”Miriam wanted to reply to him and state how much she hated him but knew that’s what he wanted. She waited for anything, breathing,
Darkness was in every direction almost like a thick blanket encrusted everything. A glance down revealed its black silk caressing the cool mossy floor. Its dark seduction lifted up into the trees towering high above the ground. Looking up into the tall trees he couldn't find the moon or any twinkling stars. Even with clouds, there would surely be a few stars making their appearance in the night sky. A chilling silence filled the air as if a sickening calm before a devastating storm. An almost silent snap is heard as a small twig is found by an almost nimble foot. The vaguely familiar skin-tingling sensation began to fill Brayden as he looked around in a panic. He knew with this sensation only one person could be walking toward him but this was different. His senses were telling him it was time to take flight and leave this unknown place. To avoid the fight that was destined to come if he waited any longer. As much as he knew he needed to leave this place he could not leave without her
Finally, Brayden could breathe he returned to Lillian's room to see her shivering. He picked up the duvet, knowing it was her favorite, and quickly covered her. As the shivering subsided he made himself comfortable on the floor with the sleeping bag. Even if he were only on the floor he had always slept better being in the same room as Lilly. He assumed it was like comfort for him. Like normal people have their comfort foods, he was stuck in old memories from better times. He remembered when they were first on the run Claire kept them in a studio apartment to ensure they were safe at all times. She was able to sleep knowing they were safe. He assumed that's where he learned his over protectiveness from but also knew that wasn't fully the truth. There was always a pull to Lilly to protect her even when they were little. Brayden knew where she was and asked what she was doing at all times. Of course, he never told her because she would freak out but because of this, he had saved her mor
"I put you in his hell and I am the ONLY one that will ever be able to get you out." The words echoed through Miriam as she came to a stop. She knew that voice had to be Lilly but she couldn’t dare look to see who she was talking to. With a bright flash, everything was slowly fading to the darkness around her and a thicker chill began to fill the air. Crouching down to the ground and attempting to make herself small Miriam attempted to focus on the sounds around her. She could only hear silence, no wind, no birds or animals scurrying along the forest floor. How could such a place exist?“I know you’re out there sweetheart.” Miriam’s entire body shivered from the sweetening voice of her memories, a much simpler time. Refusing to let her emotions take the better of her Miriam chose to burrow herself into a tree. “Daddy will always find you, no matter what.”Miriam wanted to reply to him and state how much she hated him but knew that’s what he wanted. She waited for anything, breathing,
Without a word from the group the small group made their way to the barn to continue their conversation. Lilly slowly looked around for Brayden and the girls to ensure Jessica was still with them. “I already linked her and told her what was going on.” James said from behind Lilly as if reading her mind. “Brayden took the girls to get ice cream, we really should hurry I don’t think Claire will last longer than 2 hours. She has a high pain tolerance but I counted 3 contractions only minutes apart while you and Ivan had your stare down.” “Okay, it’s best we get this out of the way anyway.” Lilly said following Ivan and Frank into the barn. She came to find Frank attempting to whisper to Ivan asking what what going on, before James cleared his throat. “I know us coming unannounced kind of puts a damper on your family plans, or unplanned family events, but we need to get this conversation over with in about 30 minutes so you can see your child’s birth.” James said as he made his way to a
"He's not going to be happy with you when he discovers this plan." James says lowly as he catches up to Lilly."He already knows the plan." Lilly says as they make their way out of the field and to a little farmhouse."How does he know the plan?" James asked in total shock."The same way you and Jessica know the plan." Lilly spoke as if they were speaking of the time of day."But Jessica just had the vision this morning?" James said as they came to the farmhouse door and he knocked."Brayden saw this day and conversation happening the day before Nia was born." Lilly said taking in a deep breath. "I've known this day and conversation was going to happen for awhile. However, I think I am going to change part of it and he won't know until after.""Am I allowed to know the change in plan?" James said trying to read Lilly's hints.Before Lilly was able to give a full answer the door opened to a surprised Ivan. "It's early is it not?""I feel the an
Stepping through another blinding portal Brayden finally find his voice just as the wind picked up and started blowing Lilly's hair into his face. "You are going to tell me what's going right?"Lilly laughed as she pulled her hair from Brayden's face while saying, "Would I ever hide anything from you?""Lilly you basically have been since the moment I realized I lost myself, but you knew where everyone was." Brayden could feel his fear seeping in not knowing where exactly Nia was. The fact he had lost everyone for 2 full weeks was beginning to weigh him more than he expected."Son everything will be fine." Jessica said coming forward to pat his arm."Trust in those that you love and all will work out." James said shortly following Jessica to Brayden's side. With those words the wind began to fade and their eyes adjusted to the sun's rays."Of course I trust you all, I'm worried about myself. How could I got 2 weeks not knowing what was going on, and think the fake you
"Where have you been the last 2 weeks?" Brayden said to Lilly and she only stopped to look around her. The confusion didn't leave Brayden, he was just as confused he thought he was just talking to his grandfather."Where's my mom?" Lilly said, without waiting for an answer she quickly turn to run up the stairs to their apartment."Lilly!" Brayden yelled running after her only to stop at the open door of their apartment. "Lilly, what's gotten..""That's not my mom," Lilly said watching the woman sitting on the couch staring at the blank wall."I know?" Brayden said as if they had already discussed this. But they hadn't, how did he know that wasn't Miriam?"She's in the in-between," Lilly said turning to Brayden holding out the necklace for him to see she was also there. They both stared at the shining metal in her hand before Brayden broke the silence."How?" Brayden asked taking the necklace between his fingers. The only time he has seen this sword is when Lilly uses it in his dreams
"Mom!" Lilly yelled back to Miriam every time she heard her mother yell her name. Suddenly the yelling stopped, and everything became too quiet. Nerves were all over the place as Lilly pushed herself through the forest. The familiarity of this darkness was too unreal and seemed too similar to Brayden's most recent dream."There you are." The deep voice from behind Lilly had her freezing in her tracks. Holding what breath was left in her lungs she forced herself to face the voice she had only ever heard in her dreams."Why am I here?" Lilly forced out the moment her eyes locked onto the red glowing eyes before her."Ah right to the point." An evil sneer came across the man's lips as he stops walking a mere 20 feet from her. "Esteban I'm not playing any games, what do you want?" Lilly says reaching for her bracelet only to realize it was not there."Oh come now you really think I would let you bring that in here?" He says smirking before adding, "You really should respect your elders y
"Liliana!" Miriam ran frantically into the darkened forest, what just happened? She was just with her daughter and son-in-law and now she's in a forest alone? Frantic thoughts and panic filled her every bone. "Liliana! Brayden!""You won't find them." A low voice just above a whisper blurts out from behind her.Miriam quickly turns only to see more trees in every direction. Her panic must be playing tricks on her, the only way to find her family now is with magic. But if she uses her power it will attract her father to her. Exhaling deeply Miriam continues to trudge through the ever-darkening forest. Soon it will become so dark she will not be able to see the uplifted roots before she trips on them."Want to see why I brought you here?" The voice again feels so much closer, there is no way Miriam only hearing things."Who are you?" Miriam finally stops and just listens without attempting to look for the owner of the voice."Oh, dear Miriam." The voice lets out a sickening laugh before
"Alright fine, I'd just hate for such a pretty thing such as yourself to get hurt." Mark said with a slight wink."Not in this lifetime Mark." Lilly said grabbing onto Brayden's side both to pulling strength and keep him by her side."Well if you ever need to be satisfied I'm in room 206." Mark said licking his lips."Oh trust me if I ever get that desperate I'm better off dead." Lilly said before then watching the color drain from Mark's face.Unable to think of a comeback Mark turned and hurried down the hall to his family's apartment."God the last two weeks he has been on my ass." Brayden said exhaling the air he had been trying to keep in."Why two weeks?" Lilly said releasing his hand and continuing up the stairs."Oh we've been here for two weeks before you guys." Brayden said casually, "It's no biggy I've jumped and landed in the space before you a few times remember?""Right, I just didn't realize it was two weeks." Lilly said faintly
"No matter what you say I will not risk anyone's life," Brayden quickly closed the distance as he spoke. "Especially your life. For something as simple as a pastry, no matter how delicious they maybe.""I get you're trying to be all macho right now, and possibly turn me on but I am actually really upset about the orange rolls." Lilly looked into Brayden's eyes trying to hold in her own laughter at the ridiculous conversation."So you admit that this is turning you on." Brayden asked leaning in closer to Lilly forcing her heart to race."You would take that part out of everything I said and turn it on me." Lilly rolled her eyes trying to hold back the blood from rushing to her face. "My point is they were the first ones Nia got to help me make, ever. I couldn't even try them.""Look I will go out and buy the ingredients right now and we can make some. Maybe the familiar flavor will help my mom's memory." Brayden said looking to the entrance to their hideout.