Chapter 40
The silence in the cell was deafening as Asher stood before us, his presence as unexpected as it was confusing. My thoughts were going fast, trying to understand why our group’s next leader was here, in Ryder’s protected place. Next to me, I could feel Aiden getting ready, prepared to act if needed.
Asher shut the door behind him, looking at both Aiden and me. It was obvious he was struggling with something, and I couldn’t stop myself from feeling both mad and puzzled.
“What are you doing here, Asher?” I demanded, my voice trembling slightly. “Are you… are you working with Ryder?”
Asher took a deep breath, his shoulders sagging slightly as if a great weight were being lifted. “No, Aurora. I’m not working with Ryder. At least, not in the way you think.”
I felt Aiden shift beside me, his voice low and warning. “Be careful, Aurora. We can’t trust him too quickly.”
Asher’s eyes flickered to Aiden, a look of recognition passing over his face. “You must be, Aiden. I’ve heard about you.”
“Explain yourself, Asher,” I interrupted, not willing to let him change the subject. “What do you mean by not working with Ryder ‘in the way I think'”?
Asher looked back at me, his eyes showing a mix of determination and regret. “I’ve been working as a double agent, Aurora. I’ve been getting close to Ryder’s inner circle to gather information. That’s why I’ve been acting weird lately. I couldn’t risk anyone finding out, not even you or Xander.”
The news really surprised me. For a long time, Asher had been doing something very risky, doing something dangerous right in front of us. A part of me was happy he hadn’t really gone against us, but another part felt sad because he hadn’t been honest with us.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” I asked, my voice softer now. “We could have helped, protected you.”
Asher shook his head, a sad smile on his face. “I couldn’t risk it. Ryder has many spies, Aurora. More extensive than any of us realized. If there was even a hint that I was working against him, it would have all been for nothing.”
As Asher began to share the intel he had gathered about Ryder’s plans and the layout of the compound, I noticed Aiden listening intently, his expression thoughtful.
“Some of what he’s saying aligns with what I know,” Aiden said quietly to me. “But stay alert. We can’t be certain of his true motives yet.”
I nodded, thankful for my brother’s careful approach. It was still unbelievable to have him here, alive and next to me after so many years.
“Asher,” I said, cutting into his explanation. “I understand why you kept this secret, but it doesn’t change the fact that your behavior puts a strain on the pack. On our trust in you.”
Asher’s face fell, genuine remorse in his eyes. “I know, Aurora. And I am deeply sorry. But I hope the things I learned can help fix it. We’re short on time, but I have a plan to get us out of here.”
While Asher explained his plan for getting away, which included using hidden tunnels, I felt conflicted. Part of me wanted desperately to believe him, to trust that he was still the loyal friend and pack member I had always known. But another part, the part that had been through so much betrayal and pain, hesitated.
Aiden listened to the plan, then spoke up. “I might be able to help. My abilities… I can sense energies and presences. I could guide us past potential dangers.”
Asher’s eyes opened a bit wider when he heard the news, but he quickly added it to our strategy. As he talked, I noticed his voice getting more anxious.
All of a sudden, a far-off alarm started ringing, its sound bouncing off the hard walls of our prison room. Asher quickly looked up, his face showing more tension.
“We don’t have much time left,” he said, hurrying to free Aiden from his chains. “Aurora, I understand you’re not completely sure, but for now, this plan is our only real option. Do you agree to join us?”
I paused for just a little longer, feeling the importance of my choice pressing down on me. Finally, I nodded. “I’m with you. But Asher, if this is a trap…”
“It’s not,” he assured me, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that almost made me believe him completely. “I swear on my life, Aurora. I’m here to help.”
With Aiden freed, we slipped out of the cell and into the dimly lit corridor beyond. The alarm continued to blare, but so far, we hadn’t encountered any guards. Asher went first, and Aiden followed closely, focusing intensely with his eyes shut as he used his special skills to detect any threats coming our way.
While we walked through the winding hallways, I was amazed by how Aiden and I were both unique and alike in certain aspects. We each had our own special talents, and we both had experienced pain from Ryder. However, while I had the backing of my group, Aiden had been on his own for a very long time. I quietly promised myself that if we survived this, I would ensure he never had to face anything by himself again.
We reached a place where the tunnels were divided into two paths, and we needed to choose which one to take. Asher pointed to the left. “This way. It’s longer but less guarded.”
Aiden, however, shook his head. “No, I sense danger down that path. The right fork feels clearer.”
I looked at them and saw that they were very focused. The noise of people walking towards us got louder and louder. We were out of time.
“Aurora,” Asher said urgently. “You have to pick. Left or right?”
At that moment, with the weight of our lives hanging on my decision, I realized how much had changed. Just days ago, I would have trusted Asher without question. Now, I found myself torn between his familiar presence and the brother I had just rediscovered.
Taking a deep breath, I made my choice. “Right. We go right.”
I didn’t wait, I ran into the tunnel to the right, and Aiden and Asher followed closely. The tunnel was tight and dark, with only a few lights on the walls that flickered now and then, giving us some light.
We ran for what felt like a very long time, and the sounds of the people chasing us got quieter. Just when I thought we might get away, we rounded a corner and came to a sudden halt.
In front of us stood a massive iron gate, with thick, strong bars. Beyond it, I could see sunlight a sign of freedom but the gate seemed impossible to get through.
“No,” Asher breathed, his eyes wide with disbelief. “This wasn’t on any of the plans I saw. It shouldn’t be here.”
Aiden’s face was grim. “I sense a powerful energy from it. This isn’t just a physical barrier.”
The sound of approaching footsteps began to grow louder once more. We were trapped, caught between Ryder’s forces and this unexpected obstacle.
I turned to Asher and Aiden, seeing the same mix of determination and fear in their eyes that I felt. “Any ideas?” I asked, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.
Asher shook his head, his earlier confidence shaken. “I… I’m not sure. This changes everything.”
Aiden, however, had a contemplative look on his face. “Maybe not everything,” he said slowly. “Aurora, remember what I said about my abilities? About influencing energies?”
I nodded, still not completely sure where he was heading with this.
“I think,” Aiden continued, “that if we combine our abilities your balance of light and dark, and my expertise in managing energy we might be able to unlock the gate that’s currently sealed by a spell.”
This plan was dangerous, but since we could hear people getting closer, it was our only choice.
“Alright,” I said, taking a deep breath to relax myself. “Where do we begin?”
Aiden reached out and took my hand. As soon as our hands touched, I experienced a surge of energy, something entirely new to me. It felt like the core of our shared heritage was resonating, acknowledging its existence.
“Focus on the gate,” Aiden instructed, his voice strained with concentration. “Channel your power into breaking down its defenses. I’ll guide and amplify our combined energy.”
I followed his instructions, searching inside myself for the careful mix of light and darkness that was my natural ability. I sensed Aiden’s power blending with mine, helping to direct and form it into something, I never thought, was possible.
The entrance started to sparkle, and the space around it looked wavy, like when it’s really hot outside. I tried even harder, and I could feel sweat on my forehead because of the hard work. Next to me, I heard Aiden breathing heavily, and I felt his hand shaking in mine as he gave all his energy to our shared goal.
Right when I thought I couldn’t keep going, there was a noise like breaking glass. The gate’s shimmer intensified for a moment, then vanished entirely. The iron bars remained, but the magical barrier that had reinforced them was gone.
“Now!” Asher cried, rushing forward to physically attack the gate. With the magical protection gone, the iron bars groaned and bent under his assault.
Aiden and I joined him, our combined strength finally forcing a gap wide enough for us to squeeze through. The sounds of pursuit were alarmingly close now, echoing just around the last bend of the tunnel.
“Go!” I shouted, pushing Aiden through the gap first. Asher followed, then turned to help pull me through.
Just as I cleared the gate, I saw Ryder’s guards around the corner. Our eyes met for a brief moment before Asher pulled me fully through, and we were running once more, this time under the open sky.
The taste of freedom was sweet, but I knew we couldn’t celebrate yet. We had left Ryder’s place, but we weren’t safe yet. While we were running, trying to get away from the people chasing us, I kept thinking about what difficulties might be waiting for us.
We had gotten out of one dangerous situation, but I had a feeling that our troubles were not finished. Ryder was still around, and he now knew exactly what Aiden and I were capable of when we worked together. Whatever happened next, I knew it would push us to our limits.
Running with Aiden on one side and Asher on the other, I headed towards an uncertain future, hoping that the strength of our family and group would be enough to help us face whatever challenges were coming.