"Good. Let's test it out tomorrow," said Aqua. Xena furrowed her brows. 'Test what out?' She wanted to ask, but the person she wanted to question had already stood up and left the living room.
"For now, let's eat and rest. You especially..." From the kitchen up front, Aqua pointed her finger at Xena. She opened their large grey refrigerator and took out a medium-sized container. Aqua walked towards the dining area, which was between the living room and kitchen.
"When are we going to find my mother?" Xena stood from the couch and asked. Their eyes met, but Aqua's immediately turned into an annoyed stare.
"I'll tell you once you come here and eat. I can't have a starving child here, hello?" sarcastically, Aqua replied. Both sat in the dining room and began feasting. They were having a delicious meal of pasta and it reminded Xena of her mother's cooking. The pasta was sweet, yet savoury at the same time. She felt grateful that the strangers she always runs into turn out to be kind—except for that pedophile, that abomination of a being.
"So, how do 'we' find your mom?" asked Aqua with a mouthful of pasta in her mouth.
Confused, Xena replied, "I thought you knew?"
Aqua raised a brow and wiped the food stain off her mouth. "How would I know…"
"Because you're an Arken--"
"I'm just as clueless as you are, Xena," corrected Aqua. Xena paused from eating and stared directly into her eyes.
"I'm sorry…" apologized Xena. She lowered her head down. Xena then felt Aqua's warm hand on her shoulder.
"It's all right. First, just tell me everything you know." Xena took a deep breath and let it all out. Everything that she knows, huh? For one, she knew that those Arkenian Soldiers took her mother. But that was it. Even Xena was uncertain about that painting she took from Steven's desk. Still, Xena wanted to give it a shot. Her thumb rubbed the back of her other hand under the table to ease her mind.
"Well, there is one place," answered Xena. She asked herself, What was that place called again? Xena tried to remember. There was no name or title given on the painting, but there was that Identification card she picked up from that woman. Xena now realized how ridiculous that plan was, but it was understandable since she was desperate to find the whereabouts of her mother.
"What place? You said some soldiers took your mother, right? Where could those soldiers take her?" Aqua asked multiple questions—questions that even Xena couldn't answer.
Xena shrugged slightly. "I'm not sure. But I saw a painting of a science center…" Aqua raised one brow and raised her chin, not in agreement, but in doubt.
"A painting, huh? I'm sorry, but what does that have to do with your mother," confused, Aqua looked at her and asked. Xena sighed; she knew it sounded ridiculous, yet she still said it. No one would believe that a girl who had premonitions painted events from the future that eventually occurred in actual life. No one would. At least that's what Xena thought.
"I know it sounds crazy. But please, believe me. I lived in this cabin that used to be owned by a man. He had a daughter, but she passed away and stuff…" Aqua chuckled and furrowed her brows.
"Passed away? What? Hold on, I'm confused."
"So, you lived in another man's house—who was also a stranger, yes?" she asked and Xena nodded her head quickly.
"Yes. And he had a daughter who passed away. But the thing is, his daughter had these dreams… dreams that would eventually happen in real life," Xena spoke. It was the first time she had ever said something longer than a few seconds. Xena was always the quiet type, only listened and rarely even spoke for more than a minute. And yet here she is, doing it.
Aqua furrowed her brows. "So this daughter you speak of had premonitions?"
"I'm confused. Like, seriously confused," she added.
Xena paused and thought about it. Were they premonitions? She asked herself. Xena then let out a grave sigh. She got that Aqua felt confused, but it was seriously getting on her nerves the more she said it. However, she remained determined. "I know you are but, yeah, she had premonitions…"
"Continue," Aqua ordered. The ends of her lips curved into a smile that said she was interested.
"... So, these dreams, or premonitions, she had then happened eventually. L-like the annual hunting, or the metamorphosis plan. All of it. She painted it and one of her paintings included this Science Center," Xena explained further, but the confusion in Aqua's face told her that Aqua was a tad bit convinced.
"Okay… listen," Aqua mumbled, "It sounds ridiculous," she concluded. Which made Xena unhappy.
"B-but why? I thought I explained it well enough?"
"Oh, you explained it very well. It's just that… it sounds ridiculous. Premonitions? Dreams that would then happen the next day? None of that would happen in 'real life'." Xena clenched her fist tightly.
"But you formed a wall made of water. You made a ball made of water. Even that sounds ridiculous. None of those would happen in 'real-life' if you weren't an Arken. So truly, nothing is ridiculous," Xena responded frustratedly. She understood that it's ludicrous, but she felt it was unfair for Aqua to conclude things just like that and barely gave her a chance.
It surprised Aqua as she never expected the quiet little girl from earlier to go off on her like that. A sigh escaped her dry lips. "Fine, tell me more."
Xena sighed; she already felt the exhaustion raging in her body. How will she convince Aqua? She felt as if she had already said all the things needed to say but, still, Aqua remains unchanged.
"All I'm saying is—with the premonitions she had, she might have painted the science center because she dreamt of something happening there. There's a possibility she was an Arken too. It's our biggest clue and we can't just let it slide. Any clue is good enough for me," added Xena. It took a while but finally, Aqua nodded her head with a persuaded look on her face. She felt convinced enough, and it took almost half of Xena's energy to do it.
Aqua brought her fingers to her chin and thought deeply about what Xena had said. "A science center, right? I don't know any science center here in Grand Valley, so it's possible we might have to travel further." Xena agreed. Judging from what she had seen so far, it might take a while to find her mother. Grand Valley is big, staying true to its name.
"It's probably not in Grand Valley. I saw a building that looked just like the one in the painting. It was about one or two miles away from the forest," replied Xena. The look on her face told Aqua she was certain about it. She then showed a close-lipped smile.
"You know, for a child, you seem smart," Xena looked up, interested at the compliment given to her.
"I do?" she asked. Aqua chuckled and nodded her head.
"You talk smart, you act smart. Heck, you even look smart. I'm impressed. How old are you anyway?"
"Thirteen." Aqua raised her brows in shock. She had never seen a thirteen-year-old this intelligent before. 'Or maybe I'm just dumb,' Aqua thought. Then, her lips formed into a saddened smile. Aqua remembered something—actually, she remembered 'someone'. Someone that was very dear to her heart, someone who was once her family.
"My brother... You're as old as my younger brother," said Aqua. Her face turned into a frown the more she recalled him.
"Did he… pass away too?" Xena asked, but then bit her lip as she thought that was an unsympathetic question to ask. Aqua laughed away the question and shook her head, though her laughs sounded sad—just like the memories of her past. Aqua was a mysterious character when she first came into Grand Valley. She wasn't the nicest to the person who had greatly helped her, Astrid. And that guilt of being unappreciative still remains in her heart. Guilt is what powers Aqua, every time she remembers the many regrets that she has, and along with the regrets is the feeling of worthlessness.
Aqua avoided Xena's curious gaze. "I don't even know. Those stupid soldiers took him too. But that was years ago, I'm not even sure if he made it out alive," Aqua sighed and stood up from the dining chair.
"But you saved him, right?" curious, Xena questioned. Aqua stretched her arms out and let out a yawn. She then looked at Xena with a sombre expression.
"No…" Aqua said.
"I ran away like a coward. I envy you, Xena. You're much braver than me when I was your age. If I was you, I would probably give up."
Xena stood up and looked at Aqua in the eyes. 'Giving up' was not a choice she could make. Her mother's life is in danger. She couldn't just give up. Although Xena understood Aqua. "I also ran away as you did… but I can't just give up now. I've come this far."
"I figured. Anyway, tomorrow is an important day, so get some rest," replied Aqua. Xena sighed and nodded her head. She first asked to wash in the bathroom upstairs, which Aqua had no problems with.
Her place to rest was a downgrade from the one she had at Steven's cabin. Since there were only two rooms available, Aqua apologetically asked her to sleep on the couch. Although, once she tried to rest on the couch, she found that it was much more comfortable than it seemed. Aqua's dogs, whose names were apparently 'Mimi' and 'Angel', accompanied Xena as they slept on the floor near her.
It was a long day. From leaving Steven's cabin to ending up in another stranger's house in a big town, Xena felt the exhaustion filling up her body. Even she felt impressed by how far she travelled. But she still has a long way to go before finding her mother. Xena expected the difficulty, but she didn't expect it would be this difficult. If she followed her dangerous plan and successfully entered that science center, what more could she have done?
A sigh escaped her mouth. That car was probably an intervention to prevent Xena from going to that science center. Maybe she dodged a bullet there. Now that she has someone by her side, and an Arken too, the chances of finding her mother were higher than ever.
'Think more carefully, Xena,' she scolded herself as she stared at the high ceilings. It was a bright decision. Making plans on a whim as she did would probably lead to disasters, even death. This time, Xena wanted to make a plan that would secure their safety and her mother. Once they find more information, she would feel more confident in saving her. Now, all she has to do is figure out how to use her power—if she has it, that is.