I am so sick of being stuck in this room. If Kenna is really going to try and get me out of here I have to do whatever I can to help her out, and just sitting here isn't helping anyone! "Hello, hey is anyone there? What the heck is going on out there?"
Ok the last person I expected to come walking through the door was Julie, "Julie why, why would you do this to me, I thought you loved me. I know I love you."
"Aidan you just don't understand. I do love you, but that doesn't change anything. The things you are able to do just shouldn't happen. It isn't natural and it throws everything out of balance."
"What the heck do you mean throws everything out of balance?"
"No one should be able to control the wind, rain, fire, or earth. You can change fire to your will, that isn't natural. It is our job to restore the balance."
"Julie you don't make any sense, it isn't like I asked for this, I was born this way. If God had a problem with it don't you think he would have made sure I wasn't born able to manipulate fire?"
"I know that Aidan, I don't blame you for this, but as much as I love you I still have to restore the balance. This ability you have has nothing to do with God; it is evil and shouldn't be here."
Oh God, she is a zealot, nothing I say will change her mind. "What do you mean restore the balance? You can't just take it away from me; believe me when I first found out about it I tried."
"I know, that will be the hardest part, there is no way around it Aidan, the only way to restore the balance is to destroy what is causing the unbalance."
"You mean kill me, you are going to kill me, and you say you love me." My God is she really crying, does she really think I am going to understand her side of this, she is talking about killing me as if it is just the way things should be.
"I know it doesn't seem fair Aidan, and if there was any other way I would go with that, but there isn't. We don't have a choice in this, I am so sorry." Sure she is sorry, I can't believe I didn't listen to Kenna and keep this quiet, and now she is going to put herself in danger to try and save me.
"What about Kenna, she has nothing to do with this?"
"I know you say Kenna doesn't have any powers like you do, but you care a lot about her, you would do anything to protect her, you would lie to keep her safe. We have to know for sure."
"And just how do you plan to do that, some archaic witch trial test?"
Is that guilt, "I am sorry Aidan, it is all we have."
"Will Kenna even survive your damn tests?"
"We have never had anyone survive them, I am so sorry."
"You are going to kill Kenna too, she can't do what I can, she isn't a part of this, but you are going to kill her just to prove to yourselves she isn't upsetting the damn balance!"
"I really hope you are telling the truth and she is normal, I like your sister, but there have been very few occasions where one sibling had something and the other didn't. But the only way to know for sure is to test her."
"You mean there are more like me?" Well, I know there is, but I thought it was just my family.
"I suppose it doesn't hurt anything for you to know this, but the Restorers were brought together hundreds of years ago. It is said that demons came to the earth and had their way with an innocent young woman. There were four demons, and she became impregnated by all of them. Each demon passed on their traits to their child, but there was a fifth child that received all their traits. The Restorers were brought together to eliminate these abominations from the world. We actually keep pretty good records and from what I can see we began because of one family, but there are actually many out there. We have found people that have many different abilities that are not natural and come from demons, not just this one line. But there is only the one line that we have ever seen all the elements in one family, and someone able to carry all four powers. Years ago we lost this line. Many believe we finally destroyed it, but there are others that think they just got better at hiding and are still out there somewhere."
"Hold on a sec, are you telling me that anyone with the slightest extra ability is taken out by your faction?"
"They are unnatural Aidan and should not be here. It is not their fault that demons brought their powers to this world, but we have to do what we can to get rid of the demonic powers. Anyway, this family I was telling you about. That is the reason you are still alive. If you can manipulate fire as well as you told me then you are very similar to this family. We have only ever seen power like yours in this family line, and we have to make sure that you are not part of this line. I know you were adopted, but do you actually know how many siblings you have?"
"Even if I knew the answer to that do you honestly think I would tell you? Heck you are asking me to betray my family."
"Aidan it is the way things have to be, these guys know more about torture than you can imagine, they will get everything out of you one way or another, and then you will have gone through all that pain for nothing. I am trying to help you as much as I can. Please Aidan, help us, I don't want to see you go through what they have planned for you."
"Julie, I didn't even know I had a sister out there until Kenna showed up. As far as either of us knows there are only the two of us." I have to keep them from finding the others, well Kenna and I really don't even know where they are, but I would bet these guys would have somewhat of an idea if they watch everybody that is different. "Please leave Kenna out of this, she doesn't deserve this."
"I am sorry, I do promise that I will make sure you guys get to see each other before the end, to say goodbye. I love you Aidan." She just kissed my cheek; really yeah she cares so much she is going to watch me die. "I have to go Aidan; I will be seeing Kenna tomorrow. I truly am sorry."
"Julie I swear if you touch one hair on Kenna's head come hell or high water I will make you pay for it!"
"Aidan I am sorry. I really wish it hadn't come to this." And she just walked out the door. We are in trouble; these people really believe they are doing God's work here. Nothing we say or do will convince them we are good. Kenna, please be careful, you have no idea what we are up against or what you are walking into.
*****
"Kenna, hey Kenna, wake up, you were having a bad dream. Are you ok?"
"Huh, what, oh sorry Jake, I guess I just have a lot on my mind."
"Do you want to talk about it, I may not understand all of it, but sometimes it is just good to just have someone to talk to." She must feel so lost right now.
"It's the same dream I always have, well I have been having since Granny died. There is something in it I am missing, and I am scared that when I find out what it is it will be too late."
"I am sure all this stress you are under isn't helping you sleep Kenna, it really could be just a dream."
"You are right; it's just, well I don't even know where to start. So much has happened in the last few months, I don't know how much more I can take."
"Kenna you are a lot stronger than you think you are, you will get through this."
"We have to get Aidan back Jake, I can't lose him now."
"Kenna, we are going to get Aidan back, we can do this." God, please let us be able to do this! Kenna got up and sat with me on the couch; I wrapped my arms around her just trying my best to make her feel safe. She doesn't really know me all that well, but she is trusting me with a lot. Maybe it is because Granny said she could, or maybe she really doesn't have anyone else so I am all she has. "Thank you Jake, I don't mean to fall apart on you like this."
"Don't worry about it, honestly after everything you have been through I am surprised you took this long to fall apart." I just sat with Kenna rubbing her back, and it didn't take long and I could hear more even breathing. She has fallen back to sleep. I was raised to believe my calling in life is to protect this girl and I am going to do everything in my power to make sure she stayed safe.
I really am not ok with the plan we have for tomorrow but if Kenna is anything like her grandmother, and I knows she is, there isn't anything I can do to stop her. At least I was able to comfort her in some way. She has been through so much, and really hasn't had anyone in her corner.
Tomorrow is going to be hard, hopefully everything will work out for us. There is a lot of things we are leaving to chance, but if I have to I really will give my life to get Kenna out of their alive. But hopefully it won't come to that.