The Exclusive One

Chapter 14

4:00 a.m.

Parker:

We’ve been outside for at least an hour with Emma or Ava coming to check on us and giving us some warm drinks or something else warm to wear. First it was a beanie, then mittens, then fuzzy socks, then a sweater.

Ryan and I fell into a comfortable silence both acknowledging that the other is there if we need them. Finally, an idea sparks into my head. The next time Ava comes out to check on us I look at her and ask, “Hey Aves, do you think it would be okay if I took Ryan to the cabin?”

Ryan looks at me curiously and Ava smiles softly, “I think we can make an exception for him this time.”

I smile, “Thank you, let the others know please? We’ll stay there overnight and probably won’t be back till tomorrow after noon.”

She nods in understanding and asks, “Do you need anything?”

I shake my head no, “Anything we would need should be there. It’s been stocked up recently, right?”

She nods in confirmation and walks away and I turn to Ryan holding my hand out to him, “Come on, let’s blow this popsicle stand.”

He looks at my outstretched hand cautiously, but whatever was holding him back he pushed forward and took my hand and followed me off into the woods.

 ******

4:25 a.m.

Ryan:

I’m not sure where Parker is taking us to. I know it’s a cabin because of her saying that to Ava, but I didn’t even know that there was a cabin out in these words. I assume it’s something only the girls knew about considering Parker was asking for permission to take me there. But being out here in the woods is starting to freak me out. I just saw my Bella’s corpse… I’m a little more jumpy than usual. I ask, “Parker, why can’t you just teleport us there?”

She responds nonchalantly, “Because it’s not that far of a walk.”

“Yeah, but it’s night and we just saw Bella’s body. How do we know the Aberrations aren’t still here?”

She glances back to me, “We don’t know for certain, but I don’t think they would’ve wanted to hang around long after pulling a stunt like that.”

“Why not?”

She answers with a shrug of her shoulders as if the reasoning was obvious, “Because they know we would all be out for blood.”

After walking for about two miles I see Parker smile as we make it to a clearing where there is a small treehouse and a cabin.

The cabin actually looks pretty nice and I ask, “When did this happen?”

She grins, “It was Nikki’s request. She asked Thomas to make it and he spent a whole lot of money to have it made and make sure that none of you boys knew about it and then Nikki erased his memory of ever doing it so he would never be able to find us when we came here.”

Parker leads the way, “Come on, Ry, I’ll show you around.”

I follow behind her as she opens up the door to cabin and says, “It’s not much, but it was ours.”

“How long has this been here?” I ask in awe.

“It’s been about three years.” Parker sits down on a small couch and turns on a little radio and waits for me to sit down.  I can feel her watching me as I walk about the cabin. It was a wooden cabin and has a few posters and pictures hanging up. There’s a little red couch and a rocking chair in here. In the corner of the cabin is a fireplace and a bookshelf that is overflowing with books.

I sit beside her and she tosses a blanket to me and then uses her powers to light the fire. We listen to music in silence until we both drift off to sleep.

 ******

Day 11.

5:00 p.m.

Parker:

We made contact with Ava to let her know we weren’t ready to come back home and that we would be staying another night. We’ve had lunch and read books and now I’m taking Ryan to my favorite spot. I look over at Ryan who is deeply invested in his book and say, “Come on.”

I walk out the door and wait for him to follow behind me. He seems hesitant almost as if he left the cabin then it would disappear.

I climb up the boards we have hammered to the tree and get to the flooring in the tree and look down to see Ryan still in the doorway of the cabin. After a couple of minutes, he closes the door and follows me up by the time he got to where I was, I am already in a comfortable position as I lie on my back and look at the sky. Ryan sits next to me sighing and I comment, “It’s beautiful, huh?”

“Yeah, it is.” He mutters back. I look over at him and inform him, “You know, this was always Bella’s favorite part whenever we came out here. It always made her feel like everything was ok and that we all were actually normal…I know I wasn’t one of you, but one thing is for sure I might as well of been. My life hasn’t been normal since you guys came into it.” I tell Ryan with a smile as I sit up beside him. He pushes my arm and says, “Yeah, I guess we did screw you up a bit.”

We stay there until the sun begins to set I climb down the make-shift ladder first and miss one of the steps and fall down about six feet. I yell in surprise and keep waiting for my head to impact with the ground, but it never happens. I open my eyes that I didn’t realize I had clenched shut and look down to see that I am in the air.

I am flying.

I am actually flying. I didn’t think I would be able to.

I think about being on the ground and the next thing I know I am laying against the ground. I stand up and look around me proud of my accomplishment. I look up at Ryan and he climbs down until he can jump without harming himself and looks at me and asks, “What was that?”

“I flew!” I exclaim with a smile. I stand up and Ryan quickly grabs my arm and pulls me to where his arm is now around my shoulders. I smile up at him as we walk back into the cabin.

We get inside the cabin and I feel alive with the adrenaline that ran through me. I can tell Ryan is trying to get me to settle down though. He’s making hot chocolate right now and has turned on calming music and has told me to read a book. I struggle not to bounce around due to the energy flowing inside of me. Finally, Ryan sits next to me and his presence seems to calm me. I have a feeling he’s done something to my mind, but honestly it feels nice so I’m not gonna question it.

Things settle and we sit in a comfortable silence. The only sounds I can hear out here is the fire crackling, mine and Ryan’s breathing mingling, and the crickets outside. I don’t expect Ryan to speak so it makes me jump when he says, “How is it possible?”


“How is what possible?” I ask as I c**k my head to the side in confusion.

He huffs, “The Aberrations getting inside our house; how is it possible? Not only did they get inside our house they had enough time to create a murder scene in it.”


I sigh and say softly, “You know they killed her before they came here.”

“I know, she would’ve known where she was at and she would’ve screamed for us.” He starts to ramble, and I feel the need to interrupt him, “Ryan…”


“I’m okay.” He answers a little too quickly before pausing, “Well, no I’m not, but I will be.”


“You’ve lost your sister and watched her die,” I say looking at him, “And now you’ve seen your girlfriend’s dead distorted body. You’re far from okay, Ry.”


He huffs then confesses, “I’m glad Bella doesn’t have to live on this Earth anymore…with all of the Aberrations here it won’t ever be safe and that’s all I’ve ever wanted for her is to be safe. I just thought I’d always be there with her.”

I look over at him and he states more in affirmation for himself than me, “She’s in a better place.”


“Would she have given her powers to anyone?” The thought just occurs to me and it terrifies me to think of having to go through that pain again.

He looks over at me thoughtfully, “The only one she would’ve given it over to is you and you already have Nikki’s powers. I don’t know if your body would accept anymore.”


I nod slowly and hope that she didn’t send it to me because I don’t want to go through that horrible pain ever again. I get lost in my train of thought until he speaks up again, “We’ll ask Tom and Jasper about it tomorrow; let’s try to get some sleep, Par.”


He rolls over on his other side while I lie down on my back. I know I won’t be able to fall back asleep at least not any time soon.

******

Day 12.

12:00 a.m.

Ryan:

I don’t know if Parker can tell that I’m still awake. It’s hard to ignore her she is constantly tossing and turning and getting up to grab something, but I’ve tried my best to tune her out. I don’t want to talk anymore. But I can’t sleep. I’ve been trying to for a couple of hours now, but all I can think about is Bella.

Oh my Bella.

What did they do to you?

How long have you been dead?

Why did they do that?

I don’t understand the purpose and reasoning behind it other than to f**k with our heads.

That may be the only reason.

I’m trying so hard not to let it get to me because I know that it would be my undoing. But I was supposed to be able to keep her safe.

I feel like it’s my fault that she’s gone.

I softly cry into my pillow hoping that Parker won't notice. I cry until I fall asleep.