DISCLAIMER! I have never, nor will I ever own SoN (Though that would rock!) They belong to The N and Tom Lynch.

This chapter was inspired by the song "Simple Plea" by A Romance Thesis. The band doesn't exist anymore, but it doesn't make their music any less fantastic.

On with the program!

Chapter Thirteen: Let Go, Hold On

About twenty minutes later, we had ourselves situated around the central courtyard of the Compound, waiting for Theodahm to show.

According to my mother's intel, which she had gathered from some papers that Aiden had found in all of his shuffling, he was to arrive back here at the Compound in a short while.

We had all decided that it was best if Mom and Aiden stayed out of the way, because me and Ashley couldn't handle having to look after them as well.

So they were quietly hidden in a nearby room, armed with whatever they could find just in case something happened.

Me and Ashley were hiding behind a thick stone pillar that was the width of at least four of me. Needless to say there was plenty of room for the two of us to hide there.

Danny and Craig were across the courtyard behind a similar pillar, and Lily and Giz were situated in the bushes near the entrance. We were ready for him.

It was quiet for eight minutes. I know, because I got anxious and began counting.

Suddenly there was a loud noise like a door being slammed open. I decided this was a good time to test my ESP strength, if only to assure myself that I hadn't in fact lost my abilities.

Guys, can you hear me?

For a moment I got no response, then…

Aye Aye, Cap'n!

I quietly thanked whatever deity was up there that I had my powers still in tact, and despite our situation, I smiled to myself.

Fight hard. Do the best you can, but if you're in any serious danger, I want you to run. Long and far, run away. I believe in you, but I can't lose you guys either. Got it?

"Never."

Ashley turned to me as she whispered this.

"You will never lose me."

I brought my hand to my face to attempt to wipe away the tears that were quickly starting to fall. And in my head, my family answered my plea.

We're here till the finish Spencer. We will fight to the end.

I nodded to Ashley. She had heard it too apparently. So I hadn't lost my natural link with her either. This made me feel a bit better.

A loud voice erupted from where the door had been slammed open, and we all turned our attention back toward it.

"Come out, come out wherever you are!"

Shit.

"Did you think I wouldn't find out about your 'escape'? I RUN THIS PLACE!" he laughed maliciously. "You can't hide from me, Expers."

I heard his boots stomp over to where I had heard Giz and Lily hiding. I wasn't going to let him do anything to them. In a split second decision, I nodded to Ashley and we both jumped out from behind our pillar to face him.

He heard our footsteps and spun around to see where we were.

"Ah. The Queen Defects. Come home to daddy, have we?"

I took a few steps toward him, ignoring Ashley's attempts to pull me back.

"Fuck. You."

Theodahm's dark green eyes widened for a split second before an evil grin overtook his face.

"Oh, really?"

He stared behind me for a moment, and before I realized what he was doing, I heard Ashley scream behind me. I turned to look, but I found I couldn't move my head.

I knew that he was doing it.

He was freezing her in place. Again.

I reached in my pocket for the paperclips, bending them until they were just straight pieces of metal in my hands, and then I threw them with all my might at Theodahm nailing him on the side of his thick neck.

Ashley glared at the clips until they began to drip down his shoulders and right onto his expensive looking suit.

He bellowed as he reached up to try pulling them out, and behind Theodahm, I saw Giz and Lily sneak out from behind their bush and Lily hand Giz a small piece of chocolate she must have found.

He ate it quickly and closed his eyes.

I began the count.

Ten…

I stood stock still and closed my own eyes, calibrating my powers to help him out.

Nine…

Focusing on Ashley's image in my head, I imagined breaking the hold that Theodahm had on her.

Eight…

I could feel my body grow warmer with every point of calibration I had already achieved. Not much longer now.

Seven…

Six…

Five…

My temperature exploded and I could feel Ashley's doing the same, her body heat so profound and so much hotter than what I had produced. I knew she was ready, and when the chance rose, we were going to take it…

Four…

Three…

I opened my eyes to see that Danny and Craig were joined by the hand and they were glowing a bright orange. Lily had reached hers as well, glowing a bright blue color. Giz was almost there!

Two…

In a split second, Theodahm realized what was happening, but it was far too late for him now.

One…

"NO!"

Three things happened at once. One, I had released Ashley from Theodahm's hold and jumped back to pull her to me, linking our hands together.

Two, Theodahm had lunged forward in an attempt to stop me only to land on the ground.

And Three, Danny and Craig had let loose their powers.

Together.