Remembrance
Bella's POV
18th May 2018
5 years. 5 years had passed since we'd escaped. Since Anabel, Hannah, Robyn and Morgan. I missed them, every minute of every day, just as I missed Chris, Austin and Ashley. We'd fought for our freedom. We fought every day of our lives to escape them. To escape what we were made for. But it had all been futile. We hadn't stopped them. We just lay in waiting for them as they took more children. Our escape, it means nothing unless we have freedom. And we won't have that until they're all gone. Every last one of them has to die, or we can't have peace.
I'd been awake all night. Sitting on my bed, staring into nothingness, I remembered. I remembered the first time I'd been taken, the pure terror running through me. I remembered when I met the other recruits and each time they brought someone else in. I remembered our first mission. I remembered every time I was punished or rewarded for being on the top or bottom of the class. I remembered the moment we began our escape. I remembered knocking on my parent's door. I remembered their expressions when they saw me standing there. I remembered meeting the Cullens. I remembered my Mom moving to Arizona. I remembered when my Mom first told me about Phil. I remembered when he asked me if it was okay if he proposed to my Mom. I remembered her excitement when he did. I remembered coming home from the gym to find their bodies, bloodied and broken. I remembered having to tell my Dad. I remembered the police's questions. I remembered the months I spent alone. I remembered going back to Forks, pretending like nothing happened. I remembered the few years I had of safety at home. I remembered each year I'd go and meet up with the others. I remembered the moment I'd lost it all.
The door was opened the same as every day. Nothing was different to them. I went through the day as if it were just any other day. But I didn't stop thinking about the others. They'd all be at the farm right now. Depending on the time zone, they'd probably be in the kitchen, Matthew making them all breakfast.
Trey and I exchanged glances through the day. I'd gotten over my anger at him. He was my ally here. He was my only ally. No one else here understood what we'd gone through. As with every day, my last class was a private training session with Trey. We both ran on the treadmill for an hour, sharing our own memories of the others. I couldn't talk to him about after though. He didn't have those memories. He had his freedom for just a few hours before he came back. And he knew that I didn't want to talk about my Mom around here, so we had a silent agreement that we didn't talk about the outside world.
Being left in my room for the night. I sat in the middle of the cold metal floor, my legs crossed, and my eyes closed. I'd been planning to try something new. Something dangerous and untested. But it could change everything. If it worked. Concentrating on my breathing, I supressed all my emotions, focusing solely on my ability.
Third Person
Over the last two days, the Black Harts had begun to gather in Colorado. They were each scared to be the next ones the Ghosts came after. Together, they were safe, but their families weren't. None of them had missed an anniversary though. It was a time they could be themselves, not having to hide their true power.
This year was different though. Issy wasn't there. As soon as she'd been taken, they all received word from Zander. They knew that she wouldn't have gone quietly. Each watched the news reports of the showdown that had occurred in the tiny town of Forks. Each waited anxiously for updates from Zander. But with them all together again, it was a painful reminder of where she was.
Five years after their escape, to the minute, they found themselves standing out on a little wooden dock, singing. They did every year to show that they didn't forget their fallen friends. Issy would usually lead them, letting a flame float into the sky for each of their lost friends. This year, there was only darkness. Standing on the dock, the last notes of their song hung in the silent air. Each imagined Issy standing in front of them. Each imagined the small flames floating into the sky. They all stood in their places longer than usual, holding onto the years past.
Eventually, they turned back to the safe farmhouse. Sitting around the living room, they sat quietly, telling stories of the friends they'd never see again. It was late when Terra went into the kitchen to refill the coffee pot. As she waited for it to boil, she stared out the window. It was pitch black out, the moon covered by thick cloud. But her enhanced sight allowed her to see the slight ripples of water in the lake.
A spark of light caught her eye and she dropped the mug she'd been holding. The sound of it shattering brought the others running out as Terra sprinted out the back door.
"ISSY! ISSY?!"
A flame hovered where Issy usually was stood. The others had all gathered just off the dock, staring at the flame. Issy was nowhere in sight. But there was no doubt that this was her.
"She's here. Issy is here with us."
The single flame hovered for a minute before it extinguished.
Bella's POV
Exhausted, I fell back on the floor. I'd never felt so drained before in my life. And for the first time, I felt cold. Usually my ability would naturally keep me warm. But I could feel the cold of the metal flooring. I had no way of knowing whether my plan had worked. Either way, I needed sleep. I wouldn't get through tomorrow if I didn't.
I crawled over to my bed, wrapping myself up tightly in the blanket. As tired as my body was, my mind kept going. Cold, every inch of my body shivered. I'd never felt anything like this before. I knew I needed help. Part of me was too drained to get to the door, let alone bang on it. Another part of me knew I couldn't get help. If anyone found out why I was like this, they'd start experimenting on me again.
Rolling onto my back, I stared up at the ceiling, focusing my breathing. One by one, I relaxed my muscles, stopping their shivering. Once I was finally relaxed, I could feel my warmth coming back to me. I closed my eyes and let out a long breath. My full strength wouldn't come back to me for a while, but it was a start. And the slight increase of warmth quieted my mind enough for me to sleep.