There they stood looking over his almost seemingly lifeless body. He certainly looked dead when he was unconscious.
Rayla and Callum stood silently for a moment. Rayla put a curled finger to her chin, "How far would you wager your car is from here?"
"A mile at most." Callum responded still looking down at Runaan.
"So... I'm thinkin' you get the car and I'll watch over him. I'll make sure he doesn't wake up any time soon." Rayla suggested lightly throwing the trash can lid she'd used to knock him out and catching it with a smile.
Callum was a little worried, but he trusted Rayla would be able to take care of herself would he wake up, before he came back. He nodded and left to get his car. He was sure to text Harrow so that he would know and could tell the others.
Callum: Something happened. Going to Rayla's house. Meet us there in 20 min.
Harrow: What Happened?
Callum: Will tell you when you get there.
Harrow: Ok
They brought Runaan to Rayla's house and tied him to a chair leaving his weapons nowhere in his sight. The ropes were far too thick to be broken through even by Runaan. His hands were tied behind the chair.
Shortly after Runaan woke, the others came and were let in. Harrow's mouth gaped at the sight of a person tied to a chair. "Why is there a human being tied up in your living room?"
"Relax, Dreds, have you never seen a temporarily boundelfbefore? However, you could justassumeI would be as lowly dignified as you, is highly typical. Always has to be a human never an elf.Thisis insulting." Runaan quickly retorted.
Rayla rolled her eyes. She couldn't change his beliefs, but she certainly didn't have to appreciate them.
Runaan swiftly noticed Soren and Claudia and scoffed, "Typical of you, Rayla. Befriending suchRatswho can't even own a singular brain cell."
"Hey!!!" Both Claudia and Soren took instant offense.
"What makes that so'typical'of Rayla?" Ezran asked with a quiet glare.
Of course, every family needed a runt, a flea. He certainly had one, and apparently they had one, too. "Well, young flea, those who are sensible, someone like myself, would see her, for what she is. So she must rely on those that don't have the intelligence to figure it out, to further and encourage her denial."
Callum was ready to knock his lights out, he regretted letting him wake up. He stepped up, anger boiling inside him, "And whatisshe exactly?"
Runaan looked from Rayla to Callum, and repeated twice, before piecing it together. "I see this, now. You fell for thisgag, didn't you?" He sized Callum up as he referred to him as a "gag". He directed his attention to Callum, "I can tell you what she is, and I will. Ungrateful, Lazy, incompetent much like the lot of you. Perhaps, I did misplace my beliefs. She doesn't have the hard heart to do what needs to be done. She still and always will have a child's mindless, incompetent nature."
Callum wanted to murder him. Howdarehe say thisjunkabout her!! He wouldn't believe a word he said any more than he would believe he could throw him.
Only Lissa dared to ask, "What happened earlier?"
Runaan was swift in his explanation, "Thisgermhit me in my legs, thenshekidnapped me tying me this pathetically to this chair. Surely, you didn't thinkthiswould hold me long. Insulting!!"
Callum crossed his arms, "If it's so insulting, then why haven't you broken free, yet?"
Lucky for Runaan, Rayla stepped forward in front of everyone and spoke, before he had to think of an answer. "More importantly, why are you here?"
"Simple, Ethari received a letter from you and disappeared. I discovered the letter, and came to collect you, and convincehimto come home. When I found you were living amongst our enemies for suchselfishreasons, I realized you must've completely lost your mind. Even now, you're ignorant." Runaan instantly explained.
Several months ago, Rayla would've believed him and felt ashamed for her "horrible" actions, but now, she wasn't going to take this ridiculousness. His insults meant nothing to her. His insults to her actual family wouldn't be taken lightly. She wasn't the same insecure elf he once knew. She knew now, what she was worth, and she wasn't going to let him tear her down like he did for so many years.
Thinking back to hitting him in the legs, made Callum feel a little good knowing who he was. The elf that sat bound to a chair in front of everyone, was none other than the idiot that dared land a harmful hand on Rayla. The jerk who deliberately abused her emotionally making her feel worthless.
Now, he had the nerve to come after her, with the intent to kill her. Had Runaan not been someone Rayla still cared for, Callum was surely ready to put a good hurting on him, even if the odds weren't in his favor.
On the other hand, everyone elsedidn'tknow who he was.
Rayla uncrossed her arms, and informed them, "This is Runaan, the... person that my parents were foolish to trust. He was slightly responsible for my unbringing'."
Harrow's eyes widened and irritation began to rise inside him, as he figured it out. This was the man, Rayla spoke about harming her. His blood started to boil. Rayla had to live with this goon for years enduring his forms of discipline. She'd lost her confidence because of him. Rayla was like the daughter Harrow never had. He hated to think about what she had to put up with for most of her life.
Ezran could feel the tensions rising in the room even his own. The thought that everyone was good on the inside had an exception, he was standing right in front of it.
Rayla told them with her eyes still fixed on Runaan, "Guys, Can I have a few moments with Runaan, privately?"
Reluctantly, they left cramming in the family room allowing some privacy.
"Can't let them see you like this, huh? It took you long enough to be rid of those nuisances." Runaan commented coldly. He glared into Rayla's stern gaze expecting her to revert back to her habits, once her "friends" were gone. But she didn't stop. She returned the daggers he glared at her.
"Expecting something?" Rayla said plainly, but gruffly. He was clearly expecting her to go back to the way she used to be. But he had no clue how much she'd changed.
"What's to expect, Rayla? You haven't changed a bit, you're still a fool." Runaan countered, but he received no physically emotional response from her.
"Why are you here?" Rayla grumbled out.
"Ugh, we've been through this..." Runaan scoffed rolling his eyes, before Rayla interrupted him slamming her hands on the armrests of the chair.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE!! I know, you didn't come all this way to'collect'me. Don't lie to me! Don't shrug it off!! Don't pretend you didn't shoot an arrow at me earlier tonight!!! Don't pretend you didn't wish your arrow actually hit me when I was six!!!!" She yelled in anger.
He wouldn't admit it, but that surprised him. She hardly spoke back to him, and never that aggressively. He was astounded, but he kept his outward composure. "Perhaps, the truth will teach you to never speak to me in that tone again. Knowing where you were, provided me the chance to finally be rid of the ignorant child I could never shake. Your parents were smart in their single choice to leave you, unfortunately not in who they were dumping their nuisance onto."
"We agree on something." Rayla stated plainly. The subject of her parents was still sore, but she made sure to not show an inch of hurt.
"Hhmh, I should've been rid of you years ago." Runaan shook his head disapprovingly.
"ENOUGH!!!! You admit it! You don't care about me, You never did. AndIadmit it, You made my life nothing, but miserable for 15 years. You really want to know why I left Silvergrove? Here's your answer. I. Got. Sick of it. Did you really think I'd stay where everywhere I went, I had to explain why I had bruises on my face and arms from the night before? For your information, This place living amongst the peopleyouconstantly complained about, is my home. Andtheyare my family. Maybe a year ago I would've believed you, but now? I just don't care." Rayla blurted having just about enough of his attempts to bring her down.
Runaan was silent for a minute, before pretending he wasn't taken aback by her burst of anger. "Oh, please, don't pretend to have changed. You're still the same child..."
"No!!! I'm not. Because I'm not takin' your stupidity. I know, I amnotworthless! That I amnotalone! And I amnotan idiot to think that anythin' you say is anywhere close to truth." Rayla shouted in long held irritation.
Runaan maintained his outward look, he spoke in a lower tone of voice knowing the others could hear the conversation. "How long do you think they're going to stay with you? Surely if you've come to your senses, you realized they're not going to stick around forever."
Rayla took a deep breath, "As long as they choose. But that doesn't set anythin' in stone. People come, People go. I learned that first hand from my parents. But they're my family, and don't dare tell me what family is, because you don't even know what it is." Rayla spout keeping her tone low so that the others wouldn't hear.
She cut him free from the ropes that bound him. "You haven't cared from the moment you first met me. You don't have to see me again. You can walk away, and never see hide or hare of me ever again. Leave now, or persist, but don't think for a second I would let you lay another hand on me or that you won't be bound back in that chair or worse. This ends right here, right now.
Runaan stood as soon as he was cut free, "You know, I could very well take my chances. I taught you everything you know. Your threat means nothing.Youcould be the one to end up bound to the chair. You would be no such challenge."
He raised his hand to hit her once more, but without a flinch Rayla caught his wrist her grip tightening by the millisecond. "Go on. Take your chance. Do what you will, but it won't make the slightest difference. The jokes on you this time. You. Don't. Win." Rayla hissed her expression never as cold as ice til' now.
Without a doubt, Runaan was physically stronger than Rayla, but he didn't persist. He was actually impressed, though his pride took a large tumble. "Very well. If I don't have to see you or hear from you again, why get rid of something that has already been gone?" His back straightened and a smirk ever so slightly formed at the corner of his lips.
Rayla's expression, however didn't shift. "Then leave, now. I can guarantee you won't have to see me again, after today." The second she had sight that he was leaving, she turned around.
Runaan reached the door, but he didn't open it quite yet. He pulled out a small knife he'd hidden in his shirt, and threw it at her head.
She stopped walking, and caught it between her fingers throwing it back at him, all with her back turned to him. Had Runaan not caught the knife, it would've pierced him through the center of his forehead.
The smirk grew wider, "Good catch, Rayla." It was exactly as he'd taught her years ago. She hadn't at all, forgotten her training. He was, in a very small way, proud.
Rayla didn't respond. She stood in place, until she was sure he left.
She called out to the others and they came into the living room. It surprised them to see that Runaan was gone.
"He won't come back. Not again." Rayla blankly stated. It was painful to have him just walk out the door. Confronting him was difficult. He was always that nagging feeling she was worthless. She'd finally confronted that feeling.
Claudia explained, "We heard most it from the other room,... on accident this time."
Callum was amazed, He cupped her face with his hands, "I'm so proud of you." He then wrapped her in a tight hug and Rayla hesitantly returned the embrace.
"It was because of you that it was possible." She responded still registering the many emotions that she felt.
Then Claudia and Nyx hugged her one by one.
Soren fist bumped her, "Way to show him up."
Harrow placed his hands on Rayla's shoulders a prideful smile lifting his cheeks. "Well done. I couldn't be more proud if you were my own daughter."
Rayla looked into his brown eyes, a twinge of excitement filling her. Then Ezran hugged her, "That was great!!!"
"Thanks, Ez." She replied half heartedly as she'd done with everyone. It was hard to put her all into the embraces, when so many emotions overwhelmed her. She was grateful but hurting, happy but unsure, confident but regretful.
Callum noticed her very different demeanor, "Rayla, Are you okay?"
Snapped out of her many thoughts, she shook her head, "Yeah, I'm just tired. The long game, the run in, all this, it's enough to wear someone out."
"Oh! Okay." Callum replied knowing there was something that was really messing with her. But this was no time to be questioning it.
Everyone eventually left to their homes, leaving Callum at Rayla's house, "Are you sure you don't want me to stay the night? Callum asked cautiously with his hands over her shoulders.
" I'm fine, I can sleep fine. Trust me." Rayla insisted.
"Well, that wasn't what I was implying, but I'm just..."
"Assured. You're assured. Believe me, I'll survive. I'm just tired.
"If you say so. But call me if you need anything, and I'll be here as soon as possible." Callum answered suspiciously. Shortly after, he left.
The night had Rayla tossing and turning in discomfort and fear. Nightmares fell over her rest as they flooded her mind with fright. Finally, she woke with a rush sitting up in her bed. Her face sweating and her eyes welled with tears, she tried to convince herself it was only a dream, only a horrible nightmare. She looked over at her clock on her nighttable, it read 5:43 a.m.. Behind her clock was her collection of pictures, the pieces of her family.
Tears began to flow from her eyes like waterfalls without hope to stop. She sat staring at the picture of her parents, then at the picture of she, Ethari, and Runaan. Her brushed her finger over the final picture of the nighttable, the one of her friends and newfound family. Her eyes gravitated to the other two pictures, and memories overwhelmed her mind.
She vaguely remembered when her parents would spend time with her when she was 4 years old. But the memories that made her bitter and angry were the final moments she had with them. Their words to her, before they left had filled her hope and happiness at the time. It was those words that rung in her ears and in her mind, "We love you so so much, Moonberry. We'll be back."
Come to find out, they chose to stay away. Pent up anger continued to build.
Anger towards her parents, towards Runaan, and towards herself. She felt bitter having known her parents didn't care enough to want to see her again. After the four years they spent telling her they loved her, they abandoned her for their honor. Knowing that they left her in the care of someone who did more harm to her than good, was hard. They trusted Runaan, they knew him. They should've known his tendencies. Still the words, "We love you so so much." echoed in her ears.
Where wasthat,when their job was complete? Did they stop loving her? Did she just become less important to them? Did theyeverreally love her?
But the question that really burned on her mind was, Why did she care?
It was clear theydidn'tcare, why was she so angry with herself for this? Why was she so angry, and sad, and bitter? Why couldn't she let this go? She'd already cried it out. Wasn't that enough?
Still it all rose to her chest, and came out in tears and sobs. She took the picture of her parents and her. She broke the frame shattering the glass covering, some of the glass lodging in her hands, she ripped the picture to miniature pieces of paper. The small pieces of glass causing her hands to slightly bleed, she grabbed the picture of her, Ethari, and Runaan and ripped Runaan out of the portrait demolishing that frame, as well. But she hardly felt a thing.
She thought back to the times she believed Runaan actually cared, but suppose he only cared if he could make her, mold her into another him.
She stood and grabbed the other portraits of her old family and ripped them, shredding them to little pieces. She sat horizontally on her bed bringing her back to the wall. She'd hoped it would help her feel better, but it didn't.
She pulled her knees to her chest, crossing her arms over her them and wept. She was alone, much the contrary she'd said to Runaan. She was truly alone, right now. She'd almost wished Callum were here, but he wasn't. He'd find a way to make her feel better as he always did.
Eventually she cried herself to sleep.