"Finally. I could have sworn you went to Vegas and eloped. What took you so long?" Dessi asked. "Never mind. Look, we have a… situation. Maybe a trap…I don't know. Come here."
Mason and I looked at her quizzically.
She sighed and turned on her heel, obviously trying to get us to follow her.
We followed Dessi far into the cave, to a point where the darkness blinded even our enhanced senses.
"Just a bit farther. Feel where the floor slopes? Just after that," she coached us.
All of the sudden, a light appeared nearly next to me and a gasped and jumped. So much for being fearless leader Justeen.
"Sush. Don't scare her. We don't know anything about her."
About who? I asked the voice, who I could identify as Theris.
All we got is her name. Aspen Keller. Wouldn't tell us anything else. Gabe and Ange have her in a corner around the bend right now. Come on! He said, pulling me by the hand.
We entered a small room, the size of four large dog crates stacked on top of each other, and about two across (seriously, after you were basically raised in a dog crate, you cant help but compare). In the dim light created by small holes punched through the ceiling, I saw Little Ange and Gabe guarding a huddled figure in a corner.
"This is Justeen Holly and Mason Vern. They are in charge. Listen, Aspen, we wont hurt you. We are the good guys. Promise." I heard Ange whisper, her voice like a summer breeze.
As Ange and Gabe moved aside, prompted by Francine's hands, I saw what appeared to be a little girl, no older than ten.
"So your name's Aspen, huh?" the little girl nodded her head at my question.
"Are you like us?" Mason asked. Aspen nodded again, and spread out her white wings.
"Welcome to the family," I said.