Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a good week, and I guess let's get to the story. Oh, sentences in italics are still Nolan's thoughts when in third person point of view.
Disclaimer: I do not own Revenge, nor do I profit from this story. This is merely a figment of my imagination! Also, all mistakes are mine.
Arrayah's POV:
Nolan picked me up, accidentally squeezing the bruises on my back and sides, and sits me on the couch. "Okay, kid, we need to pick out some groceries for a few days." Nolan says, performing the magic trick with his Nolpad and the TV. He pulls up a page with all sorts of food. I've never seen an online grocery store. He's already done a lot for me, and Daddy always says don't ask for too much or expect a beating. I think Nolan's a good guy, but so was Daddy, before I started school, I think. He used to be sooo nice, and then one day, new rules came in. Don't go outside after 5pm, don't mention Mommy, make good grades, don't cry, address everyone as sir or ma'am, unless told otherwise, doesn't ask for anything, and a few more, but they're all jumbly. Nolan asks what I like to eat, and I don't say much, he may just want to test me, so I just shrug. He seems annoyed, and I hope he doesn't get mad at me.
He sighs, "Arrayah, you've got to help me with grocery shopping. What about when your mom comes? What does she like?"
I have to think back to the very last time I saw her, and every time before that. I love the memories of my Mommy; I never get to see her anymore.
"I dunno, the last time I had seen her, she was eating birthday food."
"Well, what do you absolutely love to eat?" Nolan lowers down to my eye level, "I promise I won't hurt you for saying what you want." I stay quiet still, "Okay, how about I name some things off, and you just nod you head if you like it or shake your head for no." I do as I'm told, and just pick things that sound familiar.
"Hey, Ray, can you close your eyes for just a second?" He asks after ordering. I close my eyes and brace myself for a hit or kick.
"Now hold out your hands." I pull them from my sides, and figure out he's gonna start with wrist slaps. I hold my breath anxiously, even though I want to let go of the coughs trapped inside of me. When something soft and plush is put in my hands I freeze; I can't figure out what it is. I'm searching my memory for anything that might tell me what it is when Nolan tells me to open my eyes. I look down nervously, and see it's a plush bunny. It has silky ears and the softest fabric ever covering its body. Its eyes are two little black beads and it had a little stitched mouth and yarn whiskers. I let out my breath, along with the terrible cough.
"So, do you like it?" He asks, with what I think is…concern?
I look back down at it, and don't understand how you can't love it, bunnies are adorable. "Yes, I love it. Thank you, Nolan!" I tell him. I really did like it. I have stuffed animals at the house, but they are just reminders of every time Daddy beat me. That's what I don't get about him sometimes; he will be nice and kind one moment, mean and screaming the next, then back to being nice and offering presents. Maybe Nolan's just backwards on that. I accidentally let out a yawn, and cover it with my sleeve.
"Kid, you're allowed to go lie down if you're tired." He tells me.
"Thank you, for everything, Nolan."
I went to Nolan's room, sat on his humongous bed, tuck my bunny next to me and pull the covers up to my chin, and fall asleep. I wake up from an okay dream, and realize my bunny is missing. I don't want Nolan to be mad at me for losing it so quickly, so I push the thick covers back and get down on the floor and look under the really big bed. I crawl under it and feel around for her. I hit something wooden, and know it's not my bunny, but I slide it under my arm to look at, and continue looking for my bunny. I eventually find her and crawl out from under the bed. The box I brought out is a honey wood color; and has mommy's tattoo on it. I know it's the double infinity sign, she has told me she loves me that much, and that's a lot. I open the small box and inside is a bunch of pictures and objects. I pull them out and look through. One picture has a girl, looking a little older than me, and she is laughing with a man. Another one is the same girl on a beach with a boy with a mess of curls on his head playing with a puppy. The next picture I look at says Grayson Global and has a bunch of people lined up, smiling at the camera. Lots of the faces have a red "X" across their face.
"Arrayah, what do you have?" An irritated voice comes from behind. I drop the pictures and feel sick to my tummy. I stand up and see Nolan in the doorway with his arms crossed. Now I really feel sick.
"I-I-I found I-it while looking for my bunny." I stutter. I'm afraid of what Nolan is gonna do. He may call the police, or worst, find Daddy and tell him. He is still silent, glancing between the box and me. "I'm sorry, Nolan." I cry, "Please, don't hurt me!" I get down on my knees, covering all the important things for when he goes to kick or punch. He walks over to me, and I can feel the puke coming up.
"Arrayah, I would never, ever hurt you. I'm not mad. This is..." He doesn't have time to finish since I get up and run to the bathroom, I will not make a bigger mess than what I'm already in. I empty my belly in the potty, and I feel a hand rubbing my back in circles. This only causes more puke come up.
"Shhh, its okay, Ray." He says as I finish throwing up. He turns me around to where I'm facing him in the eye. I brace myself for a hit. Instead of a sharp sting to my cut cheek, I feel a hand go to my forehead and then my cheek, but they are gentle. "You feel a little warm. Let's go get you a cup of water and see if I have any Tylenol." He is gentle when he picks me up and carries me to his kitchen where he sits me on the counter and gets a cup of water. I am hesitant to take it, but he keeps asking me to drink, even if it was only a small sip. He then hands me a small pill. I think about not taking it, last time I took a pill, I woke up in a new home. Nolan urges me to take it and promises nothing bad will happen if I take it, so I quickly take it. I hope it's not a trick.
"Back to the earlier situation," He begins and I feel my belly start to churn, "I wasn't mad, Ray. Eventually I would've showed you some of the box. It's not even mine; it's your mom's." I'm still quiet, and he continues, "Do you want to go look at it some more, I can probably tell you about bits and pieces of some of the things." I think of all the things consequences and rewards of the offer, and I decide to allow him to help me from the counter and follow him to his room. He sits down, and invites me to sit close to him. I sit on my knees and he pulls the box closer to us.
"Some of these pictures and things, I won't tell you about, since your still young." He warns me, "This picture is of your grandfather, David. He was a great man..." Nolan continues this with every other picture. Apparently, the little girl was Mommy when she was young, the boy was Jack, and the adorable puppy was Sammy. Toward the end of the pictures, it was of him and Mommy together. He seemed surprised by them, but I don't see why, they definitely made him happy. Mommy also seems happy in the pictures; she never looks that happy in the pictures daddy takes of her. After we go through it all, he picks it all up and puts the box back under his bed. "This is so if anyone comes in, they won't see it." He tells me.
He walks me to the living room where he laughs. I look at him like he's lost his mind.
"I haven't done much work today."
"I'm sorry if I was too much."
"Don't worry kid. I haven't had a day like that in a long time." He informs, his chuckles fading, "So what are you feeling for dinner. I'm sure you don't want pizza again?"
"I'm fine with anything." I shrug.
"Well, let's see. We can go out and pick something else, or I can order for delivery."
"You choose." I tell him.
"Okay, I think I will call something in, and have it delivered. So what're you feeling?"
"I don't know."
"Okay, how about... Eh, Shiloh's; that has a little bit of everything." He pulls up a menu on his Nolpad, and gives it to me.
"Two hands at all times with this baby." He says... playfully, I think. "So do you like chicken or burgers?"
"I'm okay either."
"Okay so we will go with a kids chicken. Is that all right?" I nod and he takes his Nolpad continues the order and calls it in. Nolan is kinda weird, he keeps letting me pick things, but I kinda like it. I just hope he doesn't turn mean later.
"Okay, so I've gotten groceries, dinner, and your so clothes. I just need to get you some books, hack a couple of systems, and we will be good." Nolan finishes and then he hears the buzzing noise coming from the contraption on his door. He gets up and picks up the receiver and looks at the screen.
"Mister R., there is a man here claiming to be Mister Mathis." I hear the doorman says and I watch him show the man who is standing outside the building.
"Send him up." Nolan says, hanging up. It doesn't take long for a knock to come from the other side of the door. I squirm a little on the couch as Nolan opens the door.
"Aiden, so nice to see you." Nolan closes the door behind who I guess is Aiden.
"Nolan this better be… Who's that?" He gestures to me.
"This is Emily's daughter, Arrayah. Arrayah, this is Aiden Mathis." Nolan introduces us.
"Emily's daughter? Are you crazy?" Aiden asks his English accent sounding clearer.
"No, this is truly Em's kid. Why would she be here if she wasn't?"
"I don't know! Are you sure this is Emily's kid?"
"Ray, what's your mom's name?"
I'm unsure at first but answer, "Emily Thorne."
"That could be a coincidence!" He yells and I shrink into the couch.
"Inside voices Mr. Mathis or you'll be in time out."
"This isn't the time for smart remarks, Nolan. If this is Emily's kid, we could track to where her keepers are!" He snarls. This makes me want to go hide in a dark corner away from him. How could Mommy stand him? She doesn't like people who use mean voices.
"Aiden, you're scaring her. I'm being serious about not yelling." Aiden doesn't seem to hear him, and comes rushing over to me. Oh no, please tell me I'm not gonna be sick again!
He slams his big hand on the back of the couch, "Where's Emily? Tell me where she is!" He yells in my face and I can't hold back any longer.
"I'm sorry!" I get up and run to the bathroom and barely make it to the toilet before I puke up belly juice. Nolan comes to my side in seconds.
"Its okay, Ray, Aiden has a tendency to let his temper get the better of him." He rubs my back and when I'm done, he picks me up carried me back to the living room. I don't like being carried, but getting sick always makes me sluggish.
"Aiden, Ray is shaken up. You must stay calm and use your inside voice. Now apologize to Ray."
"Seriously, Nolan?" Aiden asks in disbelief, but he sees his look and apologizes to me. I accept it quietly, and he sits me down on the couch.
"If you have something to ask her, ask her nicely."
Aiden rubs his face and comes over to me and squats to down to my level, " Ray, where is your mother? She is very important to me, and we have to find her."
"Mommy's in the cellar. They don't let her out anymore." I mumble; he still has the mean look on his face.
"Great, a cellar! That's very distinctive." Aiden mutters, and starts pacing.
"Ray, where is the cellar?" Nolan asks, still using a friendly voice.
"At my house" I say simply.
"And who knows where you live?" He asks, even though it's kinda silly, since he knows the answer.
"You, you're gonna find Mommy."
"See, Aiden, all it takes is simple questions." Nolan says, with some smugness.
"So, if you know where she is, why am I here?"
"I need to get her the legal way. Ray isn't supposed to be here."
They both look at me, "Hey Ray, can you go to my room. I'm afraid Aiden may yell again." I follow his request. Honestly, I probably would've left during the middle of whatever they were talking about. As soon as I am in his room, I lock the door, get into the closet with my bunny, and close the door. If Aiden goes crazy, I will at least be hidden.
Third POV:
Aiden and Nolan are patient for the young girl to leave.
"Nolan, you've got to be kidding me! You are harboring a missing child!" Aiden yells in a shushed tone.
"We'll, she's technically not missing. There isn't a report."
"Still, she is missing! They are probably training her or something, or they are using her to frame you for some crime! We both know how they work for crying out loud! They are blood sucking leeches that are always looking for another blood bank!" Aiden yells in the same hushed tone.
"Ray is not a part of them, I would've been dead hours ago then! She escaped by accident, and is just a scared little girl who wants her mom. If you don't want to help find Emily, there's the door!" Nolan gestures.
"I want to find Emily just as much as you do, but what if this is just like Colleen and Padma?! Didn't you think of that? What if we go to that place, and just find Emily's body? What will you tell that kid?"
"Her name is Arrayah, for one, and I'd rather have the closure of Emily being gone than the not knowing her state of being. Don't you want closure?" Nolan leans against the living room wall and crosses his arm.
Aiden is conflicted: he wants to find Emily, but if she is gone he doesn't want to see another person he loves dead.
"I don't know!" Aiden runs a hand through his hair, trying to decide what he really wants: Emily dead and closure, or Emily being alive without a chance of being saved.
"Well, join the dark side and help me find Emily. I know where her house is, I just need help getting her the legal way!"
Aiden sighs after some thought, "Fine, but that may mean the kid..."
"Arrayah, her name is Arrayah." Nolan corrects.
"Arrayah has to go back to her home temporarily."
"I can't do that to her." Nolan disagrees. They may kill her, or worse, torture her for the rest of her life.
"At least we can get these creeps on abuse and neglect of a minor and maybe more if she goes back."
"I really, really don't want to send her back. I've only known her for a day, and I can guess what they have done to Arrayah. She's terrified of being close to other people and being a disappointment. She thinks she'll be punished for anything she does. We can't send her back!" Nolan says his voice getting a little louder.
"Nolan, I understand. This is Emily's daughter, we may finally find Emily, but that's our goal: find Emily and help her heal." Aiden argues, his voice matching Nolan's volume.
"We also have to think of Arrayah! We can't hurt her more than she already has! She is just a little girl; all she wants is her mom! Aiden, she wants her mom like you wanted Colleen!"
Aiden gets up in Nolan's face, "Don't bring my sister into this!"
"Well, this is close to being personal! You were close to Emily, that's a product of Emily. It can't get much more personal!" Well, if Arrayah was yours, then it could, "I will only use that as a last resort. There has to be another way for them to get caught."
"Fine, give me a minute." Aiden starts pacing and eventually sits down on the couch.
"I could turn her into the police station, you hack into her records so it says your next in line to get her, she talks to the police, and she will come back to you. We don't risk her life and we should get Emily back."
Nolan thinks about the plan and weighs the pros and cons, "I like it. It may take me some time to get into her records, but I can do it." He feels like an idiot for not thinking of that sooner.
Before Aiden responds, there is a knock at the door. Nolan goes to it, pays the delivery man, and brings the food in, "I had ordered dinner, and guessed what you liked to eat." He sets the bags on the counter and goes to his room to retrieve Arrayah. When he goes to open the door, he runs straight into it. He clutches his nose, and jiggles the knob.
Locked? Oh God, no!
Nolan begins to panic, and runs to a drawer where he gets the master-key and unlocks his door. His windows are still closed, and he calls for the little girl. He begins to check the normal places, but he is alerted to her hiding place due to a coughing fit.
"Arrayah?" He asks as he opens it. He walks into his closet and finds Arrayah shaking in a corner, her back to him.
"Arrayah, are you okay?" He asks getting on his knees. She doesn't respond, so Nolan gently pulls her away from the corner. She cries out in fear, and tries to get away from him, but ends up hitting her head against his metal safe.
"Arrayah, are you okay?" He repeats with more sympathy. She is curled up in a ball, hiding her face.
"Are you mad?" She asks, trying to hold in her tears. It really hurt when she hit her head on whatever that was.
"No, you just scared me half to death." Nolan says, he wants to hug her but he is afraid she will react fearful, "Grey isn't a good color on me."
"I'm sorry." She keeps her head down and coughs into her sleeve again; she really wants this cold to go away so her chest will stop hurting.
"No worries, Ray. I just have one question: why were you hiding from me and Aiden? We're good guys, we will never hurt you." He goes against his conscience and pulls her into a light hug.
"I heard you yelling. When yelling happens, hitting happens. I didn't want to get hit." Arrayah says with her head against his brightly colored shirt.
They used her as a fricking punching bag? I will put them away so long they will wish they never heard the name "Nolan Ross".
"Ray, as I said, I will never want to hurt you. Believe it or not, Aiden does have a soft spot for kids and puppies." He pats her braided head gently.
"Do you promise?" Arrayah whimpers, hugging her bunny closer.
"I promise with all my heart." Nolan crosses his heart his index finger, "On to a brighter subject, food is here, are you hungry?" Nolan offers his hand, and Arrayah tentatively takes it while the other arm is cradling her bunny unconsciously. He leads her out of his closet. They go to the kitchen to join Aiden for dinner, which both men try to lighten the mood. As much as Aiden hates to admit it, he finds the young girl charming and an overall delight to be with. Emily has definitely raised her daughter right, Aiden thinks.
A/N- That's it for chapter four, and there is a surprise in the next chapter. If anyone can guess who may show up in the next chapter gets a preview. Sound tempting? Leave your guesses below. ;) I hope to see you all next week.