Ignite Me

Chapter 8: "Caught"

Castle, Aaron once told me, would have been an idiot to believe that the plan was real.

As much as I hated to admit it, he was right.

Castle was overjoyed by the fact that the plan wasn't too complex, and that only a few would be injured or killed. It seemed weird for someone to rejoice over that, but I thought that maybe I would be happy if I were in his shoes.

It must have been better to lose only a few people than lose many. To see lifeless bodies covering the ground, the blood that once filled their systems now a huge pool of red red red everywhere. The sounds of high-pitched screams and muffled crying, only to be stopped by the horrid sounds of gunshots. It's a scene that always played in my head countless of times, and sometimes it made me wonder if I was truly insane to imagine a scenario that I had never seen or if this happens to everyone, too.

I would rather lose some than none at all. If no blood was spilled then it would be a horrible miracle or an evil dream. Because everyone knows that it's impossible not to lose anyone in a battle. Because where war goes, death follows.

I've read a story once about War, who was the eldest horseman among his three brothers: Death, Pestilence and Famine, and though Pestilence and Famine often followed after War, it was Death who followed him the most. He adored and looked up to his okder brother, thus following him around wherever he went. War was fond of his younger brother, too, that the thought of being separated after years of being together would be painful.

But one day Death had done something extremely wrong. While War was watching the greatest war of all—which I remembered was called the World War III—Death had wanted to show his older brother that he could be as good as him. He made sure that every soldier killed one another until no body was left alive and the lands were slathered with blood and bones.

Apparently he had also caused the death of a man who was destined to save the world from its downfall, or so Fate had told the eldest brother. War became mad at him that they fought for fifty days and fifty nights in human time until they realized that their actions brought more unintentional wars and deaths throughout Earth. Death, realizing his mistake, separated himself from his brother and wandered the Earth until War could forgive him for what he had done. In the end, he had.

They say that, until now, Death followed War wherever he went. And on days where War would rest Death would go away to accomplish his own tasks. There were also days where Death and War would fight, but it had not been as bad as their first.

There were many stories about Death and War in the book. There was even one about the four horsemen coming across two young men—brothers—who had stopped the worst from happening. The worst, I suspected, was the story about Death and War having the biggest battle, even disrupting Pestilence's and Famine's peace, which brought an even bigger battle. Pestilence sided with Death and Famine with War, yet in the end they had all separated and fought each other individually.

They called that tragic event the "Apocalypse"; a day that would happen a million years away from now, or maybe not at all.

But I couldn't help but feel as if that day is coming closer than it should've been.

Kenji, despite the signs of approvals he would unconsciously make during the discussion, didn't seem to like the plan. But in the end he had no choice, telling us that he was only doing this for the sake of Omega Point and for everyone who had been hurt by Anderson, which were me, Brendan and Winston, and the twins.

While we walked back to the dining hall, where the impromptu meeting was going to be held, he told me stories about what happened in the days that I was gone. He even told me about the people he had found on the streets who had powers like us.

"Brendan and Winston were one of them. I found them on the same day and even if they didn't know each other they already hated one another. It became like that to the point that they became best friends." He said with a tone that implied he was reminiscing about an untold memory. He looked at me and smiled, "They're okay, by the way. Badly injured and needed a lot of stitches when they first came in, but it's getting better. They're still in the medical wing but they can already talk and move though Castle doesn't want them to join in on the fun." He chuckles at that and I think that it's a good thing that they're not joining the war.

Kenji stopped on his tracks, snapping me from my thought. "You should go to them after this. They wanted to thank you for saving them."

"But I didn't save them. You told me that you found—"

"No," he said. "You saved them. Trust me, you did."

I didn't know what he meant by that—I never had the chance to even find them—but I didn't ask Kenji. I made it a mental note to visit the two later and ask them about it.

Adam, on the other hand, hated the plan. It was obvious on his features and hand gestures as every second flew by while I talked. I'm guessing though that he actually approved of it, just that he didn't approve of the one who made it. He didn't speak to me the entire time after that, even after everyone had gathered at the dining hall for another announcement.

People were curious as to what the news was about. It must be hard for them to be involved in such a war like this without even causing any trouble. Yet they were all willing to push through with the plan. Some asked questions—about my disappearance, Sonya and Sara, Anderson's plan—which I answered briefly. Castle had told everyone that the plan was all mine and that I risked getting caught just to get information, to which I tried to correct him. He turned to me and shook his head.

He's right, I guess. Maybe it'd be better not to tell them who devised it. I'd back out of the plan too if I found out that it was Warner who did this. But the current me wouldn't do that. I'd be willing to risk trusting one of the enemies. That and also because I know who he truly is—and he isn't any of the man who they say he is.

While Castle had been answering some of the people's questions, I feel Adam tap my shoulder. I turn to my right and tilt my head a fraction, curious of what he has to say. But he doesn't say anything. So, finally, I take the initiaive and talk to him first.

"How's James?" I ask.

"He's fine. We're still trying to figure out if he has... a gift. But we're not sure yet. He did something that's unexplainable a few days ago." He looks at me, asking if he should continue. I nod. "I was in the training room with Kenji, and he was training me on how to block weapon attacks. Kenji accidentally threw one of the knives in the wrong direction, and it flew towards James—whom I had no idea was watching us all along. I was really scared because I thought that the only family I have left would be taken away from me because of some stupid accident—when he just blocked it."

"Blocked it?"

Adam nodded. "The knife was only 2 inches away from him when it suddenly stopped and fell on the floor. And with the amount of strength Kenji put in throwing that knife it's impossible for it to just fall like that. It was like he had an invisible shield protecting him or something..."

"So," I say slowly. "while you can block anything that involved powers or mental things, he can block weapons?"

"Not just weapons, I'm guessing. Probably anything that's close to harming him."

"Have you tried asking him? Or having him evaluated?"

"Not really, no." He said. "He was supposed to be—I really hate this word—tested tomorrow. But since the plan will start tomorrow then I guess some other time then."

"Some other time." I agree. Everything goes quiet from then on, but it's not like a few minutes ago. This one feels lighter, as if talking to Adam removed all the tension between us. Maybe I could find a friend in him, find away into that heart that once gave me safety and comfort and all that it could once everything was over.

I hope I could.

I hope he understands.

One day everything will be over and everyone would be happy. No more Anderson and no more wars in our area. I have doubts whether it's possible to take down the Reestablishment, because we all know that the Reestablishment owns every single one of us. But I know that I could kill Anderson, and that's where I'll start. I'd like to know if it's possible to bring down the entire Reestablishment after everything is over.

If I am not dead yet.

In the days that I've been preparing for what is hopefully our final war against Anderson—yet not the last against the Reestablishment—I've dreamt of a world where everything would be safe, just like how it was years ago. I've dreamt of the dust and ashes of what would be the ruins after our war, and those damages to be slowly fixed and rebuilt afterwards.

But most of all, I've dreamt of Aaron being the next leader of the Reestablishment in this continent. He would know how to heal the damages that his father had made, just like he healed me. He has good intentions and hopefully the people around me would understand that. I have no doubts with him because I know that he's prepared for this. He deserves this after all.

This would be the last thing I want to see before I die.

I swallow my thoughts and lock away all the dreams I've had, placing them in the safest parts of my brain in hopes that no one would ever ruin this dream, and that whoever finds it may turn it into reality.

Exhaling a shaky breath I place my hand on top of the one that's placed on Adam's lap. He flinches at the contact, which hurts me a little, but I try my best to ignore it and mutter, "Please, Adam. Trust me. You know that all I ever wanted was to save all of you as much as I can."

He laughs bitterly, the painful sound recorded into my head for the rest of the hour. A heartbeat later his fingers have entwined mine, and he squeezes it once. "I trust you, Juliette. We all trust you. It's him we don't trust."

oOo

When Castle announced that everyone could return to their tasks at hand I immediately rose up and joined the crowd into the halls in search of the halls leading to the Medical Wing when I felt a hand grip onto my waist and pull me into the corner.

My body stiffens and I try to do immediately what Aaron taught me, gripping the stranger's wrist and pushing it away with a slight twist. Pulling the gun from my boot, I turn around with the wrist still under my grasp and blow an annoyed breath when I realize that it's only Aaron. He doesn't seem offended or apologetic by what I did, just the opposite; he's grinning so wide, the emerald flames of his eyes lighting up with amusement and adoration that it makes me blush.

"Nice." He mused, taking me by the hand when I let go of his wrist. "You seem more determined now that everyone trusts you. I think I could even see the death of my father in your eyes." He squeezes my hand. "Kind of hot."

I roll my eyes despite the traitorous smile on my face, the gun once again rested inside the comforts of my shoe. There would've been a time in my life where I would have scoffed or, hell, shot him at that remark. But the past is the past, and it is not something that is worth remembering. "You're acting like a teenager."

"And you say it like it's a bad thing."

It took me a while to realize that the longer I spend time with Aaron, he becomes more of the boy he never had the chance to be, catching up with all of his years of happiness rather than a man who's spent all his life in the warmth of cruelty and hate; more of Aaron and less of Warner.

It took me longer than I hoped to realize that the world does not revolve around me, that even everyone can go through so many things in such a short time. Rotate and rotate and rotate on every single thing that worries us that we become centered too much, thinking that the everything revolves on us too. Aaron changed my perspective of that. Better late than never at all, I thought.

"I need to go to the Medical Wing to talk to Brendan and Winston." I don't invite him because I know that he doesn't want to. And I still needed tot talk to Adam after this.

"Wait," He says, walking backwards until we reach the deepest and darkest area of the hallway. I smiled to myself. He had intentionally found an abandoned area just for this. I hear him chuckle, the sound tickling my ear. He moves his body closer to mine until my heart is against his, our legs flush together. My back is pressed against the cool wall and his arm is wrapped around my waist, his other hand lightly placed on my arm.

His fingers create a lazy pattern of circles on my skin, trailing up to my shoulder with each touch accelerating my heartbeat. It's loud enough for him to hear it, especially with the space—with the non-space—we have right now. I can't see him clearly but I could hear the awe in his voice when he says, "You did a great job out there. I hope Castle rethinks about letting all his soldiers out on the field. Not the greatest tactic... especially since the result would end up differently than he hoped."

I bite my lip and nod. Sending everyone to the fight won't ne good. He only needs enough to at least be able to run away if it got too bloody. I look up at Aaron, resting my hands on his chest. I whisper, "Do you think this'll work? It's not the best plan ever since people are thinking differently about it."

"I know it will." He whispers back, moving his face closer to mine until our mouths are only centimeters away, out breaths mingling as they come out in a slightly ragged manner. Slowly, so so achingly slowly, he presses his lips to mine, the affirmation lingering in his kiss.

He kisses me again and again and again that I barely realize that he's lifted me up and placed my legs around his waist. He moves impossibly closer closer closer until nothing could come between the space between us. I could feel his heart beating rapidly that the feel of it against mine sends a rush of adrenaline through my veins. He kisses me painfully slow that it makes me groan and shiver, wanting so much more of what he's giving me. I am selfish when it comes to him and I want more of his touches, his kisses, him, and I will not stop until he gives me what I want—what I need. But he is even more selfish, pulling away from me with a victorious smile on his stupid face.

His lips are the worst kind of drug possible.

And I wouldn't mind taking him again and again.

When I realize that he doesn't plan on kissing me again, I release a frustrated groan, my impatience getting the best of me as I place my hands on his hair and bringing him up to a more desperate and reckless kiss. He groans when I bite his lower lip and slip my tongue, clumsily dancing with his, that his fingers dig into the zipper at the back of my suit, pulling it down to my waist until my bra is the only thing that's covering me from the waist up. I shiver at the cold air that surrounds my body, but it's gone once his hands start exploring my back, my stomach, my arms, and his mouth is on my neck, trailing kisses downwards.

"Someone might find us," I mutter, tilting my head back To give him better access.

"Let them." he growls.

He bites on my skin and sucks on the flesh, eliciting a loud moan from me. He moves down and licks on my collarbone and I could feel my legs growing weak, thankful for the man who has enough strength to carry me. I grab onto his hair and lift his head up, bringing his mouth to mine again. He's the one who leads the kiss now, his mouth moving hungrily against mine. I frantically reach for the buttons of his formal shirt, clumsily unbuttoning them. He chuckles against my lips, helping me with the last button and pullig the shirt off, throwing it into some part of the room—which, honestly, I don't care about.

My hands reach for his back, brushing against the memories of his sufferings, until my fingers touch the biggest scar; a memory that he told me he tried hard to never forget—because that memory was the reason why he wanted his father dead, why he always found a reason to tuck away the bullet that was specially designed for his heart every day. He had never told me the story of how he got it, for the story of his scar was the only monster he never wanted to get out nor touch me. He shivers.

He kisses me one last time, biting on my already-swollen bottom lip. I moan before pulling away, giving us both the chance to take in what I honestly don't want to have a necessity for. I could feel the rise and fall of his chest, the warmth of his breath against my skin. I could see him staring at me with the most alluring eyes I have ever seen, and I wanted to to tell him that his lips are the only oxygen I would ever need, and his eyes are the only wine I wouldn't mind having the pleasure of being drunk with—

I take a sharp intake of breath, surprised when he trails a number of kisses from my jaw to my collarbone, before going back up and giving me one last peck on the lips. He presses his forehead against mine, eyes closed, breathing still uneven.

"You are the most intoxicating thing that ever came into my life," he says, a smile forming on his lips. I open my mouth to reply until we hear someone cough. Aaron's body tenses against mine. He quickly places me on my feet—and I quickly zip up my suit while looking for where his shirt had gone—before turning to face the man, his arm wrapped tightly around me as a protective gesture.

The man continues to chuckle while Aaron tries to find where it came from, muttering something inaudible under his breath—which I'm sure it contains choice four-letter words—before looking back at me. I stare back at him, half-confused and half-terrified. He scowls at the mysteriously invisible figure.

"What the hell?" He barks, but he is everything but mad right now, and so am I. My breath is caught in my chest as fear starts to fill my bones. Someone saw, I think. Someone saw someone saw someone s—

"What the hell my ass. Seriously, Juliette. I'm honestly offended." The familiar voice says. I open my mouth to reply, but the moment he comes into view, suddenly appearing in front of us, all the words leave my mouth and fall onto the floor, crashing and breaking like the heavy rains that always brought chaos and disaster afterwards. Like the child who fell when I touched him.

"I never knew you could move on from me so fast. And I thought we still had something special."

I am left speechless as the boy I love steps in front of me, shielding me from any attack that might happen. My face has grown ashen and my chest feels like it's been shot all over again with a bullet whose powder was made of guilt and terror. I slowly try to form his name on my tongue, stuttering as I say, "K-Kenji."

A/n: I will not apologize for the last part.

Oh, and the story of Death and War isn't real. The characters are, but the story isn't.

I'd also like to thank all of my readers who have stuck with me for such a long time! And to those who were kind enough to click on the next button! I love you guys! Don't forget to leave a review!

((Please don't be afraid to tell me if I made any mistake—whether it was about my grammar or I wrote false information about something that was shown in the book. doing so would make me really happy!))