♦ ♦ Eternity ♦ ♦
Between the time that my head hit the soft blanket-like snow of the floor and the time that I woke up from my sleep twenty minutes later, Ayre had vanished into the night. I had no clue as to where she was, or why she had left, but it was too late to turn back time and find out now. I'd just have to wait until she got back and ask her then.
Unfortunately, I had fallen asleep before I knew it, lulled by the numbing cold that seeped into my very being. The freezing temperatures of the forest around me should have probably made it harder to fall asleep, but I guess I just preferred the cold.
Before, I had spotted a glimpse of Ayre's tear-streaked face as she experienced another vision. Again, the desire to have Greyson's power grew inside me, but for the time being I had to bare with trying to read her expressions. Which wasn't very easy, let me tell you that, because she sure knew how to conceal her emotions!
Now it was morning, and the horizon was overflowing with colors as the sun peeked over the mountains in the distance. Juliet was seemingly sleeping (she could have blended into the forest floor with how silent she was), Fhyre was making fun of Rhys (who was still tied to a tree, thanks to yours truly), and Ayre was no where to be seen.
I rose from my uncomfortable sleeping position and sauntered over to where Fhyre was, hoping he'd know where our leader was. "Fhyre?"
"So, Rhys, what's it like to hug a tree? I mean, be tied to one?" Fhyre was saying, cracking up like it was the funniest thing in the world. A giggle escaped my lips; it actually was a pretty good joke... Kinda.
I poked the boy in the side when he didn't notice me standing behind him. "Fhyre? Earth to Fhyre?"
"Eternity! Welcome, to the Fhyre's Show of Hilarity, where we make fun of Rhys--professionally!" The ninth Digit exclaimed enthusiastically, throwing his arms up into the air.
Rolling my eyes at his theatrics, I smiled and asked, "Have you seen Ayre?"
"Yeah, she just left," he replied, brushing a hand through his silvery hair. The strands reflected the light of the rising sun. I'd have to ask him what hair product he used to make his hair so shiny!
"Which way'd she go?" I questioned eagerly. Fhyre pointed in the general direction of where the girl had headed, and turned back to his tenth Digit prey. Shooting a pitying glance towards Rhys, I dashed towards where Fhyre had been pointing to.
In the forest, I realized I'd find Ayre much faster if I used my abilities. So, I continually stopped time in five-minute periods until I spotted the frozen girl sitting on a tree branch, in the middle of kicking her foot against the bark of the tree.
"Ayre!" I exclaimed, but then remembered that time was still frozen. Oopsy! Letting the world around me continue with a single thought, I repeated the call and she looked down at me, surprised.
"Eternity? What are you doing here?" Ayre wondered. She was probably shocked at how I found her. Hah! I wasn't useless after all!
"Looking for you, silly! What else would I be doing in the middle of the forest?" I asked in reply, giving her a "duh" look.
Ayre chuckled and shook her head, her effortlessly styled hair tumbling down her shoulders in neon waves. I'd have to ask her what hair product she used as well... How come everyone had perfect hair but me?! So not fair.
"Well, you found me," Ayre stated, shooting me a weird look sideways.
Deciding to take the direct approach, I came straight out with my objective. "Where were you last night?"
Taken aback, the second Digit almost tumbled off the branch. It shook a bit under our combined weight as I scaled the tree easily and joined her. Math problems are so not easy; climbing trees are.
"I-I was with you guys," she answered uneasily, keeping solid eye contact with me. I could tell that she was lying by the way her hand fidgeted. I had been with her long enough to pick up on these things.
"No, Ayre, don't lie to me." I tucked a strand of her bright hair behind her ear, my gaze softening as I wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "You can trust me, you know that, right?"
My best friend's eyes teared up a bit as she returned my serious gaze, but she managed a half-hearted smile. "Of course I do, silly," came her teasing response.
"That's the girl I know and love!" I proclaimed happily. "Now, what happened?"
My eyes widened considerably as Ayre related the story of her night to me in a hurry. Most of what she said caused the liquid in her eyes to build up, so I tried to comfort her to the best of her abilities. When she was done, she turned to me expectantly.
"Did I do the right thing?" she whispered. Her face looked so vulnerable at that moment; like she was a fragile china doll forced to play with rowdy toddlers. I had always pictured myself as the little sister in our close relationship, but at the moment I saw the positions shift.
"Of course you did, Ayre! I would have done the exact same thing. Kill 'em with kindness, is what Mrs. Hayman always said," I joked. I leaned my head to the side and rested it atop Ayre's.
"Thanks, Eternity. I just... I just don't think I could handle being the reason that they died," she admitted.
"Of course not!" I blurted, jumping down from our shared perch. The branch wobbled again as it was freed of my weight. "Now c'mon, we have a mission to carry out!"
Grinning, Ayre followed my lead, linked arms with me, and we made our way back to the rest of our group. Fhyre and Rhys turned towards us as we reentered the clearing, and Ayre gestured for the silver-haired boy to come over. Juliet joined our group as well moments later.
"Alright guys, are you ready?" Ayre wanted to know, looking at each of us in turn as if to challenge us to defy her.
"For what?" Fhyre inquired curiously. A mischievous glint was evident in his eyes, but that was expected of the number one prankster.
"The other Digits are going to be boarding a plane in the next few days, which means we've got our own flight to catch. Fhyre, I'm putting you in charge of finding an airport. Take Juliet with you, and she'll find a way to acquire the tickets." With that order, Fhyre nodded and disappeared with Juliet in a millisecond. The sixth Digit didn't have a choice to protest before she was whisked away.
"What are we gonna do, then?"
"We're gonna get some answers out of that boy over there," Ayre declared, stalking over towards the red-head in question. Rhys struggled with the ropes confining him to no avail as we approached.
"Hello, Rhys," I greeted cheerfully.
"Salutations, Eternity." I almost doubled over with laughter. Salutations?! Who used that word anymore?
Ayre cracked a small smile but continued on with her interrogation. Slamming a hand on the tree above Rhys's shoulder, she leaned closer to the boy and murmured, "Rhys, I want answers, and I want them now. And if we don't get these answers... You won't even want to know what's going to happen."
Rhys gulped and nodded nervously, beads of sweat forming across his freckle covered face.
This was going to be interesting!
~~~
*tear* A touching yuri moment between Ayre and Eternity. xDD Kidding, kidding...
