Chapter Two (Riley)
"What the hell, Lily, don't just walk in my room." I suddenly hear myself saying and while I was right, I couldn't help but be a little apprehensive and knew that she had come in here for a reason. So while I was pissed off that she had stopped my friend from finally telling me his secret, I knew I had to be a little careful. I loved her, and I knew she loved me, but when she was angry, she was a little scary, and I am not too embarrassed to admit that.
And although she wasn't shouting at us right now, the fact she hadn't responded straight away, had me feeling even more nervous, despite the fact as she looks Aidan over, a small smirk began to form. "I would say get dressed, Aidan, but I want you both to get a shower. I have to head to work, and that means if you want a lift, Riley, you need to be ready in twenty minutes and as you're doing nothing, Aidan. I want you to clean the house and sort the garden out, it's a mess and you both said you would do it last week, so I want it done." She then finally says, and while it wasn't exactly what either of us wanted to hear, it was a lot better than being shouted at or lectured, even if it meant I would have to walk around town for a little while before my self-defense class started.
But as Aidan started towards the door, I couldn't help but be a little surprised when my sister stops him with a hand on his arm, and I could tell that he was surprised as well. Although there was something else that flashed across his face as he turned, it might have been just for a second, but it definitely happened, and I wasn't really sure what to make of it, it was definitely weird.
"Actually, Aidan, I need to speak to you about something." My sister then begins to say, before turning to me and while I was still thinking about my friend's expression, I quickly focus on her instead. "So why don't you get in first, Riley and then get ready to leave, and then this moron can sort himself out and finally put some clothes on." I hear her then say and while she was obviously making light of the situation and trying to come across calmly. I had known her too long not to see that there was an edge to her and that look on my friends face a few moments ago, didn't do anything to make my growing concern dissipate.
Although I did have to hold back a chuckle when I heard my sister tell him to at least put some shorts on because that was typical Aidan. Modesty didn't seem to exist for him, Especially around both my sister and I, and while that might sound a little weird, especially around my sister. When you consider the fact he's lived with us for the past three years and has known her almost his entire life, it's not that unusual for him to not be embarrassed around her, and the fact he had nothing to be ashamed about body wise, didn't hurt either.
"Seriously, Riley, get moving, we will be in the kitchen, so just give us a shout when you're finished." My sister then tells me, and while I was curious about what she wanted to talk to Aidan about. I knew better than to make her repeat herself and quickly move towards the door, although as I give them both one last look, I couldn't help but see how nervous my friend looked and again, I found myself feeling concerned and now more than a little curious as well.
But, I would have to wait until later to see whether Aidan tells me anything. So I quickly make my way to the bathroom and drop my shorts, as I continue to try to work out if I just imagined something, or if there really was something going on. Because if there was, I didn't like the fact that I was being left out of it and while that is childish. It would still annoy me if it were true, but there was little I could do about it right now and decided just to brush use the toilet and then brush my teeth, before getting into the shower.
Something is definitely going on, I may only be fourteen years old, but I'm not stupid, and even though I didn't really hear anything, I was too far away to make out anything being said. As soon as they heard me approaching the kitchen, they quickly stopped talking, and as soon as I saw their faces, I could tell that it had, at the very least, been arguing, I just had no idea what it could be about.
"I thought I told you to shout out when you finished in the bathroom." My sister eventually manages to say, but it was definitely more of a statement than a question, and I couldn't help but look at her in confusion and the tension in the air, was definitely making things increasingly awkward.
"I did, like ten minutes ago, Lily, I've been getting ready in my room, you even shouted back, so I know you heard me." I quickly retort the tension in the room and my own concern and confusion were definitely not helping things. But there was no way I was going to get accused of something I didn't do, and even though I could tell that she was still angry over whatever the two of them had been talking about, I could also see that she knew she made a mistake, and I waited for her to apologize.
But as I see her face soften, we both look over to Aidan, as he gets up and begins to walk towards the door, and while I didn't see an issue with that. I could tell straight away after looking back at my sister, that she wasn't happy about him leaving, and her next few words just confused me. "Remember what I said, Aidan, I wasn't messing around." And even though her tone was calm, I could just tell from my friend's expression, that whatever she had said, he was not even remotely happy about it.
"Fine, Lily, but I'm going to get a shower." He then eventually states reluctantly, and I knew it was reluctantly, because his eyes kept flicking towards me, and if I wasn't confused before. I was now, and I wanted to know what was going on, but as I said a little while ago, I'm not stupid, and I knew I would have to bide my time, before trying to find out what the hell they had been talking about.
I decide to wait until he had actually gone into the bathroom, before looking back to my sister, not that I really needed to, but for some reason, I thought it would be easier to talk to her, without Aidan around, at least for now. "Were you two arguing? It looked like you were, Lily." I then ask, as I give her a curious look and can see straight away, that whatever she was going to say next, wasn't going to be the truth. Which bothered me a little, but I already knew that the chances of her telling me what actually happened we slim, but it was worth a try.
"Not that it's any of your business, Riley, and I won't be going into any details about it, but Aidan wasn't exactly thrilled about cleaning the house and doing the garden by himself, but he's doing it, and that's all you need to know." She states in response and if it wasn't for the fact that I knew that she had just flat out lied to me. I doubt anyone else would have questioned her response, because it wasn't that hard to believe that a fourteen-year-old, well I guess he's almost fifteen now, would be happy doing all of that.
But no one else knew my friend like I did and he might grumble about it, but there was no way he would argue with my sister about doing it, so I knew it was a lie. What I didn't know though, was why she would lie and what exactly they were really arguing about, because I couldn't think of anything. I mean sure, they have argued before, we've all argued with each other, but this is the first time that I had this uneasy feeling, and it wasn't me being paranoid, something was going on, and I wanted to find out what.
"Now, you look ready, so just make yourself something quick to eat or drink, Riley, and I will just get changed, we need to be leaving within the next ten minutes." She then states, but I was too distracted by my own thoughts to gauge her tone or expression and barely glanced at her as she stood up and walked out of the room and even though I wasn't that hungry, I decided to make some cereal. I had ten minutes to kill, and I wanted to use it to try and remember anything, that might help me work out what the hell was going on. Well, it's been just over two days now, since I walked in on Lily and Aidan arguing and I am no closer to finding out exactly what it was about, but I did get the growing sense, that it involved me somehow. I mean I have no idea how, but I couldn't help but shake the feeling that is was, and I was even more determined to figure it out, that's why I have waited until now to talk to my sister.
Aidan would be gone for at least three hours, as he was visiting some friends, although that was just a load of crap, I knew the friends he said he was going to see, were out of town. Which meant that he was off doing his other thing and I would bet my life that at some point tonight, there will be a breaking news bulletin, as some crime had just been averted or some criminal apprehended by an Empowered. Empowered is what everyone is calling people with powers or abilities or whatever you want to call them, I'm not sure if I like the name or not, it kind of sounds a little lame, but the name seems to have stuck. As for individuals, there are some pretty lame names that people have called themselves, well maybe not lame, but we've all seen superhero films and stuff, and a lot of the Empowered, seemed to have had no issues using names from those.
Although Aidan. Well, I am not sure if it's intentional or not, he is one of a small group of Empowered who doesn't seem to have one. Some people have given him one, and several of the news networks have tried as well, but nothing seems to stick, and most of the time, he's just referred to as The Hero and believe me, it's every bit as lame as it sounds. Seriously, if I were an Empowered and people were calling me that, I would be all kinds of pissed off and annoyed, but Aidan doesn't seem to give a shit, he's never responded to people asking him when they've managed to get close enough to ask him.
So either he doesn't care, or he is waiting for some reason to reveal his actual name. Even when I talk to Aidan, you know as a friend. He still hasn't told me that he is an Empowered, despite the fact I was sure he was almost about to before my sister interrupted him the other day. But whenever he's with me, and his alter ego is talked about on TV or in conversation with others, he could win an Oscar, because he is so calm and relaxed about it and gives nothing away.
I mean he makes as much fun out of the whole thing as everyone else. Hell, maybe that's why he has never tried to name himself or anything like that, he just finds the whole thing funny and honestly, knowing him as well as I do, it is in character and I probably shouldn't be surprised. I just wish he would tell me who he really was because as much as I can understand the reason why he might not be telling me, it still hurts that he hasn't.
But as I begin to drown in self-pity, my sister talking to me quickly gets my full attention and remind me of what I was supposed to be doing right now. "Earth to Riley, are you there?" I hear her saying and despite realizing what I was meant to be doing, I just stare at her blankly, like a complete moron. "Seriously, Riley, you wanted to talk, so what's with the gormless expression?" She then states with a smirk, and I quickly compose myself, I may have gotten a little distracted, but it was apparent she thought this was just going to be a casual conversation, but I am not going to let the subject go.
"What's going on with you and Aidan, and don't lie or try to brush it off, Lily, because I am not stupid and something is going on, and I want to know what." I decide to just say firmly, and while I didn't want her to get defensive or angry with me. I wanted to lay it all out on the table and the fact that she was now sitting up straight and giving me a calculating look, just justified my approach in my eyes and I couldn't help but wonder how she was going to respond.
But as we just sit there staring at each other, I could feel my confidence fade a little bit. I wanted the truth, but as the seconds passed, I couldn't help but feel like she was just going to either tell me it's none of my business or come up with some stupid story. So when she actually began to speak, I really wasn't sure what she was going to come out with, I just had to hope, I didn't just end up more frustrated than I had been since that day.
"I guess there is no point pretending things haven't been more than a little tense and awkward, but there really isn't anything to worry about, Riley. People argue, and Aidan will get over himself, and while neither of you is an adult, but you aren't children either, and I expect you both to start doing more around the house, it's only fair, don't you think." She says with only a look a parent could give their child while lecturing them and while she wasn't either Aidan's or my mum. She had raised me since I was around nine-years-old and she took Aidan in and treated him like he was a part of our family when his parents died almost three years ago. So we owed her a lot, and we both loved her for it, even if it sucked a little bit sometimes. But even saying that, I knew what she was doing and while there was some truth in what she just said. There was no way Aidan would act the way he had been if this was all there was to their argument because although I guess we could both do more around the house, it wasn't like we did nothing, so hearing her trying to imply otherwise, just annoyed me even more.
"We can do more, all you have to do is ask, and I know my best friend, Lily, and I know he would never argue with you about something like that, and even if he did, he wouldn't still be grumbling about it now. So I know something else is going on and I deserve to know, I live here..." I begin to retort confidently, but even though I could see that I had caught her by surprise, she quickly begins to speak, and despite myself, I couldn't help but stop speaking and just listen to what she was saying.
"It's to do with his parents, Riley. I received a call the other day from someone and while I won't go into specifics with you because it's not my place to say anything. Aidan wasn't happy with the results of that phone call, and while I talked him round before you interrupted us the other day, it is still bothering him, and until it's over, I doubt he will stop acting as he has been." She interrupts with a sad expression, and while I wanted to believe her, I really did, and a part of me probably did, but she is underestimating just how well I know both her and Aidan. Sure, they both probably have secrets that I don't know about, like I have, that they don't know about.
So I know that this had nothing to do with his parents. He had no love for either and with good reasons and while we haven't talked about them for a while now, we have had a lot of conversations about them, and I know exactly where he stands on the subject and while I want to believe her, the explanation made no sense. A mysterious phone call about his parents? Almost three years after they died? What the hell could that be about and who would it even be.
They both overdosed, there was no question over that, and the police investigation and the autopsies confirmed that. So I couldn't think of anything else that could come up now, especially something that would upset Aidan, and not something that he wouldn't talk to me about. So I knew that once again, my sister was lying to me and I wasn't quite sure how to deal with this, she has never done this before, at least that I know off and it actually scared me a little bit.
"Aidan tells me everything, Lily." I then decide to say, but I quickly pause for a few seconds, as I see the expression on her face and straight away, I knew exactly what she was going to say. "Okay, he still hasn't told me about being an Empowered, but that's different Lily, and you know it. When it comes to other things, like his parents, he tells me everything, and I don't know why you're lying to me about what is really going on. It's not fair, and I'm just going to ask him outright because it's obvious that you aren't going to tell me." I then state and I can actually see her recoil a little bit, and I could even see a hint of worry in her eyes, but she had just lied to me twice, and I had made my mind up.
"There's nothing you can say, Lily, you lied to me, twice." I then say in an annoyed tone, as I stand up from the table and stare down at my sister, who for the first time that I can remember, had disappointed me. We had always been close, and I will never forget what she had done in taking me in when our parents died. I could have ended up anywhere, but that didn't mean she had a get out of jail free card, and right now, I just wanted to be as far away as possible from her. Which to my annoyance, was just my room right now, as I had nowhere else to really go, and I didn't want to just wander around town.
So even though I could tell that she was going to say something, I just decided to walk out of the room and head straight to my room, and just about resisting the urge to slam my door. I wasn't a child anymore, and I didn't want to give her an excuse to come into my room and ground me or something, which she would have no issues doing, even if I were mad at her. Although now that I was in my room, I wasn't quite sure what to do and as I sat on my bed, I saw my phone on my bedside table and decided to text Aidan.
I know that it was probably a stupid thing to do because it would give him a chance to come up with some kind of excuse or story to explain what had happened. But while my confidence in my sister was shaken right now, I needed to believe, that when it really came down to it, my friend wouldn't lie to me, not if I asked him outright, at least I hoped so. Little did I know though, as I laid down on my bed and put my earbuds in to listen to some music, that events were unfolding, that just might stop me from ever finding out the truth.
As I stretch and slowly wake up, the first thing I notice is that I am alone in the bed and smile to myself, as I realize that my dumb ass friend, had finally got the message and stopped playing his stupid little games. Although as I come round a little more and sit up, I couldn't help but be a little confused, because Aidan wasn't in the room, in fact, the more I woke up and the more I thought about it, I couldn't remember him coming home last night either.
Which would have been worrying, if I didn't know what he really was and I'm sure my sister would be going crazy if he hadn't come home. So he is probably sleeping on the couch or in his room. I mean his room is basically ready now, and I think we were both getting a little fed up with spending so long in the same room, even if we were best friends, sometimes, you just want to have your own space.
So instead of dwelling on my friend, I decided to get up and then dressed, I thought about getting a shower first, but I hadn't done anything since I had a shower last night and it was a chilly night, so I wasn't all sweaty. I then made my bed and eventually made my way to the toilet, brushing my teeth and relieving myself, before making my way downstairs and towards the kitchen, but as I reached the bottom of the stairs, my heart quickly sunk, as I heard my sister's voice, coming from the front room.
I couldn't quite understand what she was talking about, but I heard Aidan's name, and she was clearly worried and the concern on her face, as I walked into the room was clear, and I could feel myself shake a little bit. "Where's Aidan?" I then hear myself asking, and I could actually hear my voice crack a little. There was only one reason my sister could look and sound like she had and the fact
he wasn't in my room when I woke up, left me in no doubt, that something had happened to my best friend.
"Riley, not now." My sister quickly states in a harsh tone, and if I wasn't feeling like I was, I might have reacted to her response, but all I could think about what my friend and why he wasn't home, he was an Empowered, he was a damn powerful Empowered, despite being the youngest. So if he was hurt, it was serious, not just anything could hurt an Empowered and usually when one is hurt, you don't see them again, and as those thoughts entered my mind, I didn't even feel my sister embracing me.
So when I finally came back to my senses a little bit, I couldn't help but be surprised to find myself sitting in the kitchen, with a cup of what looked like hot chocolate, between my hands. "It's going to be okay, Riley." I then suddenly hear my sister's voice state, but as I looked up to her, I could feel the tears already rolling down my face. "He's not dead, Riley, we both know who he really is, and I've made some phone calls, and I've seen the news, he took down two hostile Empowered and then left, all reports say that he was unhurt." I then hear her say and this time, I snap out of the dark thoughts I was having.
"Then where is he, Lily, if he was fine, then where is he?" I quickly find myself almost shouting, and despite seeing the shock on my sister's face, I was too worried about my friend, to think of anything else. "Where is he?" I then hear myself asking, barely above a whisper, as I look at my sister pleadingly. Hoping that she knew something. Something that would make everything okay and stop me worrying about him because without Aidan, I wasn't sure what I would do. I may refer to him as my friend or best friend, but in my heart, he is my brother, and I know he feels the same way about me, so losing him, I am not sure I can deal with that, not after losing my parents, I'm just not strong enough.
"I want to find him just as much as you do, Riley, but I promise you, we will find him. Like you just said, he's an Empowered and a pretty powerful one, and if anything happened to him, it would be in the news. There would be no way someone wouldn't have seen anything like that, without reporting it or posting something online about it, and there hasn't been anything." I hear my sister then say, and while it wasn't what I wanted to hear, she had a point and if Aidan was hurt or worse. Then it would have had to have been by something equally or more powerful than him, and if that were the case, then it wouldn't have been quiet, someone would have seen or heard something, and if that were the case, it would be all over the news and the internet.
So for now, at least, I felt myself calming down, but I still didn't like the fact he wasn't home. "My phone, I haven't checked my phone." I then suddenly call out, as I quickly stand up and head towards my room, vaguely aware that my sister was following me. Although as soon as I pick my phone up, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and confusion, because there in front of me, was a text message from Aidan. Although as I read it, I couldn't help but look across to my sister, who to my relief was standing in the doorway.
Because as I looked back down at the message, it read Riley, don't worry, will explain when I get back, don't tell Lily though, trust me, got to go. Which didn't entirely reassure me as much as I thought it would, after seeing that he had actually text me, the message sounded rushed and not like my friend at all, and telling me not to tell my sister, what the hell was that all about? Sure they have been arguing for the last few days, but surely he wouldn't want her to worry either, she was like a mum to him, as much as she was a mum to me, so I didn't understand what the hell was going on.
But before I could give it any more thought, the sound of my sister moving towards me and the sound of her voice, quickly caught my attention. "Is it Aidan? Did he text you?" I hear her ask and while I should have just told the truth, I couldn't. Aidan had told me not to tell her for a reason and while that might not have been the best reason. The fact she had been lying to me so much these past few days, just made me wonder if this had something to do with their argument and if I didn't do as my friend told me. Then I might never get a chance to find out what is going on and despite not wanting to lie to her, I knew I had to, this was too important.
"Riley, is it him, is he okay?" I then hear my sister ask again, but again, while I hated lying to her and the guilt that was quickly building in the pit of my stomach, because of it. I had to, even if it was wrong. "No, Lily, it's just one of our friends, asking if Aidan and I want to hang out at his house later." I quickly lie and instantly felt that guilty feeling grow, it just felt too easy to lie to her. "I'm not sure what to say, should I just tell him that we're busy?" I then find myself asking, after looking at my sister and seeing the suspicion in her eyes, I could tell that she hadn't completely brought my initial response and needed to try and make it more believable. And straight away, I can tell that it had had the desired effect and while I might have been more than a little angry with her right now. The look of worry returning to her face, made my feeling of guilt even worse, because while there was definitely something going on, that I didn't understand. She loved both Aidan and me, and we both loved her, so her look of worry, was genuine, at least that's what I believed.
"Tell him, you're busy, Riley, we need to concentrate on Aidan, so text your friend back and then..." My sister then begins to tell me in response, but suddenly trails off and I couldn't help but be a little surprised and just as equally confused, as I could see her obviously thinking about something, but before I could say anything, she carries on talking. "I want you to stay here, Riley, keep your phone on, just in case he tries to call or comes home, someone needs to be here." And while I didn't want just to stay here, even though I knew Aidan was at least okay, I still didn't just want to sit here all day alone, and I couldn't argue, not without sounding suspicious and risking having to explain why I wanted to get out of the house.
So after taking a few moments to think of how to respond, I finally just decide to keep it short and straightforward. "Okay, but where are you going to go, Lily?" I ask curiously, as I try to act normally and not act suspiciously, not that I knew how to act normally in this situation, but I had to at least try, for all I know, Aidan could just be waiting for Lily to leave. Which I know doesn't make much sense, but nothing about this whole situation was making sense to me, and I just had to go with my gut feeling, because that is the only thing I trusted completely right now.
"I will check the local hospitals and speak to some people I know, that specialize in the Empowered, if anyone would know if anything happened to an Empowered yesterday, then they would." My sister responds confidently, and while I knew she would be wasting her time, I couldn't exactly say that, and her plan was good, and if I didn't know that Aidan was at least alive and seemingly unharmed, it would have reassured me to hear what she was going to do.
Although I did find myself wondering who these people were that specialized in the Empowered. I mean there were a lot of people who specialized in them, all over the internet and across the world, but the way my sister had said it, left me in no doubt, that she wasn't just talking about some random group. But again, it's not like I can ask her to explain anything, not if I didn't want to make her suspicious. So I had to just resign myself to the fact, that my sister had a lot more secrets, than I had ever considered before and not just little secrets, these were big secrets, and I wanted to find out what they were. But that would have to wait. I had Aidan to worry about right now, so one problem at a time, for now.
"Okay, I guess, but wouldn't the hospital have called or something?" I then ask, and while it didn't really matter, I thought it would be better if I acted as normally as I could and it really didn't seem like going to the hospital was worth it. We lived in a pretty average sized town and both Aidan and me, had been to the hospital enough when we were younger, for the staff to know who we were. So if Aidan had been taken in, we would know by now, and from the look on my sisters face, I could see that she was coming to the same conclusion.
"You're right, but it can't hurt to check in." She softly says in response, and for the first time since she had lied to me earlier, I felt myself seeing my real sister. She may have still been lying to me, but she still cared about Aidan, and she was genuinely worried about him, and it made me feel a lot calmer and not as angry as I was at her a few moments ago.
She then surprises me again, by walking over to me and giving me a quick cuddle, and while it was quick, it felt nice, and despite already knowing that Aidan, was at the very least alive, it reassured me as well. "I promise I will stay here, are you going to go now?" I then decide to ask, trying to sound as calm and normal as possible. I had no intention of staying here all day, well unless Aidan told me to because as soon as my sister left, I was going to call him and if he didn't answer, a text would have to do.
"I don't see the point in waiting around." I hear quickly say in response and couldn't help but give her a surprised look. I know things were tense right now, and she was worried, but I wasn't expecting her to sound so cold and harsh in her response. "Sorry, I'm just worried about him, Riley, I know it's… look, I need to get going, just stay here, Riley, please." She then quickly
adds and again, while I was still angry at her, I could feel it fading away, and there was a big part of me, that wanted to tell her the truth, but I just couldn't do it, there was just too much going on right now.
And even though I was going to say something to her. She was already walking towards the door, and it was only then, that I realized that she was already ready to leave the house and I wasn't sure if I was just in a world of my own and missed her getting ready, or if she was already ready. Not that it made any difference, there was a lot more to worry about, then whether my sister was already dressed or not and the sound of the front door opening and closing, quickly pushed those thoughts aside and I quickly pull out my phone and dial my friend's number.
To be continued...