~~~~~~~~~Sage's POV~~~~~~~~~

I snuggled against the pillow my head rested on, a smile on my face. It was really warm and comfortable, I could stay here forever.

My eyes fluttered open as the sun hit my face, making me let out a yawn. As soon as I noticed where I was, my eyes grew wide, my face flushing red.

My head rested against Aiden's chest as he rested his head on mine, a soft smile on his face, though his bangs covered his eyes. His arms were wrapped around me, keeping me close to him.

And giving me warmth...

I couldn't help but snuggle closer, this felt too nice to let it pass by...

I looked up at him, reaching up and gently moving his bangs out of his face. He looked so peaceful, making me smile.

Being honest...? I didn't want this moment to end...

I felt at ease, relaxed... I didn't care about anything else...

I just... wanted to be with him right now...

But I felt my blood run cold when I heard him groan, his eyes slowly opening and soon shifting down to meet mine. I could feel my cheeks turning darker with each second that passed, and I noticed his own grow red as well.

But he soon let a warm smile grow on his face before letting out a yawn. "Good morning..."

I smiled back, a bit shyly. "Morning..."

"Did you sleep well...?" He asked, obviously still a bit sleepy.

I nodded, my head still on his chest. "Yeah..."

He smiled again, snuggling a bit against my head. "That's good to know..."

My face flushed even more, but I couldn't help but giggle.

Eventually, he looked at the clock on the wall, his eyes widening. "Crap!!!" He yelled, startling me a bit. He stood up, running over to his bag. "I can't be late for work again!"

Once at the door, he looked back at me with an embarrassment smile. "I-I'm so sorry, but I have to leave. I'll see you later?"

I nodded, giving him a reassuring smile. "Yeah."

He returned it before leaving the house. I let out a sigh before lying back down, bored. My thoughts went to Alyse, she's usually awake at this hour.

I stood up, walking upstairs and opening her door. Alyse laid on her bed upside down, hugging one of her plush toys as she snored softly. I chuckled at the sight.

But I grew nervous as my gaze moved over to her closet, remembering what she told me a few days ago.

I walked over, opening her closet and finding the picture of Ryan and the twins.

"If you really want to know in detail, you should talk to Aiden, he knows much more about this than I ever will."

I know this was private information for this family, but I needed to know their connection with him, why he wants them dead. Because so far, I've seen no reason to kill these people.

I couldn't ask him, but maybe I could see for myself...?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been many hours. It was dark outside, and everyone was fast asleep. I was in Aiden's room, a small blue orb glowed in between my palms, stared down at a sleeping Aiden.

I muttered a spell under my breath, the orb glowing brighter. I took a deep breath after waiting a few seconds. "I hope you'll one day forgive me for this..."

Gently, I placed the orb on his forehead, closing my eyes. I felt my body turn cold for a while, but my temperature soon returned to normal. I opened my eyes, seeing myself in a familiar house, their house. However, the atmosphere here seemed a lot brighter in a way.

Not exactly what I expected to be his mind.

I then saw a car pull up in the driveway, walking over. A man and woman stepped out from the front seats. Soon after, the back door opened, two young kinds, boy and girl, who seemed around five years old, both with dark skin and black/dark brown hair, however the boy had blue eyes while the girl's were brown.

I guess I entered a memory?

My eyes widened as I saw an older red-headed boy step out after them. He seemed to be around seven, with a smile on his face.

"That movie was so cool!!! I like the part where the spaceship was like whoosh!, and the alien spacecraft was like phew!, and then they went to the tunnel side ways!!!" little Iv said, throwing her arms around in excitement.

Little Aiden chuckled. "It was pretty cool."

He was suddenly picked up by little Ryan, yelling a bit in surprise as the older boy placed him on his shoulders. "All aboard the R.R. Spacecraft!!!"

Aiden laughed. "That's for a boat."

"Fine then, you don't get a free ride to space." Ryan replied.

Aiden pointed forward. "Onwards we go!!!"

With that, Ryan ran inside with Aiden still on his shoulders, Iv running after them.

Seeing them like this, I got so many different emotions that I didn't even know how to describe...

The world soon faded around me, and I soon found myself in what looked like-... a school? I looked around in confusion, my eyes landing on the gates where little Aiden stood, fear noticeable in his eyes. He seemed a year older, but still really young.

I could see him softly trembling before looking down at his shoes. His mom kneeled down to his eye level, gently cupping his cheek. "Don't be nervous, sweetheart, you'll do great...! Your sister already made some friends, and you will, too...!"

Aiden remained quiet as his mom kissed his cheek, walking to the car. He didn't move, he didn't speak, he didn't even look up.

I had never seen him like this before. Even when he was scared, Aiden would always try to do what he needed to.

That's when I saw Ryan running over from the car, standing in front of Aiden. Finally, he looked up. "What are you do afraid of, A?"

Aiden shuffled his foot nervously. "Th-they'll make fun of me..."

"They won't, honest. But you can't just stand here." Ryan's hand folded into a fist. "Promise me you'll get through the day?"

Aiden stared as his fist. A small smile grew on his face before fist bumping him. "O-okay..."

Ryan ruffles his hair. "Atta boy." With that, he went back to the car. Aiden looked at all the kids in the playground before taking a deep breath, walking over to a young kid.

The world faded again, and I appeared in their living room. They were years older now, the twins around nine. Their mother sat on the couch, placing a hand over her stomach. She was pregnant with Alyse here.

She invited all the kids to feel the baby, however Ryan seemed nervous to do so. She then gave him a warm smile, and he walked over, placing a hand over her stomach.

He then pulled away a bit startled. "It kicked!"

The mom chuckled. "They do that sometimes."

Many memories passed by, but all were the same. Aiden and Ryan really did seem like brothers.

However, the atmosphere soon turned cold as I appeared in a bedroom. Aiden and Iv were playing on a console when the sound of angered yelling came from downstairs.

The twins exchanged a glance before leaving the room. I followed behind. They peeked from the staircase, seeing their parents trying to talk to Ryan, who had a dark aura this time...

One that was far too familiar...

This was the Ryan I've known for years...

The one I was terrified of...

"Ryan, please, you must understand, your father is a dangerous man-" The mom tried to explain, her hand reaching over to cup his face.

Ryan harshly slapped her arm away, anger radiating from him as he glowed a dark green. "HE SHOULDN'T BE IN JAIL!!! AND IF YOU REALLY CARED ABOUT ME, YOU'D SET HIM FREE!!!"

As he yelled, he stomped his foot harshly on the ground, a large crack splitting the floor. Both of the parents backed away startled, and Ryan ran away.

It wasn't until about a minute later when Iv finally spoke up in the silent house. "Mom...? Dad...?"

Both of them jumped a bit, the twins walking over in worry. "What's wrong with Ryan...?" asked Aiden.

"He's just going through a rough time right now, let him cool off..." answered their dad with a small smile.

Once again, the world faded, but I found myself in the same place I was just standing in. I saw ten year old Aiden sitting on the couch watching tv while Iv played on a tablet beside him.

An explosion was heard from outside, startling me as it shook the whole house.

Just then, their parents rushed downstairs, the mother with Alyse in her arms. The father quickly went outside, but the mother went to the twins, giving baby Alyse to Aiden.

"Mom? Dad? Where are you going?" He asked, now worried.

She gently cupped his cheek with a soft smile. "It's okay, we have to take care of something, but you
must promise us to stay here, where you're safe."

"What will you do?" He asked.

She let out a small chuckle. "You know a policeman's job is never done." She pulled her hand away. "Now promise me you'll take care of your sisters while we're away."

He stayed silent for a few seconds before speaking. "... I... I promise."

She placed a gentle kiss on all of her children's foreheads. What came out of her mouth after echoed throughout the room.

"I love you, my little crystallights..."

As she said those words, the world grew hazy around me. This time felt a lot different. I could sense something bad was bound to happen.

I had hoped to be wrong...

Once the world became clear again, I saw myself in the living room once more. I looked at the clock on the wall, hours had passed since that last memory.

Aiden stood up, giving Alyse to Iv. "Where are you going...?"

"I um... need some air..." was all he said before walking out. I followed behind.

As soon as I stepped out the door, the strong scent of blood filled the air. I felt myself grow tense, afraid of what I could see. I followed Aiden to the back of the house, where his eyes grew wide in fear.

Both his parents were on the ground, large pools of blood surrounding them. Aiden began to tremble as tears form in his eyes, running over as he screamed for his parents. I could see the heavy set of tears streaming down his face as he tried to shake his parents awake, but it was of no use.

My heart ached so much at the scene, and my vision began to get hazy from the tears on my eyes.

"You're finally outside." Said an unfamiliar voice, demonically booming in the air. Aiden tensed up, turning around, and I did too, seeing Ryan standing in the other side. His eyes were completely black, with white slits in between. His clothes were bloody, along with the dagger he was holding.

A dark green glow surrounded his body as he took in heavy breaths. "R-Ryan...?!? W-what are you d-doing...?!?" Aiden asked, barely able to control his fear as he backed away, Ryan walking closer.

Aiden tripped, falling back on the ground as Ryan made his way over, placing the dagger under his chin.

I wanted to help, but I knew there was nothing I can do. This was only a memory, I couldn't change it.

"I should've gotten rid of you all long ago..." Ryan's voice was the only sound heard. Aiden didn't move or speak, terrified of what he might do.

He then close his eyes tightly, his face covered in tears as he let out a small sob. "P-please forgive me..." he muttered, a small sharp crystal in his hand, using it to stab into Ryan's leg.

The older boy let out a yell, pulling the dagger away as Aiden crawled out of reach, starting to run as fast as he could to his home.

"I was gonna go easy on you..." He said, appearing in front of Aiden, making him stop in his tracks. "But maybe I'll just toy with you instead..." Lifting the dagger up, he sliced a deep cut across Aiden's chest and stomach, making the young boy yell and hiss in pain, clutching his now bleeding wound.

Tightly gripping his shirt, he looked up at Ryan. "W-why are you d-doing this?!?"

"Why?" Ryan placed a foot on Aiden's chest, pushing back the boy who whimpered in pain. "My father is dead because of your bloody parents, he's dead because of you!!! So now, I'll make sure there's no trace of you, or your parents, or your sisters!!! Your whole family will seize to exist!!!"

Aiden closed his eyes, preparing for Ryan to attack when something harshly knocked him down. Iv was behind him, tightly gripping the baseball bat in her hands as she breathed heavily.

Aiden quickly backed away as Iv ran over, helping him up and running to their house as fast as they could.

Ryan sat up, gripping his head as he growled in anger, the glow around him stronger than before. "THAT'S IT, NO MORE GAMES!!!" He yelled before running over to the twins. However, before he could do anything, he crashed into an invisible forced.

Both of the twins were startled by what stopped him as Ryan punched the force field that forbade him from catching them. He went all around the house, but it was no use. Finally, he stood as close to the twins as he was able to, his eyes flickering all sorts of colors.

The world began to fade, until all I could see was Aiden's terrified expression, Ryan's voice heard from all directions.

"You might've gotten away from me today, but mark my words: from this day forward, I will make sure your life will be absolute hell, and I will see the end of you,

if it's the last thing I ever do..."

My eyes shot open as I took in a sharp gasp, my breathing heavy and shaking at what I had just witnessed. I looked around, seeing myself back in Aiden's room. He was still on his bed, sleeping.

I hadn't noticed the tears that rolled down my face until minutes after standing still in pure shock, trying to contain my sobs.

These people, they didn't deserve this, any of it!

I then heard a groan, my head tilting upward as my gaze met Aiden, who was tiredly rubbing his eyes with a yawn.

"Sage...?"

Thanks for reading!!! 'Till next time!!!

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