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R A Y L A

Rayla could not believe it.

After everything that had happened, is this was the letter Callum sent to her? Was he serious? 

So he just chose to make up this huge scenario, and for what? Was it only to spite her? So what there's a disease, he should have at least personally told her! She growled as she slammed her blades down onto a table nearby.

Before she blew up any more, Rayla forced herself to take a deep breath and sort out her scattered thoughts. 

So apparently a disease was spreading throughout both Xadia and the Five Kingdoms- what was the logic of that? And it made people reveal their true form? What the heck was that supposed to mean?

All she had to do was wait for him to come back.

He knew what he was doing.

Right?

Rayla sat down on the bench in front of the doorstep, fiddling with her blades and looking up into the pale gray sky. Snow caped over the rooftops and trees which blinded her view of most things, especially while it was reflecting against the sun. 

All she had to do was wait.

But time seemed to go at a snail's pace- each minute felt like an hour had passed by. 

Rayla threw down her blades as she sighed triumphantly. She was going to go find him, despite what could happen to her. She would find him, scream at him, and then fucking kiss him for being that lovable little dork that belonged to her and no one else.

She smiled at that thought as she left the house to search for him at the sea ice.

Dear Rayla,

Okay, okay, by now, you've probably realized that I've left- but don't worry! I'm completely safe. There's a disease or something that's going around, I'll be back in a day or so, I promise! I originally wasn't supposed to tell you this, but I have my Aunt's letter in a cabinet right next to the sink, that might clear some things up.

Also, sorry for leaving you this early with no explanation.

- Callum

PS: Please don't kill me please don't kill me please don't kill me.

---------------------------

C A L L U M

Callum picked up his bag, slung it around his shoulder and walked towards the colder parts of the area when he heard whispering voices.

"Hello?" He asked aloud. No one replied. He looked behind the shrubs but no one seemed to be there. "Anyone-"

"I found you!" A voice screamed. At first, Callum jumped, assuming the voice was Rayla- because if it was Rayla, he'd be in really, really big trouble.

But then he realized it couldn't be Rayla, because if it was, she would have aimed her blades straight at his face and screamed, "YOU STUPID HEAD!" or something along the lines of that.

He smiled at that thought, only to see a dark shadow casting above him as he turned around.

He jumped, finding Soren staring intensely into his eyes.

"Uh- Hi!" Callum managed, attempting to play it cool. He scratched the back of his neck, now laughing to himself. "Uh, how did ya find me, good pal?" 

"Oh, no, I know all about your little scheme." Soren threatened, so close to his face that Callum could smell his breath.

Callum backed away. "Y-you do?" he gulped.

"Yeah, I do! You're trying to kiss up to Claudia and try to get her some weird bumblebee butt..." Soren lost eye contact and then cleared his throat. "...or something."

Callum tried to mask a breath of relief, then lying, "Oh, yeah!" He laughed nervously. "You caught me!"

"I knew it!" Soren exclaimed as if he had one the lottery.

"Okay, well, I'm going to go now-" Callum started, turning his back away from Soren and attempting to walk away as casually as possible when Soren grabbed his scarf.

"Nope! I'm not done with you yet." Soren chided.

Callum groaned. "What more information do you need?"

"What's the real reason why you're out here?"

Callum stopped like a deer in its tracks. "What?"

Soren, now a little more annoyed, said, "Why are you really here?"

"I'm helping Claudia," Callum shook, his knees threatening to break way beneath him.

"Lies!" Soren said, but Callum could obviously tell Soren was trying to hide his smile. He was only joking, right?

But then his face became solemn as he replied, "You're lying. Claudia's been in a coma for two weeks..." Soren began. He scratched the back of his head. "...I think it was a week. I don't know. But she's been out for a long time, and we don't know why." Soren sighed.

"Really?" Callum asked, alarmed.

Soren nodded back at him. "Listen, man," Soren gave him a violent pat on the back as Callum lunged forward with the impact. "What's going on?"

It took Callum a while to get the words out, and being the Callum he was, he ended up explaining every little detail.

Soren smile faded, melting into a deep frown. "A-are you serious?"

Callum suddenly wondered if it was a good idea to tell him after all.

"Er, yeah." He replied in a low voice.

Soren stepped away and rubbed his temples as if he were trying to remember something. 

"That's why Claudia, Amaya, and Janai were out for so long..."

Callum quickly caught onto what Soren was saying, nodding. "So I'm trying to find the cure, it's the only way to stop everything."

"Would you mind if I helped?" Soren asked. Callum debated the pros and cons in his head- if they were lucky enough, they might have been able to complete it faster together.

But if one of them, unaware caught the disease...

There would be no cure at all.

"Sorry, Soren," Callum said defiantly. "I don't mean to put you down, but I can't let anyone else get involved."

Soren nodded, sighing. "Alright. I get it."

Soren walked away towards the kingdom of Katolis once more. "But what should I do while I'm back?" He asked.

"Wait, Soren, do you think-"

BANG.

Silence.

The sound rang through his ears, his head nearly exploding as Callum doubled over onto the ground, cursing under his breath. 

"Callum!" Soren shouted.

His side exploded from a searing red pain as he looked down- there was a bullet that went from his back that ripped through his rib cage. He looked down to find red splotches of blood painted over his hands, body shaking from the sudden back as he cried out in pain.

Soren, now repeating a continuous mantra of curses started trying his best to aid him, when Soren also fell to the ground with a blast in the head.

Callum's communication device began to ring obnoxiously when the receiver on the other end answered.

"Sir, we have target A and subject B."

"Subject B? Why would you have him?"

"We are unaware sir. We will bring both to the chambers as soon as possible."

"Throw them in the pit instead."

"With all due respect, sir-"

"Did I stutter? Go! Do as I say!"

Beep.

And the call ended.