|~=~|Aiden|~=~|

It's been a few days of being locked up in this room. I felt so dizzy. My vision went hazy as I fell to the floor and passed out.

~

Waking up in a hazy field with a lake I stood up. The sound of the waves crashing made me feel... uneasy for some reason.

"Aiden!" I heard Rues voice exclaim as she ran up to me and hugged me. "Aiden! I've missed you so much!" She said happily.

There was one thing.... Rue... She was...... older. "Rue...?" I called out with a weak, shaky voice. "Yes?" She asked. "You... You're..." She smiled and put her finger to my lips, "I know..." was all she said.

I was still 5... she looked 19.... "It's been 15 years, Aiden. I was starting to think you wouldn't come to..." She said. "So you're 20..?" I asked counting the years. "Yes..." She replied.

"W-Wait... Where's daddy? A-And mommy?" I asked wide eyed. She gave me a grim look, "Mom.... sh-she never woke up... Dad was just so.... so devastated and he...... he....." I cut her off there, I'm pretty sure I knew what she meant.

A tear slid down her face, "Hey. Don't cry!" I said desperately trying to keep her happy. I wiped the year off her face, "It's ok. I'm back, I'm here, you have me. You'll never be alone." I smiled.

She smiled a sad smile, "Oh Aiden. I know, and thank you. But... I can't let you stay at my house... I-I'm sorry..." She said with deep sorrow in her voice. "Why not?" I asked. "My husband... he won't accept it." She said.

"Oh..." Was all I could choke out.

"I'm sorry.. I need to go, please take care of yourself, Aiden." She gave me a sad smile and kissed my forehead then ran off to her house. "Ok..." My voice cracked a little while speaking.

I was left by myself... Heh... funny.. it feels normal now, saying that.
I feel like I've always been by myself...

But this time, I really had no one to turn to. Mommy and Daddy... they're gone.... Rue... she's abandoned me and has her own family. I'm.... I'm really all alone now...

I sighed and sat down by the lake.

~

I sat in the same spot until the sun went down. "What do I do?" I asked myself. I brought my legs to my chest and buried my face between my knees. "What... What do I do?" I asked again and again, voice shaky, tears threatening to spill.. eventually they did.

"Are... Are you ok?" A little girl walked up to me hesitantly. I jumped and cleaned myself up. "Y-Yea.. I'm f-fine." I lied.

She had red eyes and brown hair... she looked just like mommy... "Are you sure?" She asked. "I.... I-I don't know..." I quietly said.

"Cora!" I heard Rues voice call out. She ran up to the little girl who I guessed was her daughter. "Mommy, this boy isn't ok..." She said sadly. "What?" Rue asked and shifted her gaze to me. "What's wrong, Aiden?" She asked.

Tears filled my eyes again, how could she not know? "I-I don't have anywhere to go.... I'm alone, Rue, I don't know what to do." The tears fell from my eyes again, "I might as well be dead..." I added.

Rue was silent for a little bit before saying, "Come."

I got up slowly and followed them to the house. I stared at the ground the whole time.

When I stepped through the door I heard a man call out my name, "Aiden? Is that.... Is that you?!" His voice was familiar.

I looked up. "Oh my god.. It's you, it's really you!" My eyes lit up at the sight of the mismatched eyed brunette.

I couldn't speak, I was too happy. He ran up to me and hugged me tightly. "I'm so glad I get to see you again!!" He exclaimed.

He put me down on the floor. "Um.., Sorry to ask but can I use your shower?" I asked running my hands through my greasy hair. "Sure! Just down that hall and it'll be the last door to the left." Rue said happily. "Thanks." I thanked and went to the bathroom.

Despite all the happy faces I was still kind of sad. I'm only 5... I don't have any parents, my twin is grown up and her husband was my only friend who is also grown up now.

I ran the warm water and got in. Sighing as the warm water hit my cold skin.

I was kind of confused as to why there was a mirror in the shower but I didn't think too much of it..

I stared at my face. One of my eyes was red where it's supposed to be white but both were puffy. That wasn't what bothered me.. What bothered me was the dead look in my eyes.

It scared me to look myself in the eyes.... no... that wasn't me. This isn't me.

I don't even know myself anymore...

I sighed deeply and finished my shower.

I got out and dried myself, dressed myself, and headed back out to the living room. "Hey!" Rue greeted me. "Hey where's..?" I started to ask but she finished, "He went to bed. He has work in the morning."

"Oh, okay." I said and sat down. "I'm sorry but.... I still can't have you living here. We don't have many rooms. Actually, we don't have an extra room for you to sleep in!" She said. "Oh... Yeah... that's fine. I.. um... I can sleep on the couch." I said hiding the hurt in my voice.

"Look, Aiden, I'm not doing this to hurt you. I'm doing this for your own safety.." she started, "And for my child's safety..."

"Huh?" I asked.

Before I could say anything else she tied a small rag around my head and stuffed some of it in my mouth. Then she put a belt on my neck and tightened it just tight enough that I couldn't scream.

What's happening?!

She tied my hands and legs to the chair I was sitting on. "I'm sorry, Aiden.." She said.

She grabbed a kitchen knife and placed it right above my heart.

No... Rue wouldn't do this. These are the demons that he was talking about!!

I didn't flinch when she pressed the tip of the knife harder onto my chest, my facial expression didn't even change.

I wasn't scared.

I wasn't surprised when the knife went through my body and shattered. The things holding me back shattered as well.

Everything started to slowly fade to white.

~

I opened my eyes, I'm in the hospital. Next to Daddy and Rue. I looked at Rue who was sleeping in the hospital bed, she's 5 again.

I looked at Daddy. He didn't look well... "Daddy?" I called out softly to him. "...Yea..?" He answered. "Are you ok?" I asked full of concern.

"I don't know..." He replied honestly.