~~~~~~~~~Aiden's POV~~~~~~~~~

At first, I couldn't believe that she was dead...

Now, I can't believe she's alive...

But this was her, there was no doubt about it.. I couldn't see her face, and the melting lava that covered her body made it difficult to determine her shape, but I knew..

I just knew.. this was her..

"... I-Iv...?"

Everyone's eyes widened at that, looking at the strange creature that stood in front of us. She gave a nod, and walked over to the wall, where she melted the words 'Glad you're safe.' on the wall with her finger.

At that, most of us rushed over, wanting to hug her, to let her know we were so relieved that she was okay; but instead, she backed, raising her hands up in surrender.

When we pulled away in confusion, she gestured down at her own body, and we backed away as we realized what she meant, Lola letting out an awkward laugh. "We'd probably become a milkshake if we hugged you, wouldn't be?"

Iv nodded in reply as she lifted a foot, showing us that the area she stood on was already melting because of her.

Victor then rapidly shook his head. "But, I thought Aiden said you- ... you killed yourself..!"

To our surprise, she nodded in reply, sliding a finger across her neck. I felt cold at that, placing my hand against my own neck. "S-so.. what I saw was real.."

"Then how are you still alive..?" Noah asked, slightly gripping his sleeves.

She first did a kick movement, then pointed at the lava pit behind. Ryan was the only one who understood. "Whoever killed you dumped your body into lava?"

Iv nodded in reply, and we all looked at Ryan in confusion, who simply shrugged. "What, I'm good at charades."

A smile then grew on Lola's face. "Well, we're all so glad you're safe.."

Her eyes closed, as if smiling with them, when I then took a step forward. "Iv, who did this to you..?"

The lava that covered her body began to boil, and her eyes narrowed in a sharp glare as she reached a finger to the wall, about to write something.

Unfortunately, she didn't get the time, for the ground and walks around us began to shake with great force, almost knocking us off balance. Before we could react though, Iv waved a hand as a signal to follow before running out of the room.

No matter how many guards stood in our way, Iv blocked every single one of them with her own body, letting each bullet completely melt with her touch.

Had she always had this power? And if she did, did she even know about it before this?

How could we return her to normal..?

It didn't take us long to meet a peculiar set of doors, where the locks looked like they had been melted off long before, and as she nodded for us to head inside, we all followed after her.

And.. even if I had already seen this once before.. I couldn't believe my eyes..

The first memory I had, the one with everyone inside water tanks, we were in that room. Every aspect was just as I remembered it, with every victim we had lost in their own tank.

Sage and Noah rushed over to their dad, Lola to Lidia, and Victor to Cynthia; I could see Ryan wanted to go to Cynthia as well, but I think the thought of it made him nervous since he and his sister were never close.

"Th-they're all alive, right..?!" Lola asked as she turned to us. "They're all okay..?!"

Iv nodded in reply, getting a sigh of relief from Lola as she smiled.

I then turned to her. "Is this why you never left this place, even though you could easily melt your way through..?"

Once again, she nodded, and I could see the sadness in her eyes as she lifted her hands a little.

"... you couldn't carry them to safety without burning them.." My eyes widened a bit, thoughts finally connecting. "So instead, you stayed here to make sure they were okay until you could get help..! That's why you contacted me through your memories, isn't it?!"

This time, her nod was fast, like a child who excitedly agreed for some dessert. Then she pointed at my necklace before pressing a finger against her head.

I smiled at the thought. "Yeah, it was whenever I touched the necklace that I got those memories.. But why did they hurt so much..?"

She extended her arms forward, letting lava drip down from them as they sizzled while hitting the ground.

"Oh, I guess that makes sense.."

"Actually, Iv.." We both turned to Noah as he walked over. "Asking for later, but do you know how to turn back to normal..?"

She shrunk in place, then looked down at her feet before shaking her head. Noah and I exchanged a worried glance at that, afraid of how it might affect us later.

Then Ryan nodded for us to go to the tanks. "We may discuss those matters later, for now we need to get all these victims out of here and to the hospital."

"Iv, do you think you can continue clearing the way as we carry them all out?"

She nodded at Sage's question, then walked over to the door. Noah had already snapped his fingers, a few of the tanks' glass walls disappearing. Bill, Cynthia, and Lidia were the first two fall out, Noah, Victor, and Lola catching the ones they most cared for. Sage helped Noah with their dad too, and since Ryan and I could also carry other people, Laurie and Nate were also set free for us to carry.

Iv did well in keeping the guards away from us as we reached the surface, and not too long after, we were back in the forest, closing the doors to the bunker.

I can't believe it..

We really found them..

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

❤️❤️❤️