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

A week had passed by since I woke up at the hospital. Even though I felt normal, the doctors kept me around all that time to check how my systems were doing. They were surprised to see to know that I was perfectly fine, and my exhaustion was easy to recover from.

The only major problem with me was that I barely had any magic now.

I could barely do anything, and if I attempted, I got really tired fast. Thankfully, I wasn't injured anywhere.

Eventually, the hospital let me go on the condition people kept a close eye on me, so for most of the time, I was just in my room resting. Since my friends weren't allowed near me for security measures, Alyse was the one who explained everything up to me.

About Iv's plan, and her recent disappearance..

Resting my head back against my pillow, I let out a heavy sigh, staring up at the ceiling. There was still a strange sting on my neck, which didn't let my anxiety rest at all..

But my sister risked everything to save me, I had to find her.

No matter what.

tap

I jumped a bit at the sudden sound from my window, looking over. After a few seconds, a small pebble hit my window, making the same sound. In curiosity, I walked over and opened it, seeing Lola, Victor, and Noah standing outside and staring up at me. "Guys?"

"Aiden, can we come up there?" Lola asked as she waved. I knew my parents wouldn't let them in, especially since they're grieving even more now, so I gave a nod.

Noah was able to fly them both up here before entering himself, letting me close the window after looking the door. "What are you doing here?"

"Firstly, we wanted to check how you're doing." Victor spoke first, to which I shrugged.

"Physically, I'm doing okay." I sat on the edge of my bed. "Mentally, I'm not sure.. It feels like I just woke from one day to the next, yet so much has happened.."

"No one blames you for feeling this way, you're probably the one who's been through the most."

"Along with the other victims." Noah finished Victor's sentence, who nodded in reply.

Lola then turned to me. "You're smart enough to figure out the other reason."

"You plan to continue Iv's investigation, and I'm your best lead, right?" She nodded at my reply, and I thought for a moment. "I can take you to her room, but you have to be quiet."

Iv's bedroom had been searched by the police already; at least, that's what I was told. I myself was asked a lot of questions about where I had been and what I remembered, to which I could barely answer anything.

The room itself had been kept the way it was found to preserve the crime seen. The window had been broken, along with a few other things in the room.

Lola took a look around. "Well, if the did find anything she couldn't show us, it's most likely the culprit took it with them."

"They left something behind though. Check this out." We all turned to Noah as he spoke, and my eyes widened as I saw what he was holding.

A necklace, my necklace. It was a birthday gift from my mom years ago, I only ever took it off to sleep.

"Wait, isn't that.."

I nodded at Victor as his eyes narrowed, taking the necklace in my hands. "This is mine, though I don't remember it being cracked before."

"Well it has been two months." Lola replied.

"No.. I get the feeling that this is.. recent.." As the words left my mouth, I passed by thumb over the crack on the crystal.

That's when a sudden sharp pain went across the skin on my neck, forcing me to drop the necklace as I took a step back with a hiss. The others turned to me in shock and worry, Victor being the one to speak. "Hey, you okay?"

"Uh, yeah, I think so.." I placed a hand over the area that hurt, though there was no wound or anything, and the doctors did say I was fine.

Lola tilted her head. "What was that then?"

"I'm not sure, I just had this weird pain on my neck.. Almost like a cut.."

They all tensed up at the mention, and I couldn't blame them, it was a scary thing to think about. But I shook my head, picking up the necklace. "It's probably just some after effect from all the tests the hospital did."

At least.. I hope so..

"Shouldn't we take the necklace to Ben? It might have some clues." Lola asked, to which Noah nodded.

"Might as well check."

Before they could leave, I stood in front. "Is it okay if I go with you guys?"

Vic crossed his arms with a small glare. "Aiden, you should be resting. And don't forget, the culprit might try to take you again."

"I know that, but.. Iv got herself taken just to save me, what kind of brother would I be if I didn't help her back? I want to help."

They all exchanged a few glances, and he eventually gave me a nod. "Well, not like we can stop you, but if you get in trouble with your parents, it's your own fault."

"Deal."

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

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