Elias paces around his room. Well, the room that the three of them are sharing. Aria is not the registered guardian, but the ID he had made came in handy when they bought the room. “So, they have been here. We need to get to that file,” he says, fiddling with his screen. He pulls up the website for the Arch research Center and begins skimming the pages.

“Elias, I didn’t know this was a research center,” Evritt pipes in, coming out of the bathroom. He had already washed his body and brushed his teeth. “Also, can you braid my hair so I don’t mess it up in my sleep.”

Elias looks over at the afro and grimaces. He forgot about that. He normally either braids or twists Evritt’s hair before bed in order to protect it, but considering that they had to leave in a bit of a hurry, he didn’t pack any essentials. “Uh, yes. Is there anything we could use in the bathroom to do your hair?” Seeing him shack his head, he sighs. They’ll just have to make it work.

Aria glances over at them as they settle on the bed. “So, your parents… are researchers?”

Elias nods,” Yeah, they helped with studies on ajin and how to better make use of their abilities. It sounds bad because they mainly look into ways to control ajin, but our parents went into the field in order to find a way to hide and better protect ajin in the general public.

“The Arch is a research center, but it is more of a check in point. This is where the files on the workers are stored. Since a lot of the higher ups, mainly the Generals are scared of the rebels getting any information on their research, they hide it in there. Only researchers would know that.” Aria nods, listening intently to the information.

“How do you know all of this stuff?” she asks.

Elias grins,” I hacked the server for the Arch system years ago. Complete child’s play.” He pauses on Evritt’s hair and pulls up his tablet screen. He shows the numerous files he has and the one labeled “Arch Research”. Aria’s eyes widen. For someone with barely any physical capabilities, he is very… resourceful and handy with technology. It’s almost scary.

She clears her throat,” Well, I will let you two sleep in the bed, I can take the floor.”

Evritt furrows his brows,” No, you should have the bed.” He begins to move, but freezes with a look from Elias.

Aria stretches her body,” No, it is ok. I am used to it.”

~

Elias wakes up, a huge yawn escaping him and stretches. He looks down at Evritt, who is knocked out, his face buried in the pillow. Scoffing he glances over to the pile of blankets that Aria used to see her not sleeping but sitting with her legs crossed. The marking on her face is glowing and her eyes are glowing as well. He cocks his head, a bit confused and worried. He has never seen her do this before.

“Uh, Aria?” he whispers. She doesn’t respond. She doesn’t even flinch at his call. He gulps, not knowing what to do so he moves back to wake up Evritt.

Aria’s mind dashes through as she calms herself. The nightmares are slowly becoming unbearable. They started off as memories from her clan and the eradication then she started dreaming of what happened while she was imprisoned. Now she keeps seeing herself changing. Transforming into some kind of monster. Red eyes, fangs, dark veins. Almost as if it is confirming her fears and that scary man’s words. She is part Umbra. She just can’t believe it. Nobody ever told her anything. She knew she was impure but, to be mixed with Umbra blood? No wonder she was ostracized.

Lanai. Lanai, you must save Allanus. She hears the voice. It is almost soothing. Soft and feminine. She hasn’t heard this voice before but she is calmed by the voice until she registers what it’s saying. Her? Save Allanus? She thinks not!

She takes a deep breath, her eyes returning to normal and she glances up to see Evritt and Elias watching her, worried.

“Are you ok?” Elias asks,” You were glowing.” She blinks, before a small smile comes on her face. Seeing the concern for her wellbeing on their faces makes her want to cry. She never felt any of this warmth until now. Not when she lived in the Elar Mountains or when she ws imprisoned. She feels tears pool in her eyes and blinks them away before they could see her. That was a fail, especially because Evritt gasps, worriedly.

“You are crying! What happened?” he demands. Aria sniffs, her eyes lowering in embarrassment. They saw her cry, darn it.

She stands to her full height,” I am fine. Just thinking about how kind you two are. I thank you for everything.”

They both smile at her. Evritt grins,” Of course! I have heard of this thing called ‘found family’. I think that is what we have!” Aria cocks her head in confusion as he nods at her, before glancing at Elias for clarification.

He scratches his head,” What Evritt means is that you’re family now. We take care of each other. Plus, you did save us, so we are indebted to you.” He snickers,” think of us as annoying little brothers.”

She starts tearing up again. Oh, gods. This is too good to be true! She furiously wipes the tears from her face and clears her throat,” Not a word, faireborne. Now, what is the plan for today?”

Elias pierces his lips, not commenting on how she ended the conversation,” I need to find a file on our parents, so we’re going back to the Arch. I got us tickets to the tour that is happening today, and we have about an hour before we are to report to the tour spot. That is our ticket in. Once we are in, I am going to find the filing room and get the clue. Because if they have been here then that means we are close. I can feel it”

She nods, satisfied. Elias is really the man with the plan.

~

They follow the small group entering the building. Since the revelation this morning, Aria has been a bit more comfortable with Elias and Evritt. Evritt has been enjoying pestering her for everything. Elias has been enjoying not having to worry about Evritt the whole time. It’s a sibling thing. He snickers at the annoyed expression that Aria is trying to hide on her face.

“And I am pretty sure that this place is one of the older of the four Arch buildings!” Evritt finishes explaining. It’s no secret that each sect of Faerin has an Arch research center. Each one focuses on a different area. It also helps the Generals stay informed and they can exchange that information with each other.

Aria sighs, her eyes closing as she holds back her irritation. “Evritt. Please, I think I have enough facts for today.” She runs her hand through her hair. He has been telling her about the Arch for the past twenty minutes and she is now over the awe that she had for the building yesterday.

The old man from yesterday glances up, annoyed at the group, but his eyes narrow at Elias, recognition flashing through them. Elias gulps, trying to play it cool. He doesn’t want to get them all caught before he could even sneak away.

“As you can see, while the exterior is built as so, the interior is just a normal government building,” the tour guide explains, making Aria inwardly groan. She already went through this with Evritt and now she has to go through this with some random woman? She glances behind her, catching a glimpse of weird movement. She narrows her eyes confused and a bit unnerved. Someone is watching them. She had felt something weird when they left their hotel room, but didn’t comment on it as to not worry the others. But now she is going to have to be ready for any form of attack.

They walk towards the back of the building and Elias notices a door leading to a stairwell. He glances at the woman tour guide and then quickly grabs hold of Aria and Evritt. Before anyone could see them, he dips through the door and squats down against it. “I have a layout of the building. There are only three floors, but I already know what floor the files would be on. You two go to the second floor. There’s a room in there that has information on the project itself. Evritt will know what I am talking about. I am going to find the files on the employees and figure out the status of Ma and Papa.” Suddenly an image forms in Aria’s head. It shows a layout. One that highlights where they are and a path lights up, showing them where they have to go. Elias sighs,” I am glad that works.”

Aria’s eyes widen. She is more than impressed. Sometimes, she wonders if he also has abilities. Elias nods,” It’ll be fine, now go.” He begins moving down the stairs, opposite of where they have to go.

Aria glances at Evritt, who is a bit worried. “Are you ok?” she asks.

He swallows, nodding his head. His curls whip around as he tries to smile. “I am fine. I’m just not used to being away from Elias. He is always with me.” Aria’s eyes soften as she takes in the child. Elias always seems to have a plan and he is always thinking of protecting Evritt or keeping Evritt’s best interest in mind.

“He probably thinks you are safest with me. He will be back. Your brother is a genius, and he is always looking out for you.” She comforts,” Now let’s go and see if we can dig up what your brother had in mind.”

They quietly move up the stairs, making sure to stay ducked down in case someone comes looking for them. Aria follows the directions Elias had given them carefully as they approach the door to the second floor. She takes a breath before glancing at Evritt,” Can you feel anybody on the floor?”

Evritt furrows his brows in confusion, before shaking his head,” No. But how did you know I could do that?”

“That’s how you found me, isn’t it?” she answers, quietly opening the door. Her heart quickens. The hall was stark white and had that putrid smell of bleach. Like her prison. Her eyes blink rapidly as she tries to calm down. Everything starts rushing through her mind. The torture, the tests and the loneliness she experienced.

She tries to take deep breaths, but her chest rises and falls a bit too quickly to be normal and she is stuck frozen. Evritt watches her face turn blank and the stillness of her body. The terror and pain flood his brain from hers as he attempts to calm her down. She isn’t paying attention. Her eyes are glowing silver, but she is starting to hyperventilate.

“Aria,” he whispers, grabbing her hand gently. She whips her head to face him, her glowing eyes looking terrified. Tears stream down her cheeks and she huffs, trying to stop the tears. She roughly wipes her face.

“I don’t know why I’m crying. It just gave me flashback is all. Nothing major,” she chuckles, weakly. Evritt worriedly watches her put herself back together. As she wipes her face of the tears and squares her shoulders, the brokenness disappears almost instantly. Her eyes stop glowing and intensify as she looks around for any sign of danger.

As she surveys the hallway, Evritt watches her, cautiously. That overwhelming fear she had wafting over her earlier is gone, not even a trace of it in her stance. “We are clear,” she whispers, stepping into the hall. She leads him towards a room that looks like a lab. They both peek into through the door, curious about the room.

Two islands stand in the center of the lab, with beakers and medicinal utensils. Both of them look at each other, confused. “When one says they are studying ajins, what are they doing?” Aria whispers, her eyes narrowed. The screens in the back of the room seem to have been turned off.

The room just looks like it has been lived in. “Where are the researchers?” Aria wonders aloud. Evritt shrugs in response.

“Maybe vacation?” he suggests, a funny smile on his face,” I would like to go on vacation.”

Raising an eyebrow, Aria sighs,” Treat this like a vacation then.” She tries to keep her focus on the room, because this situation does not sit right with her. Why is there nobody here? It looks like people were here but were trying to leave in a rush.

As she continues to investigate, digging through drawers and cabinets, Evritt wanders around the room, towards the screens. He cocks his head to the side in curiosity and then begins to tap on the screen. Light illuminates from the screen and words appear on the screen.

His eyes furrow, not understanding the bigger words. Something about the ajin’s irises and the extra spark of activity in some kind of frontal lobe. He also notes terms like kivdiner and umbra, which sounds familiar. He turns to Aria, but then he freezes. Someone’s coming.

The presence of these people coming is so heavy, he wants to cry. He hurries to Aria, fear radiating in his bones. “Aria, someone is coming!” he whispers. Aria glances back, seeing the terrified look on Evritt’s face.

“How many?” she asks, her voice hardening.

He tries to focus on distinguishing the presence. He can pick out two unfamiliar minds. He doesn’t even want to try to peek into their brains. The door for one mind has padlocks and the other one has voices coming from the other side, which has never happened before.

“Two,” he whispers,” I think they’re coming this way. They probably know we’re here.” He tries to hold in his tears. They both are just shrouded in such a heavy energy that it makes it hard to move. Aria takes a breath. Oh gods. She feels the presence of them moving closer to them.

Her breathing slows, as she moves closer to Evritt. Her hand immediately covers Evritt’s mouth and she moves them behind the table. Her eyes glow as she tenses her body. Who is it.

She lifts her finger to her lips, signaling for him to be quiet. They hear the footsteps move closer and then an eerie laugh echoes outside the door. “Ok, dog. Just follow my lead,” a familiar voice sneers. Aria blinks, immediately recognizing the voice. Her eyes widen and she begins to tremble. It’s him! It’s the Umbra man that came after her.

She gulps silently as the door opens. “You have one more time to call me a dog,” a new voice snaps.

She looks at Evritt. We gotta get out of here. Hold on to me. Evritt nods.

“Oh, lanai hama. I know you’re here,” the voice purrs.

Oh Likai