Caleb & Ezra

"You need to eat something Ezra, I know it's a bad day for you but I won't let you go hungry."

"I'm not hungry Caleb. Honestly I just feel sick to my stomach."

"Should I leave you alone so you can rest?" I asked.

"I doubt I'll be doing much resting, to be honest."

"Either way, I'm going to give you some space."

"What if I don't want you to give me space?" I said softly.

"Then what do you want me to do? Lay down with you even though you're pissed?"

"Would you? Please?" I almost whispered.

I wasn't sure who to go to next...I didn't want to tell Timber or Elena alone. I went to Ezra's door and knocked.

Timber was taking care of the girls while I made dinner. I went to the door to answer it just as Caleb came in the back door, having been out hunting. "Aurora how are you?" I asked then saw her face. "Come in, what's wrong?"

"I have something to tell you." I said as Caleb came up to stand beside of her "It's...about Asher. I already seen Charles and your mom."

"About Asher? What is it? Is he back?"




I eased up off the floor and put my hand on my belly as I went over to them. "What's going on?"

I was watching Aurora, and she didn't look well and wasn't her normal self at all. It's like she's here but not really.


"No..he isn't back." I muttered "I went to the river and saw something in the water, despite the cold I went to see what it was because it looked familiar. I found Quins blood stained shirt and the necklace he'd worn with my ring...I found Asher's shirt too. It was bloody with...stab marks through it." I just said it, there was no easy way of going around it.

I felt woozy and slowly sat down. "No... no it... no," I whispered and got dizzy when she pulled the shirt out.




"That... that doesn't... that doesn't mean anything... He's hurt... that doesn't... doesn't mean he's dead," I said softly, feeling numb.

"That's what Charles said too but...I think you should go to your mom. Charles was...let's just say I know where Asher gets it from now." I said "I just wanted you to know."

"Thank you," I said softly and went in the kitchen to make Timber some tea. "Here, drink this before you get sick," I said softly then got up and went out the door and headed to mom's.

I couldn't follow her and leave the girls alone, I didn't know what to say. Asher, dead? It didn't seem possible, he was the first friend I'd ever made in the lower districts. Losing him and Quin would be hard on everyone.


"I should go home...I don't know what I'll do there but I just need to lay down or something." I said and left for my house.

I picked up the mug of tea and took a sip, but my hands were shaking so bad I had to put it down or spill it everywhere. I picked up the shirt and held it to my face, but it didn't smell like Asher anymore, the water had washed his scent away. I lowered it to my lap and looked down then told the girls quietly to go play in their room. I waited until they were gone then looked up at Caleb, trying to hold my tears back. "You don't... you don't have to stay... if you don't want," I said softly.

I set down beside of her not sure what to say at first "Us being here together in one place is sorta...unexpected isn't it? But why wouldn't I stay?"

"Because you don't like me. And how could I blame you," I said softly, unable to look at him, just staring off into space. "He... he promised me he would come back... He promised me," I whispered then wiped my tears.

"We've had our differences that's true but...you did come through for Ezra in the games. I know you've tried to make up for your wrongs and I accept that. You can't help what your Dad made you do. It feels like we've matured a lot since then doesn't it?" I asked her "I've never known Asher to break a promise, Timber. I'm pretty sure he won't start now."

"Yes it does," I whispered. "We've all matured a lot. And I can honestly say I'm glad my father's dead." I took a deep shaky breath then looked down at my hands in my lap. "You saw the shirt Caleb... You saw... the blood... the cuts... How... is there even any way... he could be alive?" I whispered and put my hand on my stomach. "He... he left before... before I found out I'm... well I'm pregnant. He died never knowing...." I said and wiped at more tears. "My baby will never his father... never know how... how wonderful he was," I whispered.

"The baby will know everything about it's father, we'll all make sure of that. If Asher doesn't come home, he'll still be here anyway."

I nodded a little and wiped at more tears. "I want him home... Oh god I want him home... so bad.... This is a nightmare... it has to be a nightmare."

I put my arm around her and she laid her head into my shoulder "I'm sorry, Timber. I'm really, sorry."