Charles & Darlene

"Neither am I. And now he's leaving again... on what could very well be a suicide mission." I sighed heavily and put my head in my hands. "What the hell is happening Charles? Things were supposed to be better here."

"Q went off by himself after Jasper, Cade and the others. Asher wants to find him."

"Why do you think I called it a suicide mission," I said and sighed again. "We all know what Jasper is capable of. Cade beat his own daughters, sometimes almost to death, allowed men to rape them, starved them. Yes, I said daughters as in plural, that's why Linna is the way she is. Timber said she broke, she couldn't take it. She was brainwashed into becoming the person she did. She watched Linna do a complete 180. Cade also murdered his wife and got away with it. If he's capable of doing all that to his own family I don't want to think what he wouldn't hesitate to do to Quin and Asher."

"Those two boys can handle themselves, don't worry too much. I have faith in them."

"I have faith in them. It's the capitol and those peacekeeper bastards I don't trust."

"Asher has a friend within the Capitol, so I think he'll be fine there."

"A friend in the Capitol? Who's that?"

"Victoria Pierce, she's another fierce red head."

I looked at him. "How in the hell does he know Victoria Pierce?" I asked, shocked.

It had been weeks but the cold had finally eased, though snow still covered the ground. "It's nice to see the sun finally shining," I said to Charles, smiling a little as I looked out the window, my hand on my stomach. I could say I was looking outside just to look but I wasn't fooling anyone, least of all Charles. I was watching, constantly watching, to see if our boys came home. There was a knock on the door and Charles got up to get it. "Aurora, hey sweetheart, how are you?" I asked as she came in.

"Hi." I said, it was barely more than a whisper. "I...I found something today and I wanted to bring it to you two before anyone else."

"What is it? What's wrong Aurora?"

"I was at the river and found...I found these." I said and held all of it in my hands.

I slowly stood up, my hand still on my belly, and walked over to her. I took the one shirt from her, Asher's shirt, my hand shaking. "Ch-Charles..." I whispered, and felt him catch me as my knees gave out.

I carried Darlene to a chair and set her down, taking the shirt from her hands and staring at it for a moment "This doesn't mean anything. Why are the two of you assuming the worst because of a torn shirt?"

"Because they're sliced to shreds... and covered in blood," I said softly, feeling sick. "And because it's been almost two months. It's been almost two months Charles. If they're alright why aren't they back yet."

"It's just taking them a little while, that's all. Quin was probably in trouble and Asher has him now. We don't have bodies, just shirts. It's hardly proof."


"I...I should go now. I need to see Selma and Raine."

I nodded and Aurora left. "It's more than we've had until now... there's been no word... None Charles. Asher... he would've sent word... somehow that they're okay...." I said and felt tears sliding down my cheeks.

"And how would he have done that, Darlene? There is no way he could have gotten word to us all the way out here. I don't want to hear anymore of this nonsense, it's garbage."

"It's the truth," I said and got up slowly, my hand on my belly still. "They would've been back by now...."

"Darlene. My son is not dead, and I don't want to hear another word about it." I went over and picked up Asher's shirt in my hands, and threw it in the fire.

I shook my head, wiping at my tears, and went in the bedroom, shutting the door behind me.

I got to mom's and didn't even bother to knock, just opened the door and went in. Charles was sitting on the couch, staring off into space. "Where... where's mom?" I asked quietly.

"The bedroom." I said as Mason and Ethan also came in, I wasn't sure if they'd been told the rumor or not.


Mason and I was dropping in to check on Dad since we hadn't seen him this morning. He was usually out and about already "Hey, everything alright? Where's mom?"


"In the bedroom with Ezra." I said "Don't worry the baby is fine, it's just been a rough morning." I sighed and told them what Aurora had came to us about. The looked between each other and they were thinking the same thing as Darlene, and Aurora too "So, I guess you two are going to give up on your brother too? Odd, he never gave up on either of you."


"No...it's not like that. It's just been...a long time Dad." I said, trying to man up and not showing that it felt like my heart was being stomped on.

I came out of the bedroom and shut the door quietly. "She doesn't want to see anyone," I said softly. I looked at Ethan and Mason for a minute then looked down at the shirt in my hands. "I took it... didn't think... she needed to see this," I said, my emotions barely held at bay.