Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Where the fuck am I?” I sat bolt upright, straining against the mess of wires sticking out of me and into the surrounding machines, my head pounding from the sudden movement. 

“Ah, nice of you to join us…” The man looked at me over his glasses, clipboard in hand. 

“What happened?” The last few days were foggy in my mind, as if my memories weren’t my own. It was like… it was like they were there, but they didn’t feel like mine. I felt like a ghost looking into them. A name. I had a name. There were faces, brief faces, people who seemed important to me. I recognised them and yet… for some reason, I was unable to put two and two together. These people in my mind, I knew them. But who were they?

“Miss, you’ve had an organ transplant, and two minor surgeries. You’ve been in a medically induced coma for the past seven years. Do you remember what happened?”

“I—” I didn’t. What had happened, why did this happen, and that still didn’t answer my original question: WHERE THE FUCK AM I? By the looks of things, it appeared to be a hospital, but then again, appearances can be deceiving. I pulled up my thin shirt to reveal a line of stitches across the side of my stomach, right across a burn scar in the shape of a handprint. “How did I get here?”

“You were brought in. A woman found you behind an abandoned diner with a young adult male, both of you seriously injured.”

A young adult male. Who? If he was with me he could know something… “Where is he? The person who came in with me? Is he okay?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know. The woman who brought you both in had him discharged almost instantly after, she seemed to recognise him. He wasn’t here long enough to be ID’d, and you’re not on any systems. You’re almost like a ghost.”

I looked down at the handprint on my stomach, lifting my hand up and placing it on top. Did I do this to myself? The doctor noticed what I was doing and answered my question for me.

“The scar, it appeared to have been made while cauterising the wound. Although it stopped the bleeding, we had to open it up again to remove the bullet.”

“Hang on there, are you telling me someone fucking shot me?” If someone had shot me before, was I even safe here? I started to panic. I needed to get out of here. I tried to lift my legs but they were held in place. Instead, I tried to use my hands to move them, but it only revealed that my legs were held in place to the bed. “What the fuck? Why can’t I leave?”

“You’re not healthy enough—” 

“Bullshit! I’m calling bullshit!”

“I would appreciate if you refrained from using any more foul language in this hospital. I will turn on the TV, put on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign, and then maybe you will have calmed down by the time I come to take the next blood test.”

He turned on the TV, handed me the remote and left. As a distraction, I listed the things I knew about myself so far.

1. Someone had shot me.
2. There is someone out there who knows who I am, but he was taken and I needed to find him.
3. Clearly, I have amnesia.
4. I have been in a coma for seven fucking years.

It wasn’t a long list. The screen flickered into life and the news channel was already on. Since I couldn’t be bothered to change it, I let it play.

Suzume Kimura, now aged 20, the leader of the Psion Ring possibly sighted, two years after the video…  

I let it play out. All I was focused on what the name. Suzume Kimura. I recognised the name, but I couldn’t seem to remember… well, anything. But somehow…

I knew where I had to go.

Chapter Text

Somehow, I knew where to go. I couldn’t explain it. I just knew. Yeah, I got a lot of weird looks as I got on the bus to Lodi— who wouldn’t be confused by a twenty-something girl in a hospital gown and a half-torn leather jacket?

Once I sat down on the bus, I looked at my hands. There were faint scars peppering my knuckles, and I tried to concentrate on where I had gotten them. Searching through my maze of memories was hard, it was like I had all of the pieces of the puzzle but none of them fit together? I had either names or faces, not both. I had memories floating about but without any sense of time. Something could’ve been seven years ago, right before I got injured, or it could’ve been when I was six… I just couldn’t tell. 

The only thing I was completely sure of was that I was at this place, and I needed to go back. I was there. Before it happened. Since it was the last place I remember being, so far, it was my best shot at jogging my memory. 

I hugged the bloodstained, torn, slightly oversized jacket around me. I needed a change of clothes, this hospital outfit just wasn’t doing it for me. I continued to look at the scars on my hands, wondering how, when and where I had gotten them but nothing seemed to work. Eventually, I gave up, spending the rest of the journey staring at my reflection in the window. My dark hair was cut to my chin, in a pixie cut sort of style. It curled around my ears a little and there was a slightly fuzzy bit on top that resembled a fringe and I had to keep blowing it out of my face to see occasionally. Had it always been like this?

    5. My hair is out to get me. Half the time, I can’t see a fucking thing, and I’m beginning to think it’s a hazard.

I got off the bus and trudged the long walk towards a familiar-looking bar. Smiley’s. 

“Christ, what’s a guy gotta do to get a drink around here?”

The most clichéd line ever popped into my head, echoed in a southern accent. Someone had to have said that to me once. Who? I pushed the thought down, not wanting to concentrate on it and instead walked around to the back of the bar. No, there was no point in going this way. The door had to be opened from the inside. I walked around towards one of the large warehouses, and tried getting in through there instead. 

The place had been trashed. The door was busted and I had to jam my shoulder into it to get through. A white sheet was hung up, and a few chairs were haphazardly placed near it. Something meaningful happened here at some point. I didn’t know what, but I couldn’t help but feel pride. Proud of something, someone. So focused on the emotion, I didn’t notice the broom sticking out and suddenly I was face down on the hard concrete. It took longer than it should have to pick myself up and as soon as I finally had, I noticed what was painted on the floor. 

A crescent new moon. 

The image flickered through my mind like a trigger. I saw it painted on the side of a truck. On a bike helmet. On a bike itself, with someone polishing it and accidentally wiping oil on his face. 

I had to stop, almost forgetting to breathe. Who the hell was that?  

He was laughing, singing along badly and driving a beat-up old minivan. The minivan. Black Betty. Are you fucking kidding me right now? I can’t remember the names of anyone I used to know, or who I was with at the time, can’t even remember my own damn name… but I can remember the name of the fucking Nissan? I wiped my face and wrapped my arms around my knees, resting my head on them and trying to think.

I was sitting directly on top of the moon on the floor. 

Nothing. I needed somewhere else, somewhere better… somewhere with more memories. For some reason, LA sprung to mind, but it also at the same time didn’t seem like an option.

I took a breath. This wasn’t working, I was just confusing myself. Pulling myself up using the table, I walked towards the stairs and climbed them. Although rusty, the door was unlocked, and I followed the dark tunnel into a kitchen. 

“Why in the world did they have to take the light bulbs too?” What I could only assume was the same southern voice from earlier. God, who did I spend so much time with that their voice was practically engraved into my mind? 

On my way upstairs, I passed the gym. There was a mirror in there, but it was cracked. I traced the cracks with my finger. They spiralled out from a point of impact and I rested my own fist in the little dent. This wasn’t mine. I didn’t do this. Yet, I felt like I’d done it before? Not here. Somewhere else? But… where?

I left the gym and made my way upstairs again. Instinctively, I opened one of the doors. The room was a complete mess, there were clothes on the floor and what could possibly be dents in the walls. A leather jacket, identical to the one I was wearing— only in much, much better condition— hung on a chair, and after a considerable amount of inner debating, I slipped mine off to exchange it for this newer one. 

A lone laptop sat at the desk, and I reached for it, curiosity taking over. No password, which was good. I went straight into search and typed in the name I remembered from the news. Suzume Kimura, and the page practically exploded with information.

Psi spokesperson, interim government. Psion Ring. Yellow. Electrokinetic.

I went to the images page and a dozen photos came up. She was constantly standing next to the same boy, slightly older and with his arm around her a lot. Not like a boyfriend, but like a protective older brother. I clicked on one of the pictures and read the description. Suzume Kimura and Charles Meriwether IV. Jesus, that’s a long name. A voice appeared in my head— not the southern one from before, a different one, it belonged to a girl.

“Chubby Chubby Choo Choo, I almost pissed myself.” A girl’s voice spoke, a voice I recognised yet couldn’t quite place. 

    6. For some reason, I think this person can help me.  

Next search: Charles Meriwether, address.

Chapter Text

So I found the wrong Charles. Which is why I found myself sitting in a coffee shop, waiting for Dr Charles Meriwether III (not to be confused with Charles Meriwether IV), his dad, to arrive. I sat at the back, not wanting to draw attention to myself since the only clothes I could find before leaving were a moth-eaten tank top and a pair of jeans that were more holes than jeans. 

“Hi. I’m Dr Charles Meriwether, could you tell me why you wanted to meet me?” The man, a look-alike of his son— except for the slightly scruffy beard and lack of hair— sat down in front of me, sipping his coffee. 

“I need to speak to your son, it’s urgent.” I whispered, no idea why there was any subconscious need for me to keep my voice down.

“Why would that be?”

“I’m...” I struggled for the right words to say. “I’m an old friend… I think. ”

“I really don’t think I can do this, I’m sorry. I have to go.” He stood up to leave and I felt my chances diminishing with every step he took towards the door.

I knocked my drink over as I stood up, catching up to him just as he walked out the door. “Please,” I grabbed his arm. “I think he’s the only one who can help me.”

~

That is how I ended up waiting in Charles’ parents’ living room. It was quite awkward, but I sat there and waited while his dad made phone calls, and his mum offered me food. When he came back, he barely said anything other than an awkward, “Two hours. He’ll be here.”

I practically jumped for joy. I had a strong feeling that Charles would know more about me than I currently do. I didn’t remember being with him, but I just knew that he knew me. Him and Suzume, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. This Meriwether kid is officially my best bet.

It was very awkward to spend time in his parents’ house. While I was waiting, his mom kept offering me more food and snacks and I had to politely decline since for the last seven years all my food had been liquidised and there was only so many biscuits and sandwiches I’d be able to handle before I chucked. And I really didn’t want to do that in their pristine living room. I was almost counting down the seconds before the front door opened. His parents saw the car in the driveway and nodded to me, putting down their newspaper and laptop respectively and going to get the door.

He came in, hugs and kisses to both of them, about to sit down on the couch. “So what was it you wanted me to—” he trailed off, staring dead at me. Charles took a cautious step forward, and then another, until he was standing opposite me. “You can’t be here… Y-You just can’t. You’re…” I reached out to grab his arm, an instinct, as he had turned an odd grey colour and started swaying on his feet. 

“Charles?” The contact made him realise I was real, and his eyes widened. I stood up to grab hold of his other arm and he promptly passed out against me, my support the only reason his head didn’t hit the glass coffee table. “Shit.” I stood there, not sure what to do. “You’re the doctor, do something!” 

His dad took him from me and laid him down on the couch. He loosened his son’s belt while I undid the top of his button-down collar. This shirt looked a lot like the one I vaguely remembered crying on at the Ranch at some point. My hand was still closed around his wrist, not wanting to let go. He must hate me. For seven years he thought I was dead. At least, that’s what I’d gathered from his reaction to seeing me. 

When he finally woke, less than a minute later, he looked at me in some sort of daze. “Y-You’re real?” He put his hand on top of mine, squeezing it as I nodded. “You’re here?” I nodded again. 

“I’m sorry. I—” He cut me off, standing up and throwing his arms around me. It was hard to breathe he was hugging me so tightly, but I let him, because even though I couldn’t remember why, I missed him. I hugged him back, not knowing what to say. 

“How?” 

“I don’t know.” 

He motioned for his parents to give us some space, and we sat back down on his couch. “Why? Why now? And why’d you call me Charles?”

So I told him my story, at least— what I knew of it. The being brought into emergency care, the amnesia, the going back to the Ranch and looking up him and Suzume. “I don’t know who I am. I don’t remember anything. ” Tears rolled down my face as I leant against him, his arm around me. 

“Even though it used to annoy me, I’m not having you call me anything other than Chubs. It’s too weird. Aria, look. I have an idea but you have to come with me.” 

    7. My name is Aria.

    8. I had a friend called Charles Chubs.

I trusted him, so I got in his car, and let him drive me to his apartment. I marvelled at the space. He had a large living room with a white U-shaped sofa in the middle, in front of a TV. There was a master bedroom and two guest rooms, one of which he told me was mine for as long as I wanted it. There were four bathrooms, he motioned to each as he tossed me a drink from the fridge. 

“Right, we have about three hours until she gets back, so let’s get to it.”

“Until who gets back?”

“Vida. Did I not mention that? We— uh— we live together, here.”

I whistled, and he shook his head at me, laughing. “I don’t want to remind you that I don’t remember her, but still… Damn, Chubs. How long?”

“Just over seven years, right before you… right before you left, actually.”

And just like that, the conversation was brought to an abrupt stop. It was a struggle to not break down into tears at how much I’d missed. I couldn’t remember who Vida was, but there was something there. They’d been together for seven years… what if they’d gotten married? What if I’d missed that? Breathe, Aria. Aria. You are stronger than this. He opened up a silver laptop and handed it to me with a USB stick. 

“Do you want me here for this? You left it for us, when you thought you were going to die.”

I shook my head. “No, I think I have to do this one myself.” He nodded in reply and disappeared for a few minutes to let me watch it. I thought I was going to die?

With my hands shaking, somehow I managed to open the video titled ‘ARIA’ and press the start button. 

I almost didn’t recognise my own voice. “Hey, guys. Right, if you’re watching this... I’m dead.”

“It’s been a long time coming, actually. Right now, I’m going to tell you the whole story. When I’ve finished, I’m going to log off and I’m going to find Liam and Cole—” I had to replay the video several times. I’m going to find Liam and Cole. Liam and Cole. Cole. 

Shooting upright, I banged my head into Chubs’ jaw. He had been leaning over me watching as he heard me start the video again. His eyes were rubbed raw and a new bruise was blossoming on his lower jaw. “Shit! Sorry!” Cole. Cole. Cole. I still couldn’t remember anything about him. I just— I just knew, I felt something strong towards him. 

“No, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been standing there, I couldn’t help myself.”

And at that moment, the key turned in the lock. Vida backed into the room as she closed the door behind her. There was no warning as I soared through the room, hitting the back wall. Her arm was outstretched the moment she saw me, pinning me there. 

“Fucking hell, Vi!” 

At a stern look from Chubs she dropped me, taking a step back and making her way towards the door she had just entered from. Without moving, Chubs had already pushed the door in place, keeping her from leaving. Vida turned around, leant against the door and sank to the ground, tears already forming. He ran to her, pulling her upright and moving her to the couch. I stretched my wrist, flexing it where it had hit the wall— nothing broken, thankfully. 

“You were dead. I saw the blood. How did you—” 

Slowly, I walked towards her, before sitting down on the coffee table opposite. “It’s a long story, but I can explain. Sort of.”

Chapter Text

“This bitch fucking faked her own death!” That was the first conclusion Vida came to. Chubs tried to calm her down while I paced the room worriedly. This was not the reaction I was expecting or hoping for. 

“Vi, calm down. Hear her out, hell let me tell you if it’ll make a difference?” He pleaded with her.

To say it plainly, she was in shock. I couldn’t blame her. I mean I didn’t even realise they thought I was dead until I realised I was alive. Or at least remembered that I thought I had died in the first place. 

Chubs led her out onto his terrace, like damn— did this kid win the lottery or something? From the outside, this little apartment didn’t look like much but inside it looked fit for a VIP! Then again, that could just be my slightly biased opinion since I don’t remember living anywhere before Black Rock. Or Black Rock. Or anything. He sat her down and explained what had happened, in apparently greater deal than I ever could, and with multiple exaggerated hand gestures. Yeah, that’s something I didn’t remember him doing, but it’s clear he does it a lot. 

Since they were pretty occupied, I decided to rewatch the video. It was only a couple minutes long and it felt like every time I watched it I regained a piece of myself. Although, it angered and scared me that I still couldn’t remember people. Especially Cole. His name came up everywhere yet triggered nothing. Ruby… there was something there, but I couldn’t access it. I remembered something about playing cards with people, but I still couldn’t put names to faces. 

“Goddammit! Why did this have to happen? Why couldn’t I have just fucking died? I’d rather be dead than be stuck like this!” 

Chubs caught the vase inches before it hit my head, his telekinesis freezing it in mid-air just before the moment of impact. “What the hell just happened?”

I hadn’t even realised that they had come in from outside. Chubs was standing there with a worried look on his face, his arm outstretched and Vida stood behind him, her makeup slightly smudged around her eyes. 

“Aria. We need to get you under control.” Chubs dropped the vase, putting it slowly back on the table it had come from. “Do you remember using telekinesis?”

“I was a...?” What's the word. What's the system. Come on, what's the BADGEY THINGS. BLUE IS TELEKINESIS! “I was a blue?”

“No, boo. Charlie Boy and me are both blues, you’re Indigo. Do you seriously not remember? Also don’t sweat the fact that I know, he filled me in on that part.”

“Charlie Boy and I,” Chubs corrected, and Vida gave him a stern look that seemed to just say ‘not now’. Jesus, the grammar police is back. 

“What the fuck is an Indigo?”

“Oh shit, you weren’t kidding.” Vida looked me up and down. “We need Ruby for this.”

    9. Whatever the hell an ‘indigo’ was, I was one.

Chubs shook his head, clearly not happy with that idea. “Hell no! She’s been through enough in the past few years, we shouldn’t shock her with… I don’t know? Oh yeah, her friend coming back from the dead.”

“We need her. You know she can help.” Vida folded her arms, looking between the two of us. She leaned in closer to him, and whispered something in his ear. This caused Chubs to go bright red and his eyes went wider than I could’ve ever thought humanly possible without his eyeballs falling out of their sockets. 

“Fine. Ruby it is. But Lee is going to freak.”

Ruby. Maybe seeing her would jog my memory? Maybe that was what they meant? Maybe she could help? Somehow?

~

So we got in the car. Well, we got to the car. 

“No way, budge over Grannie. We’ve been over this. If you drive, there’s no hope of us breaking the fucking speed limit between now and next Tuesday.” Grannie? Vida hauled Chubs’ ass out of the driver’s seat and took his place, not even waiting for his annoyed reply as she slammed the door and locked it. 

For some reason, Chubs looked at me for support but I was too busy trying not to laugh to be of any help. I slid into the back seat, and he sat down next to Vida, reaching for the radio controls. She slapped his hand away. “You know the rules.” 

“Yeah, driver controls the music. Universal law.” I sing-songed from the back. 

Chubs froze, and if he were the one driving we would’ve been crushed at the crossing. Luckily, he wasn’t, and Vida drove through the red light without a second glance. He locked eyes with me in the rear-view mirror. Chubs ducked his head after a moment, looking out the window and wringing his hands, muttering, “Lee used to say that all the time. Always got on my nerves, considering he never let me drive...” 

“Oh,” I said. That’s probably somehow where I got it from.

The rest of the journey was in sort of silence, with Vida occasionally breaking it to make comments in an attempt to ease the awkwardness. I couldn’t help but catch sight of her hair in the mirror every now and again. It was a bright purple, and even though it complimented her skin tone well, I had a small feeling that it would suit her more if it was blue.

“Lee isn’t going to be very happy. Well I mean, he’ll be happy to see us. But it’s not like he’s going to be pleased that we’re turning up unannounced, with a surprise travelling companion who’s come back from the dead. It’ll bring up all sorts of questions.” Chubs continued to talk to himself, whilst at the same time repeatedly taking off his glasses, cleaning them, and putting them back on. 

“Now might be a good time to mention that I used the group chat…” Vida smirked, stopping to beep the horn at a car that attempted to pull out in front of her. “It’s not going to just be Boy Scout and Ruby, we’re also going to be seeing Z and her two friends, and Nico, and Cate if she turns up. At least, if they can all get there safely.”

The car went silent again, and I sat in the back waiting for someone to say something. 

“This is why I left that chat.” Chubs muttered under his breath, rolling down the window to get some fresh air. 

“No, you left the chat because Liam and Zu turned you into a gif.”

I covered my mouth with both hands and still didn’t manage to stop the laughter from escaping. It died down after a stern look from Chubs, but Vida pulled out her phone and tossed it in the vague direction of the backseat. “It’s in my favourites, there are three different versions.”

After finding the app labelled ‘photos’, I clicked on the image and dissolved into laughter again while Chubs put his head in his hands and rested it on the dashboard. Damn, this ‘Liam’ kid sure has a good sense of humour.

Chapter Text

When we arrived at the house, I looked around, trying to take in every aspect of it in a feeble attempt at triggering a memory. “Do I know this place?” I put a hand on Chubs’ arm, nervous to go inside. 

“No, they moved her not that long ago, you won’t recognise it.” 

Vida marched up to the front door and knocked, giving the security camera above it a mock-salute. After a period of no answer, she knocked again before throwing Chubs an impatient look. 

“I have a key, you know.”

“No shit, better get moving then.” She rolled her eyes before extending an arm and using her telekinesis to take the keys from his pocket. Sighing, Chubs put his own hand out and pulled them back from her in mid-air. 

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” 

He made his way up the steps and put the key in the lock, opening the door. Vida pushed past him to get through, kicking off her boots and going straight for what appeared to be the kitchen. I loitered by the car, looking at the sky and wringing my hands in anticipation. I was about to “meet” some of the most important people in my life, according to Chubs and Vida. These people knew who I used to be.

I want to be the person they remember.

I don’t know them, but at the same time… I don’t want to disappoint them. 

“Aria? You okay?” Chubs called out to me, holding the door open as I slowly walked over to him. 

I sighed, “Yeah. Fine.” Nodding, I let him close and lock the door behind me.

If I wanted my memories back, I had to do this. 

I had to. 

~

“Wait here," Chubs had said. “Give me a minute to explain.” 

That ‘minute’ had turned into twenty. I hovered in the hallway and looked at the photos lining the walls. There were lots of the same two people, a girl and a guy. There were also a few with Chubs in, and Vida, and that Suzume girl from the news. Along with them, there were photos of people I didn’t recognise, and a single photo of a guy who at first glance looked like the person in most of the photos, but on closer inspection revealed to be someone else. 

As well as photos, there appeared to be row upon row of drawings, almost as if they were snippets of memories. It was like walking through someone else’s life, or being given front row seats to see a movie. Sensing someone behind me, I spun around and managed to trip over my own feet, succeeding in knocking a photo from the counter. “Shit.” 

The girl caught it with her own telekinesis and put the photo frame back where it fell from. “Watch it! I drew that one.” After she’d finished admiring her handiwork, she held her hand out for me to take it. “I’m Azra.”

I shook her hand, but couldn’t help but feel slightly on edge. “Did I know you? Before?”

“Nope, I’m new here. Ruby and Liam used to look after me and a load of others a few years ago, and judging by the current situation I’d say I picked the wrong time to pay a visit, however overdue it might have been.”

“Right… I’m Aria.” The name felt weird as it passed my own lips, it was the first time I’d said it out loud. Deciding to change the subject, I reverted my gaze back to the photo I’d almost knocked over. At first I thought it was a photo, but I soon realised that it was actually a very detailed, very beautiful drawing of two guys, one with his arm around the other. “You drew this?” 

Azra nodded, coming closer and adjusting the frame’s position slightly. “It was a present for Liam for his birthday, Ruby showed me the memory and I drew it for him. It’s him and his brother, Cole.” 

“That’s pretty cool.” I was about to open my mouth again when the door to the living room opened and Chubs came out. He smiled weakly and gestured for me to go inside. 

This wasn’t going to be easy.

~

From what I had been told, I was able to identify almost everyone in the room. But that didn’t mean I knew who they were. I could see Suzume, or ‘Z’ as Vida called her, sitting on a sofa with a guy’s arm around her, and another girl on her other side. She was the first to look up when I came back in, but her eyes began to fill with tears and I had to look away before mine did the same. Then, on the opposite chair sat Ruby and Liam. 

Suzume may have been the first to look at me, but Liam was the first to speak. He stood up and cautiously made his way over, almost walking into the coffee table. “You okay there, darlin’?” he choked the words out, extending a hand towards me. “Gave me quite a scare.” 

“You okay there, darlin’? Gave me quite a scare.”

I’d heard that before. Those exact words. From him. I couldn’t remember where, or when. But I knew it was him. I took a small but sure step towards his outstretched hand and ignored it, before taking another. “Hi, I’m Aria.”

“I know,” he whispered as I melted into his shirt, wrapped in his warmth. He had quite a bit of height on me and my head fit just underneath his chin. Just close enough for me to hear the sound of his beating heart, and feel his chest rattle with every sob. 

I was pulled out of his grasp and into someone else as Zu peeled me from him and wrapped her arms around my waist. She seemed to have grown a great deal since the photos I had seen of her online. “Give her some space Lee, the girl’s been through hell and back. Literally. Anyways, it’s my turn.” She turned to Vida and whispered something before taking another look at me. 

“Let’s sort this out then.” Vida pulled me down onto a couch as Ruby gave me a thumbs up from across the room. Liam sat back down next to her and Suzume returned to her position between the two other people I was yet to be introduced to. 

“I have an idea. I’ve told you what I know already, but I think Aria should tell you guys her story, and then we can figure out where to go from there?” Chubs shrugged, waiting for a response. After everyone nodded in agreement, all eyes turned to me. 

So I told my story.

~

A long story and an hour later, only me and Liam were left in the room. All the chatter had faded out and we sat there on opposite sides, without speaking. Liam broke the silence by standing up, “I need some air.” The door opened before he reached it and slammed shut behind him as he left, the sound echoing through the entire house. Something wasn’t right with him, and even though we hadn’t been around each other long enough for the realisation to be instant, I picked up on it quickly and followed him out the door.  

His mood seemed to have only worsened by the time he got into the area of trees behind the small house. As soon as he was far enough away from the house, he sat down on the muddy floor. Liam’s shirt dragged in the dirt and his jeans were soon covered with a fine coating of dust and leaves. 

He didn’t seem to acknowledge my arrival, but did nothing to stop me when he noticed me sit down next to him. My clothes were already torn and moth-eaten, what was a bit of dirt to add to the mix? 

“Right, are you going to tell me what’s up, or are we just going to sit here? I don’t mind either but I’m pretty sure the first option is more preferable.” I nudged him with my arm and to my surprise, he let out a laugh. It was nice, however forced it appeared to be.

Instead of speaking, Liam stretched his legs out and leant back until he was lying flat on the ground with twigs in his hair and the entire back of his shirt ruined. I took off my jacket and did the same. 

“I feel like shit. The first thing I thought when I saw you wasn’t about you, it was about Cole. I didn’t think ‘oh thank god Aria’s alive’, I thought ‘what if Cole is too? ’ and then you mentioned being brought in with another guy, and it could be him, and he could be alive. But if I get my hopes up and he isn’t, then it’s like I’m losing him all over again.”

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “Liam, I don’t know you as well as I should, so I’m not exactly the most qualified to comfort or give any advice. But I can tell you something about Cole if you want? It’s sort of all I really know at the moment.” 

“Okay then.”

“So when I first woke up, and I was trying to piece together the things I somehow knew with the things I didn’t, I kept hearing this voice in my head. Like things someone had once said to me, and whenever I got to the place similar to where they’d said it, it would be like I was there again… only I couldn’t quite tell who said it until I met them again.” I paused to laugh before continuing. “I kept hearing this one guy almost everywhere I went, and it had started to really annoy me because he kept saying the weirdest things and I had next to zero context. So I keep thinking ‘who the hell is this guy’? And then I meet you. For a second there, I think it’s you. And then you open your mouth and I think, nope, definitely less of an asshole than the guy I’ve been hearing.” 

This time when Liam laughed, it didn’t sound forced at all. “And what kind of things have you been hearing my brother say, exactly?” 

“I’m not going to give away everything, but, there was something to do with ‘If I lose one more game I might ‘accidentally’ set that pack of cards on fire.’”

“Sounds about right.” 

I leant back and pushed my hands into the dirt using the force of the kicking of my legs to propel myself onto my feet in a crouching position. A surprised look took over Liam’s face as he rolled to an upright position before standing. He seemed as confused as me. 

“I didn’t know I could do that.” I shrugged, rising from the squat. 

“I think I’m ready to go back inside now, you coming?” He held out a hand and I took it gratefully, letting him lead me back to the house.

Chapter Text

We met Chubs inside the house, and he told me to meet Ruby upstairs. I climbed them slowly and my hand tensed by my side, my fist clenched so hard my knuckles had turned white. At the top of the stairs there were three rooms, so I guessed the one in the middle and found Ruby sitting cross-legged on the bed by the window. As I joined her, I realised I was still covered in mud from sitting outside with Liam. 

“Don’t worry about it, today’s laundry day anyway,” she smiled at me and moved over to give me more room on the bed next to her. “So I’m going to warn you I’ve never done this before. I’ve only ever recovered the memories that I’ve erased myself, nothing like this.” 

“You’re not exactly filling me with confidence, but I’m willing to try anything at this point.” I watched her reach over and take my hand. 

And I watched my life unfold before my eyes.

Chapter Text

“Lee. Who is this? Why is she here? And why do you both look like you just waltzed out the gates of hell?” 

“Chubs - calm it, alright? She would’ve died.”

I stood in the middle of a forest, leaning on Liam for balance. Looking around, I spotted Zu and Chubs. He didn’t look happy and I realised I was meeting him for the first time. Before I could open my mouth, the scene disappeared and was replaced with a new one, this time an office. 

“Meditate on that, Mr High and Mighty. This child is here to stay.”

The words were out of my mouth before I even realised what I was saying. John Alban was sitting in front of me, with Cate and a Liam-lookalike that must have been Cole. As I walked out of the office, my surroundings morphed into something else. If the transition had been any faster it would’ve given me whiplash. 

“CHEAT!” Jude pushed the pile of cards in the middle towards Vida triumphantly and she took them, sighing. “That’s our fifth queen, you’re bluffing.”

“Fuck,” she cursed, rolling her eyes and adding them to her hand. 

The edges of my vision began to become clouded as I was transported into a new memory, but I wasn’t ready. I liked this one too much. In a failed attempt to stay, I reached out for Jude but he disappeared and I was left alone. This time, it wasn’t exactly a happy memory. 

Chubs laughed, wincing at the effort from it as paramedics surrounded him. “Yeah, Captain Obvious. No shit.”

I was torn from the memory almost as soon as he had finished speaking, coming to my senses in the middle of a badly-sung solo from Liam, barely having time to catch the words coming out of his mouth before I was somewhere else, and again, and again, each jump more significant than the last. 

“You did fucking shoot the man in the crotch not that long ago, he’s gotta want vengeance for that.”

“Move! Move! MOVE!”

“Us. A cure for the Psi.”

“We’re finally getting out of here.”

“She may be better than that. But I’m not.”

“That must be thank you in a language I don’t speak.”

“Killing him would be simpler.”

“Oh, Grannie. I can’t even.”

“Get your asses over here!”

“Hey yourself, darlin’.”

“Project Jamboree.”

“I’m sorry.”

My eyes burst open as I tried to catch my breath. The second I felt Ruby’s hand in mine I realised I was back to reality. Tears were streaming down my face and Ruby’s mouth was open in shock. I let go of her and brought my knees up to my chest, clenching my fists in my jacket. 

“Did it work?” 

I didn’t realise she’d asked the question more than once. “What?”

“Did it work?” She whispered, almost as if she was afraid I’d give the wrong answer. 

Before I replied, I ran through what I now knew.

1. My name is Aria Stacey.
2. I was in Black Rock, then a Leda Corp facility, then The Children’s League and the Ranch. 
3. After seven years, I have just found my friends again. 
4. Almost all of my friends. 

My mind drifted back to the happy memory at the League, with Vida, Nico and Jude. Jude. 

Jude. 

I choked his name out and Ruby wrapped her arms around me as I drowned in the freshly reopened wound of his death. I remembered telling him everything would be okay. How did I not know how wrong I was?

“Ruby?”

“Yeah?”

“It worked.”

“I know.” She whispered. “I know.”

~

I wasn’t exactly sure what to do. I had stood up, and I had come outside. And that was about as far as I had gotten. I needed some air, so I left. Unfortunately, I wasn’t entirely sure what to do after that. It had been ten minutes and all I had done was kick a tree stump (I now have a bruised foot) and rake my hands through my already greasy short hair. 

“So what’s up?” 

So focused on my own thoughts, I didn’t notice Vida arrive until she appeared next to me. She leant one shoulder against the side of the house and looked me up and down. 

“Not much. I’m only reliving every single best and worst moments of my entire life, no big deal or anything.” 

Vi laughed, rolling her eyes. “Definitely back to normal. Amnesia was not a good look on you.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think so either.” I managed a small smile. “What do we do now?”

“Well, for one thing, there’s a secret conversation going on inside the kitchen that you’re not supposed to know about, so I came to get you. Coming?” She cocked her head in the direction of the back door and I followed slowly, careful not to make any noise. 

Ruby and Chubs’ voices, however hushed, echoed through the house as everyone tried to listen. 

“Something’s not right.” 

“What do you mean something isn’t right? It worked, didn’t it?”

“Something was blocking me.” 

“Something? Or…”

“Someone. I could see everything as it came back— he wasn’t there.”

“What do you mean ‘he wasn’t there?’”

“I mean,” Ruby took a deep breath, “I mean… she remembered everything but Cole. There’s interaction, but nothing major, nothing important. There’s no training, there’s no… whatever they got up to when they were alone… there’s not even Sawtooth. It’s like she met him once, saw him around, and that’s it. There’s no emotion behind it. I think she’s blocking me, and doesn’t know it.” 

“Why? Does she not want to remember?” 

“Something tells me, no. She doesn’t. And she’s not even making that decision consciously.” 

“Selective amnesia could be a trauma response to what happened? Still, that's not good.”

“No, it’s not.” I walked into the room and leant against the fridge, my sudden entrance almost causing Chubs to jump three feet sideways into the island. Ruby carefully lowered her drink to the sideboard and took a deep breath. 

“How much of that did you overhear, I’m guessing by the look on your face most of it?” 

I nodded, folding my arms. “What can we do about it?” 

Chubs cut in, smoothing down his shirt and regaining composure. “Sorry, but for now it isn’t our top priority. According to the emergency message on that group chat, which I still refuse to be a part of, there’s a reason that Nico and Cate didn’t show. And it’s not good.” 

“What’s happening?” Vida reappeared, her eyes flitting back and forth between Chubs and Ruby. “Where are we going?”

“There’s been an attack on Cruz, and half of that sector’s been put on lockdown.” Chubs’ jacket flew into his hands from the hallway and he shrugged it on, barely flattening the collar. 

I dusted the mud off the back of me and pushed up the sleeves of my own jacket. “Right, what do you want me to do?”

Chapter Text

“Absolutely nothing. You’re staying here where you’re safe. You just got your memories back, how do you know if you can control your powers properly?” Chubs gave me a stern look but I folded my arms and met it with a sharp glare of my own. 

I reached out my hand and his keys flew into it, my fingers closing around them. “That proof enough for you?” By the time he had realised what had happened, I was already in the passenger seat of his car.

Sighing, Chubs leant on the side of the car, sticking his head through the window. “You didn’t want to drive?”

“Considering I don’t know where we’re actually going, it would be counter-productive.” I gestured to the driver’s seat. “Are you coming, or are you just going to give me disapproving looks for the next century?”

Before Chubs had a chance to give the sarcastic reply he was so clearly thinking of, Liam had slid past him and into the front seat next to me. “Come on Chubsicle, in the back.” 

“Right, who’s actually coming?” Vida got out her phone, ready to text Cate. 

“Me, you, Chubs, Liam.” I replied, reaching for the radio only to get swatted away by Liam as he adjusted it himself. Universal law.

“And me,” Ruby had appeared in the back seat while we were too busy bickering to notice. Ignoring the looks of surprise she received, it was clear that her decision wasn’t going to change. “Now what are we waiting for? Lee, drive.” 

~

“How the fuck are we supposed to get in if the place is on lockdown?” Vida slammed the car door shut behind her. 

None of the previous ideas had been good enough, so until we could come up with something better we found ourselves stuck just outside the affected part of the city. “With immense difficulty,” I replied, wandering the area looking for a good vantage point.

“Hey!” Liam waved us over, “I’ve got an idea… but you’re not going to like it...” He moved his foot to reveal a sewage access panel, and once he had lifted it up, a ladder underneath descended into pure darkness. 

Half of me instantly decided ‘oh hell no’, considering I’d had enough experience with long, dark, never-ending tunnels to last a lifetime. The other half of me? Cate and Nico were inside those walls, past that checkpoint, and they needed our help.

Sensing my uneasiness, Chubs stopped Liam from going in first. “Wait, I have a flashlight in the glove box.” 

“It’s the one I got you for christmas! The one that has the ability to blind people!” Vida cheered, causing me to let out a small chuckle. “Nobody look directly at it— I’m not kidding.” 

Chubs handed the flashlight to Liam, who waited until he was just below the access hole to turn it on. It instantly illuminated the tunnel, engulfing his lower body in light. Something small darted out of view and I momentarily considered whether or not it would have been better to not know what was down there. Ruby followed Liam, easing her way down the ladder and taking a few deep breaths before she disappeared, before moving out of the way to allow Chubs, Vida and I to follow suit. This time it was Vida’s turn to sense my hesitation, and she squeezed my shoulder lightly before starting to climb down. “I got you boo, do it for Cate and Nico.”

For Cate and Nico, I whispered to myself each time I found the next rung of the ladder beneath me. For Cate and Nico. Damn, the shit you do for family— am I right? I focused on the light coming from the flashlight in front and put one foot in front of the other. Inside my jacket pockets, my hands clenched into fists and relaxed repeatedly, unable to stay still. Since Jude’s death, I didn’t think I’d be able to enter a space like this again. The only thing that got me through it last time on the way to the Ranch was… what exactly did get me through it last time? 

The thought vanished upon contact with the outside world, as I emerged from yet another access hole onto an almost empty street. It was quiet. Too quiet. Unsure of what else to do, I broke the silence. “How much further?” 

Barely acknowledging my question, Chubs slowly turned around 360, looking at the area. “Something’s not right.” 

“We already know something’s not right, that’s why we’re here.” Vida sighed, kicking the cover back on the hole we’d come out of. 

“No— Chubs has a point, look.” Ruby took a few steps forward, just enough to see through a gap between two buildings. Things were definitely not okay. The dead giveaway? One, the couple dozen cop cars parked outside one tall building, their owners frantically making calls and sorting out weapons. Two, what appeared to be a walkway between said building and another smaller building, was on fire. 

“Maybe we should’ve brought backup…” Ruby trailed off, unsure of what to do next.

Vi sighed, cracking her knuckles. “Boo, we are the backup.” 

~

Thankfully, we were immediately able to make contact with Nico and Cate, who edged away from the scene to talk to us, laying out the situation. 

“There was supposed to be a big, important meeting today, but I was running late. It was scheduled for the morning, so once that was finished I planned to start the drive up to you.” Cate started, her face pale with the shock of the situation. “The moment I step out of the elevator I stop to check my watch, and that’s when I hear a massive bang outside. I rush to the window to see what it is, and the walkway is half-collapsed— one half hit the ground a good few stories below, and the other half still attached to the building. Straight away, I ran up to the meeting, but the door’s locked and even with my access code I can’t get in.” 

“That’s when she called me,” Nico cut in. “I was already at my laptop, and honestly my grandpa has better security than that lot—” 

“Nico, didn’t you build the firewall?” Vida raised an eyebrow.

“Built it with the sense to allow myself— and only myself— a way back in. But by the time I could unlock the door, everyone’s gone. So I checked the security footage, and there’s four people dressed in black escorting the eight board members out the fire escape and up onto the roof, where there’s no CCTV. The helicopter appeared and they all vanished into it. By the time everyone else had heard about the attack, it was too late. Gone.” He paused, sharing a look with Cate to allow us to absorb all of the information. She nodded, giving him permission to continue. “They took Cruz, and multiple members of the board in charge of children’s welfare for the new boarding school they’re trying to build. It’s not a camp masquerading as a school this time, it is actually a school. But that’s not even the worst part of it...” Nico trailed off, taking a deep breath before unlocking his tablet and revealing the security feed. 

“Holy shit…” 

“The four kidnappers, they were kids. But they weren’t just kids—” he zoomed in on the outfits they were wearing, black but with a red armband— “They were reds .”

Chapter Text

“Reds? How is that even possible? Project Jamboree was dissolved, and Aria blew up Sawtooth so that can’t be right.” Chubs tried to think the situation over with no luck, leaving him just as bewildered as everyone else.

“Shit,” Vida whistled. “That’s a curveball. What now?” 

Cate sighed, “Those kids have clearly been through the same treatment used in Jamboree, which means that they need help. These idiots are going to go in all guns blazing as soon as they find them, which means we have to act fast.” 

“What do you need us to do?” Liam’s shoulders were tensed, his arms crossed, and his mouth set in a thin line. He was thinking about his brother.

“Find them first, figure out who has reconstructed the charred remains of Project Jamboree, save the hostages and the kids. I’ll do damage control.” At that moment, her phone rang and Cate pulled it out of her pocket with a sigh. “Speaking of which… Look, if anyone can do this it’s you guys.” 

Chubs groaned, “We’re going to need backup, and we’re going to need to split into groups.”

Nico locked his tablet and shifted nervously from foot to foot. “You know where we have to go first.” 

Clancy Gray. 

~

“We’ve got to play this safe, okay? None of that ‘I’m gonna die anyway so screw it’ shit you pulled at Sawtooth alright?” Chubs nudged me as we walked towards Cate’s car. “You are not invincible.” 

“Honestly surprising, as all evidence points otherwise.” I shrugged back.

Chubs rolled his eyes, folding his arms as he spoke. “What evidence would that be?” 

“I’m not dead yet, am I? And I’d say that’s pretty impressive… all things considered.” 

He sighed and shook his head at me. “We need to sort out why there are still things you can’t remember. There could be something in there that could help us. Something about Sawtooth.”

“Maybe we just need to go back there? Jog my memory? Although, there is something about that I’ve been meaning to talk to you about… in private…” I cast a sideways look at Liam, who was walking just ahead with Ruby. Chubs caught on and nodded, mouthing the word ‘later’ as he gave my arm an encouraging squeeze.

Chubs shifted on his feet before raising his voice to talk to the rest of the group, “As much as I hate to bring her into this… we’re going to need Ruby if this involves Jamboree reds. That’s a fact.” 

Nico looked around hesitantly, lowering his voice as they got in the car. “Yes, the representatives were important but I think the real target was Cruz. If we can find her, then we can find the reds and who ordered the kidnapping.” 

I bit my lip, deep in thought. “What about the helicopter? Finding the owner of the helicopter might be a good starting point, then we can look at the information while on the way to Clancy’s before we split up and get reinforcements?” 

“I’ll try and track it, but we don’t have much to go on.” 

Chubs stared out the window, deep in thought as Liam started the engine. “Every time we think we’re in the clear, something else happens.” 

“Fucking sucks,” Vida muttered under her breath. 

I silently agreed. 

The journey was quiet. Apparently the first stop was Clancy’s house where he was supposed to be living with his mother, even though according to the others he hadn’t set foot in there for years. Even if Dr Gray did have information, I doubted it would be worth anything. I slipped my hand into my pocket and my fingers curled around something thin that wasn’t in there last time I checked. I wasn’t sure how it got there, but I pulled out the small, slightly charred, playing card and turned it over in my hands. When I glanced at Chubs he shifted in his seat and refused to meet my eyes, but he did at least place a hand over mine in what I assumed was reassurance, which was enough. 

Jack of hearts.  

It reminded me of something, but yet again I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It felt bittersweet, like it was supposed to be a happy memory but somehow wasn’t. I guess I’d know why if I could actually remember it, but that was another problem entirely. 

For now, I had bigger things to focus on. 

For now, I had to find Clancy Gray, find the Reds, and rescue Cruz. Then I could figure out what the hell I was still missing. 

I shrank back into my jacket and closed my eyes. Sure, I’d had seven years worth of sleep, but a nap or two wouldn’t hurt. Besides, an annoying voice in the back of my head told me sleep is a good thing to have. The voice sounded slightly like Liam, but not quite. It was the same voice I kept hearing in my memories back at the Ranch— his brother. Why the hell would Liam’s brother be nagging me about my sleeping habits? 

Ignoring the irritating feeling at the back of my mind, I drifted off into sleep. 

The playing card made a subtle appearance in my dreams.

Chapter Text

The car went over a bump— or down one, I’m not exactly sure— and that was enough to jolt me awake. Chubs stirred from where he’d managed to fall asleep against my shoulder, and Vida nudged us both a little more. “We’re almost there.” 

“We’re almost where?” I asked, wondering how much I’d slept through. 

“While you were asleep, the nerds calculated how long the helicopter would be able to fly for before it needed to refuel, and they obviously wouldn’t risk doing it at a public airspace, and there are three private places within range— we’re five minutes away from the first,” Vida explained. 

I nodded, “Okay. Are we splitting up or?” 

“Time is of the essence,” Chubs explained. “In most missing person cases, as another twenty-four hours passes, it reduces the chances of them being found alive. They wouldn’t have taken Cruz just to kill her, they’d have done it there. Since there’s a kidnapping involved, we can only assume they want something. Either those representatives have what they want, or someone that wants them back has it. We just have to figure out what they want.” 

“What could they want?” I asked. 

Liam shrugged, “We’ll figure it out eventually.”

We made our way into the first private airspace, and the man at the counter levelled us with a suspicious gaze as we walked in. His eyes fell on Ruby and he seemed to recognise her instantly. Liam stepped in front of her protectively and I could feel Vida tense up. Immediately I went on the offensive, automatically protective. He reached for something under the counter but with a flick of Chubs’ wrist he sailed back, the office chair moving of its own accord out of the way. 

“You. You’re her.” He stared at Ruby. “Stay the fuck away from me.” 

“Oh, relax. We’re not here for you,” Vida rolled her eyes, moving past him to look at the computer. “Nico? Work your magic.” 

His fingers raced over the keyboard for a few minutes before Nico looked up again, shaking his head. “Not here.” 

We moved towards the exit, and Ruby was the last before me to go through the door, watching the man from behind the counter. “You don’t know who I am,” she said after a moment, and his eyes glazed over. He frowned, blinked, and by the time he’d finished shaking his head, we were gone.

~

The second place was more guarded, and I was on edge the instant we got out of the car. My hand lingered on Vida’s shoulder as I waited for the others to get out of the car, long enough that I could feel the energy inside my veins. My other hand stayed inside my pocket, and although I was alert, it absent-mindedly turned the playing card over and over between my fingers. 

A flicker of movement caught my eye. 

I looked around, no one else seemed to have seen it. “I’m gonna look around,” I announced. “You guys go to the reception and check the logs and security feeds.” 

“You better be careful,” Vida warned, almost threateningly. Her expression softened a little. “I’ve lost you once before, and I’d rather not go through that again.” 

“I’ll be fine,” I brushed her off, although her words struck a chord. “I promise. It’s just a look around, no one will see me, if I need backup I’ll call for it, okay? I’m pretty good at being a ghost,” I winked. 

She rolled her eyes and sighed, as I jogged off in the direction I’d last seen something. 

A figure in a dark jacket was leaning against a wall, arms crossed and a cigarette in his mouth. He checked the time before joining the others, and I edged closer for a better look. I didn’t recognise anyone yet, so I looked around a little more. It could be nothing, and even if it was something, then that didn’t mean it was Cruz’ kidnappers. The man moved away, and I followed behind at a safe distance, watching. 

He neared a hangar and ducked inside, and almost far away I could hear the sound of an aircraft approaching, I looked around but couldn’t see it yet, which meant it had to be nearby somewhere. I crept closer, crouching under the window to see what was going on. I froze as soon as I saw inside. 

It was the helicopter. The helicopter. I was almost completely sure of it. I risked a glance back at where the others would be, and knew that if I didn’t go back soon then they’d probably come after me. Good, that was guaranteed backup. Especially considering I didn’t want to risk almost getting shot again. As a reflex to the thought, my hand ghosted over the scar on my side. Yeah, definitely didn’t want to come close to that happening again. 

But someone had those representatives, and whatever was happening, we still had to get them back. It was so close to being Cate that got taken, and if that happened I would’ve been prepared to do whatever it took. Vida would say something similar. Despite all the potential dangers, I went in anyway. 

As it turned out, the pilot had only gone inside to change his jacket before disappearing out a back exit. I edged towards the helicopter, but wasn’t exactly expecting to find anything since the door had been left open. Still, that didn’t stop me from darting across the hangar towards it, and looking around once I got close enough. There didn’t seem to be anyone inside, so I took a look around. 

Nothing. No clues, no indication anyone had been there. Nothing.

The only lead was the pilot. 

I was about to jump out of the helicopter and move to follow him, when I felt the unmistakable heat that came with being close to a large fire. Not wanting a repeat of the Leda Corp incident, I went to investigate. The entire back wall of the hangar, the furthest one from any of the planes, was ablaze. Standing in front of it was a man in a dark jacket, with a red band across his arm. 

“Now where do you think you’re going?”

Chapter Text

I watched the flames dancing. After everything I had been through, everything I had seen, being trapped in this fire no longer scared me. The figure in the center of the chaos turned around to face me, and I felt like I had been stabbed, someone slowly twisting the dagger more and more with every detail I took in. 

I felt time slide out from under me as I looked into the eyes of the person I thought I would never see again. Even though his hair had been buzzed short, making it a shade darker than the blonde I knew it was I still recognised him instantly. How could I forget? How could I have possibly forgotten him?

“Cole?” 

It took everything I had, every ounce of self-restraint to not rush towards him through the blaze. I stood there, held in place by fear. His eyes had always had a little bit of cold in them, but now… now they were like ice, like frosted glass. The blue I once knew, the shining eyes of the boy I loved had been replaced by dark stone. Almost— almost like he wasn’t in there anymore .

I fought against the flames, the only weapon I had telekinesis, as I tried to reach him. 

“Cole!” I tried him again, just trying to get him to look at me.

The corner of his mouth turned up in a smile. But it wasn’t the smile I knew.

I reached for his arm, my hands closing around it, refusing to leave even as his hot skin burnt them before I had a chance to absorb the fire. He had a scar on the side of his neck, the ghost of a handprint, pale against his skin. He pushed me away, swatting— no, throwing me from him. My arm cracked against the wall and I struggled to not howl in pain. I tried to access the telekinesis inside of me to move the rubble but it was gone, replaced by the fire that I used to welcome. The same fire that now felt like a stranger. Dredging up memories I had tried to bury, I called on the flames. It had been so long, yet it still felt like second nature to use them as my own. 

The fire around us extinguished, and I was left bracing myself against the wall for support after manually pushing the pieces of plaster and wall casing from where they had landed on top of me. Clutching my hand to my chest, I took another slow but steady step forward.

“I know you can hear me. I know you’re in there. Look at me.”

If this were the movies, he would’ve come running and swept me up in his arms, kissing me until the credits started to roll.

But this isn’t the movies.

He didn’t recognise me.

The fire raged again, flames bursting out of nowhere and I was powerless to stop them, too in shock. I just about had time to throw myself out of the way as part of the ceiling collapsed, and the fire was getting dangerously close to the fuelled-up helicopter. I had to move him away or we’d be in big trouble. 

Picking myself up, I tried again. I may be immune to the fire, but I wasn’t immune to the heat or rising smoke that it caused and my eyes burned as I tried to get closer to catch his attention. 

“Hey!” I yelled.

“You don’t quit, do you?” He laughed. “Resilience or stubbornness?” 

“Definitely stubbornness. If you remembered me, you’d know that,” I shot back. “Let me guess, Clancy Gray is behind this?” That name caught his attention, and he quirked an eyebrow as we circled each other. “Oh, now you’ll listen to me? Okay.” I rolled up my sleeves. “Tell Clancy that his favourite little ghost is back in play. Oh, and that she’s royally pissed. He’ll know exactly what I mean.” 

Cole scoffed, “Do I look like a messenger pigeon?” 

“Trust me, he’ll want to know I’m still kicking, if he doesn’t already,” I replied as I drew ever-closer. “You probably don’t remember this, but we used to train together? Yeah.” 

“Oh, did we now?” He smirked.

“Yeah,” I lunged at him, but he ducked the blow with ease. I hadn’t taken into account the fact that my muscles were almost gone from disuse, so I didn’t have the strength that I used to. There wasn’t ever really that much strength, but it was enough to hold my own. I had to be evasive instead. I dodged his fist when he ignored the fire and came at me in hand-to-hand instead, testing my skills. 

I practically ended up thrown into a cabinet, and in my haste to stand up I noticed the playing card, the jack of hearts, had fallen out of my pocket. An idea steadily forming, I led him towards the office that was miraculously still mostly intact. Darting inside, I fumbled around for a pen and by the time I grabbed one, he was already at the door. At the same time as he set fire to one of the cabinets— blocking the window, the only other escape— I got the pen to work and scribbled onto the face side of the card. 

Find me.

Pocketing it again as he reached where I was, I slid through his legs and out the other side, kicking his knee from behind as I scrambled out of his way. He rolled his eyes. “I have shit to do, you know. Quit wasting my time.” 

I grinned, running towards him and using all my energy to knock him over, sliding the card into his inside jacket pocket as I did so. Please work, please work. Cole pulled himself to his feet and grabbed me by the collar, lifting me off the ground ever so slightly. He frowned when he realised that despite being bruised and bloody, I still had a smirk on my face. Instead of speaking, I pointed upwards where one of the ceiling lights was on its last legs, seconds away from falling. He let go of me and I stumbled backwards as he moved out of the way, and if I hadn’t felt the warm tingling of telekinesis pulling me backwards then I might have been crushed.

Liam’s arms were warm around me as my legs gave way, and I coughed, trying to suck clean air into my lungs. Vida was on me in an instant.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” She yelled, “I specifically told you not to—” 

The building behind us started to collapse and her, Chubs, and Liam barely had time to combine their telekinesis for a makeshift shield so we avoided the worst of the blast. I was still clutching my wrist to my chest as Liam held me up, my other hand completely curled into his shirt for extra support as Chubs instantly turned to assess my injuries. 

“It’s definitely Clancy. Clancy Gray is behind this,” I spluttered, and Vida’s expression turned cold. 

“I knew it.” 

“There’s more,” I whispered, already lightheaded. “I remember everything.” 

Liam frowned, “I thought you already got your memories back?” 

“Not quite. Now I remember everything,” I looked dead at Ruby and her eyes widened. 

“How?” 

“Cole’s alive. And he’s part of Jamboree 2.0.” 

Find me, Cole. Find me.

Chapter Text

“Stop driving over potholes!” Chubs complained, attending to a small wound on the side of my head as Liam tried to follow the helicopter, which was just above the clouds and only appeared every now and then. Vida was hanging out of the window and giving him instructions on which way to turn. 

“Always the backseat driver,” Liam tutted, swerving to make a turn as the helicopter tried to lose us. His hands were clenched around the steering wheel and his expression was nothing but determined. 

It was good to know we were on the same page. 

Cole was alive, and we had to find him.

“I’m trying not to blind our good friend Aria here!” Chubs shot back, pulling on the thread that was sticking out of my temple as I winced. “Sorry,” he said slightly more gently, before trying to stitch the cut again. “You know this would be easier if we were stationary.” 

“Do what you have to do,” I muttered, hands fisted in the fabric of my shirt. “I could be blinded for all I care, we just have to find Clancy and Cole. I did not save his ass from Jamboree just for him to get pulled back there.” 

“You saved his ass from Jamboree because you’re in love with him,” Ruby pointed out. 

I brushed her off. “We don’t have time to unpack all that.”

She wasn’t wrong. I had a headache and it wasn’t just from the fact that Chubs was literally stitching up the side of my head. Everytime I closed my eyes at a new spark of pain, memories sparked in my mind. Everything I’d managed to suppress about Cole— according to Chubs it was an attempt to spare myself from more loss— was coming back in fits and starts, and what I hadn’t remembered during the fight, the little things, were all I could think about. 

“You need more power,” Cole explained, adjusting my fighting stance just a little. I rolled my eyes, ignoring how the lack of heating in the training room sent goosebumps along my bare arms. To combat the cold, I adjusted the position myself— not in the way he’d directed— and let him correct me again, this time by putting his hand around my wrist to move it into the right place. 

I smirked as I felt the familiar fire coursing through my veins. “I have plenty of power, Stewart,” I replied cockily. 

He rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “I know what you’re doing. But we’re focusing on physical power, not mental. This ain’t about all that fancy PSI shit. This is just you, and you're on your own. What happens if you’re in contact with a green and don’t have any fire, electricity, or telekinesis?” It was a rhetorical question as Cole circled around me, and I knew if I opened my mouth to even try an answer he’d cut me off anyway. 

“I fight my way out,” I ended up replying, and he nodded in approval. 

“Exactly.” He brought his fist up and I blocked it as we started to circle each other. “You’re good, but you need to shift your weight when you throw your punches, come at me with more energy.” I nodded, watching him carefully for any cue to hint at his next move. 

When one didn’t come, I made one myself. He dodged it, but grinned, assessing it as he did so. Cole’s next attack was so quick I almost didn’t see it coming, but I ducked, catching his arm and trapping it to hold it out of the way. “I’m a fast learner,” I added, before I pushed him away from me and we continued. 

“Believe me, darlin’, I can tell.”

The trees became a blur as Liam sped up, muttering under his breath as the car complained. He changed gears and pushed the gas harder, leaning forwards a little over the steering wheel to get a better look at the chopper. “It’s rising, we’re gonna lose him— them, we’re gonna lose them!” He corrected himself at the last minute but we were all already thinking the same thing. 

Losing Cole again would break him.

I was all-too-familiar with the feeling. 

“Can we bring it down somehow?” I asked, trying to think of a solution. 

“Not without damaging it.” Chubs shook his head, “It’s too risky.”

Vida hesitated, looking between Chubs and Ruby. “Leap frog?” 

“Leapfrog?” Nico asked in confusion.

“Fake East River,” she elaborated. “Crossing the ice? Telekinesis, come on guys.” 

Ruby frowned at her. “No way, it’s too dangerous. You can’t seriously be suggesting that.” 

“What other choice do we have?” 

“What the fuck do you mean by leapfrog?” I asked in confusion. “What am I missing?” 

Vida sighed, “It’s like using our abilities to levitate each other up, it started as leapfrog to get over the ice but then we figured out that in the right situation… If you’ve got enough people, that shit’s like flying.”

“Yes!” I nodded. “Let’s do it.” 

“No way! Absolutely not. There’s a million reasons why I don’t condone this,” Chubs shook his head vehemently. “No way. I won’t let you.” 

“It doesn’t matter,” Liam swerved the car off the road and pulled over on the grassy verge. He jumped out, following the action with a slam of the car door before he walked off, hands braced behind the back of his head. “We lost them.” 

The rest of the car fell silent, sharing concerned looks. Ruby reached for the passenger door handle but I shook my head, doing the same in the back. “Can I go first? I’m making up for lost time.”

She nodded. “We’ll think of something. While you two are talking, we’ll figure out a plan.” 

“A plan that preferably doesn’t get us killed,” Chubs added, and Vida swatted him lightly in the arm. 

Taking a deep breath, I got out of the car and made my way towards Liam. “Lee?” 

“You doing damage control or is this a pep talk?” He mused, shoving his hands into his pockets. He didn’t make eye contact, instead choosing to look out along the horizon in the direction the helicopter had disappeared in. 

“Can’t it be both?” I joked, stopping once I was shoulder-to-shoulder with him. 

“He’s alive,” his voice came out almost like a whisper. “He’s been alive this entire time… we stopped looking, but he was out there. What if we were close to finding him, and we just stopped?” Liam took one of his hands out of his pockets and ran it through his hair, closing his eyes for a second while he took a breath. “I shouldn’t have stopped looking. For either of you.” 

“Hey, don’t do that,” I shook my head, brows pulling tight into a frown. “Don’t beat yourself up over this. You couldn’t have known. But you’re looking at this the wrong way, trust me. Cole’s alive, and we have to find him, and we’re going to find him. Saving Cruz is just an added bonus.” I ignored his sceptical raised eyebrow and continued. “We have a lead. Now that Cole’s involved, we have a lead. If we can’t find where he is now, then we can try and find where he’s been. Luckily enough, I’m familiar with his last known whereabouts.”

Chapter Text

Because nothing in life comes easy, and America is unfortunately large, we couldn’t make the whole journey to the hospital as quickly as we’d have liked to. That left us in a pretty unfortunate situation in an even more unfortunate place. 

The situation being having to stay the night.

The place being the Ranch.

No one said a word as we went in, but I ignored my old room and instead made a beeline for Cole’s. Still hanging on the back of the chair was the jacket I’d worn during the Sawtooth rescue, the one I’d ditched to swap out with Cole’s before I left to find Chubs. A few days at most, but it felt like forever ago. Everything felt like so long ago, everything other than the airfield and Cole.

I laid down on the bed, ready to fall asleep, but something was digging into my side uncomfortably. I sat back up and pulled out the pack of cards, turning it over in my hands. I knew exactly what it was, and I knew it was missing a jack of hearts. Still, I pulled out the cards and started to shuffle them, images of Cole being annoyingly good at throwing cards almost on a slideshow in the back of my mind. 

A knock at the door dragged me out of my thoughts. 

Ruby.

Quietly, she sat down next to me, crossing her legs and looking at the cards. “Room for one more?” 

“Two, actually,” Nico hovered in the doorway. 

I nodded, and despite the circumstances I felt a small smile grace my lips. I dealt out the cards almost evenly, and when Vi poked her head around the door a few rounds later I re-dealt them for the four of us. Just like old times, even though we were missing someone. Still, even though there was an empty place where Jude should have been, and seven empty years where I should’ve been… it felt like home, because I was with my family again. 

The only thing left was to bring Cole back with us.

~

“This is it?” Vida looked the hospital up and down as she leant against the car. “This is where Sleeping Beauty spent her seven year slumber? Wow, I thought you had standards, boo.” 

I rolled my eyes, trying not to laugh. “Yeah, I was real pissed about the state of it,” I replied sarcastically. “Even though I was unconscious, I was very disappointed in the customer service.” 

“Can we focus?” Chubs nudged the both of us, trying to stay on task while hiding the fact that he’d definitely clearly missed the moments like this. 

“Go over the plan once more?” Liam prompted, locking up the car and looking around.

Ruby nodded. “We go in, we get access to the files, and we find out who signed Aria and Cole in, and who signed Cole back out. Then we use that to figure out where to go next. See you in ten?” 

“Twenty, maximum,” Chubs warned. “Or we’re coming in after you.” 

Ruby looked nervously up at the hospital, trying not to show how uneasy she was at the prospect of going in. “We’ll be fine.” At Liam’s concerned look, she added: “I’ll be fine.” 

I shook my head. “Switcheroo, let’s go.” 

“What? Absolutely not,” she folded her arms. “You checked yourself out of this place, if you go in people might recognise you.” 

I quirked an eyebrow slightly, cocking my head to one side. “I’m a ghost, remember? Besides, you’re way more likely to be recognised. Do we have a deal?” I held out my hand.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” she warned, shaking it. 

“Relax, I know why we’re here,” I reminded her. “I’m not going to fuck this up.” 

Ruby shook her head again. “Not what I mean, Aria.” 

“I won’t do anything dangerous,” I promised. “Nico, Vi and I will be in and out, I swear.” 

Vida nodded her head at the entrance. “I’m not letting these two out of my sight.” She pulled out her earbuds and put one in, passing the other to Liam before calling Chubs’ phone. “Group A, inside, left earbud check.” He nodded, and she continued. “Boy Scout, you’re up.”

“Group B, perimeter, right earbud check.” 

Chubs nodded again, speaking into the phone. “Main comms, getaway car, phone check.” 

“Loud and clear, Charlie Boy,” Vida confirmed. 

“I read you, Chuckles,” Liam shot him a thumbs up.

It’s nice to see that some things never change.

“Didn’t think I’d be back here so soon,” I laughed, pushing open the front doors and walking towards the reception desk. 

Nico glanced at me cautiously. “Still time to back out, we can find another way to do this.” 

“We’re already inside,” I shrugged. “And I’m all in.” I stopped when I got to the front desk, and Vida looked around to note where all the cameras were. “Hi, how are you?” I feigned warmth as I leant against the counter, propping my head up on one hand. 

The lady at the desk didn’t seem to appreciate my efforts. “Name?” 

“Not important,” I brushed her off. “Could my friend here use your computer for a minute or two?” 

“No.”

Okay, so I was a little rusty on my use of Ruby’s abilities. Take two, anybody? 

“Sorry, I might not have phrased that well enough,” I looked into her eyes, taking a deep breath as I focused myself and felt myself slipping into her mind, working my way through until I’d formed a good enough connection. “Could my friend please borrow your computer, and all the access it provides?” I flashed her a grin. 

The lady stepped aside and I hopped over the counter, opening the little door to let Nico walk through since he didn’t seem inclined to take the same route that I did. As soon as the receptionist vacated her seat, he slid into it and plugged a thumb drive into the computer, fingers flying across the keys as he searched for the information we needed. 

“You’re a Jane Doe,” he thought out loud. “No record of your existence, so you’re a little hard to find.” 

“Thanks, I try,” I joked. 

He replied flatly without looking up. “In this case, it’s not a compliment.” 

“Okay then,” I refused to be offended, leaning over his shoulder. “Well they’re going to have organ transplant procedure records, right?”

He froze. “You had an organ transplant?” 

“Apparently. That should help us find me, right?” 

Nico finally brought his eyes away from the computer screen. “Are you on any medication?” 

“No, should I be?” 

“Yes,” he spluttered, opening a new window on the computer and typing frantically. “New priority, check what the fuck they did to you to make sure you don’t die again.” 

“What?! What the hell are you talking about?” I skimmed through the words on the screen but he was typing and searching and flicking between things faster than I could follow. “Jesus, Nico slow down.”

“No.” Nico replied bluntly. “Can you be quiet for a minute?” 

“Why?” I pulled a face at him. “Am I distracting you?” 

“Yes.” He pulled out a pair of large headphones and slipped them on. “Give me a minute, that’s all I need.”

After that, he was basically unreachable. I rolled my eyes and sighed, leaning back against the counter. A glance across the reception area and Vida nodded at me to check in, eyes flicking from Nico and back to me as she frowned. I shook my head subtly, hoping that was enough to tell her we were okay, but we weren’t finished yet. She tapped her watch as a reminder and I raised an unimpressed eyebrow in return. Vida pulled a face and shrugged, before going back to watching the door that led to the rest of the hospital, keeping an ear out for the buzzer that signalled one of the doctors was coming out. 

As long as we avoided them, we’d be fine. 

Easier said than done, considering we were already in a hospital. 

With a final overdramatic and heavily unnecessary press of the enter key, Nico finished. He waved me over and I peered over his shoulder. “You got lucky. Since you didn’t exist and were seemingly out for the count, you’re part of the trial program that transplanted bone marrow as well as the necessary organs. Your immune system is basically a mixture of yours and whoever those lungs used to belong to. So no anti-rejection drugs. But that was apparently delayed, which means there was a period of time where you were on anti-rejection drugs before the bone marrow transplant. A side effect of those is memory loss, by the way. On another note, I found the record of it, which means I’ve found you in the system.” 

I blinked. That was a hell of a lot of information to take in all at once. “Well, shit.” 

“I’m going to assume that’s a positive ‘shit’, considering this is good news.” Nico minimised the window and pulled up the file on me, with a very unflattering post-operation photo. I winced, and he rolled his eyes, slipping the headphones from half on-half off, to just around his neck. “You were first logged on February 24th, 2018. Three other ‘John Doe’s arrived that day. One was identified later on, the second died in house, and the third…” He clicked on the file. “Disappeared on the same day he arrived. Defining features: hand-shaped burn scar? What the hell did they do to him at Sawtooth? Other than making it look like he’d been… well… you know.”

I swallowed thickly, refusing to meet his eyes. “That’s mine, actually. Apparently I saved his life.” 

He didn’t seem to know what to say after that. “Well done. The person who checked him out was a 'family friend', according to this. Although why they let him go is beyond me. It doesn’t have a destination, but it’s got a name?” 

“Okay, who is it? Who picked him up?” 

“Someone called Michelle. Michelle Grace. I should be able to find her.” 

I froze, staring at the name on the screen as it triggered more information to come to the forefront of my mind.

Michelle.

Red.

Leda Corp.