08-15-2015, 12:57 PM
Aria pulled up the images from the cameras and soon they were looking at an SUV pulling up to the place. And then he could hear the catch in Nox's throat as a young girl came into view. Connor watched Nox out of the corner of his eye. They didn't look similar at all but of course that meant nothing. Blood meant nothing. If you lived with someone their entire life, they were family. They were a part of you. End of story. And it was clear from seeing his sister's face that Nox had a bond with her that was his world.
And now she was missing. Had been missing for two weeks, it looked like. Two weeks with no communication. In this day and age, with communication as instantaneous as it was, the thought was alien. He could understand the fear and dread that would envelop Nox- and the realization that you hadn't even noticed that you had not talked in weeks.
A memory came to him. He was 13, laying in bed reading "Great Expectations" for school. Dad had come upstairs to tell him bye. He was going to a friend's for the weekend. Connor was grounded for some thing or other. But Dad told him that for the weekend he could be off grounding. "Thanks Dad. See you when you get back." was all he said. The words seemed hollow. He heard dad head back down the stairs and he ran down and stood at the landing. "Thank you, Dad. Have a good time." He looked at his dad, who smiled at him as he picked up his bag. A part of him wanted to give him a hug. But he was 13. Too old for that kind of thing. So he just smiled and watched him go.
The last time he ever saw him alive. Walk out that door and out of his life. Killed in an accident heading home early on Saturday night. He had wanted to surprise them.
Connor took good-bye's seriously. He followed his gut and told people how he felt, no matter how stupid or sappy it looked. It drove everything he did from that day forward. He had to. He lived with the memory of that day, 32 years ago.
He put his hand on Nox's shoulder.
The door knocked and Nox went and got it. It was Ayden. He was glad to see her. It seemed a perfect time. He took her hand. "Thanks for coming babe."
He didn't kiss her though. Given what Aria was going through- the death of Lucas- he didn't want to exacerbate the situation for her.
"Ayden, this is Aria. I've told you about her. She....helped me understand what happened to Hayden."
The words seemed so trite and ephemeral. Know one could know or comprehend what that night had meant to him. Peace. Redemption. Forgiveness. Life. His heart belonged to the goddess next to him. But he had a debt to Aria.
And now she was missing. Had been missing for two weeks, it looked like. Two weeks with no communication. In this day and age, with communication as instantaneous as it was, the thought was alien. He could understand the fear and dread that would envelop Nox- and the realization that you hadn't even noticed that you had not talked in weeks.
A memory came to him. He was 13, laying in bed reading "Great Expectations" for school. Dad had come upstairs to tell him bye. He was going to a friend's for the weekend. Connor was grounded for some thing or other. But Dad told him that for the weekend he could be off grounding. "Thanks Dad. See you when you get back." was all he said. The words seemed hollow. He heard dad head back down the stairs and he ran down and stood at the landing. "Thank you, Dad. Have a good time." He looked at his dad, who smiled at him as he picked up his bag. A part of him wanted to give him a hug. But he was 13. Too old for that kind of thing. So he just smiled and watched him go.
The last time he ever saw him alive. Walk out that door and out of his life. Killed in an accident heading home early on Saturday night. He had wanted to surprise them.
Connor took good-bye's seriously. He followed his gut and told people how he felt, no matter how stupid or sappy it looked. It drove everything he did from that day forward. He had to. He lived with the memory of that day, 32 years ago.
He put his hand on Nox's shoulder.
The door knocked and Nox went and got it. It was Ayden. He was glad to see her. It seemed a perfect time. He took her hand. "Thanks for coming babe."
He didn't kiss her though. Given what Aria was going through- the death of Lucas- he didn't want to exacerbate the situation for her.
"Ayden, this is Aria. I've told you about her. She....helped me understand what happened to Hayden."
The words seemed so trite and ephemeral. Know one could know or comprehend what that night had meant to him. Peace. Redemption. Forgiveness. Life. His heart belonged to the goddess next to him. But he had a debt to Aria.