Witness: See Series (Volume 1)(31)

I thought over the moment that I did that. At the time, it seemed insignificant. “I was trying to see faster, figure out how I used to do it...for all I knew, what I did was normal.”

Madison and Aden both seemed to become nervous at once, and the tension rose in the room.

“Not normal?” I asked quietly.

“No,” Madison mumbled. “At least, it never was before.”

“But you’re doing it, so it can’t be bad – right?” I asked.

Aden stared at Madison and waited for her to finally answer me.

“Um…” Madison tried to smile and look calm – to hide what she really knew from me. Sadly, it was working; I was too confused to focus and try to see her. “We learned the other way: remembering a place we’d seen or had been, then going there. We didn’t figure out how to move through memories until we watched Draven do it,” Madison answered

“Who taught him?”

“No one,” Aden said somberly. “He’s stumbling on new aspects to our gift every day. That dream world that he goes to gives him confidence – makes him fearless.”

“And he found this world when he created that song? He found Britian and Bianca there?” I asked.

Madison threw an angry glare at Aden, who threw up his hands defensively. “She guessed. She’s not an idiot; she just came to an obvious conclusion.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I said in a desperate whisper as I looked at Madison.

The remorse in my voice caught Monroe’s attention. She looked up at me, then moved closer as if she wanted to comfort me; however, she hesitated and fell back into her unapproachable Goth mode. I was starting to see that the look she had was an act…she was a scared little girl, but she didn’t want anyone else to know that.

Madison looked down at her sketch again. “I didn’t want you to worry about it…Draven doesn’t go there for her – he goes there to end whatever this is, to find peace for us. Every time I’ve followed him there, the most powerful emotion he has is the love he has for you. He uses it as a weapon.”

“I’m going there – now. Show me,” I said as I raised up on my knees.

“No,” Madison said, pulling me down. “Just wait. If you get Draven to show you how, it’ll be easier. We had to watch him for days for him to slip and let us see him. He’ll let you in.”

“Did he not want you there? How does that song have anything to do with it?”

“He just didn’t understand it…he thought he was going mad at first,” Aden explained.

“But he didn’t bother to tell me that. What makes you think he’ll show me how to go there? Why do you think he’ll let me in?” I argued as I stood and prepared to make them show me.

All of them seemed to grow tense at once, then I heard, “Because I love you.”

My heart began to hammer in my chest, and my skin flushed. I turned to see Draven at the top of the stairs. “Because I’m you...you’re me…we are one,” he said as his somber eyes carefully moved over my face.

I slowly walked to him, holding his gaze. I tried to see him, but the only thing he was showing me was how much he loved me, all of the moments we were alone together. He reached his arms for me as he stepped forward, and I let myself fall into his embrace and reached to pull his shoulders down to me.

“Promise,” I whispered in the nape his neck.

His arms tightened around me, and his warm lips touched my neck as he whispered, “Promise.”

I heard someone clear their throat behind him so I pulled away to see who it was. I assumed it was Grayson. He looked a lot like Winston, only he was older, stronger, and had a sense of leadership that lingered around him. His long, dark hair enhanced his dark eyes, which seemed humble and kind - unlike his younger brother.

Draven nodded toward him. “This is Grayson. This is my Charlie.”

Grayson nodded and smiled slightly, then looked around me at Monroe. She had stood, and her eyes were smiling.

“She seems happy,” he said to me as a relived smile came across his face.

“She’s sweet. She gets me,” I said quietly.

Grayson’s smile fell as he stepped a little closer. “Listen,” he said gently. “She doesn’t speak…she…she’s just been through a lot, so she’s timid. She’s a good girl, though.”

I looked over my shoulder at Monroe with questioning eyes. Was it possible that I was the only one that heard her voice? It was clear that she loved her brother; she seemed to glow when he walked into the room. She held a serious expression, but her eyes were asking me to hold her trust.

“Monroe fits in perfectly around here. We’ll keep her happy,” I mumbled.

Grayson walked past me to her side and hugged her. He whispered something in her ear, and she nodded in response and smiled slightly. Then they stared at each other…I was almost certain she was ‘seeing’ him and he was ‘seeing’ her. It was kinda sweet to watch; words were a waste of time if you could just show someone your day.

I felt Draven lean into me. “Can I stay with you tonight?” he whispered against my skin.

I pulled his arm around me as I leaned back against him, telling him yes without saying a single word.

“Dad is downstairs if you want to go home,” Draven said to Aden.