Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Aron

"I want to go home." Soren begged.

We were at the airport, I had him handcuffed to my wrist. He was coming with me to find Stella. I knew that he knew where she was, he just wasn't willing to tell me. He will though, eventually.
I had a single suitcase for the two of us to share. It only contained a few things like a credit card and a light jacket, the jacket was for me, not Soren. I had bought him another coat back in Salt Lake, I felt bad about ruining his old coat and ripping off his wings. He should've said something like, hey man you're ripping off my wings stop punching me. Would that have been so hard for him to do?

"I want to go to the moon." I said. "But it's not happening sweetheart. It's time you accept that and tell me where she is."

"I already told you." Soren begged. "I don't know."

I rolled my eyes and pulled him along. Our flight number had been called and we were heading to Florida.
Strange activities had been reported in the Bermuda Triangle, so why not check it out and see if Stella is there?

"Your crazy." Soren said. "Going off to the Bermuda Triangle."

"Are you judging me?" I asked.

"It's a hobby of mine." Soren snapped. "It's what I do."

"I would like to confirm that I don't care about you." I said. "You are insane."

"I know." Soren laughed. "Isn't it great?"

I pulled him along. Why did I not bring duck tape? That was a stupid decision on my part. Now I got to listen to him yammer on and on for ten hours on this plane ride. Heaven help me now. We walked past the metal detectors, no alarms went off thanks to the plastic handcuffs I bought. I held Soren's hand past security so the police wouldn't see the handcuff. Before I threatened him enough so he wouldn't speak and get us both arrested.
I held his hand pulling him along through the airport to the loading dock. We sat in the soft chairs by the entrance.

"You're not going to get away with this." Soren threatened me. "You can't keep me hostage forever."

"Oh really?" I asked. "Wanna beat on that?"

"I will get away." Soren told me.

I raised my eyebrow. "How?"

"With this smile." Soren said. "I could get away with murder."

"Try to get away and I will find you then I will skin you."

"Not if you can't remember me."

What the freak was the talking about? Why do I even try to communicate with him? It always ends like this, his stupid riddles that make no sense. Why can't he just be a good little hostage and sit quietly and tell me where my little sister is? I hate him.

"Soon you will forget what color my eyes are." Soren said. "In exchange for that I shall forget yours."

Soren is a user of words to confuse my brain space. He tries his best to talk his way out of situations because he can not fight. Seriously, the guy is like a week little rabbit and I'm the nightly hawk ready to feast upon a bunny. Soren is also super skinny too, it's like he has never tasted food in his life everything I feed him, with water he is even worst.
I grab a piece of a candy bar out of our carry on and take a bite out of the corner. Soren stares at it with his intense big eyes. I swear he has mastered the puppy dog eyes. Then he looks at me with his sad big blue eye, begging for food. I groan and break the bar in half and give a piece to him.
He eats the bar so fast it didn't even have time to melt in his fingers. I give him out bottle of water. He chugs the whole thing. This guy is like a good eating machine.

"Seriously." I say when he hands me back the bottle of water. "That was all our water."

"I'm thirsty." Soren said. "I haven't had water for a good day and a half."

"I feed you and give you water quite often." I argue. "Like everyday."

"No you don't." Soren raised his voice. "You feed yourself and leave me starving in the back seat of the car."

"Drama queen."

"Potato butt."

Wow, real mature. I don't know what Soren's deal is with his use of swear words, he just makes up new ones. They are kinda funny, but when he explains them to you, they are just mean. The speakers turn on calling our flight number. I push him off the chair and grab his hand, hiding the cuff. Then I drag him over to the entrance. The flight attendant scans our tickets and tells us where we need to find our seats.

"I have to pee." Soren tells me.

"Well then hold it." I tell him.

"I can't."

"You should have told me before we got on the plane."

"But I really gotta go!" Soren begs me.

"Your problem."

"If I don't go then it will be both of our problems." He threatens me.

"Fine then." I says.

"You leave me no choice." Soren threatens.

He gives me a hard look and then yells at the top of his voice:

"Is guy has a bomb in his suitcase!"

My eyes widen with surprise, I think they almost popped out of my skull.

"Soren what are you doing?" I say.

He lets go of my hand and raises his arm into the air.

"Look he even handcuffed me to be his hostage! We are all gonna die!"

"Great greta Soren!" I yell at him.

What was he doing? Now we would both get arrested and he won't ever get a chance to go to the bathroom and we will miss our flight. I was hoping no one heard him, but deep down I knew someone did and security would be on their way any second.

"Soren." I snapped at him. "Why?"

"When you gotta go, you gotta go." Soren winked at me. "Over here officers!" He called. "Bomb is over here!"

I slapped my hand onto my face. We were done, I was never going to find my sister. The police people came and grabbed us, they took us to a prison room. They shoved us both into a tiny cell and locked the door. I ran to the bars to try and shake them apart, but nothing worked. I was going to kill Soren.

"Can I pee now?" Soren asked. "If you could just undo the handcuffs."

"The key is in the suitcase diploid." I snapped.

"Well I still gotta go." Soren said.

"Hold it." I said. "You are not going with me handcuffed to you."

I banged my head against the bars. Soren is killing me right now, metaphorically speaking. Who am I kidding, he is probably killing me in real life too. Just make a headstone that says 'it was all Soren's fault' and I will be happy with my death.

"Officer!" Soren yelled. "This man won't let me pee!"

"What is the problem?" The officer walks over to our cell.

"Handcuffed and I gotta use the little boys thing." Soren says. "Please make him uncuff me!"

"Sir those are kiddy handcuffs." The officer points out.

"What?" Soren gasps, he clicks the side and the cuffs pop off. "I could have done that ages ago."

"Holy cow!" I groan. "Shut up and do your business!"

Soren sticks his you give out at me and skips off to the urinal in the corner.
I am going to kick him into next week. That is what I have had to deal with for the past months on my search for Stella.
From California to Nevada to Utah to Chicago to New York and almost to Florida. Soren had whined the whole way. He is such a baby. If he were to get lost in the jungle he wouldn't even want to walk, he would die!

"Officer." I say. "This is all a big misunderstanding."

"Where is the bomb?" The officer asks me.

"I don't have a bomb." I explain. "He just really had to pee and I didn't let him. I really need to catch that plane."

"You can get a plane when you show us the bomb." The officer told me.

"I don't have one." I groan. "Soren is a lying sack of crap and a drama queen. Tell him!"

"Not if you ask so mean." Soren sat down on the bench and folded his legs together, he was picking at his nails.

"Please tell him then."

"What's in it for me?"

"I won't kick you into next week."

"Fair enough." Soren sighs and walks over to the guard. "See, my friend and I are innocent. You found the bomb and apologized, giving us first class seats."

The officer nodded and opened the door, he gave us two tickets and let us go on our merry way. I don't know how Soren did that, he has gotten us out of a lot of situations on our trip across country. Soren didn't fight me as we went onto the plane, he didn't argue when we took off and he didn't beg to go back. He was acting strange, so that's why I grabbed the real handcuffs and keys before we left the cop. I handcuffed Soren to me while he slept in the soft cosy first class couch seat thing.
I still didn't trust him, he was an actor. That what he does, he tricks, lies and deceives people. Still, he slept so peacefully. He was so quiet and looked almost harmless as he slept. Soren was not evil, he was not dangerous. He was terrifying. He was the feeling you get when you see a shadow of something in the night. Harmless, not evil, but scary.

"With this smile I can get away with everything." He told me back in Utah when I left him locked up in a hotel room.
I remember that day, when I was alone out searching for Stella and I came across an antique shop. There I bought many things, a long sword for me that popped out of the handle, it had a blood red blade and a dark black handle. I always kept in on me since then, it looked like a long stick on my side, like a fashion accessory. The blade was warm like fire and gave off a deep red glow. I pulled out he handle and ran my fingers across the edges. So smooth and so rough all in one. It was hard to think that this old thing was lying around in a dusty shop.

I looked over at Soren, sleeping still. If I ever found Stella she would kill him. Would I let her? I kind of grew fond of Soren, I don't know how to why. It was probably him working his power on me, making me soft. I should have killed him a long time ago. Why didn't I? The plane flew over the vast land, the cities and the forests were beautiful. I had never seen the earth my air before. I wonder if this is how Soren sees the whole world, the whole universe. He must of been happy up in the sky, turning and tumbling through the cold air. He could go wherever, do whatever with no one to stop him.
I took that away from him when I took his wings.
I managed to sew the deep gashes down his back, sticking the skin together. Then I covered them with a bandage to stop the bleeding. Was Soren still in pain from that moment? He had taken off his coat and only had on jeans and a white shirt. I gazed down the back of his shirt, the bandages were still in place, I could see no blood. Hopefully the stitches had healed.
I tucked my sword back into my belt and rolled over to get some sleep. I didn't realize how much I actually needed to rest, I was asleep the second I closed my eyes.

When I awoke Soren was already awake and looking down at me. It startled me and I jumped, hitting my head on the ceiling. That was one of the disadvantages of being tall.

"Your creepy." I told him.

"And you're tall." Soren said.

"Stop doing that." I told him. That was like the fourth time I had woken up to him staring at me. It's just creepy, why does he keep doing it?

"I'm just looking after you." Soren told me.

"Ya and I'm Santa Clause." I teased.

Soren sighed and looked across the aisle. A lady with snacks on her cart pulled up next to us.

"Anything today?" She asked.

"Do you have garlic knots?" Soren asked. I slapped him, no way she has fresh garlic knots. Plane rides have peanuts and candy.
"Owe." Soren said.

"We will take two bags of peanuts." I told her.  I gave her a five dollar bill and she gave us two bags to peanuts.

"I hate peanuts." Soren said.

"Then I will eat them." I grabbed his bag out of his hands.

"I wanted garlic knots." He groaned and pulled his legs up into his seat and rolled over, yanking on the cuffs.

"Dude." I said. "Give me some slack."

"I don't understand why you don't trust me." Soren said. "You keep me handcuffed and watch over me constantly. Maybe I would willingly go with you and help you find your sister if you just ask."

"No you wouldn't." I snapped. "Because you could break a nail." I teased him, he glared at me. I knew he hated being teased.

"Shut up." He cried.

"Oh are you gonna cry like a baby." I teased.

"Shut up!" He yelled.

"You gonna go cry to your baby mama and dada, then cry about the fire you keep talking about." I teased more.

"Shut up!" He screamed. "You don't speak of that fire, you understand?"

"Fire, fire fire." I teased. He winced at each word. "What do you care?"

"I lost everything in that fire." Soren said. "Don't disrespect me, I have been through more than I care to bear. I shattered everything I cared for into ash."

I turned the other way, leaving him be. He was obviously sensitive about the subject so I didn't tease him about it. I heard him suck his nose in. He was still crying. With the amount of times he has cried I could fill the oceans with his tears.
A light flashes above us, telling us we we had landed and it was time to get off.
Soren jumped out of his seat, pulling me with him, he grabbed out carry on and his coat and rushed out the plane door. He slammed the carry on suitcase into my chest and continued to walk till we reached the exit.

"Where are you going?" I asked as he stormed off.

"Away." He said.

"Stop!" I pulled on the handcuff, stopping him in his tracks. "We are getting on this boat I rented for twenty dollars so I can find my sister."

"Like your sister is going to be in the ocean." Soren teased.

"Well there are no fires in the ocean." I said. "You won't have to worry about that."

Soren glared at me. I was pushing the limit, sorry. For now on I promise myself not to mention fire again. My stomach growled at me. I had to eat something besides candy bars and peanuts. I dragged Soren along to a by the sea cafe shop, we can buy kiddie meals and then get a move on to finding Stella.

"Ok Soren." I told him. "No talking to anyone, you order the cheapest thing on the menu and then we are out of here."

"Can I get a drink too?" He asked.

"Water." I argued. He was like a child begging their parents more food.

"Fine." He sighed.

The cafe was packed. All sorts of people from all around the world were packed into the cafe. Soren and I found a spot at the bar counter. I ordered a burger with a coke and Soren ordered a kids grilled cheese with a lemonade.

"I said water." I told him.

"The kids meal comes with a soda, fries, apples and an ice cream." Soren argued.

"Whatever." I sighed. It was only three dollars.

Our food came out right away, hot and fresh. I took my half of the handcuff off my wrist and locked it around a metal bar, securing Soren to the cafe. The food was amazing, the burger was perfectly cooked and the fries were thin and delicious, my soda was ok as far as soda goes. Soren seemed to enjoy his kids toy and ice cream, like a child he left the apples untouched. He played with his finger skateboard like it was his favorite toy.
I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned to see a very pretty girl with dark skin and black hair behind me. She was wearing a beach dress that went to her heels and had a flower in her hair.

"Hey cutie." She giggled. "Wanna dance?"

I nearly choked on my fries. I hadn't noticed that this was a dine and dance place. Dance, me? Ya right. I have no clue how to dance to any song besides the classic slow song where you bear hug the whole time. You know, the one that twelve year old couples dance to?

"No thank." I said. She looked hurt and walked away.

"Why don't you want to dance?" Soren asked me. "I would kill to dance with that. This song is just the waltz."

"Yes." I said. "I don't know how to dance, hurry up and finish your kid's meal."

"Woah!" Soren stopped me. "You don't know how to dance, how are we even friends?"

"We aren't friends." I said.

"Let me teach you." Soren offered.

"Never, not in a million years."

"Come on. It's easy."

"No." I argued.

"I won't run." Soren groaned. "Let me teach you."

"Fine." I rolled my eyes, he won't shut up till I agree anyways.

"Just one thing." Soren pointed at the handcuff. "I can't dance in this bling."

"If you try anything funny."

"I know! I'll be kicked into next week." Soren sighed.

I took the handcuffs off him and tucked it into my carry on. Soren took off his coat and walked out onto the floor, I followed him. I was going to look like such a dork dancing with a dude.

"Ok ballroom social dance takes a lot of practice to perfect it." Soren told me. "Lucky for you I have lived through the times when everyone was perfect at ballroom dance. Now everyone does stupid stuff like sexy fish and twerking, let's not even mention dabbling. It looks like you're smelling your armpit."

"Let's get this over with." I interrupted him.

"Ok. So I'm the girl and you're the guy." Soren said. "You asked me to dance and now watch what I do." He held his hand out to me. "Take my hand." He said. I took it.
"Good." Soren said. "Now the guy puts his other hand on the ladies back and the girl puts her arm on your shoulder."
I copies what he said.

"Like this?" I asked.

"Perfect." Soren said. "Now that was step 1, getting into your dance frame. Now step 2, the guy is leader in this dance, so you gotta push your lady friend around."

I pushed him to the side and around in a circle. He obeyed what I told him to do.

"Great." Soren said. "Now step 3, now you got to know the steps. Walls has three beats per measure. There are two halves to a waltz box. As leader you will start the box by stepping forward with your left foot. Now, move your right foot to the side. Bring your left foot next to your right foot."

I moved my feet as he told me to, his feet did the opposite. Holy cow! I was dancing! This is magic!

"Now part two." He said "The second half starts with you as leader going backwards with your right foot. Then step sideways with your left and bring your right foot back into position."

I repeated the first part and added the next part, and his feet did the opposite

"Voila! You've completed a box." Soren said, he moved away from me. "To move forward to the first part twice, to move backwards to the second part twice."

"Thanks." I said. "You're not a terrible teacher."

"You're not a terrible dancer." Soren commented. "Keep practicing." He held his hands out to me. "Lock me back up."

I grabbed the handcuffs and locked one onto his hand and another onto mine, then we walked out of the cafe together and down to the boat dock. I saw our boat at the end of the dock. When we arrived I threw our carry on into the deck.

"You have got to be joking." Soren said.

"Come on." I said.

"I am not getting in that boat."

"You are." I argued. "It's perfectly safe."

"It's a rowboat! You have got to be mad about all this."

"Soren you little monster, get in this boat now." My voice was sharp against his.

"If I'm a monster then you should lower your voice." Soren teased. "I could bite you head off."

"Soren get in the boat."

"No."

I am going to beat the living crap out of him. He is my hostage and he needs to listen to me. I even let him drink soda. That's what I get for putting all that sugar in him. I am an idiot!

"Soren please get in the boat." I asked him. Hey, I could try killing him with kindness.

"Why?" He rolled his eyes.

"Why not?" I argued, I yanked on the chains, pulling him in. Then I quickly cuffed him to the side.

"Why does this universe hate me?" Soren complained.

I tied a rope around his body and put the handcuffs back in the case. I grabbed a fishing pole, some water and oars then untied the boat. We were off to sea.
I will find you Stella
I swear on my own life.