Chapter 22
Jeffs hands shook as he took a sip of his water.His eyes grazed the room,landing on the clock.The day was almost over,and fear bubbled up inside of him.Tamika ran her hand over the remains of the old mans hair.
"It's going to be okay."She told him softly.
"I hope so Tam."He replied,his shaking hands opening up a drawer,his eyes searching for something.
Ara awoke in Nicks arms,screaming awakening her.
"What the hell is that?"Ara asked groggily.
"AJ."Nick laughed.
"How long have you been up?"Ara asked,looking up at him.
"About an hour.It's like..4pm."
"Why didn't you just get out of bed?"
"I wanted you to wake up in my arms."He grinned.
Ara grinned back and barried her head into his shoulder.
"Wake up!Everybody..WAKE UP!"AJ yelled.
"Why?"Ara yelled.
"Meeting in the Great room in 30!"AJ yelled back.
Ara groaned,and barried her head inbetween Nicks arm and body.Nick laughed and pulled her up.
"The day awaits us."Nick snickered at himself.
"Fuck the day."Ara replied,causing both of them to laugh.
They both arose from the bed to get dressed,sneaking glances at eachother.
"I'm going to go take a shower."Ara told him.
"No kiss?"
"Morning breath."Ara answered,making a disgusted face.
He laughed as she disappeared.
Ara walked into Nicks room about 25 minutes later.She glanced around the room,and then peeked through the open door of the bathroom.Nick stood infront of the mirror,shaving his stubbles off.Ara slid ontop of the counter,watching as he washed off the razor,and tapped it against the side of the sink.
"Almost done."Nick muttered,sliding the razor against his skin.
"I can see that."Ara said,looking at the two patches of shaving cream.
He grinned over at her before continuing his shaving.
"One minute and 13 seconds!"AJ yelled from outside the door.
Nick and Ara both laughed at him before Nick pulled her in for a kiss.
"Ready?"He asked.
"As I'll ever be."
Jeff tried to hide his trembling hands from the Destined by shoving them in his pockets,but it was of no use.He thought he heard Alex make a crack about Jeff jacking off,so he decided to pull his shaking hands from his pockets.He sighed as he looked over at Tam.She nodded her head for him to talk,placing a comforting hand on his back.
As soon as Ara saw the look on Jeffs face,his shaking hands,and Tamika being so affectionate towards him,she knew something was wrong.She glanced over at Nick,but he was too busy still laughing at AJs joke to register it.She then glanced over at Brian,who just nodded his head at her.
"What's wrong Jeff?"Ara asked.
"Got alittle too excited before the meeting?"AJ cracked,sending him,Nick,Britney,and Tony into laughter.
"Would you all just shut the fuck up?!"Ara yelled.
All their heads snapped towards Ara.
"Someones not getting laid enough."AJ joked.
He stopped smiling once nobody laughed and Ara growled at him.He had to admit that he was a little taken a back by Aras yelling at them,but he couldn't understand why she was in such a shitty mood.
Ara looked at Jeff just as he was about to fall.She darted forward and steadied him with the help of Tamika.
"Thank you."He said nodding towards Ara and than Tamika.
Ara stepped back towards the Destined,Nicks hand grasping hers.She glanced up at his questioning eyes,but turned her attention back to Jeff.
"I have..accepted you all into our race.Accepted you all into my home,my life..my heart.I care for you all very much.I need for all of you to understand that.I feel like I'm sending all of my children out into a war they shouldn't have to fight.I guess in a way I am.You are the Destined.Before you were born your paths were layed out infront of you,and it's time you took that path.The time is very near,but I have faith in you all.You are fighting for your lives,you are fighting for eachothers lives,for thousands of lives..and you are fighting for everything and anything that is good.You are..our last hope.I wish I could see you succeed,but unfortunately,I can not.A time is apon me also.A time for rest.Today will be my last day here as an Elder,and my last day here alive.Remember,I will still be with you in spirit,just as Kwacey,or anyone else who has passed in your life that cared for you,and you the same for them.I must be going now..but I have something for you,here.I stumbled apon it a few years back,and knew it was something that I was to give you all."Jeff finished,leaving the Destined shocked and saddened.
Matt hugged the older man,told him goodbye,and took the paper.All of the Destined told Jeff goodbye,except for Ara.She watched as he nodded slightly to her,and then as he walked from the room.Nick was about to question her,but was inturrupted by Matt.
"This gives directions to some building on another planet.Our next destination I guess.It also says..Fourteen will rise.Evil against good.Light against darkness.Many will die.Heros will fall.All will be scarred."
"Well..that's comforting."AJ commented.
"Hell,I've come to accept the fact that when one of those lil' peices of paper pops up,it means evil."Tony declared.
Ara squeezed Nicks hand,and looked up at him.
"I'm gonna go say bye to Jeff."
"Alright baby.Love you."
"Love ya too."Ara said,disappearing.
She appeared in Jeffs room.He was laying on his bed,Tamika at his side.
"Do you wish for me to leave?"Tamika asked her.
"Time is approaching too soon."Jeff said.
Ara motioned for Tamika to sit back down,as she walked up to Jeff.She embraced the Elder whos whole body now shook.
"Don't let this slow your journey.Let it quicken it."Jeff told her.
"Did you live a good life,Jeff?"Ara asked.
"My defining moment was when we found you,when we found the Destined.My path was laid out just as all of yours.Mine was to teach you all I knew."
"You did an amazing job Jeff."
He nodded his head,his eyes closing.Ara was about to tell him goodbye,but stopped when his eyes opened again.He looked at her,and spoked softly
"You finish what you started,Ara."
"I will Jeff.If not,than I'll die trying."
"Goodbye,Ara."He said,his eyes closing.
"Goodbye Jeff."Ara replied just as softly.
The old mans chest stopped rising.Ara placed a soft kiss on his forehead before disappearing.
Ara returned to the Great room to find them all still standing there,discussing about the planet they were sopposed to go to.Nick looked over at her,knowing he must be gone if she was back.She simply nodded her head at him,before looking at the others.
"I'm leaving for Dahasha tonight."She told them softly.
"What?"Tony asked.
"You can't leave tonight."Nick told her sternly.
"You're not leaving yet,because we aren't."Matt told her.
"Tonight?"AJ croaked.
"Yes,I'm leaving tonight."Ara whispered.
"Don't fight them out of hate,Ara.That makes you no better than them."Tamika told her,appearing behind Britney.
"I'm leaving tonight.With or without you all.I'm not going to SIT here and wait for some fucking dooms day to come!I'm going to go out and fucking find it my fucking self!The sooner this shit is out of my fucking life,the better it fucking is!If you all don't want to fucking come,than fine!But,I'm leaving TONIGHT!"She yelled.
Tony attempted to count how many times she dropped the F bomb,while the others stared at her shocked.
"Babe,y-"Nick started softly,Ara interrupting him.
"Tonight."
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