Chapter seven-Jaren

I trudged through the forest. I needed to find her. I swore to mother I would protect my family. " Jaren". One of my younger brothers called. I turned my head to see Levi. His body was in a squatting position over what seemed to be the putout remains of a campfire.

This gave us a clue we were close. It also showed how little my sister knew about us. " Scout the area for footprints". I told all the boys. Without Haru to backtalk or crack jokes it seemed so quiet.

I couldn't lose him too. I had watched my mother walk out of the door. I had let my sister disappear into the night. I was not the type to risk my family. I would take a bullet for every single one of them. If they knew it or not.

Haru was venerable. His mind was not in the right place. He had never lost someone dear to him. The rest of us can remember the rainy October day vividly. Haru and Helena could not. Haru did eventually find out.

It wasn't on purpose though. He went into the room. That's when we decided the door needed to always be shut and locked by key. Of course, that didn't affect him as much as losing Helena would have.

We did end up finding a footprint. The same boot print as the one in Helena's room in fact. Yet it was placed there to distract us. The print was too deep. It seemed to point away from the river.

Yet the fire indicated Helena was near to the river. Did she tell them to place this? Or was it their Idea? This question lingered in my head. If she had told them to do so she would have probably crossed the river.

Based on her normal process of thinking of course. If they had done this themselves then she was probably at some sort of base with them. My decision for this tiny detail could change if we found her or not.

If they placed this then she would not have been working with them from the beginning... But How would they have found our house then... and why would their print be in her room?

Too many questions to have a direct answer. This frustrated me to no end. I wanted to complete the main task at hand. I just wanted my sister back. That's it.

None of this added up... I would have split up but then the idea of potential dangers was at hand. We were stronger as a unit. We could get more ground as individuals though.

I finally decided. " Okay Noah you'll take Logan and cover ground across the river. While me and Levi scout along the river". They all nod. I toss Logan and Noah each a firework.

"If you find danger or Helena shoot it in the air from a tree. Me and Levi will each have one as well. Do not separate". I said and both groups went the two different ways.

Levi may not be the most firm or the strongest. He did have one perk though, and it was that he had amazing eyesight. In all the brush and leaves along the river, it was good to have this trait.

Levi also happened to be the calmest. My traits contradicted him which made a good team. The water splashing on small pebbles was a sound I remembered hearing as a child.

I remembered the rough yet careful hands of my father guiding me. I remembered her. A woman no one could make better. Not even if they them-selfs made her. Her soft hazel eyes could stare straight into your soul and unlock secrets. One look at her smile felt like a thousand warm hugs. Her soft brown hair casketed down her back when it was not trapped into a braid, but for it to not be in one was not likely.

Why the turn of events happened I have no clue. It changed my life. Sorrow was soon filled with protectiveness though, But even that seemed to not be enough.

Suddenly I felt a tap upon my shoulder and stared back at Levi. Levi's eyesight had come in handy. Before we stood a brush and moss concealed house. No windows from what we could see.

Not to mention the door needed to be located. " Levi set off the firework well I check for possible threats. He nodded and I whipped out the small dagger from my belt.

Trees made a pattern on the forest floor with their shadows. Ideas ran through my head of what possible threats there may be. An alarm system, Or something that may destroy me and everything within a radius.

The more I looked through the more I realized. There was nothing. Where the people inside to sure of their strength or wits? Or maybe we are fooling with someone above normal ranks... That's highly doubtful though.

If it was someone of that rank they would have surely asked for ransom by now... But that brings me back to the question of if Helena planned this or not. I heard two other people come to me and turned the dagger in hand.

I was met with my two other brothers and couldn't help but draw out a sigh. " Idiots". I murmured. I did not really mean that, but the stress of this particular instance left me frustrated.

In a couple of minutes, we were able to locate the door. I am ready to get my sister back. My mind echoed as my heart throbbed.