I walked up to the prison bricks. I saw my mum, her head bowed down. There were plates of food in front of her, but she seemed not to have any interest in those delicacies.
"Mum," I whispered, my voice catching in my throat as I stepped closer to the cold bars that separated us.
"Amaya!" she replied with a faint smile attempting to mask her pain. "It is bittersweet when you visit. How are you holding up, my love?"
Tears welled in my eyes as I struggled to maintain composure. "I'm trying, Mum. But it is so hard seeing you like this. Jason has returned quietly and has promised to help you out of this place."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, a shadow of concern flickering across her face. "Jason? You must be careful, Amaya. He doesn't have a pure intention, remember?"
I took a deep breath, and anger surged within me. "I can't just sit back and do nothing, Mum. I believe he can help us."
She reached through the cold bars, her hand tenderly meeting mine. "Amaya, my love, I know your heart is pure, and your intentions are noble. But the path to justice is deception. Alpha Jason may have his agenda."
"I cannot let you waste away in this cell, Mum. I have to try, even if it means taking a risk," I said to her, wiping off the tears on my face.
Her eyes softened with understanding, and she gently squeezed my hand. "I love you, Amaya. I have always admired your strength and abilities. Just promise me you will be vigilant. Not everyone who comes to our aid has our best interests at heart."
"Why does our family have to suffer like this, Mum? What did we do to deserve such injustice?" I asked her.
Tears welled in her eyes, staring at my eyes. "Sometimes, my love, life's challenges are beyond our control. But we endure, we fight, and we hold onto the hope that one day the truth shall prevail."
"Time up!" A guard said from behind and pulled me away from my mum. Tears rushed out of my eyes the more I was being pulled away from my mum.
I walked away from the prison house and leaned against a tree at the back of the school. I cried till I fell on the floor, and could not compose my exterior.
"Hey!!" A voice called me from behind. He was part of the guards who looked after my mum in the prison. He was bald on top and had scattered pairs of hairs on his chin. He walked up to me and stood in front of me as though he had something special to discuss with me.
"Hello, how can I help you?" I asked him.
" I am the senior guard here and I want to give you something that will make Cena come back to life!" He said. Immediately, my eyes widened, and I stood up.
"What are you talking about?" I asked cautiously, keeping my voice low to avoid attracting unnecessary attention from the environment. Though there was a secluded place- my kind of place whenever I was down or sad like this, I still needed to be cautious as what he was saying sounded so secretive.
The guard leaned in, his eyes darting around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. "I have heard whispers, seen things. There is a rare concoction that can cure Cena. Your mother doesn't deserve to suffer. I want to help her, and I believe you are the key."
My mind raced as I processed the recent information. It sounded so real and perfect, but my heart was pounding over his words as though they were harmful to my body. Was this guard offering a genuine solution, or was it a trap? Trust was a luxury I couldn't afford, especially in our totem that was filled with secrets and deceit.
"Why should I believe you?" I questioned, my gaze narrowing on him.
He sighed, seriousness in his eyes, and responded.
"I have been observing your family for a while. I know the pain your mother endures. This isn't about me. It is about making things right. The drug is hidden, and I can provide you with the means to take it. But you must promise to keep our conversation secret!"
His words pierced through my heart and I could sense the sincerity in it. A part of me succumbed to his offer, but another part urged caution. Trusting a guard in a prison where allegiances were as fragile as ceramic seemed like a dangerous game.
"Can I have a proof?" I inquired, my voice steady despite the internal heat.
The guard reached into his pocket, producing a bottle containing a shimmering blue liquid. He cleared his throat looked around for some seconds, and broke the silence,
"This is a small sample of the drug. It's potent, and I assure you, it works. Use it on Cena, and he would come back to life immediately. But promise you would keep this a secret between us!" He glared at me and offered me the bottle.
"I promise to keep this between us," I affirmed, locking eyes with the guard. "But if this is a trap or if anything happens to Cena because of this, there will be consequences."
The guard nodded solemnly, acknowledging my words. "I understand. I'm taking a risk by reaching out to you, but I believe in doing what is right. Your mother deserves a chance to leave the prison."
The guard shared more details about the drug, its origins, and the risks involved, but didn't tell me where he got it from. However, I was more concerned about the fact that the drug would wake Cena, and i turn, set my mom free from prison.
"I cannot be directly involved in this, young girl!" he explained. "If my superiors find out, it could mean trouble for both of us. You need to act fast and trust no one with this secret."
I reasoned well with him, and he stood up and sneaked back to his place of work. I cautiously brought out the bottle of the drug and examined it for what seemed like hours. I didn't want to do what would put me into trouble, but I needed to let my mom out of that prison and also wake Cena.
It was at night. I wrapped my head around my mother's medical customs and walked up to the hospital. I sneaked to the room where Cena was lying unconsciously on the bed. He was now leaning, and his skin was swarmed by dark spots. I carefully opened his mouth, my hands trembling in fear. In the dimness, I could see the steady rise and fall of his chest as he struggled for life.
The liquid in the bottle clinked softly in my pocket as I withdrew them. The guard's instructions came up in my mind, and I made sure I followed all the instructions he gave. I carefully removed the cover on the bottle, a bluish glow reflecting in the room.
I watched intently, a silent prayer on my lips, as the liquid found its way into his system.
As the last drop disappeared, I withdrew, covering the bottle once more. However, Cena's features remained unchanged, his slumber undisturbed. Doubt sipped into my mind, and uncertainty bore down on me.
I chose to exercise patience for a few seconds, but nothing happened as seconds turned into minutes, and the room remained as silent as it was before I came in. A sense of desperation took hold as I grappled with the possibility that the cure might not have worked, that the guard's promises might have been nothing more than empty assurances.
I needed to run away from here faster as Cena didn't wake up. I would put my mother in more trouble if anyone caught me here. I was sure Aurora would hand me over to the security men and accused my mother of borrowing me the idea.
I hurriedly walked out of the hospital and sneaked away from its surroundings. I was in my room the next day. I had woken up but I remained on my bed. What was the essence of me leaving my bed when a bad day was already around me? I closed my eyes and was lost in thought.
"Amaya, wake up" Jason whispered into my ear, his words cut through my thoughts, and my eyes fluttered open to see him standing beside my bed.
I sat up, the sheets pooling around me, and fear grabbed me as I looked at the weariness in his eyes. "What is wrong, Jason?" I asked, my voice laced with concern.
He hesitated for a moment as if choosing his words carefully. "I heard a rumor that Cena is dead," he said, his voice barely audible.