The Hunt

[30] The Ache She Caused

Aiden's POV:-

"Is that why you treated her like that? You knew about this all along?" Lauren questioned, everyone around her waiting in anticipation as if I was telling a fairy-tale.

It was night-time and the jungle was buzzing with the chirping of crickets and the crackling of the fire we were currently gathered around. It felt like we were camping except, somewhere out there, cameras watched over us. And the mere thought of Felicity standing behind a screen, enjoying our suffering is... heartbreaking.

It has been a day and a half since she was taken back to safety. None of the others bothered to ask me any questions even though I saw the quizzical looks in their eyes every time they would glance at me. I guess, they just noticed my state and didn't want to annoy me or push me any further.

But right before sunset, we hunted and I told them to ask me whatever they wanted to know when we circle around the fire. I think it's only right I give them what they want and get them in on my thoughts. We only have each other and I'm not letting my behavior get in the way of our relationship together as a group.

"I didn't know in the very beginning but when I saw that tattoo, I grew suspicious of her," I said, shrugging.

Even though I tried to deny it, it just made perfect sense. The fact that she had the same tattoo as Brandon and Amelia. How her and them were the best of friends in the whole village. How that damned Jaguar protected her. It was pretty obvious they were helping her from all the way in the building.

"How did you know about the tattoo though? I've spoken to Brandon before but I never noticed it," Brian asked, readjusting his position and turning to face me instead of Adriel who hasn't been taking all this really well.

"When you're supposed to be a leader, you have to try and investigate pretty much everything in your life just for the sake of your people. Being told that my family will be thrown in an arena to fight the wilderness, I had to look for anything that could help later," I replied, looking away to hide the tears that welled up in my eyes.

I think it destroyed me, suspecting that Felicity was one of them but it was the truth. What puzzles me though is that I always saw Brandon and Amelia walk around the building. But never her.

Like, did they hide her? Did they refuse that she leaves her room or what? It just doesn't fit in.

This whole thing made me lose so much. I lost my brother and my best friend, Nick. I lost my parents the day I was somehow taken from the village. I lost myself which made me lose Felicity too.

If I would've just acted like nothing was wrong, Her and I could've been friends. If I left everything I was skeptical of, out of the way, I could've had the slightest chance of her liking me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not head over heels for her__I could've been if I got to see the happy, carefree side of her__but I kinda like her. Not just because of her looks, but because of her past.

Felicity's past isn't something anyone could just go through, and even though she's the weakest she's ever been, she made it. But I just know that she would soon break out of the shell she hid herself in the day her parents were murdered by the one and only, my dad.

I'm not gonna even begin to speak of him because he caused her and her friends a trauma that'll last for a lifetime. And I'll never be able to forget how useless I felt when he threatened to kill them too if I interfered.

I had to stay out of it because four dead bodies in one day was enough pain in my chest. Plus, I just couldn't let him kill her.

I never really liked Felicity but I always noticed her and was quite attracted to her. She just impressed me in so many ways.

How strong and beautiful she was, were__and always will be__the top two.

Treating her the way I did, was hard... but family comes first. And my people weren't safe around her even if she seemed as innocent as ever, she was still counted as an enemy to me.

If I completely ignored their safety, I would be selfish for going after what I want and that's not what I learned as a leader.

I just have the tiniest bit of hope that she'll actually come back. The tiniest spark in my mind...

... and my heart.

Felicity's POV:-

"I don't dislike anything about you, Flake," Brandon said, his voice softer than I thought it would be, better yet, his answer way more different than what my mind came up with.

"We've all been through the same things, from our families' death to being banished and... you know the rest." He looked down. "Felicity, each one of us changed after that-"

Amelia interrupted him. "To the worse. Brandon began dealing with temper issues on a day-to-day basis, you became weak and gloomy and I... I don't really think I changed," she said, shaking her head.

Brandon and I, both stared at her, pretty much wearing the same expression which practically screamed 'really?'

"Well," she shrugged, "guess my personality is just that bad for it to change to the worse."

I couldn't help the slight smile that tugged at my face, making my mind flood with millions and millions of memories.

Amelia was always__still is__that careless, straight-forward and sometimes chirpy person who could make you go out of your mind because of how much she may seem insensitive.

In reality, she isn't completely insensitive, she just speaks her mind. But when it comes to people she cares about, she'll never actually say something that would cause them stress and anxiety. In general, something that would make them insecure.

Now, she doesn't take most things seriously. That rarely happens but when it does, you know it has to be very important or kinda like a touchy subject you should never bring up.

Her personality with Brandon and I was always different though. When she was with us, she'd be more than happy, very chirpy and incredibly sensitive. So I guess Amelia is one of those people whose personalities are entirely affected by the people surrounding them. I don't blame her. Sometimes people really do affect your mood which always ends up with your personality doing a ninety degree flip. Either negatively or positively.

"About that weak and gloomy thing," I spoke. "I honestly think you're right. I feel like it's just never the same with anything right now, you get me?"

"I do," Brandon replied, folding his arms over his chest. "I've been getting mad... and pissed off because of the littlest things and... I... I'm scared," he whispered the last part, making me place my hand on his right shoulder in attempt to comfort him.

I can't say that our circumstances were the one reason we were badly affected. It's our fault too. We let it happen. We allowed the world to ruin each of us uniquely and separately.

So in order to get back on track, I'd have to get my best friends back. And I don't think it's going to be that hard... 'cause all I have to do now, is hear them out.

A/N Yeah, the truth will be out next chapter... Aren't you just shooketh? Lol.
I'm not kidding though, Brandon and Amelia will spill the beans.

Question Time: what do you think the truth is? Comment your ideas ;)
Stay peaceful lovelies❤✌