“To be in the A.L.I club the first three initials of your name needed to start with A.L.I. To get into this club however, you needed to share the same blood. So right now we are three, but Sarah, you can join when your a little older. Sorry Simon, just girls aloud in this club, lol.”

Alianna’s Diary August 31.

Alianna and Jaius both looked scared as the Police cars pulled up in front of their house. Their parents put reassuring hands on their shoulder's. They both looked at eachother and saw the fear in eachother's eyes and both laughed a little. They were both thinking the same thing. They had faced down tyrents and an evil witch women and now they are afraid of the police. They grabbed eachoth's hands for added support. The officer's cautiously came around the side yard, hands resting on their holsters. There was a man in a suit leading them. He looked at Alianna and Jaius with a big smile. He came up to them and knelt down. “We are all very glad to see you both alive.” He paused as he saw the fear in their eyes. “There isn't anything for you two to be afraid of now, your safe and back with your families.” He put a hand on their shoulders and gave them a reasuring smile. They looked at eachother again and smiled slightly at the man. The man took that for a good sign and stood up. “Mr and Mrs Oaksen, Mr and Mrs McFarland, we will need to talk to the kids, but that can wait, we really should take them to the hospital and have them checked out, but that ultimatly is up to you.” The parents looked to their spouses then at eachother and nodded. Jonathan Oaksen looked at Detective Manson and nodded. “That is okay with us Detective. We want to make sure they are healthy and okay.”

Detective Manson nodded and motioned to two of the officer's, and a man and a woman stepped forward. “This is officers White and Gaferston. They will escort the ambulances to the hospital. The Ambulances have a separate ER entrance, it will help keep the press from crowding the kids, at least for right now. We will need everyone else to stay here for a little bit to get statements, but one of the parents can ride with them.” Both Emily Oaksen and Jennifer McFarland set their arms around their children, indicating they would be the ones going with them, not willing to let either child out of their sight. Eimily Oaksen did look over where the twins had been sitting and saw Elaine holding each one making googly faces at them and watching them giggle shyly. In the middle of a googly face Eliane caught Emily's eyes and nodded her head toward the ambulance and then smiled. Emily sighed with relief and mouthed “thank you” to her. Elaine smiled then made a shooing motion with her hand. Ed McFarland bent down and gave his son a hug. Jaius was so stunned by the unfamiliar action that he froze. “I love you son, and we'll be there at the hospital soon as we're done here.” When he heard those words from his dad Jaius threw his arms around his dad and hugged him as tight as he could. “I love you too dad.” A smile and a tear appeared on Alianna's face before she was whisked up into the air in the strong arms of her dad. She fell into them, remembering all the long months of fear and pain when she longed for this very thing. She wrapped her arms around her dad's neck in a death grip, not willing to let go. “I love you Ali, there aren't words for how much thankfulness your mom and I have right now. We thought we'd lost you, but now your home, and I will do everything I can to make sure you never have to go through something like this again. I'll see you at the hospital soon okay?” She nodded, still locking his neck in an iron vice grip. He tried to set her down, but she didn't move. He tried to gently pull her away but she resisted. “Ali, its okay, I'm not going anywhere. You need to go with mom and the officer's. We need to make sure your okay.” still she didn't let go. “Ali.” He whispered in her ear. “Your safe now, It's okay.” Something in his voice cut through her paralysis. She relaxed somewhat and looked at her dad in the eyes, trying to confirm what he said. Instead of speaking he gave her an eskimo kiss and despite her unwillingness to show a reaction, she couldn't help but giggle. It had made her giggle since she was a baby. “Okay Dad....I'll go. Please, please come soon though.” He set her down on the ground and smiled at her. “I'll be there before you know it.” When he stepped back, Alianna immediately locked arms with her mother. She began to tremble. “Why am I so afraid” Her dad saw her trembling and reached down and picked her up again. “I'll take her to the ambulance and then be right back Detective.” Detective Manson nodded and moved back to talking to Olivia's dad. Jaius took his mom's hand and walked with her to the Ambulance. He waved at Anne and Sis as he passed them. They waved and said they would see him soon. Alianna looked up from her dad's shoulder and saw Olivia waving at her and smiling. Alianna smiled slightly and waved back at her.

Soon her dad was setting her down on the gurrney in the ambulance. “I love you Ali. Don't be afraid. Trust in Jesus and he will give you peace.” He said the last part with a bit of hesitancy, as if he wasn't used to saying it. Her eyes lit up. “Daddy, do...do you know Jesus too?” Her dad smiled widely. “Yep, but that's a story for latter.” He then seemed to catch what she had said and what it meant. 'Wait, Ali, you too?” A huge smile burst onto her face, and she nodded her head with excitement. “It looks like we both have a story to tell. I can't wait to hear what God did for you to bring you back to us Ali.” Her dad said witrh a smile. He kissed her on the forehead and then steped out of the Ambulance and helped her mom into the back. Her mom set down next to her on the bench and held her hand. She was still smiling but inside the fear came again. “How do I tell them what God did for me without telling them everything?”

Once the Ambulance pulled away she looked at her mom. “Mom, Dad said he knows Jesus, do you too?” Ali said before she remebered that she still hadn’t figured out what to say about her own new faith. Her mom smiled and nodded somewhat shyly. “Its true sweetheart, its only been about a month but it has changed both of our lives.” Then somthign seemed to dawn on her mom and she looked in wonder at Alianna. “Wait, do you know Jesus too sweetheart?” Alianna couldn't help herself she burst out in a huge smile and nodded. Her mom's shy smile turned into a bold wide one and she hugged Alianna tightly. “Oh Ali, that is so amazing.” Alianna chimed in before her mom could continue. “ How mom, how did it happen?” Her mom took a deep breath and began to tell her what had happened. “About two months ago, I...I ran into Alison.” She took a deep breath and she looked down in shame. “She was walking home from School past our house and I had gone to get the mail, neither one of us was paying attention and she ran into me and we knocked eachother down. At first I began apologizing because I didn't know who it was. Once I realized who it was though...well... I...I was terrible to her. Oh Ali, I had so much anger toward her because of how she betrayed you, which brought about all the events that led to your being taken away from us, I blamed it all on her. I yelled at her. I hit her with the mail, I disowned her.” Tears began to fall from her mother's eyes. “I called Elaine afterward, after I calmed down. I spilled everything to her. After I had tossed everything on her I was afraid she would hang up, and not want to talk to me, but instead she asked me if your Dad and I would want to go to church with her and her husband and Olivia. Normally, I would have politely declined, because they don't go to a catholic church, but I was so beyond my breaking point I immediately said yes. I then, by God’s grace, convinced your father to go. So the next Sunday we drove out to Wilkes-Barre and went to their church. Ali, the people were so nice and welcoming we felt right at home, and the message, the message just lit up my soul. I heard a story of what Jesus did for us, and why, that I had never heard before. Afterward, we both asked to talk to their pastor and he explained it even more clearly, and both your father and I realized that we had missed out on the truth of what Jesus did all these years. We accepted the truth of it right there in his office. We got baptized the next week and tphat was also when we found out Olivia's dad had lost his job and was a diesel mechanic. Your dad hired him on the spot and a month later they found the house next door and came here.

Alianna had a huge smile on her face as she listend to how God had rescued her parents as well as her and Jaius. She reached out and hugged her mom. “Oh Momma, that is so wonderful. I can't belive that I get to share this with you and dad.” Her mom hugged her back and didn't let go. “God is so good honey.” She held her the rest of the ride the trip to the hospital.

Jaius climbed in and his mother climbed in behind him. His dad and two sister's stood behind the Ambulance and waved. He waved to each one. “We'll be there very soon son. Don't worry about anything.” Jaius nodded, and gave a reasuring smile, but inside he wasn't so sure it would be okay. Anne waved and Jaius saw that she had his satchel around her back. Sis waved also, and her eyes looked swollen from too much crying, like she had been crying for months. He waved again and then the EMT shut the ambulance door. Jaius sat down on the gurney and the EMT that was back with them straped him in. His mom sat next to him and held him close. She hadn't done this for him since he was little and in Pittsburgh. Life had been so much better back in Pittsburgh. He had friends, his parents had been kinder to him and Sis and him had had a relationship. Then it hit him, this was where his sudden fear was coming from. He had just gotten back to his family after four months and when he left everything was bad, but now that he's back, his Mom and Dad are nice to him again and it seems like Sis likes him again, and he has a friend again. This was his fear, that all this will just be gone in a few weeks. Once the joy of them coming back wears off, everything will just go back to the way it was. “What is worrying you sweetheart?” His mom said as she was looking down at him. He must have let too much of what was going on inside register on his face. “I....” He couldn't get it out, afraid that if he spoke it it would come to pass. His mom reached down and put both her hands on each cheek and turned his face toward him. She looked right into his eyes. “Jaius, its okay to tell me what's wrong. I...” Tears began to leak from her eyes. She closed them and took a breath. “I am so sorry Jaius for how hard I've been on you. I, I haven't been handling things very well these past two years. Back in Pitsburgh we had a routine going and everything worked and seemed to fall into place. When we moved out here the whole structure of our lives seemed to fall apart. Sis, and Anne seemed to fit into their new Schools okay, but you were having trouble, and...well, I didn't know how to help you. I couldn't stop the kids from hurting you and...I just...didn't know what to do.” She really began to cry then. Jaius wrapped his arms around her. “Mom, its okay, I've been pretty selfish and a bit too needy these past years. I wasn't handling it well, but I also wasn't looking for help or a way to make it better. I just kept running away.” “Oh Jaius, it's just that I failed you. I should have gone into that school and not left until they did something about those horrible kids.” Jaius felt a wave of love that his mom would even think of doing that for him. He had thought for the longest time that she didn't even care that he was being picked on, but he totally understood not knowing what to do to help someone. “Mom, its okay, I didn't know how to deal with it either, but now I have a better idea, and I have a friend now too.” His mom pulled away and smiled. “That is true honey. The Oaksen's were such a huge support to us during this time, Especially this past month. This past month was the worst for us, because we had started to believe we weren't going to see you ever again. As our hope seemed to fail there's seemed to become stronger. They went to Willkes-Barre one weekend, and came back, well, changed. They had a renewed hope and began talking a lot about Jesus. They began inviting us to this new church they were going to. We politely told them that we knew about Jesus and had a church, but they still invite us each week. It's okay though, they have become good friends of ours so its not that much of a nuisance.” Jaius's was shocked. It sounded like the Oaksen's had had a similar experience with Jesus that He and Alianna had had. With that came a deep worry. “It seemed like my parents didn't have the same experience with Jesus. I wonder what that means? I wonder if I'm supposed to invite them somewhere or talk to them?” He froze though because he didn't know what to say. To tell them about his experience with Jesus would mean telling them everything else, and he wasn't sure if he did if they might shun him again like they had before, but something inside him also told him that he couldn't make that more important than his relationship with Jesus. He could still feel him with him, like someone behind him with their hand on his shoulder. “I wish I understood more about what happened to me with Jesus, I feel like I need to tell people but how can I tell them without telling them all of it, and then they will think i'm crazy.” Not knowing what to do or say he changed the subject. “Mom, what is going on with Sis, it looks like she was crying a lot and she has been so nice to me.” An odd, sad look came over his mom's face. “She...she took everything that happened this summer the hardest out of all of us. We...we needed to take her to the hospital for a week. She...she tried to hurt herself. She blamed herself so deeply for what happened to you, she felt that if she had been nicer to you you wouldn't have run away with Alianna and gotten lost. We also learned of something that hurt her very badly when she was younger. Something that has made your father and sis not want to go to the Catholic church anymore. I'm torn. I've started to consider trying the Oaksen's church, just to see if maybe your father and Sis will go to it instead. Your Father pulled Sis out of St Pious, she's going to Endless Mountain High School this year. You and Anne will be going to St. Pious. Your father and I had a very big argument over it, but in the end he said it was okay. He said you have to look out for Anne though. Can you do that Jaius, can you take care of and protect your sister?” Jaius looked at her, he had fought men with swords, he could still feel the strength in his arms and body, still remember the forms with the sword, he still remembered how to fight with his fists like he had to with Jekk. He looked at his mom and nodded. “I'll keep her safe mom.” His mom smiled and hugged him. “Keep yourself safe too sweetheart. I...I can't lose you again.” She held him tight all the way to the hospital. Jaius didn't protest. This was more good attention he had gotten in many years.

When they got to the hospital Jaius climbed out of the Ambulance and helped his mom down. He saw Alianna and her mom come around from the back of the Ambulance behind them. He waved at her and she smiled and waved back. Ali's mom looked at his mom and bent down ans whispeered to Alianna and she nodded her head and then her mom came over and gave his mom a hug. Jaius took that moment to go over and stand next to Alianna. “Are you okay?” he said to her. She nodded and smiled slightly. “Jaius, my parents had the same experience with Jesus that we did. They know Him like we do.” She said excitedly. He smiled with true joy, but then it faded some. She looked concerened. “What's wrong?” “Sorry, its just that my parents and sister's didn't seem to have the same experience as we did, and I'm worried for them. I want them to have the peace I have. I mean, Anne might be close. I...I told her everything...she...she knew I was lying, apparently my eyebrow twitches.” He said self consciously touching it. Alianna smiled sheepishly. “I..I told Olivia also, she just knew I was lying. I didn't twitch or anything she just knew.” Jaius nodded and smiled. “It does feel good to know that someone else knows. Did she believe you? How did she take it?” Alianna smiled broadly again. “Oh, Jaius, she knows Jesus like we do too. So do her Parents. She believed me and she was so excited about what I told her.” Jaius smiled. “Anne was shocked, especially when she didn't see my eyebrow twitch. It really affected her. She's coming to St. Pious with us in the fall. Do you think it would be okay if she sat with us?” He paused and looked down. “That is, if you want to be seen sitting with us?” The fear of losing what he now had with his family suddenly jumped into fear of losing his friendship with Alianna. He felt her fingers under his chin, gently lifting his head to look at her. Her eyes were filled with compassion. “Jaius James McFarland, this is the only time I am going to say this to you.” Her voice was gentle, not scolding. “You are not going to scare me away, or make me not like you. You are my best and truest friend and…” something hung in the air that she wasn’t able to say. “…and I will never be ashamed to be seen with you.” She then moved in and hugged him. He hugged her back. When they pulled apart their moms were standing near them looking down at them with smiles that could also be seen in their eyes. Jaius's mom knelt down and took Alianna by the shoulders. “Alianna, you cannot understand how much it meant to me to hear you say that. It's been so long since Jaius had a friend like that. Thank you for seeing in him what I see.” She hugged Alianna. And then to Jaius's surprise Mrs Oaksen knelt down and looked him in the eyes. “Jaius, I know you and Ali don't remember what happened, but I know that you went after her when she ran away from school because you wanted to protect her, and I believe in my heart that wherever you went, you protected her there too. For that I can never repay you, but you are welcome at our house anytime. Your Mom and Dad and sister's have become very dear to us and now so are you. Tears began to come down his cheeks and Mrs Oaksen instinctively pulled him in for a hug.

After a minute the EMT's came up to them and told them it was time to go in. They went in through the sliding glass doors into the receiving area. The EMT's handed them off to the Nurses there and the Physician's Assistant did a general check on them and said they seemed healthy. He wrote down orders for blood tests along with some other tests, and said they needed to be transferred to the main ER rooms. When they left the receiving room and walked across the waiting room to the main ER rooms the quietness of the last few hours was shattered.

Suddenly there were video cameras and microphones surrounding them and flashes from cameras from cellphones going off. People were yelling questions at them and no matter what they had stood up to in their adventure in the past, this sudden onslaught made them both recoil and grab onto their mother's. Thier mother's each put their arms around them and moved them together in front of them and angled themselves to shield them from the press. Soon a police man interviend and began to move the reporte's and their crews back five feet from them. Mrs Oaksen and Mrs McFarland hurried the children to where the Nurse was holding the door open for them. Just before they got to the door Alianna felt like she should look behind her, like someone’s eyes wore boring into her back. She turned her head and in the gap between her mom and Mrs McFarland she saw a girl standing by the sliding doors that led outside. She saw auburn hair coming out from the inside of the hood to her hoodie. Her eyes locked with the girls and she knew right away who it was. “Ali.” She whispered. When the girl saw that she had been seen, her her eyes got big and she pulled the hoodie further down over her head and ran out the door. Alianna was shaken inside. Deep, deep down inside, past all the hurt in her heart towards Ali, she found a pocket of love for her that she swore had not been there before. She knew then that if Ali ever needed her she would be right there at her side, and she felt that her showing up here today, to see her, because she was home safe, meant maybe Ali felt the same way. But what did she do with all the hurt, all the betrayal. She remembered how alll that pain inside her had almost driven her to kill Clara and she shuddered.

She wanted to run after her, to try to find some healing for them, but that would mean running past all those reporters and getting lost there. “Maybe someday soon Ali.” She said softly. She marveled at what she had just said. How could she forgive someone of such a betrayal, but then she felt how much she had been forgiven of and knew she couldn't hold onto her unforgiveness toward Ali.

Jaius looked at her and back where she was looking, but then took her hand in his. She looked back at him and he cocked his head toward the door. Their mom's and the nurse were looking at her and she smiled sheepishly and shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry” she said. She allowed Jaius to lead her through the doors. They were there for hours, some of the tests hurt, some they didn’t feel a thing and some were very hard and uncomfortable for them to go through.

Their Dad's joined them while they were there and said the rest of their family and friends were waiting in the waiting room for them. After the fourth hour Alianna was waiting in the room with her mother and father for the Dr to come back in with the test results. When the Dr came in he had a shocked look on his face. This seemed to concern her parents. They stood up and moved over to the Dr. They were whispering but to her surprise she could still hear every word they said clear as day. “What is it Dr.?” Her dad asked. The Dr looked at him as if he was still in shock then quickly recovered. “She was not hurt in any way that we can tell, in fact she is in the top 99th percentile for health for her age, except for one thing, a high amount of Lactic Acid in her system.” Her parents looked at each other and then back at the Dr. “What does that mean?” Her mother asked. The Dr had a heavy look on his face. “At these levels, we only see this in someone who was tortured or endured extreme levels of pain for extended amounts of time.” Her mother's hand went to her mouth and her head bent down and she laid it on her dad's arm and she began to cry. Her father put his arm around her and held her close. Then looked at the Dr. “Could that have caused her amnesia?” The Dr looked at her dad and nodded. “Most definitely. She could have also suppressed the memories so deep that she can't consciously remember them. I will need to forward these results to Detective Manson however.” Her dad nodded his head.

“That wasn't what shocked me though. In cases of missing Children, trauma is almost expected. What shocked me was her blood chemistry. I am working with another patient who has a resurgence of Childhood Leukemia. Her case is very advanced. We are really at the stage when she should transition to Hospice care, but her family hasn't consented yet. The reason why it advanced so far was that she has a very unique blood chemistry and so finding a bone marrow donor is exceptionally difficult in her case. The previous donor passed away a number of years ago and we were unable to locate anyone else. Mr. Oaksen, your daughter is an exact match for her blood chemistry. She is currently too weak to undergo the Bone marrow transplant, but if by some miracle she could become strong enough, would you be willing to allow your daughter to be a donner?” The image of the girl in the hospital bed returned to Alianna's mind and she knew this was the girl she had seen, knew it was Keri. The memory of Keri tossing her Nana’s book out the window flooded her mind and heart, but again she remembered also how much she had been forgiven of and whispered. “I forgive you Keri.”

Her dad looked at her and then back at the Dr. “She's been through a lot Dr. We're not saying no right now, but, I just don't want to bring it up to her if there isn't a chance right now for the girl.” The doctor nodded. “I definitely understand Mr Oaksen, it's just if a window for the girl opens up, it may only last for a very short time and we may lose precious time if you need to think about it.” Her dad nodded. “I understand Dr. We will talk about it and let you know as soon as possible.” The Dr sighed and nodded. “I understand Mr Oaksen. We'd like to keep her here overnight for observation due to the findings on the blood work, just to make sure there aren't any other effects.” Her dad looked at her mom who still had her head buried in his arm shoulders . “Emi.” Her mother looked up and wiped at her eyes. She looked at the Dr and then at her Dad. “What do you think Jonathan?” Her dad closed his eyes and Alianna saw his lips move slightly, then he sighed and looked at the Dr. “Very well Dr, can one of us stay with her?” The Dr nodded. “Of course. We are short on rooms, but I will find one for you, if you want to go to the waiting room I'll have the nurse come once we find one for you.” Her dad nodded and put his arm around her mom's shoulders and they walked back toward her. She put on a hopeful face, even though she knew what they were going to tell her. Her dad put on a reassuring smile.

“Ali, the Dr said you are okay, but there was something on one of the tests that they wanted to make sure wasn’t anything. They want to keep you overnight to make sure it is nothing. Your mom can stay with you tonight so you won't be alone.” She allowed her eyes to show an appropriate amount of fear and concern, it wasn't hard because the memories of that whip and that woman were flooding through her mind just then. “Oh...Okay daddy, I'll miss you.” Her dad smiled and picked her up and hugged her. “I'll miss you too sweetheart, but its only for one night. He didn't put her down and so she wrapped her arms around his neck and revealed in the moment. His strong arms seemed to push the memories away. “I'll let the nurse know” the Dr said and opened the door. As they went into the hallway outside the door across the hall opened and another Dr followed by Jaius and his Parents stepped out of the exam room across the hall. Alianna whispered in her dad's ear. He nodded and set her down. She walked over to Jaius and gave him a hug. She whispered in his ear. “Are you okay?” “Yes.” He whispered back. “They didn't find anything wrong with me, the Dr said that I was in excellent health, she actually seemed surprised as she said it.” “The Dr said the same about me, except for a high level of lactic acid in my blood tests. He said he only sees that with people who have been tortured.” Jaius gave her a gentle extra squeeze when she said that. “Thanks.” She said genuinely. “I'm okay right now about it. Jaius, Keri is here at this hospital and Jesus wants me to forgive her. She is here now and she's...she's dying. I have to find her Jaius, they are keeping me overnight because of what the blood work showed and so I have to make sure to find her somehow, also I need the satchel that came back with us and the things in it.” “Wow, I can't believe that Keri just happened to be at the same hospital we are in. Anne has the bag, my Dad said she was in the waiting room. I'll grab it and get it too you.``

“Thank you, Jaius.” She said, some of the fear seeping out in her voice. He pulled away and looked her in the eyes. “Jesus told you to do this Ali, so you can also be certain He will be there helping you, you won't be alone. I'll..I'll ask him to help you too.” An odd feeling came over her when he said he would ask Jesus for her. She couldn't remember anyone besides here parents saying they would talk to God on her behalf before. “You mean....You'll pray for me?” She said softly. Jaius felt it too, he had never offered to pray directly to Jesus for anyone before, he never knew how to do it by just talking directly to Jesus, because he always prayed to a saint or to Mary, but now he could actually feel words welling up inside him. “I will Ali, you won't be alone.” She could feel a comfort from this that she couldn't say where it was coming from. She reached out and gave his hand a squeeze and smiled. “Thank you Jaius...I've never had anyone outside my parents pray for me before.” He squeezed back and smiled shyly. “I've...I've never prayed directly to Jesus before for anyone, I always prayed to one of the saints or Mary to ask Jesus for me, but I can feel these words coming up inside me right now for you.” Right then she knew she wasn't alone, it was like Jesus was with them both. He was giving Jaius words to pray for her and from that she was receiving comfort. Jaius closed his eyes, and after a moment she did too, and he began to pray over her. “Lord Jesus, thank you for being with us and bringing us home to our families, Lord I pray for Ali that you would help her find Keri and give her the strength to do what you asked her to do and that she can have the opportunity to speak to Keri face to face. I pray this in your name, amen.” Alianna opened her eyes and stared into his, gratitude swimming in her eyes. As they looked into each other's eyes, there was a moment that seemed to last forever. A connection through something beyond anything of this world, anything human. In the years to come, they would have many moments together, but this is the one moment that they both always went back to.

“Ali” she heard her mom say as she placed a gentle hand on Alianna's shoulder. “It's time to go sweetheart. You can see Jaius soon.” She looked up over he shoulder at her mother and nodded. “Okay Mamma.” She turned back to Jaius and gave his hand one more squeeze and he returned the gesture. Jaius let go first, because he knew she wouldn't. They smiled at each other and then allowed themselves to be led away to the waiting room. When they got there they found all their family and friends waiting for them. Alianna's Aunt Karen was there who immediately lept up and ran over and pulled her into a hug. “Oh my dear..dear sweet Ali. Oh thank God you're okay.”

Jaius saw his Uncle and Aunt and cousins who lived in Kansas and they came over to him and embraced him. “We're so glad you're okay Buddy.” Said his uncle as he ruffled his hair, his Uncle then looked in his eyes as if he noticed something, and a large smile appeared on his face. His aunt then threw her arms around him. “Oh Jiaus, we were so relieved when your dad called us. Thank God you're safe and back with us, we were praying so very hard for you. “Jaius, we're glad you're back.” Said his twin cousins Tia and Mina a bit shyly. Jaius smiled and hugged them. “How did you all get here this quickly?” He said, trying to figure out how they had gotten from Kansas to here in mere hours. “We were already here sport. We came out a few days ago to be with your Mom and dad and sisters and to help them out as we could. Jaius smiled and nodded, and then He asked his uncle if he could talk to him. He didn't tell his Uncle what happened, but he told him about his new love for Jesus and how that song he had sung that one time really affected him recently. Jaius saw tears in his uncle's eyes and he hugged him. “I knew I felt it in you just now, the Holy Spirit, Praise God and welcome to the family, of God that is.” His uncle said warmly. He pulled away and told Jaius that they were in town for about a week more and that he had a book that would help him understand what has happened to him. “Have you thought about being Baptized?” His Uncle said. Jaius looked confused. “I got Baptized as a baby.” His uncle nodded. “I remember, but that was before you knew anything. Now that you know Him openly, you should think about declaring it openly.” Jaius still looked confused. “Don’t worry about it sport, we’ll talk more later. Jaius smiled, because for the first time in his life he felt close to his uncle, like there was all of a sudden a deep connection there.

After a half hour or so of reunions and warmth and love the nurse came out and told Alianna's parents they had a room for her and that they needed to come with her. Jaius came over to Alianna with Anne who gave Alianna a big hug. “Thank you again for going after my brother and helping him.” Alianna whispered back. “He came after me too, he's really awesome.” Anne smiled as she pulled away “Yes he is. Here is your bag that you asked for.” Alianna smiled and took it and gave her another rhug. “Thank you Anne for getting it and keeping it safe.” Jaius gave Alianna another hug and then waved at them as they left. Her mom and dad went up to the fourth floor with her and they were led to the ICU suite. The nurse told them that she was only here because it was the only bed they had right now. The nurse and her mom and dad went into the room, but something made her stop and her eyes locked on the room next to her's, the one right behind the nurses desk. She felt almost pulled toward it. Then a hand was on her shoulder. “Ali, are you okay?” She turned and looked at her dad and nodded. “Yep, sorry dad, just, you know, I know what ICU stands for. Just wondering who was in that room.” Her dad looked at the room and then back to her. “Probably someone very sick honey. Let's come in and get you settled in. I'm gonna go home and get some clothes and other things for you and your mom.” She looked back once more at the other room and nodded and then followed her dad into the room. It was a large room with a large bed and many different apparatuses near the bed. Monitors, a cart with those shock paddles on top, etc. She sat down on the large bed and the nurse hooked up a blood pressure sleeve to her arm. There was a large recliner chair for her mom, a closet and a full bathroom. Her dad gave her mom a hug and a kiss, and then he came and gave Alianna a kiss on the head. “I'll be back soon sweetheart, okay.” She smiled and hugged him. “Okay Daddy.” She relished getting to say those words to him. For a long time she feared she would never get the chance again.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully, her dad brought back clothes and other necessities for them, and then tuked her in and kissed them both goodnight. The rest of the time was spent with Dr's and Nurses coming in and her and her mom talking. Her mom filled her in on all the happenings around their lives that occured while she was gone. They talked fairly late into the night. Alianna began to think her mom didn't want to go to sleep for fear she wouldn't be there in the morning. Alianna was getting very tired and the intervals between yawns became increasingly more frequent. Finally her mom relented and said they should get some sleep. Against her will, Alianna fell asleep. She had planned on sneaking over to the room next to her after her mom fell asleep, but that seemed to fail. As she slept she dreamt that she was walking through the woods by the creek. When she got to the place where the creek widened into a deep pool there was the Lion she had seen before sitting there. It looked at her, eyes full of love, but also urgency. It let loose with a roar that reverberated in her bones and her eyes flew open and she sat upright. She looked around and saw she was in the ICU room. Her mom was deep asleep on a chair that folded out into a bed at the far end of the room. She looked at the clock and saw that it said 2:30 am. She could still feel the pull to the room next to her. It was strong now, almost dragging her out of bed. Quietly she slipped out of bed, reached under the bed where she had put the satchel and put on her slippers and moved over and as quietly as she could she opened the door. She looked out and the nurses station was empty, and the door next to hers was left open just a little bit. She tiptoed over and opened the door and peered inside. There were monitors of all kinds near the bed. There were beeps and burps coming from all around the bed, but no one else was there. As she walked in she quietly shut the door. She moved silently over to the bed and when she got there she saw the frail, emaciated form of a girl her age laying there. There was an oxygen feed in her nostrils, and her chest rose slowly, almost laboriously. She was completely bald and gaunt and tears leaked out of Alianna's eyes when she first saw her. “Oh Keri....” she should have felt anger and hatred and satisfaction at seeing her enemy in such a state, but right at that moment all she could feel was an overwhelming compassion and love for her. “....I'd take your place if I could.”

The statement startled her so much as it left her mouth that she thought someone else had said it. She reacted as if someone else had said it and jumped, but as she thought about the few moments that had just retreated into the past, she realized it was her who had said it. The love and compassion didn't stop, but increased. The tears flowed even more now as if she sat weeping for her very own sister. “Oh God, please save her. Please heal her, please don't let her die.” Her words were met inside her soul with an affirmation so profound she had no words to describe it, she just knew to her core that she had been granted what she had asked for. The satchel came to her mind and she pulled out the items in it. The jar full of water and the jar with a purple crystal in it. The purple crystal shard that had linked her to the Thron, and the bag that held the fig from the garden. She knew instinctively what to do. She grabbed the bottle with the water and with a little of the air from the past, and then the bottle with the shard from the Thron and she set the bottle with the water on Keri's chest and held the bottle with the Thron Crystal in her hand. She sang, softly, but with all her heart. She sang the sweet song she heard coming through the window of the Heralds house that had brought her freedom from that awful place. “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me....” She began, softly but clear and strong. As she sang, a small light appeared at the heart of the Thron crystal. Soon silver and purple light filled the room and the jars began to shake. As she hit the last stanza”...we've no less days to sing God's praise then when we first began.” She felt the bolt of purple light come through the floor and strike the Thron shard and then shoot from there into the jar on Keri’s chest. A mist exploded from the jar that had silver electricity arcing through it. The mist enveloped Keri and the electric current struck her and in its light Alianna could see her bones as if she was looking at an X- Ray. Keri’s body stiffened and convulsed and then almost as soon as it had started it stopped. All the machines had shut down and there was smoke coming from them. There was a noise at her feet. The purple shard of the Thron lay at the floor by her left foot. Alarms were sounding all around her and almost without thinking Alianna grabbed the shard. and the satchel with the fig still in it and she ran from the room and darted into her own. She tossed the bag under the bed and scurried back in it and lay down. The alarms were louder now and so she sat upright, just as her mom was doing the same. Her mom looked bewildered, but recovered quickly and jumped up and was at the side of Alianna's bed faster than she thought possible. “Ali, are you here, Are you okay?” Her mother said frantically even though she could see her. “Yes mamma, I'm here. It sounds like an emergency.” Her mother breathed a sigh of relief and then grabbed her hand. “Thank God you're okay. Stay right here, I'm going to go see what happened.” Alianna just squeezed her moms hand reassuringly and nodded. Her mom then let go and rushed outside the door. She was gone for quite a few minutes before returning. She went over to Alianna. “I'm sorry I was gone so long, dear, it took me a while to find someone who wasn't involved in what was going on next door. It seems that there was a big malfunction with the monitors next door and they were smoking and someone said something about an electrical discharge. I hope the person in there is okay.” Alianna's eyes got big, and her shock was real. Everything had happened so quickly she hadn't registered what really had happened next door.

They got no sleep the rest of the night. By morning the Dr who had seen her yesterday came into the room. His face was one of bewilderment and awe. “Is everything okay Dr?” Her mom asked. It took a moment for the Dr to register that they were there. “Wha...Um...Yes, Mrs Oaksen, everything is very good.” He ran his hand through his hair and adjusted his glasses in an attempt to regain his composure. “I apologize for all the comotion last night. There was a major malfunction with the equipment in the room next door.”

He took another breath and continued. “Mrs Oaksen, it looks like your daughter is fine. The tests we ran showed no ill effects and it looks like she is not exhibiting any. I'm going to release her this morning, Unless...” He took another breath and shook his head. “What is it Doctor? Is there something wrong?” Her mom said worried. “No, actually its...well.. its a miracle. The patient next door is the young girl I had mentioned to you. The one with Leukemia who wasn't strong enough to go through with the needed procedure. Well, I don't know how this is possible, but she woke up this morning and is talking and drinking and eating. She has regained enough strength to go through with the transplant. That is what I meant by possibly not discharging Alianna today. As I said yesterday, your daughter is an exact match for the girls blood chemistry and so right now, she is the girls only hope of recovery. Are you still open to letting her be a doner?” Her mother's mouth fell open as this was the one thing she hadn't been considering. She looked at Alianna with her eyebrow raised. Alianna smiled and nodded her head fervently. “Yes, Mamma, I am willing to donate whatever she needs.” Her mother looked at her for a long moment and then nodded. “Could...Could I go see her?” Alianna asked to both grown ups. Her mother looked at the Dr and he nodded his head. “Yes Alianna. Her family will be here shortly but you can go over and see her. Mrs. Oaksen, there will be a number of forms for you and your husband to fill out, do not worry about the cost, I'm covering your daughter's costs for the transplant and recovery...” That was the last Alianna heard before she shut the door. She marveled briefly at the Dr's generosity, but what lay before her pushed those thoughts out. As she stood there looking at Keri's door a sudden fear came over her. “What do I say? The last words I said to her was that I hope she died. How do you follow that with Hey Keri I'm going to help save your life.” “God, please help me to say the right thing.” She prayed softly, but when she did it this time she didn't feel like she was just flinging words into the emptiness , but she felt as if she was heard. She felt her fear slowly fade and with a deep breath she reached for the handle and opened the door. She went into the room and looked at the far end where the bed was.

The monitors and instruments were still there but they were eerily silent and scorch marks were on some of them. As the door opened Keri's head came up and she looked at who was there. Alianna walked into the room and shut the door and walked toward the bed. As she got closer and Keri could see her, Keri began to move back in the bed away from her fear crawling across her face. “No...No...stay back, your..your dead, which...which means I'm dead. You're here to be the one right, the one to toss me into Hell, to get your revenge...No, please stay away..I don't want to die...” by this time Alianna had reached her. “Keri, no, that's not what's going on. I'm alive Keri and so are you, see warm hands.” She said as she reached up and gently placed her hand in Keri's. After a few moments Keri relaxed somewhat and she closed her hand around Alianna's. Fear turned to shock on Keri's face. “How...how is this possible. The last thing I remember hearing was that they had given up looking for you and that boy.” “It's a long story Keri, I'm so thankful that your feeling stronger.” As Alianna said that Keri began to shrink away from her again, she placed the sheet over her head and began to cry softly. “I'm so sorry, I look hideous.” Alianna reached up and slowly pulled the sheet down and looked up at Keri. “No you don't Keri, you are sick, but you aren't hideous.” Keri turned to look at her tears starting to come from her eyes. She put her hands up to cover her face. “But I am hideous , inside and out, I've hurt so many people, most of all I've hurt you. I was so terrible to you and you probably never knew why?”

Alianna was about to respond with some light bubbly forgiveness answer, but instead she sat down hard on the bed next to Keri and put her head in her hands and began to cry. All the hurt came flooding back, memories flooded her mind especially the one with Keri tossing her Nana's book out the window. Her hands clenched into fists as the anger followed the tears, which confused her because last night she had said she forgave Keri. Just then a hand touched her back, and at the same time an overwhelming peace came over her, her hurt and anger began to ebb away and she let go of her fists and turned to look at Keri. Keri had placed her hand on her back and was looking at her. Her eyes were a mix of fear, sympathy, and sorrow.

“I...I put so much attention on you so that that attention wouldn't go to someone else who I love very much, My sister Trudi. Her weight and other issues made her a prime target when she was younger, I got made fun of too pretty mercilessly when I was younger also.” Alianna looked shocked, she couldn't imagine anything that could give anyone any ammunition against Keri. Keri saw her look and nodded. “Its true. When I was five, I started getting bad headaches and nosebleeds and then became so weak. When I went to the hospital they told my parents I had Lukemia. They started therapy, and all my hair fell out. So the kids at School started calling me cuetip and baldy, and other things. They began picking on Trudi too. The treatments worked a little but they said I needed a bone marrow transplant. The problem was that I had a very unique blood chemistry and so it was very hard to find a donor. The only person they could find was my Daddy. They did the procedure as soon as they could and within a month or two I was feeling better and after a year they said it was working. My daddy saved my life and He was my Hero. He made me feel better when I felt so sick. I..I loved my daddy very much.” She said softly. She took a deep breath and Alianna could hear the tears that breath was holding back. “Two years later, the kids had stopped making fun of me because my hair had grown back and then they pretty much forgot about me, but they didn't about Trudi they kept making fun of her. I did what I could, but...It was hard because I didn't want them to make fun of me again too.

That winter my Dad got orders to go to Afghanistan. He was a Captain in the United States Marines and his unit had been called overseas. He'd been deployed before, but this time I felt so afraid, like I wouldn't see him again. Before he left he knelt down and made me promise that I would protect Trudi no matter what, that I would keep the kids from picking on her. I didn't know how I would do it, but I swore to my Daddy that I would do it, I vowed to him that I would protect Trudi from the bullies. He hugged me, told me he was proud of me, and then he left through our door.”

She closed her eyes and the tears freely came out of them. “Tha...That was the last time I saw him.” She opened them and looked at Alianna. Alianna could see almost right into the middle of Keri's soul. All her defenses were down and Alianna could see a young girl with a broken heart, and an empty hole where her hero once stood. “His armored transport was hit by one of those roadside bombs, he survived the explosion but he went right back into the wreckage and pulled three of his fellow Marines out of the fire. They survived, but...he didn't. The engine exploded as he was pulling the fourth Marine out. They...They both died. That was the worst day of my life. The day the two Marine officer's came to our door. I'd...I'd never heard my mom cry like that before. When they told her she collapsed and cried harder than I'd heard anyone cry before. I didn't cry then, I was too numb to feel it. When we went down to Washington D.C to the Air Force base where the coffins were being brought off the plane. That's when I lost it, when the casket draped in the American flag came off the plane. I screamed so loud and ran toward the casket and threw my arms around it and I cried, I cried for days. I couldn't believe my Hero, my Daddy was dead. I...I still have nightmares about that day, when his casket came off the plane.” She took a deep breath and wiped at her eyes and went on. “After he died, that promise I made to him became my life's mission. Everything I did was done to protect Trudi. I tried everything I could think of, but nothing seemed to work. Then I noticed that the cool kids at school never got picked on, neither did their friends. That's when I knew what I had to do, I had to become popular, the most popular girl in School. I read every book and magazine I could. Learned how to do my hair and wear makeup, and how to find the most stylish clothes. I learned wit, sarcasm, humor, everything I could. I became the smartest kid in the class, the best student, everything I could to make sure everyone adored me. And it worked, when I got to Sixth Grade I was invited to the Queen's table by Jim's sister Julie. I had learned about the game through gymnastics and cheerleading as I moved up through elementary school. Julie, however, did not invite Trudi in sixth grade, and so I worked even harder, knowing Trudi wouldn’t be safe unless I became Queen, because only if I was Queen could I bring her to the safety of the table. So, I learned to play the game better than anyone. And when 7th grade came I knew my competition would be Amy Reader. She was a tough opponent, Her older sister was a Queen when she had been in school and had taught her all she knew. I outplayed her though, and toward the end of the year, the Queen had made me her Heir. I knew I had won then, and knew that I had arrived and that the next year I would make Trudi my second and she would finally be protected. But even at that point, when I had declared she would be my second, there were still some comments that I would hear, or malicious posts on social media that were making fun of Trudi, also I knew that next year I would need to start all over at the bottom in High School. I knew she still wasn't safe. I needed to do something that would take all the heat off of her for good. I needed it to go onto someone else, someone new and not one of the others that were already being picked on. I needed a new face for them to direct their punishment to, and keep putting it too instead of Trudi.” Keri looked at Alianna, and Alianna’s face fell as she realized that that person was her. ”Why Me?” “Why you?” Alianna almost jumped as Keri answered the same question she just asked in her head.

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“It was at a soccer game in the spring of Seventh grade, when you were in Sixth. Me and some of the table had gone to see Jim play soccer. Your game was before his and so we watched the rest of your game. It was tied and there were ten seconds left. You stole the ball from the defender, went in and scored the game winning goal. You were so excited and ran over to the sidelines and jumped into your dad's arms and he swung you around. It was that moment that I picked you. I was so flooded with anger and jealousy that you had a daddy's arms to run into and I didnt; that I couldn't deal with it. All muy hurt and anger latched onto you and I decided then and there that you would be the one to take the heat.

I knew Alison wanted to join the cheer team, her mom wouldn't stop bugging my mom about it. I also knew you two were best friends. At gymnastics she would always go on and on about you, about how good a friend you were to her. I...I knew that if I invited her and not you, it would split you both apart, and then you would be alone and I could make you the spectacle I needed.” She stopped then and looked at her. Alianna didn't see any hatred or triumph in her eyes, just an emptiness that chilled her. “Alianna, I'm not going to say I'm sorry, because sorry doesn't even come close to making up for what I did to you this past year and a half. But whatever word would cover it is what is in my heart.”

Keri looked down, too ashamed to continue. Alianna reached out and lifted her head up to look at her. Keri's eyes were red and empty. The peace still filled her and that love and compassion she had felt for Keri last night filled her again and it filled her voice. “Keri, you don't owe me anymore then I owe you. I said something truly terrible to you the last day I saw you. I told you that I hoped you died. In that moment Keri, I meant it, I meant it from the bottom of my heart. I hated you with all that I was Keri. My mom had described what hate meant to me once. It means that you wanted to see someone suffer and burn forever. That's what I felt for you. I hated you Keri, and that is one of the worst things you can do to someone is hate them.” Keri looked at her so forlornly. “But that's just it Alianna, I deserve exactly what you felt for me. I deserved death...” Alianna's mouth dropped open and she gasped. “Keri... why would you think you deserved death?” Keri looked to the far wall where a crucifix hung on the wall. On the floor underneath was a Bible laying open on the floor with the cover facing the ceiling. Alianna jumped down and went over and picked up the bible and flipped it over. It was open to Romans chapter 6. Alianna began skimming the page to see what Keri was talking about, then she saw it at the end. “...The wages of sin are Death...” Alianna looked up at Keri, the compassion clear on her face. Keri was in tears again. “Do you see it! It says the wages of sin is death. I've sinned so greatly, no Priest will be able to get rid of it. That's why my Leukemia came back. Why I'm here now and there is no one to be a donor for me, it’s why...I'm going to die.” She pulled her knees up to her chest and buried her head in them and began to cry. Alianna rushed over to the bed, climbed up and put her arm around Keri. “Shhh, Keri, Shh.” She tried to be soothing. “Keri, that is what Romans 6:23 says in the first part of it, but you didn't keep reading. The rest of the verse says that “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Keri stopped crying and looked up. “Wha..what?” Alianna showed her the passage. “But, I'm Catholic, I've been Baptized, Received the Eucharist, Confirmed and everything, why would I still be dying if the second part is true. Maybe, maybe I'm not really Catholic.” She said as fear played across her face. “It's not about being Catholic Keri, its about knowing Jesus and believing in him, believing that he died for you.” Alianna said. “But, I know about him and have gone to church, I...I…don't understand, and I don't think I'll have time to find it out. I know I'm stronger right now but the Dr said the Lukemia is still there and I still need the procedure to get better, but there is still no donor and so I...I'm still going to die.” She said sorrowfully. Alianna smiled and shook her head. “Not true. There is a donor and you are not going to die.” Keri's mouth dropped open. “What? A donor?” She looked around as if the person would be standing in the room. “When...When will they be here, who are they?” Alianna reached out and turned her face to look at her's. Then Alianna smiled a big smile. Keri looked at her with confusion until slowly it dawned on her. “You....You can be my donor?” Alianna nodded vigorously and said “Yep, the Dr told us last night that I was an exact match for your blood. I just told him that I was willing to be a donor. My mom is in the next room signing the papers.” Keri still stared at her with her mouth open. Trying to say something but unable too. Eventually she swallowed hard and opened her mouth. “Why? How? How could you want to save me, after everything I've done? Your life would be better without me around, Why?” Alianna moved forward and wrapped her in a hug.

“Because my life was saved from a terminal sickness Keri, buy someone who had no reason to save me, yet He did. I was dying from the cancer of Sin Keri and Jesus took that away. I don't hate you Keri, I want to help you, I'd give you one of my kidneys if it was needed. I just saw it in you Keri, you are able to Love. You loved your daddy and your sister and so you are someone who I would want to be part of my life. And to that end.” Alianna pulled back and looked at Keri. “ You can call me Ali, all my friends do. Currently that consist of two people, but I would be honored if I could call you a friend too.” Keri looked at her. “Why would you want to be my friend though, to have me be a part of your life?” Alianna looked at her as if the answer should have been obvious. “Because there will soon be a part of me in you. I'm not sure what Bone Marrow does, but soon mine will be inside you. We'll be connected and I couldn't be that close to someone who wasn't my friend.” Keri thought hard for a moment and then smiled and said something that Alianna didn't catch. “What?” Keri looked up and for the first time since Alianna had entered the room she smiled. “Bone marrow makes blood cells, your bone marrow will be making blood cells for me. What I said was, Sanguis Soribus. Its a Latin phrase, it means Blood Sisters.” A huge smile burst onto Alianna's face as all of the ramifications of what Keri said hit her. She threw her arms around her again and started to sequel with glee. After a moment Keri joined her with joyful laughter. Keri let the joy flood her heart. She never thought she would have a close friend again. She had seen the video that Alison had made before Trudi cleared it from her phone; she had never thought anyone would be her friend again after seeing her puking, ad infinitum. Now, the one person she had hurt the worst had now accepted her to be her friend. She felt something deeper there, something else that she knew she should learn from Ali's example but she couldn't place it right then.

Just then the door opened and they both looked toward it. Keri's mom ran into the room toward the bed. Alianna let go just as Mrs. Bellows threw her arms around her daughter. “Oh Keri, oh my precious girl, I...I didn't think I'd get to hug you again.” Keri began to cry. “I didn't think I'd get to tell you I loved you again mom.” Alianna saw Trudi and Mr Bellows enter the room, and something clicked in her head. She had always thought Mr Bellows was Keri's dad, but he must be her stepfather because of what she told her. They moved over toward the bed with relief and excitement on their faces. Alianna then saw her mom in the doorway standing with the Dr. She placed the Bible on the table next to the bed and jumped down and went to stand next to her mom. She smiled up at her mom and her mom put her arm around her. Keri's mom pulled away and let Trudi in to hug Keri. They both cried with joy at being able to hug each other again. After a minute Trudi pulled away and made room For Mr Bellows. He hesitated though as if he wasn't sure how to proceed. Keri looked up at him and smiled. She reached out her hand and took his in hers. “I..I didn't think I would have the chance to tell you what I wanted to tell you for such a long time. I am so sorry I never said it to you before this, but I don't want to miss my chance again. You have taken such good care of me and my mom and Trudi these past four years, and I can't imagine how much this summer has cost you with all these medical expenses. You have always shown me love, and I didn't return it. I...It was so hard because I couldn't put anyone else in the place of my Daddy, but that was so selfish and wrong of me and I am so sorry for the hurt that has caused you. I...I don't think I could call you daddy, but would it be okay if I called you dad?” She said with sincerity flooding out of her. Mr Bellows had tears forming in his eyes. He knelt down and wrapped his arms around Keri. “Oh Keri, there is nothing you need to apologize for. I know how much you loved your Dad, he was a good man and he loved you very much. I never assumed I could take his place. You can call me dad Keri, I will do everything I can to be a good one.” Keri squeezed him tighter. Trudi began to back away until Mr Bellows arm reached out and pulled her into his embrace also. She hugged them and they all began to cry happy tears. Mrs' Bellows joined them and Alianna looked up at her mom with happy tears running down her face, she laughed slightly when she saw the same tears on her mom's face. They hugged too, caught up in the emotion of the moment.

After a few minutes the Dr. cleared his throat. Everyone stood up and looked at him. Trudi crawled into bed and put her arms around Keri. “Mr and Mrs Bellows. as I explained to you on the phone, Keri is currently strong enough to go through the transplant procedure, but I cannot say how long that will continue. We need to do the procedure as soon as possible. Do I have your permission to proceed?” Mrs Bellows looked at Mr Bellows, who nodded his head. She looked to the Dr. “Absolutely Dr, please proceed, will it take long for the donor to get to the hospital?” The Dr smiled and motioned toward Alianna. “She's already here Mrs Bellows.” It was the first time the Bellows had noticed there was someone else in the room. Keri smiled and waved at her, Alianna waved back and smiled. Trudi looked completely confused. Mr Bellows was smiling. Mrs Bellows, however, looked at both her and her mom and fear came over her face. She moved slowly over to them and she looked intently at her mother's face. Alianna could see recognition in her mom's eyes. Mrs Bellows knelt down and looked up at her mother. “Please Emily, please don't punish my daughter for what I did to you and what she’s done to Alianna. I..I can’t imagine what this summer was like for you. Please, hate me forever, but please save Keri, please don't stop this.” Her mom looked shocked and Alianna did see the hurt that rose to the front of her continuance, but she shook her head quickly and reached down and drew Mrs Bellows into a hug. “God has given me back my daughter Priscilla, how could I stand in the way of Him giving you back yours. I forgive you Priscilla, please forgive me for that hatred I had toward you.” Both women hugged tighter and shed tears.

The Dr looked at Mr Bellows. “Mrs Oaksen has already signed the required papers. Now that I have your consent I'll get everything ready. Alianna, if you will wait in your room the nurses will be in in a half hour to get you ready for the procedure. I'll be back soon once I have everything set up.” He said with a smile and left the room. Alianna ran over to the bed and gave Keri and Trudi a hug. “I'll see you after.” Alianna said to Keri. Keri smiled at her. “Thank you so much Ali, for everything.” Trudi looked at Keri and then Alianna. “Thank you so much for being willing to help my sister. I'm..I'm sorry for everything I ever did to you, and I'm glad you're okay.” Trudi said softly. Alianna hugged her too. “I'm sorry too Trudi for every hate filled thing I ever thought about you.” She pulled away and looked at Keri. “Can you both forgive me for those vile thoughts?” They looked at each other confused. Keri was about to argue, but she remembered their conversation and smiled. “I forgive you Ali, only if you can forgive me?” “Us?” Said Trudi. Alianna smiled and nodded. “Definitely.” She said as she hugged them both and then went over to her mom. Who squeezed Mrs Bellows one last time and then put her arm around Alianna and led her back to her room.

A half hour latter the nurses came in to prep her for the procedure. They had told her that they will be placing a very large, needle into her thigh and into the bone and witdraw the bone marrow. They had told her it would be very painful afterwards and she would be probably unable to run for a week or so. She would aslo need to be careful of sickness or injury for a few weeks. Her mom and dad were there when the Anesthesiologist put the needle into her IV. She smiled at her parents and then didn't remember a thing.

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Anne sat next to Jaius in the back seat on the way Home. She looked over at him. He noticed after a minute that she didn't look away. He looked over at her. “Everything okay?” She became startled as if she hadn't realized he'd seen her. “Yeah, just have to stare sometimes to make sure your still here. I...I wasn't okay Jaius these past four months. I just kept thinking about that fight we had before you dissapared and it haunted me.” He smiled at her. “I'm not going anywhere Anne. I'm here and not going to disappear.” She nodded. “I know, but then I think, you just disssapeared before, why not again.” He looked at her with a startled and then worried look and nodded to his parents in the front. She looked like she wanted to say more, but then clamped her mouth shut and thought. “You should talk to Sissy when you get home, She is still spending way too much time in her room and I can hear her crying when I stand at the door. When I said I wasn't okay while you were gone, Sissy actualy had to go to the hospital, a special hospital. She...she tried to hurt herself Jaius. Something bad happened to her back in Pittsburgh but she wouldn't tell me what it was, but it was connected to why she always treated you so badly. Maybe you can talk to her when we get home. I think she wants to talk to you, she just feels so ashamed of how she treated you.” Jaius sighed sadly. “I wish she wouldn't feel so bad, its not her fault. It would have happened if she had been nice or not nice.” Anne shook her head. “You don't understand Jaius, its also linked to whatever happened to her back in Pittsburgh. When...when you dissapeared she started having nightmares, and then flashbacks while she was awake. She would scream bloody murder Jaius. She tried to cut her wrists, using Dad's hunting Knife he keeps in his study, he walked in on her while she was....” Their mother cleared her throat far more loudly then would have been needed. She turned her head partway to the back and looked at Anne and slightly shook her head. Anne looked like she was about to protest, but then took a deep breath and sat back in her seat. A tear leaked out of Jaius's eye. Sis and he had had a really close relationship when they were younger. Then about the time he became an alter boy she began to sour toward him. But to hear that she tried to kill herself, partly because of what happened to him made his heart ache. He looked at Anne. “I'll talk to her.” She smiled and sighed with Relief.

When they got home there were cards, flowers, present's food, everywhere. Some were from family others from strangers around the country and the world who had heard about them and were happy they were safe. His mouth dropped open. No one had paid this much attention to him before, he didn't know how to react. Then he remembered what Anne had said about Sis and he closed his mouth and headed for the stairs. He went up the five stairs and looked up and the Whole House fan was still there, Anne’s room was still on the left and his on the right. He peaked in and saw that everything was still the way he left it. He smiled at that. “They hadn't given up on me.” He went down the hall and then stopped at the next door on the right. He could hear soft crying. He took a deep breath and then knocked on the door. The crying stopped and he didn't hear anything. “Sis, its me, can I come in?” He didn't hear anything for about twnety seconds then came a very soft, almost too soft to hear, reply. “Yes.” “I must still have my super hearing.” He thought to himself. He opened the door and he saw Sis, curled up on the green bamboo futon chair in the corner of the room just ahead of him. She had a box of tissues next to her and a squishy snoopy with a valentine heart that a past boyfriend had gotten for her. She was holding it like she had been burying her face in it. Her eyes were red and swollen and her hair was all unkempt. But when she saw him, she got up blew her nose and then walked over to him and hugged him. He hugged her back. “I am so glad you're okay Jaius.” She said and then smiled and walked back over to her chair. Jaius pulled over her swivel desk chair and sat down. Across from her. “Thanks Sis, I'm glad your okay too.” He said, unable to keep his eyes from going to her wrists and the bandages that still covered them. She covered each wrist with the opposite hand, and hung her head. Jaius wheeled the chair over to be close to her and reached out and touched her hand. “It's okay Sis.” She looked up at him, and he could see her again, the Sis that loved him. The one who used to play hide and seek with him and countless boardgames, and bowling and all kinds of fun things. “What happned Sis?. Anne said that you started remembering something that happened to you, but somehow that got mixed up with me.” Then a terrible thought hit his brain. “Did..did I hurt you somehow when we lived in Pittsburgh?” He said quietly, afraid of the answer. Her head started shaking back and forth. “Absolutly not Jaius, don't even think it. You had nothing to do with it, even though...even though I put all my hurt on you. Thats what makes how I treated you so terrible, you didn't deserve any part of it.” She said as she tried to drive the point home by staring intenetly at him with her blood shot eyes. He knew he had to lighten the mood somehow. “Well, I probably deserved some of it, like that time I used your Barbie Dream Mansion as my Death Star.” He grinded. She froze for a moment, not sure what he was talking about then a small smile appeared on her face. “Yeah, and I complained to Mom and Dad and what did they do? They got you a Lego Death Star for your Birthday. You know, you still didn’t thank me for that.” She laughed a little and so did he. “Thanks Jaius, I think a little laugh will make saying this much easier.” He smiled and nodded. She took a deep breath and let it out. “When you were about 8 you begged Mom and Dad to let you train to become an Alterboy at church. For years before that you would always go around telling everyone about your new favorite Saint and how you were going to be a saint one day. It never bothered me until that time you wanted to be an Alterboy. Because after your first training session you came home and told us you wanted to be a priest someday. I remember you saying that and all of a sudden all this anger and hate welled up inside me toward you. I...I didn't know why, but I couldn't stop it. Every time I saw you or heard your voice after that I wanted to yell at you, or run away. I tried to keep it hidden inside me, but it eventually came out and that was when we drifted apart.” A tear ran down Jaius's cheek as the memory of that year came back. The year she stopped wanting to be around him. “I know. I didn't know why you didn't like me anymore.” He said sadly. “I didn't know either Jaius, that's what made it so terrible. I loved you, but hated you at the same time and I couldn't figure out why.” She took a deep breath. “Until this summer. When you disappeared, for a week or so I was worried, but otherwise okay. I really believed they would find you, that you had gotten lost walking home or something. But, when a week turned into two and then three and they gave up physically looking for you and Alianna, It started to sink in that I might never see you again. And then how badly I had treated you those last few days before you left began to weigh heavily on me. I couldn't believe the horrible things that I said to you that were the last things I may have said to you. So I started really looking at why I hated you so much. It had become so common for me that I didn't even think about it, but a few weeks ago I started really thinking hard about it. That's when the nightmares started. I was in a confessional going through training for the sacrament of confession with the priest. And then fear would wash over me and I would wake up screaming. After about a week of that, I started having flashbacks. Reliving those times in the confessional. Finally, I was at a sleepover at Chrissy's house and I was in the bathroom and one of the light bulbs went out and the light lowered to the same dimness as the Confessional, and the bathroom reminded me of it. Suddenly I was back there in the confessional and remembered everything. I screamed and cried and was thrashing around. I had, what the therapist called a total recall. I remembered what happened and, well, it was horrible. I wasn't just remembering it, I was reliving it over and over. That priest, he...he hurt me Jaius, really bad, I was so young though I couldn't remember it, I had blocked it out.” She looked at him with shame and self loathing covering her face. “I am so sorry Jaius, I poured everything on you.” She took a deep breath and kept going. “I...When you told us you wanted to become a priest, somehow I connected the priest that hurt me to you, and you became the same person in my head. All my anger and hate and loathing that should have gone to that Priest, went instead to you.” Her head hung down until her chin touched her chest and her shoulders began to shake. It wasn't violent shaking or that of deep crying, but a hopeless, moroseful movement. Jaius couldn't even begin to imagine what she had gone through. He had heard the news stories about priests who hurt children and he now understood what that meant. He wanted to jump inside his sister and fight the emptiness that was consuming her, or go to Pittsburgh and show that priest what pain really was, but knowing that he could do neither he did the only thing He could think of. Jaius got up, moved over, pulled his sister up with the strength he had gained from being in the past and pulled her into his arms. She hung limply in his arms, the only things keeping her up. “Jen, I am so sorry that that happened to you, I wish I could make everything okay for you, but I want you to know that I forgive you, Please forgive me for how I've treated you.” When he said he forgave her, her cries slowed then stopped and she pushed herself away from him and looked at him with this odd mixture of hope and frustration on her face. “How...How could you possibly forgive me? I've been absolutely horrid to you, for years. I should bow down right now and be your life long slave for how I treated you and you are saying that you forgive me?” Jaius's feet gave out when she said she should be his slave. The images of Maleric's machine, of the torture that Alianna had endured, of what he had done to Jekk overwhelmed him. Suddenly, Sis's demeanor changed from a horridly broken girl, to Big sister. She got down next to him and put her arms around him. He became aware of the tears and cries that were coming from him. “Shh. Shh, J its okay, I'm here.” It had been years since she had called him that. In that moment he felt it, she was back, that bond with her reforged by the utterance of a single letter. She was quiet for a moment and then she gasped. “J, it was when I said I should be your slave, that's when your feet gave out. J, were....were you and Alianna...were you made to be slaves? Is that why you couldn't come home?” Her statement brought an end to his tears. For a moment the thought entered his head that he should go with this, that it would be a great cover story for what really happened, but in the end something in him wouldn't allow himself to go down that road. He shook his head and pushed away from her. He looked at her, trying to see through her to see if he could trust her. He knew the cat was enough out of the bag that he had to say something, so, he decided to tell her everything. “Sis, um, Okay, well.” He took a deep breath and let it out. “I'll tell you what happened to us, but you have to swear to belive me and never to tell a soul!” He said more sincerely than he had ever said anything before. She looked at him with large eyes. Of course I'll believe you and I promise not to tell anyone, unless you were sold into slavery, then I need to tell the police.” She said, her tone broaching no argument. “It wasn't slavery.” He said plainly. “At least not like you are thinking.” He took another deep breath and then began. He started with a summation of what lead up to Alianna running away from School and then him following her. Then at the creek and then the wind, and then he told her everything. She didn't speak the whole time. Her mouth dropped open at some points, but she didn't speak the whole time. When he finished she sat back and just looked at him. She moved as if she was going to leap up and run out the door, but then stopped and just stared at him. “I...” She almost bolted for the door again but stopped as she saw Anne come into the room. Anne knelt down and looked at Sis and placed her hand on her shoulder. “It's all true Sis.” She said plainly. Sis looked at her, shook her head back and forth. “It can't be, it...it just cant be true. How would you know anyway!” She shot back at Anne, suspicion filling her tone. “Did you see his eyebrow twitch at any point while he was speaking.” Sis opened her mouth to speak a ready made argument, but then closed it as she thought for a long moment, looked back at Jaius, then back to Anne. “Na...No....I didn't see it twitch once.” She said and she sat back down hard and looked at Jaius. Jaius shook his head. “Are you serious, you too with the eyebrow! How come no one ever told me that that happened when I lied?” He said incredulously. They both looked at eachother and for the first time since he arrived in the Oaksen's backyard they both busted out laughing. It wasn't a mean laughing, more of an inside joke laugh when the inside joke becomes and outside joke. “We couldn't tell you about it J.” Said Sis, a smile appearing on her face. “Yeah, what good would that have served, then we wouldn't have been able to tell when you were lying.” Anne giggled. Months ago if this had happened he would have stormed out of the room filled with anger and hurt, but right now, he felt a laugh bubble up in hiom, and before he could stop it it came out. Once out, many more followed. As the laughter filled the air the feeling in the room lightened and soon they were all in one big group hug, relishing in the feeling of being back together. Not long after that their parents came in checking on what the laughter might mean. They joined in the hug and a new day began for the McFarlands.

When she woke up she couldn't' remember where she was or what was going on. She was in a bed and there was a bloodpreasure cuff on her arm and an Iv in the other one. There was a nurse looking down at her as her eyes opened slightly. “Alianna, can you hear me, wake up dear.” The nurse said kindly. She felt like she was swimming through tapioca pudding. She tried to open her eyes, but if felt like they were glued shut. “Am I still at the Catha-Dral?” “Who is Nisa dear, is that your sister?” The nurse said. That brought her eyes open. Driven by fear the rest of her consciousness returned along with her memory. “Oh no, what did I tell her.” “There you are dear. How do you feel?” Said the nurse. “Sleepy.” She was able to croak out. “Thats okay dear we'll get you back to your room and you can sleep for as long as you want.” When the nurse said that Alianna realized just how exhuasted she was. She hadn't sletp well since leaving Adam and Eve's hut, even then she didn't sleep that well. It had probably been weeks since she got a good nights sleep. Sleeping the rest of the day away sweemed really good to her. As the nurse wheeled her toward the door out of the PACU she looked at her. “She was a good friend.” The nurse looked confused. “Who dear?” “Nisa, you asked who she was.” “Oh yes, well that's nice dear, you'll get to see her very soon.” The nurse had apparently not caught the “was”, Alianna did though and it drove like a knife in her heart. “I'll never get to see her again, will I?” She held back the tears, because she didn't want anyone asking why she was crying, but it was so hard. The thought that Nisa had grown old and died thousands of years ago tore at her.

She saw her parents when she got back to the room, and Jaius was there too. Her parents hugged her and asked how she was doing. She had told them she was good, just very tired. They understood and were going to leave. Before they left she asked if she could talk with Jaius for a few minutes. Her parents looked at them and then eachother. Something passed between them, but after a few moments her dad nodded. “Just for a few minutes” Her dad directed to both of them, looked last at Jaius and then they left leaving the door partialy open. Jaius looked after them for a a few seconds but then shook his head and moved closer to the bed. He dropped his voice to just above a whisper, knowing she could hear it as if he was speaking normally. He told her about his conversation with his older sister, and that she knew too, but wasn't going to tell anyone. She had nodded and told him about almost telling the nurse. “Wow, we need to try to not have surgery for a while, who knows what we'll say.” She laughed slightly and nodded. She looked at him, searching, trying to understand this worry that was building in her. They had been through so much togeather, and had become so close. So close in fact that had things gone differently they would have been married. Thousands of years ago that might have been okay, He had been a Knight, She had been a Queen but here, in the present, what did that look like? Here they were both 13 and were heading into Eighth grade in a few weeks, granted they can pass an equivalancy test, her mom had called it. Would the closeness they had in the past remain here.

Would they date, or would they drift apart caught in the malestrom of the modern world. The books she had read brought her stories of both scenarios, and some that were less appealing, but none of them held any guidance for what she should do with these confusing thoughts. He reached out and took her hand in his. “It's okay Ali. We don't need to figure it out now. We got lots of time now, and no Tyrants or witches hunting us.” He said, giving her hand a squeeze. She blushed and looked down. “Did you develop the ability to read minds in the past too Son of Maleric?” She said looking up at him with one raised eye. He grinned and shook his head. “No My Hyress, I was just thinking the same thoughts.” She squeezed his hand back. And then her head slumped back into the pillow and she found it very hard to keep her eyes open. “Are you okay?” She nodded slightly. “Yes...just...so...tired...” She whispered as her eyes closed and her breathing became slow and normal for someone who was sleeping. Jaius breathed a sigh of relief and bent in and kissed the back of her hand. He walked backward to the door and bowed, sharply turned on his heel and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Hours, or Days later she could not tell which, her brain began to stir. “Where am I?” She thougth. She felt the softness of a good bed beneath her and the warmth of a blanket. She also became aware of someone else in the room. Her eyes flew open and she took in everything at once. She was still in the hospital room and there was someone sitting in the chair with their head down. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Hello, Who's there.” The person looked up and she recognized the boy that was sittng there. Her heart skipped a beat and she felt beterayed that it had. It was Jim Kurtz. Her big crush and dream, her soulmate, and its destroyer. Two Jim's floated in her heart, the one she had thought was so dreamy, and the other that had crushed her heart that day in the cafeteria. Waves of emotions that she had no names for careened out of her heart and she began to cry, because she could not process nor contain them.

Jim got up and walked over to the bed. He had thought this would be her response, he ddin't blame her for despising him, but he needed to say what he came to say. “Emi...” He cleared his throat. “Alianna. I don't expect you to ever forgive me for how I treated you that day, I don't deserve it, but I needed to tell you two things, and then I'll leave you alone. I need to tell you that from the bottom of my heart I am sorry for how I treated you that day. It was horrible of me and I have no excuse. Keri confessed to me this morning that everything she had said about you had been a lie.” He took a deep breath, and she could hear with her super hearing the sincerity of what he said and what he said after. “From the bottom of my heart Alianna I need to thank you also. You gave my best friend a shot at a comeback. I can never repay this debt, but...If I can ever help you with anything just ask. I'll also understand if you never want to see me again.” He looked like he was going to say something else, but then closed his mouth and turned and began to move toward the door. Her hand reached out before she could think about it and grabbed his wrist. He stopped, froze in place. Slowly he turned around and she knew she looked a mess but there was nothing she could do about it. “I...” He began but she just shook her head. “I..I forgive you Jim, but the pain is still there, but also the thought of wanting you as a friend. It's all swirling in me and I don't know how to handle it right now.” “I must be a mess, I'm telling him everything as it comes through my head.” She thought wryly. “I..I definitely understand Alianna and you definitely have every right to be hurt..” She held her hand up to stop him. “Keri and I are friends now, we're actually, I guess pretty close since a part of me is now in her. You are her best friend so, well, your my friend too, but I still feel all this pain and I don't know what to do with it, but I like you too and want you to be in our little group that's forming, but its just going to be hard for a while, so I hope you can accept that? And I don't know why I'm saying everything that's coming through my head to you, Im...Im sorrry.” Her mouth clamped shut as she was finally able to exert some control over it. She'd never talked like that before to anyone. Words were very important to her and she tried very hard to watch each word before it left her mouth. He just looked at her trying to open his mouth to say something but couldn't get it out. She took a deep breath and let it out and then looked at him. “When you first came over you started to say Emily, why?” This caught him off guard a bit but he finnaly recovered and answered. “That's how I first really met you. I mean I knew of you, but all I knew was what Keri and the other's told me. But that day you came in as Emily, I...I got to get to know the real you and it blew me away.” Her heart fluttered when he said that, something she had dreamed of hearing for so long, but the reality didn't quite fit her imagination. She wasn't on cloud nine like she had always imagined she'd be if he even acknowledged her, let alone him telling her She'd blown him away. “But, It...Emily was a lie Jim, I was lying to you.” He shook his head. “I thought so at first to, that you had lied to me, I mean, you did, about the name, but not about the person. Alison helped me to see it. She told me that the person I met that day was the real you, the you that had been there before we had all laid into you.” He looked down and took a breath and then looked up. “You came in Alianna like a tornado and flung my cool around like it was so much deabre and then when I realiezed how wrong I had been you were already gone and I couldn't find out if what I had seen was real or not. Now your back, and I know the truth, but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one that feels this way about you.” He said as he looked over his shoulder at the door thinking that Jaius might just be standing right there then looked back. She sighed and looked at him.

“You don't know how long I dreamed about you saying this to me, of this very conversation, except in my head it was on a wind swept hill with just us and there was music playing and birds and everything, but here it is, that moment and there is no hill or birds or music, but a hospital room with monitor's and I look terrible and you're telling me that you like me, and I don't know what to do with it. Ali...I mean, Alison was right Jim, that was me, no masks or anything, just me, and I feel like I saw you. But that was then, four months may not seem like a long time but it felt like four years and I’m not the same person I was and my heart isn't the same either, it's new and different and you're not the only one in it and...” She clamped her mouth shut and sqeezed her eyes shut and internaly beraded herself for doing it again. She opened them and looked at him. “I don't know what to say or do right now, and I'm making a complete freak of myself and its only making it worse, and I think I need to rest, but you can sit with us at lunch if you want to.” She said the last part as calmly and politely as she could manage. His face was falling more and more as she talked but when she finished with inviting him to their table he put his trade mark grin just slightly on his face. “You'd all want to be seen with me?” She smiled slightly. “If you'd want to be seen with us. I mean, it will be me, Jaius, Keri and Trudi. We are on the Tables number 1 hit list.” He shrugged his shoulder's. “I'm not on good terms with Alison or anyone else at the Table so I'll be in the same boat anyway.” She smiled. “Then welcome to the reject table.” He smiled. “My view of the game has changed a lot, I'm starting to see Alison's table as the regect table, I wouln't put yourelves down. You are great, and if Jaius is that important to you he must be cool too, and I already know that Keri and Trudi are great so I think we'll have the best table there.” He smiled. She smiled back. “Thanks Jim.” Then her smiled and faded a little as something he said caught up to her. “Jim...what...what did you mean when you said Alison's Table?” He looked at her a bit shocked. “Don't you know?” She shook her head. “Alison was elected Queen of the table for this coming year. From what I hear too, she has it locked, everyone is behind her. They are calling her the Ice Queen, because she isn't afraid of stepping on any toes that she needs to to get what she wants.” Fear gripped Alianna's heart as the weight of this set in. Now it wasn't just Keri using her diary against her, it's going to be the person who knew her better than anyone else as head of the table that had caused her so much pain over the past year. Jim must have taken her distress for a sign that she needed to be alone. “It will be okay Alianna, we'll have a better table then theirs. I better go though, I'm not actually supposed to be here, I kinda snuck in.” He said softly. He waved at her, and then turned quickly and went to the door and opened. it. She knew she couldn't leave it like this, she had to say something. “Jim.” He paused and looked back. “Ali. Call me Ali, it's what my friends call me.” He smiled. “Have a good night Ali, I'll see you on the first day of School.” She smiled at him and then he was gone.

She picked up the Iphone her dad had given her the day she had left. She Looked at her contacts and shook her head. The only person listed there was Olivia. “I so need a friend, a girlfriend right now.” She tapped Oliva's name and texted her. “I so need you here right now.” She sent it. A few seconds later the three dots appeared which meant she saw it and then disappeared which meant she was typing. Hey Ali! I'll be right up.'' Ten minutes later her door opened and Olivia walked in and shut the door. She smiled and waved and walked over to the bed and gave her a hug. It was then that the floodgates opened. After a few seconds Oliva caught her need and she crawled up into the bed with her and just held her while she cried and was sad and angry and happy and scared all at the same time.

Eventually she was able to tell Olivia what happened and what she was feeling. She was so glad it was Oliva that she had been able to reach out to because they shared the same relationship with Jesus and Oliva started telling her parts of the bible and then pulled up her bible app and showed her where she was quoting from. As she read these words they began to come alive to her like no other book ever had. A hunger began to ache in her heart to read this book more. For hours after Olivia left she read and read. She began with “In the Beginning...” She stopped once her mom came in to check on her. She had read about Cain lying to God, and how Abraham lied to Abimelech about Sarah being his wife, and a few other instances of lying, had her heart grinding inside her with guilt as she saw her mom. She couldn't hold it any longer, this lie that she couldn't remember where they were but she was so afraid to tell any grown up because of them not believing her or what they might do once they found out. Her mom came right over when she saw the turmoil she was in, and Alianna knew she couldn’t hold this lie anymore and so she spilled everything to her mom. She showed her mom the Book of Genesis that she had just read where it describes the Garden and Adam and Eve and Enoch, and her mother was unreadable the whole time which made it that much worse every time she looked up to try to see if her mom believed her or not. Her mom gave her a stern look when she mentioned the part about their plan to get married to stop a war with Maleric and she began to cry when she described what happened with the Herald. When she finished Alianna looked so scared that her mom actually pulled her into a hug. Alianna was shivering with fear. “Please believe me momma, I'm so sorry I lied about what had happened, please please don't tell anyone, I don't want them to lock us in a crazy house or put us in some lab somewhere.” Her mom pulled away and lifted Alianna's face to look at her. “Alianna Renee Oaksen, I would never do anything to hurt you.” She looked deep into Alianna's eyes as if she was looking for something. After a few minutes she sighed and nodded. “I believe you sweetheart, I don't know how it is true, but I believe you honey. I am so glad that Jaius was with you there, and he rescued you, but what in the world were you thinking about saying yes to marrying him! You're both thirteen, what were you thinking?” Alianna shrunk back from her mom. “I'm sorry mom, I didn't know what else to do, I didn't want people to go to war for me and be killed, I...didn't know what to do.” She said, crying softly. Her mom sighed and shook her head and pulled her back into her arms. “I'm sorry dear, it's okay, I can't even begin to understand what you went through and had to deal with there. I am just praising God that I get to hold you right now. I missed you so much Ali.” “It's okay mom. I'm not going anywhere.” Her mom began to cry when she said that. These were sad tears, not happy ones. Alianna grew concerned. “I said I was sorry mom, I didn't know what else to do.” She said morosely. Her mom drew back and looked at her, fear raging across her face. “Its....its not that sweetheart.” Her mom wiped her eyes and then looked back at her. “It's this overwhelming deep in my soul feeling that this won't be the last time you'll be taken away from us, and that tears at my heart.” Tears leaked out of her eyes as she could feel the fear and pain her mom was in. Then her eyes clenched shut and she grabbed her right thigh and screamed. She could hear her mom frantically asking what was wrong but the pain had come on so suddenly and with such force that she wasn't able to respond. After what seemed like forever the pain subsided and she fell back into the bed and finally was able to open her eyes. There was her Mom and Dad standing over her bed and a nurse was withdrawing a needle from her IV tube. “I'm sorry Alianna, We had a code on the floor and I wasn't able to get you your pain meds till now.” Said the Nurse. Alianna nodded. “It's Okay.” She said weakly. Then a terrible thought came to her mind. “Was it next door?” She said, The nurse looked confused for a moment but then looked at the wall that separated her room from Keri's and shook her head. “No, Ms Bellows has returned to her room and is recovering.” Alianna breathed a sigh of relief. “Can I go see her?” The nurse shook her head. “No one is allowed in for a while. Her immune system is severely weakened right now, until the bone marrow you gave her has time to produce new immune cells.” Alianna frowned, but nodded her head. “I understand, thank you.”

Alianna spent that night in the hospital and was discharged late that next afternoon. The next two weeks before school started were filled with her and Jaius taking an equivalency test to make sure they had completed enough of 7th grade to enter eighth grade. They both passed. The rest of the time was spent shopping for new clothes, as they both had grown a foot at least and their clothes from the spring no longer fit them. They both got new iphones and she spent many hours texting Keri and Trudi and getting to know them both better. Keri came home a week before school started. She told Alianna that both her and Trudi were repeating eighth grade. She didn't want to deal with the equivalency test, and she said she would much rather face a grade she knew with good friends then face the unknown of High School with just her and Trudi.

The Doctors said that they had never seen someone recover this quickly. They had no medical reason for her speedy recovery except that it was a fluke. Alianna called it a Miracle. Alianna didn't hear from Jim, but she also wasn't able to bring herself to text him. Jaius and her spent a lot of time together, as much as they could. They would often go on walks with Olivia and sometimes Jaius’s sisters, and Trudi and Keri and stand by the creek where their adventure had begun and talk about the events and people that they left behind.

They would read and study their Bibles together, telling eachother about what they had come to understand each time. Early on She told him that she had told her mom about what had happened. He was a bit miffed at her, but when she explained that her mom believed them and wasn't going to turn them in he relaxed. Her mom seemed to hover around them though when Jaius came over. Never overbearingly, but she always seemed just to be right in the next room. Her and Olivia's friendship deepened also, especially when Olivia invited her and Jaius to Youth Group at the church that her families now went to. Jim was there which was awkward for her, as Jaius was there also. Jim’s sister Julie wasn’t there neither was Jennifer, the new Highschool Queen the time she went but Olivia told her a lot about them and she really wanted to meet them. Jaius didn't show any sign of noticing her distress about Jim being there although she was pretty sure he saw it. He instead went over and introduced himself to Jim and they talked a lot that night and so she felt like maybe everything would just work out. She loved pastor Aaron and the rest of the group. Her and her family went to Church there that Sunday and Alianna felt the same overwhelming love that she had on that cliff overlooking the Garden of Eden. Jesus was still here with her and He hadn't changed.

Then the Day came to go back to St Pious. Her and Jaius's parents wanted to take them to school, at least for the first few weeks. So they all arrived there early and walked across the parking lot to the front doors. Alianna and Jaius hugged each other when they got to the door. She then gave Anne a hug and told her that she wanted to show her to her locker because she had the awesomest room in the whole school to show her. Anne smiled. “That would be great Ali.” She said looking a bit nervously at her new school. Then when Trudi and Keri got there Alianna gave Keri a big hug and Trudi too. “I'm so glad you're here.” Alianna said. Keri smiled and said “It's only because of you.” Then out of nowhere Olivia showed up too, in a brand new St Pious the X's uniform. Alianna was shocked. She hugged her and then said “I can't believe it, your coming to school here too?” She said excitedly. Olivia nodded with as much excitement as Alianna. “Yep, there weren't any Christian Schools in town, and with the move and the new house my mom had to go back to the salon full time and so no home school, and they didn't want me to go to Public School, so, here I am.” She said smiling. Alianna excitedly introduced her to Keri and Trudi, who greeted her warmly. Jim joined them and greeted everyone. He hugged Keri and Trudi and him and Jaius did some complex handshake she could barely follow. He waved at her and she waved back, a bit too nervously, and he greeted Olivia who he had already known through the youth group.

They all stood there looking at each other and smiling. Alianna looked around at each one. Keri had a wig on as her hair had not grown back yet, but it was of such fine quality you wouldn't be able to tell unless you already knew. She looked the beauty that she had always been, but the hard shell of the Queen was gone for good. Alianna had gotten to see the real Keri Bellows and knew almost right away theirs would be a deep friendship for the rest of their lives. Trudi looked the same, but now didn’t seem so intimidating anymore. Alianna had found out that Trudi loved story books as much as she did. They had talked a lot recently about some titles that they both loved. The sun glinted off Olivia’s red highlights as she looked down at her brand new St Pious the X uniform. Jaius was showing Jim a new game he had downloaded on his phone. Jaius’s right eye did glance up however and caught her looking at him, which made him smile, which made her smile, and then blush. Then there was Jim, with his guitar strapped to his back like some warrior troubadour from her books. Which made her heart flutter a little, but then she also didn’t want the fluttering and so pushed it down.

The sun showed down on them and for all of them it was a moment they would remember for years to come. It was a moment when once bitter enemies stood as friends and a family was born.

The bonds of that family would be tested harshly in the years ahead, but they would never be broken. They all linked arms and walked into the unknown of Eight grade together.

The End