Once inside, Austin spotted Preppers prepping plates of bacon and eggs on the usual wooden, hand carved plates spread across the tables inside the kitchens; and, sitting at one of the tables, wooden fork absentmindedly turling her eggs, was Reya who must've felt Austin's immediate gaze, as she looked up just as Austin spotted her. They locked gazes and Austin could help but felt a bit jittery; he still didn't know why the girl had such an effect on him, but he couldn't find it in him to complain about it.
"I'll go get some food," Aaron sounded much more amused, but Austin was still locked in gaze war with Reya; he didn't look at the boy, but he nodded his acknowledgement before he began his way towards Reya.
As Austin reached the girl, he put his hand atop the chair next to Reya, as if for permission; Reya just rolled her eyes while nodding in a 'obviously' motion. "Hi, there."
"Hi," Reya sounded curt before sighing, and trying again. "Sorry, don't mean to be a compost dump. Caesar's getting on my nerves. I honestly don't know why my brother decided to make him an overseer; the guy's always looking to take more influence then has any right to have." Reya sighs again before continuing with "Did you sleep well?"
"Um, yeah, but um… Yeah. Sorry to put this on you, but can I tell you something." Austin was tempted to tell her about his dreams. After considering his options, he had decided to go ahead do it.
Reya was a good listener. She nodded her understanding throughout Austin's retell of his dreams last night: the cell he woke up in, the indiscernible voices he could barely make out, and the Annihilators invading the Meadows, with all his friends dead or dying.
"Weird, some of your dreams, if I had to guess, I'd say they were memory fragments which is strange, considering no one here has them, aside from those who're bitten and scratched by an Annihilator," Reya said, suddenly becoming rigid. "But, then, we aren't dead, so then maybe they're just really bad dreams aroused from the fear and the stress you're feeling. You did enter a maze full of impossible things that want you dead recently for the first time. That's bound to have serious effects on your psyche."
Though Austin considered it, he knew that she didn't think that; it was written in the fake facade she wore when she tried to calm everyone down… the same facade she was wearing now. "You don't believe that, do you, Reya?"
As if to consider what to say, Reya tilted her head, her expression suddenly unreadably calculative. "No, I don't. If your gut is telling you something's up, then it probably is. One thing Scarlet did have to her that impressed even me was solid gut instincts; you have it, and even I know that, in this compost dump, nothing has a simple explanation, so honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if you end up being precognitive."
"You think I was having a precognition, like seeing the future?" Austin guess.
"You were definitely having something," Reya said, obviously just as bewildered. "I still don't know how my powers work exactly; I know even less how yours does, considering this place has only ever seen two people bearing your crest: you and Scarleteye would most probably either be considered incredibly rare in the outside world, or incredibly hard to gather, so I can't be too sure regarding anything related to people with the owl crest, but I know this: Your instincts are sharp. Listen to them."
"What's that mean?" Austin muttered, questioningly. "Jackson said something similar yesterday."
"By the way, Jackson…," Reya's voice became cracky, her face unreadably solemn as she said the next few words. "He passed away last night. He was asleep, so I'm sure he hadn't felt anything, but… I just thought you should know."
Austin let that sink in. 'Jackson? Dead?' Austin was pissed, angry and incredibly sad. His head lowered in solemnity and he couldn't help feel like Jackson's death was yet another wrongness about this place. 'This place is just so… wrong.' he found himself thinking. But then, he was hit with something that caused him to pause.
"He died 'when he was ready, in his own way, at his own time'... That idiot," Austin muttered, his voice scratchy and heavy.
"He wanted me to ask you to teach me control over my powers," Austin blatantly stated, gazing at Reya, who just laughed without humor.
"Of course he did," Reya said, sounding annoyed. "He got the last laugh on that front, didn't he? I could… I was there when Scareleteye learned how to use hers, but… I can't… I just. I can't. That would be like opening old wounds not too recently scabbed over. I'm not ready. Not right now."
"It's okay," Austin said, immediately, reluctantly rubbing Reya's shoulder comfortingly, pleased she allowed him. "You don't have to. The subject of my crest… of her is one you seem even more uncomfortable talking about then almost anything else. Wanna tell me about it?"
A silence passed over the two of them. That was answer enough.
Eager to change the subject, Austin thought of something else to ask. "So, what were you and Caesar talking about, by the way?" Austin found himself asking after a few minutes. By then, Aaron had brought Austin a plate of eggs, sausages and toast, with a cup of water. He sat next to Austin. "Earlier? Before I came up?"
"Oh, yeah, he wants to…erm, take care of my brother if it gets to that point," Reya answered, distaste evident in her voice. Even Aaron dropped the bacon he was eating; he looked redder than possible.
"Don't worry, Reya, I won't let him do it," Austin, suddenly felt the need to reassure the raven haired girl, found himself saying; he ignored the urge to her as he had no idea how she'd respond to that, but he did hold her gaze, willing all the sincerity and resolve he felt to show in his eyes. He felt enraged by that little snake. Of course somebody like him would think of something to perverse. He really was a wolf in sheep's clothing... Or just a snake.
"I knew he was power hungry, but this ain't…," Aaron muttered, then only paused, quickly composing himself, his face showing no hint of reaction suddenly. "Austin's right; we won't let it happen. That's a promise."
Suddenly, the first of the boys and girls of the Meadows came bustling through the doors of the Oakhouse's kitchen, talking and murmuring "good mornings" and getting their breakfast so that they could begin their day. Sighing tiredly, Reya stood, excusing herself with a final comment; "Work hard, Austin. Learn what you can and do what you learn and you'll do fine, newbie."
With that, Reya left for the upstairs in the attic, where Cleo and Zether must've moved her brother the night before; the screaming had died down; the Meadowers only heard a short scream of pain occasionally in the last few hours. Austin hoped the anti-venom was working; he didn't need another person dying on him again.
"Come on, newb, let's go," Aaron said, getting to his feet, same as Austin.
"Where are we going?"
"Before we go into the labyrinth, there are things ya need know 'bout it, so the only place we have all our info onit: The Flatshack," Aaron said, as if it were obvious, as the two of them headed in the direction of the partially subterranean structure.
"Can I stop somewhere first?" Austin asked before they headed in their designated direction. "I left something in my tent."
"Go, then, but don't be gone too long," Aaron sounded more amused then annoyed, even with the annoyance evident on his face.