12. Aria

12

ARIA

I sit on the edge of the bed, my mind reeling as Christos paces in front of me. His wings twitch nervously, casting strange shadows on the cabin walls.

"Aria, there's something I need to tell you." His voice is low, urgent. "We're leaving. All of us. The vrakken, I mean."

I blink, trying to process his words. "Leaving? To where?"

He takes a deep breath. "To Protheka. It's... another world. The place we originally came from."

My jaw drops. Another world? I knew the vrakken were otherworldly in a sense, but this... this is beyond anything I could have imagined.

"Our deity, Akeldama, is taking us there," Christos continues. "The time has come for us to go to our true home."

I feel like I've been punched in the gut. "So you're... leaving? Just like that?"

His green eyes meet mine, filled with a mix of longing and sorrow. "I have to. But Aria, I..." He hesitates, then rushes on. "I don't want to leave you behind."

My heart races. "What are you saying?"

"You have a choice," he says softly. "I can help you get away from here, back to your life. Or..." He swallows hard. "You can come with us. But that would mean going through the Change."

The Change. The process that turned Christos into a vrakken. The one I've seen fail so horrifically.

"If I don't Change?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Christos's face crumples. "Then I leave you here. Either way, I'm going to Protheka."

I feel like I'm drowning, gasping for air as the weight of his words crashes over me. Leave everything I've ever known? Risk death to become something... other? Or lose Christos forever?

My mind spins, trying to grasp the enormity of the choice before me.

"I know it's an impossible decision," he says softly. "The Change is dangerous, Aria. Many don't survive it. But if you do..." He trails off, leaving the implications hanging in the air between us.

My heart races as I consider the options. Both seem impossible.

"How long do I have to decide?" I ask, my voice trembling.

"Not long," Christos admits. "A few days."

I stand up abruptly, needing to move, to do something with the nervous energy coursing through me. "This is insane," I mutter, pacing the small room. "A week ago, I was chasing down corporate corruption. Now I'm considering leaving Earth for an alien planet?"

Christos watches me, his expression pained. "I'm sorry, Aria. I never meant for any of this to happen. I should have left you alone, but I couldn't... I couldn't stay away."

I stop pacing and face him. "Do you regret it? Meeting me?"

He shakes his head without hesitation. "Never. But I regret putting you in this position."

I sink back down onto the bed, my mind whirling with possibilities and fears. The journalist in me is fascinated, itching to learn more about this new world. But the human in me is terrified, aware of all I'd be leaving behind.

I pace the small room, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. The weight of Christos's revelation presses down on me, making it hard to breathe. Another world. A complete transformation. Leaving everything behind.

My fingers brush against the rough wood of the cabin wall as I try to steady myself. I think about my life on Earth – the endless nights poring over documents, chasing leads, always pushing for the truth. The adrenaline rush of uncovering that corporate scandal, followed by the terror of being hunted. It strikes me that I've always been searching for something bigger, something beyond the ordinary.

And now, here it is. The biggest story of all time, right in front of me.

But the cost... My humanity. My family, though we're not close. My career that I've worked so hard to build. Can I really give all that up?

I glance at Christos, his otherworldly beauty both enthralling and terrifying. The thought of losing him, of returning to my old life knowing what I know now, makes my chest ache in a way I can't quite explain.

"Tell me more about Protheka," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know much about it," Christos admits. "There's magic, though. Apparently we — vrakken — have magic."

As Christos describes this alien world, I feel a familiar spark ignite within me. It's the same feeling I get when I'm on the verge of breaking a big story. Excitement. Curiosity. An insatiable hunger for knowledge.

I realize, with a mix of exhilaration and fear, that I'm already leaning towards saying yes. The danger, the unknown – it should terrify me. And it does. But it also calls to me in a way nothing else ever has.

This is the ultimate investigation, the biggest adventure I could ever embark on. And Christos... in the short time I've known him, he's become more important to me than I ever thought possible.

I think I'm in love with him.

My heart races as I come to a decision. It's crazy, it's reckless, but it feels right in a way I can't explain.

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding so hard I'm sure Christos can hear it. The weight of my decision settles over me like a heavy cloak, but I stand tall, meeting his gaze.

"I'll do it," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "I want to go through the Change."

Christos's eyes widen, a mix of hope and fear flashing across his face. "Aria, are you sure? You understand the risks?"

I nod, swallowing hard. "I do. It could kill me. But..." I pause, gathering my courage. "I can't let you go. And I can't go back to my old life knowing what I know now. This is... it's the biggest story I could ever hope to uncover. A whole new world? Magic? I have to see it."

Christos steps closer, his cool hand cupping my cheek. "It won't be easy. The Change is excruciating, and even if you survive, you'll be leaving everything behind."

"I know," I whisper, leaning into his touch. "But I'm ready. Or as ready as I'll ever be."

He pulls me into a tight embrace, his wings wrapping around us both. I breathe in his scent, trying to memorize this moment. For all I know, it could be our last.

"When?" I ask, my voice muffled against his chest.

Christos pulls back slightly, his expression grave. "Soon. Tonight, if you're ready. The longer we wait, the harder it will be."

A shiver runs through me, but I nod. "Okay. Tonight."

As the reality of my decision sinks in, a strange calm settles over me. I've always chased the truth, no matter the cost. This is just the ultimate expression of that drive. And Christos... in the short time I've known him, he's become more important to me than I ever thought possible.

I think I'm in love with him.

"What do I need to do?" I ask, squaring my shoulders.

Christos explains the process, his voice gentle but matter-of-fact. As he talks, I feel a mixture of terror and exhilaration building inside me. This is it. The point of no return.

But as I look into Christos's eyes, I know I've made the right choice. Whatever happens next, I'm ready to face it.