I woke up in the middle of the night stretching my body. I haven't slept well for a long time.
My body felt relaxed. Too relaxed.
But I couldn't remember how I got home that afternoon. All I could remember was walking home after my lectures.
After that — nothing.
My head hurt badly. I tried to recall how I got back home, but all I could see was red and black light.
Then everything went blank.
I reached for my phone on the drawer beside my bed. It was off.
I don't remember turning it off.
I plugged it in. When it came on, I saw a text from Jane asking if I was okay. She said she didn't see me around after lecture. There was also a missed call from Dave.
I opened Jane's message.
I had to return home earlier. I was too tired. I'm okay, I replied.
The lie came easily.
I tapped on Dave's missed call and stared at the chat box.
You called.
Delete.
Why did you call?
Delete.
After a few seconds I typed:
Hey, I saw your missed call. Why did you call?
His reply came almost immediately.
Nothing much. Just checking up on you. I didn't hear from you.
I stared at that message longer than I should have.
Jane's message popped in again.
Goodnight.
Yh, goodnight, I replied.
I went back to Dave's chat.
Yh. I'm okay. I've just been sleeping throughout today… although I find it strange.
It's not strange. Maybe you were too exhausted, he replied.
I guess.
But something about that didn't sit right.
I walked downstairs. Mom was in the kitchen making dinner while Helen assisted her. Dad was in the living room reading the newspaper.
Everything looked normal.
I grabbed a bottle of cold water from the freezer and drank from it before sitting beside Dad.
He smiled. "You're awake."
"I guess," I replied, rubbing the back of my hair.
"Dad… do you know how I got home today?"
He frowned slightly.
"You didn't go to school today, honey."
I blinked.
"I didn't?"
"No," he said calmly, folding his newspaper. "You were in your room all day. Is something wrong?"
My chest tightened.
I clearly remember going to school.
Jane.
Dave.
The hallway.
"I'm okay," I said quickly. "Maybe I was just too tired."
But my voice didn't sound steady.
After dinner, I rushed back to my room and opened Jane's chat again.
She said she didn't see me.
I checked Dave's.
He said he didn't hear from me.
I stared at the screen.
If I didn't go to school…
Then why do I remember it?
I remember waking up.
Getting dressed.
Leaving the house.
So where was I?
I texted Dave again.
Did you see me in school today?
No, he replied.
My heart started beating faster.
How am I the only one who remembers going?
I sat on my bed staring at nothing.
Something was wrong.
And I didn't know if the problem was the day—
Or me.
******
"Why did you interfere with her fate?" Gina asked, walking toward Dylan. He stood in front of the silver throne, unmoving.
"At this moment we need her to regain her memories, not you locking them," she continued.
"That was the safest option," Dylan replied, his expression unreadable.
He had intended to erase only Clovers memory but due to an unsettling condition, he was only permitted to erase some of them hence prompting him into erasing the memory of those who saw her that day.
"We don't know what the demons are planning," he added. "The last thing we should do is endanger her."
"And is not as if she is from our world".
We shouldn't expect much from her.
The concern should be how to close the cracked barrier into the modern world.
"We are already in danger," Gina said sharply. "The clan is vulnerable. We need to convert her as soon as possible."
Dylan's jaw tightened slightly.
"It is not her duty."
"And if the demons reach her first Gina asked?"
Dylan didn't say a word.
Silence filled the hall.