The drive back to our town was silent, but unlike before, it was not for the worry of what would be and if we would succeed; rather, at least for me, it was how to get past it all. During those moments in the fight when I was scared, fear consumed me so much moving my body had become foreign but the part of me that was afraid of releasing that beast back into the world had driven me to act and I was proud of that, that I had made a move that I had helped but still it haunted me.
Those events still filled my mind, and I knew they would for a while, and although I had always been one to keep things to myself, I wished there would be someone who would understand, but the two people who could were leaving, and I would never see them again
I felt both their eyes on me from time to time even spotted a bit of concern from Damian. They knew that such thoughts haunted me but did they wonder where the somehow brave girl who had suggested using herself as bait went, did they find it pathetic that although I had braved myself enough to shoot at the beast and even watch its body burn I was still harboring some fear in me or did they understand that I was just a normal human girl who had been thrown into a reality I would have never believed existed, that all this happened in less than a week and it was okay that only now did the burden of the events consume me
The road ahead stretched, and although there were other cars on it, it somehow felt deserted, but I drove on, pushing away the thoughts that clouded my mind, doing my best to concentrate. It would be awful to escape one death and lead us to another
We arrived at around ten in the morning. Anson had asked me to join them before I returned home, so I now sat on the couch looking at the two, who were both facing me
"We're leaving," Anson started, "our purpose here is fulfilled, we can't stay any longer"
"We are grateful for your help," Damian added, although his tone wasn't necessarily warm, the words felt true
"Glad I could help" was my only reply
Damian looked between me and his brother and stood up before he left the room
"I guess this is goodbye," I said, looking at Anson
"I guess it is, don't miss us too much though."
"Always full of yourself."
"Part of my charm"
"Not a good one to be honest."
"I'll miss you, though. I'd say you were my favorite human."
"Is that so? Well, I'm honored then. So, how will you be going back?"
"Remember that tree I showed you?"
"Oh yeah, it's a gateway. Right?"
"Yeah"
"Well, be safe and thanks for…everything"
"No worries, goodbye Lyla," he said, standing
"Goodbye," I replied, following his lead
The hug was brief, as though there was a promise of seeing each other again. I smiled at him just as his brother walked back in
"Goodbye, human," Damian said, leaning on the door frame, a smirk now on his face. I rolled my eyes
"Goodbye, fluffy bear," I retorted. Anson chuckled while Damian just gave me his famous cold look
I took my things that were now by the door and turned to smile at them one last time, but Anson had moved to stand before me. he placed his hand inches from my face, that beautiful blue mist emitting from it.
'Sorry, but you need to forget,' was all I heard before everything went dark
*
"Lyla…miss Lyla…" A voice called from far, and I tried to remember why the voice sounded so familiar. Someone shook me, and I wanted to beg them to stop. My head was pounding heavily, and the movement was making it worse
"Lyla!" I shot up and almost collided with the person who just shouted my name. My mother stood before me, a frown on her face, while Fridah stood beside her, worried
"Wha…what is happening?"
"I should be asking you that."
I looked around me, noticing I was on our porch, my bags next to the bench I had been lying on
"Why are you sleeping here? Didn't you say you'd be back tomorrow?"
"Back tomorrow, wait, I was sleeping here? How did I even get here?"
"Did you hit your head or something?" my brother asked, emerging from inside the house with a towel and basin in hand
My mother grabbed them from him, dipped the towel in the water, and placed it on my forehead
"You're running a bit of a fever. How do you feel?"
"Migraine" is all I managed to say as I racked my brain on the situation. She instructed that they fetch me some pills, her face now twisted in worry and confusion
"What happened, sweetheart? Did you come back because you weren't feeling well?"
"Aah yes…yes, that's why I'm back early"
"I'll call Dr Martin…"
"No need, I just need to rest."
She looked at me, with those green eyes I inherited - the only difference was mine were darker. She looked at me skeptically before she handed me the meds and ushered me to my bedroom, where sleep consumed me almost immediately
In my dream, I was running in a dark forest, panting as I forced my legs to carry on, the creature pursuing me was only a few steps behind, too close for comfort, but my body was giving up. My lungs burned inside me, and my dry throat ached. I tried to scream, but my voice wasn't loud enough and came out muffled with a whimper at the end. The slash on my back, made by those claws, drained any energy I had left as I fell to the ground
I could feel it breathing on my neck even as I tried to move, help, I called from my heart, but no one answered. It dug its claws into my arm, forcing me up and piercing me with those glowing eyes, its mouth opened and nearing my face…I shot up, panting, scanning around me, and only relaxed when I saw the familiar room. I sighed. Will this keep haunting me? I whispered to the air
Anson's words followed, the last thing he said to me. He apologized saying that I had to forget, did he use his magic on me to try and alter my memory, to make me forget what had happened, to forget about his world and all he had shared about it or did he want me to forget everything since the very moment we met, did he want me to forget about them, about him?
I stood to my feet and rushed through the door, anger rising in me. He had no right to mess with my memories, no right to use his magic on me, after everything… after our near-death experience. Did he honestly think I'd reveal what had happened? That I'd tell everyone about their world, who would have listened, not to talk of believing me. Rage pumped through my veins as I got into my car and headed straight to their rented house. He had no right