Chapter 10: Peek Into The Past
1114 Words
Alecia lay down on the sofa near the office's window, with Wallace sitting on the chair facing her.
"Although I've put you in a deep sleep," he rested an open book on his lap, "you'd still hear my voice, as clear as when you were awake. Now, Alecia, tell me what you see."
"I feel very short." She chuckled. "Like a child."
"Interesting." He scribbled on his open book. "Are you sure you're a child?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me where you are?"
"I traversed down a beautiful passage as if the stars had been captured and put on each side of the wall, with colors of blue, red, green, and white. I had an urge to touch them, but I shouldn't. Ahead of me, a white crystal statue shaped like a woman came into view. I ran towards her out of pure joy, but as I got closer, the walls of the passage ended. Below me was a bottomless drop, and the floor where I stood narrowed towards the crystalline woman. It didn't stop me from balancing towards her.
"Beautiful colors surrounded the inner walls, headed into the depths below. I crouched and crawled towards the end as I fixed my eyes on the crystalline statue, daring not to look below me. I reached the round floor where she stood.
"I stepped towards her as if in a trance, amazed by the beauty she displayed. She constantly emitted white flames. When I touched her outstretched hand, strange white energy flowed around my hand. I withdrew, out of fear, only to feel a rush of energy flow around me. I looked at my hands and watched as the white flames disappear."
"What's wrong?" asked Wallace.
"Someone grabbed my shoulder and told me I shouldn't be there!"
"Do you feel afraid?"
"I'm terrified."
"Okay, Alecia, I'm going to count from one to three, and you'll wake up."
"Just hurry, I don't know where he's taking me!"
"Three... Two... One... Wake up."
Alecia gently opened her eyes.
"How do you feel?"
She held her forehead. "It feels like my head wants to explode."
"That's expected. Opening a mind is like light piercing through the eyes in the dark." He stood.
"Unfortunately, if we keep doing this," he limped towards her, "it could be dangerous."
"You can't help me?"
"Not really, Alecia."
"Am I just wasting my time? You said you could."
"I did. I helped you poke a hole through a small memory of your past, and because of that, you'll remember on your own."
He crouched, raising her chin, and smiled.
"Try not to worry. As time goes on, while you're here, meeting new people and making friends will be a good healing process." Alecia looked down after hearing those words.
"I'll go get you a drink."
"Do you think I could help Diana?"
He opened the door. "Help her with what?"
"With gardening?"
"That's a good start. I'm sure she'll be glad to have a helping hand."
-
In the field near the building, people worked on the crops, where they pulled out heads of cabbages, placed them in sacks, and carried them in the building. Alecia exited the building and spotted Diana standing near the field, taking notes.
"I'm not entirely sure if we can use this," uttered a young man, showing Diana a cabbage head. "You see this dark patch here?"
"It should be fine." Diana leaned in to take a closer look.
"They can cut it off, and it'll be fine after a rinse." She smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
Alecia strode towards her.
"Good afternoon, Alecia." She gave a slight smile. "What brings you here?"
"I wanted to see what you're doing," Alecia said as a gatherer walked past them.
"My work here's to make sure whatever we eat is fresh enough." She gestured Alecia to follow her.
"How's your leg?"
She bent and straightened her leg. "It's a lot better. I thought I'd still be limping."
"Good." Diana smiled and looked at the field ahead of them.
"Ever since you recovered, I've noticed how Uncle Wallace has shown great interest in you."
"Yes." Alecia chuckled. "Yes, he has."
They both watched the gatherers pull out the remaining cabbages across the small field. In the distance, dark wooden houses stood, with people walking to and fro as they attended to their own businesses. Across the sky, as far as the eye could see, the sun's rays cut through the openings of the gray clouds.
"May I ask a question?" Diana broke the silence. "The facility you woke up in, was it still intact?"
"I'm not really sure," Alecia said. "The room I was in had only one way out, with stairs that led to an exit."
"So it was like an underground bunker?"
"If that's what you call it, yes."
"I'd like for you to take me there sometime."
Alecia shook her head. "I don't think I want to go back there. That area's too dangerous."
"That's not true."
"You don't believe me?"
"Everywhere is dangerous." Diana waved her hand across the field. "This place gives an illusion of peace, but it has its own danger. Anyone here has the potential to steal or kill; it's only a matter of reason."
She looked at her.
"Or no reason at all."
"Why do you want to go there?"
"I'd like to see what I might find, plus, it's nice to be out for a change."
"Why didn't you do it before? Doesn't Virgil go out a lot?"
"He only goes so far." She rested her hands on the wooden fence and stared at the already empty field. "Only you'd know where to find the facility."
"I don't even know where this place is, let alone that facility you speak of."
"Oh yes, of course." Diana chuckled. "Virgil found you unconscious in the woods, and if he could come with us, he'd know where he found you."
"How would that help?"
"Listen, he knows where the woods are, and you can retrace your steps from there."
Alecia sighed
"I don't know. I'm sorry, it seems this is more for you than it is for me."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I had a bad experience there. I can't help you."
"Please, Alecia, think about this. You'll probably find something that might help you, too. Uncle Wallace told me about your amnesia."
"What else did he tell you?"
Diana gave a puzzled expression. "What else could he tell?"
Alecia proceeded to the building.
"Please?" Diana pleaded, urging Alecia to stop. "I'd appreciate it."
"I'll think about it."
Diana sighed, watching Alecia's retreating form before she faced the field once more.
- Writer
