Chapter 6: Flames of Wrath (Part 3)
892 Words
She stares at her feet then, looks up at me. 'You sure you want to know everything?' Her fingers clutching the white skirt she's wearing after the blouse. Her cheeks slightly red. I retain my glare on her. 'Very well then. Let's have a talk back in my house.'
I nod.
And she adds, 'Only the two of us.'
That line somehow triggers a part of myself. A part that I have hidden away. Dane approaches me and bears a hesitating look. 'Still as worried for me like last time eh?' I pat his shoulder and squeeze it, saying, 'You know how strong I am. Right?' He turns his head away and nods quietly. Layla walks off and I follow after her., taking a final glimpse of Dane before looking forward. Before I narrowly escape an encounter with Death itself.
We seat ourselves onto wooden chairs lined around a small, round table with some cloths lying on it. There is a brief silence before she begins with, 'Rex-' My heartbeats step up. What is with this familiar feeling I am getting? 'I-I have a confession to make.' She puts out her arms and wraps them around my neck.
My eyes slide to the side, looking at the arms. Thinking of my deceased lover, I want to slap those hands away. I want to! But I can't... There is this sort of warmth to them when her skin touches mine. Something that I don't want to leave. Softly, she says, 'I was born and raised in this village. Since the day I was born, I have a feeling brewing inside of me to be special. '
'Special?' I ask.
She ignores my question and continue speaking. 'To be able to do extraordinary stuffs. Time passes by and the thought begins to wane everyday. Until they appear.' The last line is spoken in a lower and eerie tone. Her hair brushes against my cheek. 'Memories.'
My eyes widen at the word reflexively.
'Memories of my past. Memories of-' She pauses momentarily before saying, 'You.' Her lips curve into a sweet smile. I can feel my tear wells shaking and immediately, I lean forward and hug her, my arms around her.
I stammer as I say, 'Y-You really are a witch. Dying without even leaving me your name.'
She giggles in return. 'You didn't ask for it.'
I release the hug and look at her. Her fair complexion along with the slick, black hair; her black eyeballs and her perfect nose structure completed with the smile I so favour. She has an entirely different look than the one I knew. 'But how did you-'
She shakes her head, 'I don't know. They just sort of surface bits by bits... the memories. Every night, I had this dream, this nightmare that kept rewinding. Of me trying to kill you.'She places her palms on the face, tears stream down from the gaps of her fingers. 'And I know that it's a fact.'
My facial expression softens at the sight. I reach a hand out to her and place it on her head. 'You know what? You did do something extraordinary, alright.' I smile at her.
'I did not...'
'You saved me, Layla. You saved me from not knowing love. You showed me love.' I lean closer until I can smell the nice fragrance of her hair. 'And also, you didn't try to kill me.'
'But I did! I trapped you in the room filled with overgrown vines and shot at you with a barrage of seeds. I was trying to kill you...'
I listen attentively before saying, ' Looks like not every memory has returned to you completely.' She shifts her eyeballs up to my eyes, her eyes puffy. 'You were saving me. Even though I did not ask for any help. You, are the finest warrior I have ever seen, dear.'
Doubts present in her eyes but she didn't bother to protest. Perhaps... Hopefully, she knows that I said them from the bottom of my heart. That they are nothing but the truth. 'And now, I finally know your name.'
'Layla, welcome back.' I add.
She is about to say something when I interrupt her. 'And now, you have got to tell me everything about this village. Especially the volcano.' I am expecting her to agree but, instead, she shakes her head.
And, says, 'Sadly, I can't. I- It's too dangerous.'
I close my eyes and shake my head as well. 'To think that you have no faith in me, Layla. How am I to be strong when you don't believe that I am? Your faith in me shall be my greatest pillar of strength should I need it. Your faith in me shall be the spark that ignites the will of fire in me. Your faith in me, is the only thing that truly matters.'
'B-But, you are no match for it.'
'It? Tell me, Layla. What is it that strikes these fear and doubt into you?' I ask in a worried voice. To think that something can make even the plant witch herself surrenders her courage. 'This is no joke.'I think.
She regards me with a sad look and says, 'You can't do it. You-' My eyes tense and my mind racing, trying to capture her words on point.
'You can't beat a God.'
- Writer
