IDENTITY

VEILED IDENTITY

"Who are you? Why have you been tormenting me in my dreams?" There was still blood dropping from his face as usual. He kept looking at me without saying a word. "Come, let me show you something," he said. "Should I follow him? I don't even know this man." "Let's go," I said. At that moment, my mum appeared out of nowhere. "Artemis, what are you doing with my daughter? And where are you taking my daughter? Leave her alone!" "I won't. She is now mine. She has found the box. She has opened the secret." My mum and Artemis started exchanging fire. "Magic! How was my mum doing that? How does she even know I am here? Where did she know this guy? Nothing was making any sense. How? But how?". " "Caramel, let's go," Mum said, breathing heavily. Artemis had disappeared. "Who is that? What is he doing here, and how did you do that...magic?" My mum was quiet. "Mum! I'm talking to you. Who is he, and what secret is he talking about?" "This place is not safe. Hurry, when I get home, I will explain everything."

"We ate dinner in absolute silence. I kept staring at Mum, wondering if what happened out there was real or just a fantasy. Mum kept avoiding my eyes; she knew I had thousands of questions in mind. 'Why are you staring at me that way?' she said. 'Mum, you know why. I just need answers to those questions,' I replied. She stood for a minute, sat down, and then stood up again. 'You won't understand. These things happening are not ordinary. You would be endangering yourself. Forget about everything - that box, that paper. Forget it ever happened.' 'What do you mean, Mum? What are you hiding from me? Does that mean I can't trust you? I need nothing but the truth. I had endangered myself the moment I took that box.' I was getting angrier and angrier. 'No, Caramel, I won't tell you anything,' Mum said firmly. I could see anger in Mum's eyes, but there was also something strange about her at that moment. There was a fire in her eyes, her voice was getting deeper, and blood was also dropping down her face like that of Artemis. 'Mum! Mum!' I called out, but she had already run off."

My mum did not show up for days, she only kept appearing in my dreams, each time a repeated scene of Artemis and her fighting. Everything was becoming strange to me, the house, school, food, nothing - I mean nothing - was making me happy. These days I spend most of my time with the guitar; it was the one thing my Dad ever got me on my twelfth birthday. I usually don't use it much because it reminded me of my Dad, and I always wanted to avoid that. One evening, I decided I was going to visit the nearest clinic; my mum claims she works there. Upon my arrival, I met an old woman. From the way she dressed, I'm sure she was a cleaner in the clinic. "Hello, dear, whom are you looking for? How can I help you?" she said. "My mum works here; I just wanted to check on her." The woman took me to the clinic attendant, who said she was not in the best position to find my mum. After a series of checks and a description of how my mum looks, it appeared my mum never worked there. I left for home very disappointed. At that moment, I felt my mum had been lying to me my whole life. I felt hatred for her; I was willing to know the truth, no matter what it would cost me. I am going to make sure I get to the bottom of this. My mum had a small shelf in her room where she used as her library. She kept some of her books there, and there was a drawer attached to the shelf with a lock. I had to use a hammer to break it. I was going through some files until I found a map. The map had markings of strange countries that I have never heard of. While trying to open the map wider, something fell off. "What could that be?" It was a picture, looks like an old picture. I could see my mum and two other guys. "This should when she was much younger. Who could these guys be? One of the guys from the picture was wearing a black hood like the one I saw Artemis with the other time." Wait! Oh my! This is Artemis, no doubt. So they knew each other all these years. I took the picture and the map as I headed my way to Mariah's house. I needed to see that witch again; at this point, she is the only one that can help. But first, I had to check on Miss Fatima in the hospital.

"She has not been normal since she woke up. She kept calling names at nights. She is not getting any better; I am afraid we would have to take her to a psychiatrist for proper treatment. What really happened to her?" "I... I... don't really know, doctor. She just felt off." "Can I see her, doctor?" He looked at me with such an impression of "I don't trust you." "Yes, you can go, you can go see her." "Don't come close to me, don't you, you're evil." "Miss Fatima." "Get out," she said. "I don't want to see you!" She kept shouting, so the doctor had to excuse me out of the ward. For the first time, Mariah's parents were home. "Hello, my name is Mr. Melton. I am sure you're the lovely friend to my angel Mariah. She is just behind in the garden." "You didn't tell me your Dad is so welcoming," as we both laughed. Mariah had to lie to her Dad that we were going for a class hangout. He kissed her goodbye, and we left. The Witcher was not in when we came. "I'm not sure she is anywhere close, Mariah. I think we should just go." "Be patient," Mariah said. "Who are those disturbing my sleep? Why are you back?" the Witcher said as she came out of a mirror. "I told you never to come again. What are you doing here?" "I need your help, great Witcher," she took my hands, looked at me and said, "the map would guide you, but I cannot help. This is bigger than me. He is here to get the map. Leave this place." I hesitated. "Who is here?" I asked. "Artemis is here," she said. suddenly the whole room became dark. I could see someone in the midst of the wind. It wasn't Artemis; it was a woman. She kept laughing and laughing. She had horns like those of Lucifer and long teeth like a vampire. She held the Witcher by her neck and was sucking out her blood. Mariah kept dragging me away, but I wanted to go closer. It looked like... my... mum? This can't be. It was nobody but my mum."