The Echoes of Forgotten

Chapter 8: A Strange Dream. (II)

Elara however was ignorant to everything happening around her, the faint aroma of the cloak around her lulling her into the fake comfort and she once again entered her memories. The only difference was that this time she visited them as an uninvited guest, looking at the once-forgotten room from the sidelines.

Elara looked around, there were no frills or an abundance of stuffed bears that could be seen in other teenagers’ rooms. The room was in fact a blend of practicality and creativity. A large wooden bookshelf stood against one wall, filled with neatly arranged books, various awards, and some trinkets. Some were gifts from her father, brought back from his many travels, their origins unknown to anyone but him. A small, delicate vase sat atop her desk, a lavender scent clinging to the air- her mother’s favorite flowers brought back a warmth long forgotten by her. These flowers were always present, the faint fragrance that always soothed her nerves. The only thing she acknowledged ever remembering. The room though was hers, she knew because it had everything she could ever desire but at one point in time, it had changed to the mature Elara’s room. When? She couldn’t remember.

The desk was tidy but lived-in, with papers stacked neatly beside an open journal. The study materials that were organized with a mix of precise order and scattered creativity, caught her eyes, a hint of confusion evident on her face. Her backpack also sat beside the desk; its straps slightly worn from use.

A soft knock at the door broke the stillness, pulling Elara from her reverie. “Just five more minutes...” a murmur came from the other direction. A figure- a young girl barely fourteen shifted slightly on the bed, dark hair like a night sky spread across the pillow, shimmering gently in the light.

“Come on, kiddo. Or maybe you want me to practice alone today?” A familiar voice came from the other side of the door, making Elara turn sharply toward it. He was on the other side. She thought and walked toward it, but as Elara tried to open the door- she couldn’t, she couldn’t even hold the knob. She tried again desperate to see him just once but in vain.

The figure on the bed groaned slightly as she sat up, her hair falling elegantly across her sides, rubbing her eyes. The figure finally looked at the door, her vision passing straight through Elara, her turquoise eyes full of youthful innocence and life that had long left the grown-up Elara. Then, something happened, the young Elara’s eyes met with the grown-up Elara, who stood there confused and shocked. The blue in her eyes turned dark- crimson red, the little Elara said something, inaudible, her innocent smile turning into a sinister one. Elara tried to read her lips but her vision started to blur.

“What?.. w-wait!!”

The room began to fade, replaced with an open field full of white buds, the sudden exposure to the raw sunlight made Elara squint her eyes. A laughter came from a few feet away- light and carefree. Elara fully opened her eyes to see the source of it- a child. She had silver hairs that were gleaming in the sunlight, she ran through the flowers to the opposite side. Her laughter filled the air as she chased a butterfly, the buds around her bloomed, its crescent-shaped patels opening, revealing the light blue sheen coming from the inside and Elara felt she had seen the flower somewhere before.

Elara frowned. The flowers looked beautiful, ethereal even, something that didn’t belong to her world, but the familiarity and connection she felt with it... it was strange.

The girl turned; her face obscured by the sunlight. “Come one brother Kael!” she called, her voice echoing like a distant melody.

“Be careful, Elara. You might trip,” Elara turned sharply at the familiar voice, her heart racing violently. There he was, smiling widely but not at her but at the little girl. His turquoise eyes as kind as she ever remembered. It was Kael, her brother, his silver hair shining in the direct sunlight but there were some blue strands in them, just like the girl’s. He was younger here, younger than Elara ever remembered him to be.

“Elara, Kael, wait for me.” Another voice joined, this two was familiar and yet she couldn’t remember where she had heard it. She ignored it nevertheless, for now, her only priority was her brother.

“Kael?” Elara tried to call, hoping he would answer her, but her voice fell on deaf ears. Her eyes started watering. The wind caught in her black icy hair, making it float in the air, her head bent low in disappointment.

“You are finally here?” Kael’s voice asked, it was closer. Elara quickly looked up and he was there, this time looking straight at her. Elara gasped, not trusting her eyes or ears.

“Are you... really here?” she asked, the tears she had been holding started sliding down her cheeks. Kael however didn’t answer but carefully wiped the tears from her face. The touch of his warm hands felt alien to her; it was there but not at the same time.

“Now that you are here... find me.” Kael looked into her eyes; his gaze unwavering with an emotion she couldn’t understand.

“How?” Elara asked, she had become a different person, in a world she couldn’t understand nor know. “I am lost Kael. How can I find you when I am lost myself?”

Kael smiled, tucking her hair behind her ears. “You are not lost kiddo. You are at the right place. Solve the mystery and you can find me.” Out of the corner of her eyes, Elara noticed something, the strands of her black hairs where Kael had touched started changing color and in no time all her hairs had turned silver. She looked at her brother in shock, hoping for an answer but he smiled and bending forward, kissed her forehead.

“Now, wake up. You can’t keep staying in here. It is not good.... go... go and find out- “The rest of the words drowned as the surroundings once again started changing. The white buds just like the young Elara’s eyes turned black. Elara felt a distant pain in her shoulder that gradually increased making her wince. She tried to hold onto her brother, but he too started fading in blackening scenery.

“Wait, please don’t leave me again!” Elara begged, helplessly. The tears fell non-stop.

“Shhh.. You will find me soon. But not here... don’t come back here, Elara. You must find me out of here. Go-leave!” And he was gone. The world started revolving and with a start, Elara woke up.