A n g e l i c V o i c e

No 14:

LOST MEMORIES

Amy comes running in the class as soon as the bell goes off, yelling out a “SAFE!” with a huge smile on her face. I giggle softly as she makes her way towards the desk, but even I can hear the nervous tune my voice holds. That and, my hands are sweating and feel clammy, which is very uncomfortable.

“Ahh, my sugar mama’s is here!” Amy says as she wraps her arms around my neck and gives me a squeeze. I sigh and lean back against her when she goes in to nuzzle my cheek. When she’s done doing her small display of affection she plops down in her own seat next to mine.

“How are you today madam?” she asks, throwing her black bag—with a rainbow she painted on herself—on the table.

“Ah, nervous, I guess.”

“About what?”

I look down and fiddle with the hem of my shirt. “I’m going to tell Jared that I don’t want to see him anymore—that we can’t be friends anymore.”

Even though everyone around us is still getting their stuff out and shuffling around, it feels as if it’s gone quiet. I look up at Amy and see her staring right at me, though it feels more like she’s staring through me. I nibble on my bottom lip. We had all become friends, or at least, they have, when we were hanging out together, because I didn’t want to be alone with Jared. I hope she doesn’t think I want her to choose between us. I don’t mind if she stays friends with him it’s just . . . I can’t. But then, if he’s dangerous, maybe I don’t want her to after all . . .

“Heh, I knew this would happen,” she whispers.

“What?”

She smiles at me, as if I hadn’t said anything at all.

Then, her expression turns angry.

“Did he do something to you? Did he—ah! Did he steal your innocence?!”

“Amy! Not so loud!” I exhale slowly. Good, she’s not upset with me. “And no, it’s nothing like that. It’s just that, I feel like I’m leading him on and stuff . . .” There’s no need for me to tell her about him forcing a kiss on me.

“Well good, cause I’d have to smack him if he did,” she winks. “But this is really sudden. I know you don’t like hurting people. Do you want me to come with you?”

I shake my head. “No. Hey, Amy?”

“Yes, my dearest?”

“Funny. Have you ever noticed anything weird about Jared?”

Her mouth twists in confusion as she thinks about this.

“You mean like . . . his hair?”

“No—wait, what’s wrong with his hair?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t like the way he spikes it sometimes.”

“Well, okay then. I was just talking about his personality.”

“No, not really. Why, have you? Is that why you don’t want to be friends with him anymore? You found out he beats kittens and puppies?”

My eyes widen. “He does?!”

“Not that I know of.”

She really needs to stop doing that!

“You’re exhausting Amy,” I mumble as I rest my head against my folded arms on the desk. “You’re awfully happy today.”

“I passed my test last hour,” she chirps.

Why is everyone so happy today?

“Ah . . .”

“I’ll go get your project; maybe painting will help cheer you up! Have courage, dear friend!”

I arch an eyebrow at her as she goes to fetch my things from our drawer.

Is she okay?

-

-

Drawing, painting, any sort of self-expression has been ruined for me.

I painted yet another strange image in class. So strange that I had thrown it out the second I realized what I was drawing and when Amy asked, I had brushed her off and said it was nothing.

School is out now and I promised to go see Amy tomorrow, since we don’t have school and it has been awhile. And now . . . now I just want to get my things and go home. I don’t want to face Jared today, maybe later when I’ve gathered up some courage. But I’m still a bit shaken from that last kiss, it was so painful. What if he does it again? What if I don’t see Ace fast enough and it kills me like in the dream? I can’t exactly take care of it myself, I can’t cure myself.

This is turning into one big mess. Lovely.

I slam my locker door with more force than necessary, angry at my own powerlessness. Just as I’m about to turn tail and haul ass to my blazer, someone’s hand wraps around my arm and I feel my stomach churn. Slowly, I look over my shoulder to see Jared. There’s a fierce look in his eyes that terrifies me.

He’s going to ask me out again though, that’s it. There’s nothing to be scared of.

I try and convince myself but all I can do is remember how it felt to have my mouth poisoned.

“Erin, can we talk?”

“I don’t know, can we?”

“Erin . . .”

Sighing I pull my arm out of his grasp and turn so my back is facing him.

“Outside.”

Some of his friends are watching us; I don’t want to embarrass him or anything. He was probably walking with them when he saw me. It’s better if we go outside, away from prying eyes. I’m a bit uncomfortable but this is how I want it. Besides, I’ve worked up a theory while in school and I want to test it out.

We go to where we went last time, at the back of the school. I can see the track from here and the bleachers as well.

I lean against the brick wall and calmly look at Jared, even though my insides feel as if they’re a mess.

“Erin, I know you already said no but—”

“Jared,” I say, cutting him off. If I’m going to do this, I should be quick and to the point about it. “Look, I know I’m the one who offered to be friends with you but . . . it’s just not working out. You’re not interested in my friendship and we can never have what you want because I have that with someone else. So I think we should just stop hanging around each other all together. I’m sorry, it just doesn’t feel right.” I toe the grass, unable to look at him.

It’s quiet for a little while and then he says, “He did this. He told you not to be friends with me anymore, didn’t he?”

It’s a little scary how dark his voice sounds. I push myself away from the wall and turn from him, ready to leave, ready to be done with this. But before I can take one step he grabs my arm and pulls me back to him.

“Jared! Stop!” I shout angrily when his mouth moves closer to mine. I place my hands on his face, pushing him back and not caring how stupid we must look. I’m not going to get poisoned again! I’m about to knee him in the groin when someone grabs me and yanks me away from him, out of his grasp.

A tall figure stands protectively in front of me.

Ace.

So he was watching me. I had come up with that conclusion in class, after what he had said when he dropped me off. He said he wouldn’t let anything happen to me so I was curious . . . guess I was right.

Relief washes over me until I look at Jared and his infuriated expression. It’s only then that I fully remember what Ace is. A demon. He can easily tear Jared apart, I can just imagine. And there’s no one here to witness—other than me anyway, but I doubt he sees me as a threat. Hell, he might not see anyone human as a threat. It’s not like he can be caught by the police, since he doesn’t exactly have a modern day, human existence. That ended for him a long time ago. And even if he did, I bet he could probably hide all the evidence away, like how they do in the movies.

Why didn’t I think of all this sooner?

I’m starting to get scared for Jared now. I have no doubt that Ace has killed before. I just have that feeling. Though he doesn’t seem murderous to me, he’s never really wanted to kill someone around me before. But now it’s different. The look in his eyes scream out, I want to kill you.

“What are you doing here?” Jared hisses. “Can’t you see that Erin and I were having a private conversation? Where did you even come from?!”

He’s really pushing his luck.

Just shut up Jared, please just shut up and go home, safe in your bed in a world where demons don’t exist.

Ace doesn’t even flinch, he just smirks. “Oh? It looked like it was over. You know, when she was trying to leave, to come to me.”

I bite the insides of my cheeks.

He’s gloating. He’s the winner. He won. Won me.

I feel insulted but I can’t find my voice.

Ace’s words and gloating tone seem to fuel Jared’s fire, which is probably what he was trying to do. But to my surprise, he doesn’t lunge at him like you see in the movies or even the way some dumb boys do in the hallways. Instead he stands straight, looking extremely pissed off. He’s practically breathing fire. Has he always been like this? Well, it doesn’t matter who you are, everyone can get mad. Everyone can get violent, even a baby is able to throw a fit. It’s not exactly a rare emotion so I shouldn’t be surprised.

“Tch, she’ll go to you now but we’re still only in High School. Eventually you’ll break up and when that day comes I’ll be sure to be there.”

I narrow my eyes at him. I really can’t see that happening. He’s just getting his hopes up again. Why does he do this?

“Don’t count on it,” I manage to grumble, unsure of whether or not he heard me.

“That will never happen,” Ace claims rather smugly.

“Then I’ll just take her from you!” Jared promises.

“Stop it, Jared! What’s your problem?!” Is he obsessed with me?!

He finally looks at me. “I’ve liked you for a long time Erin! You just never noticed me!” I fight the urge to glare at Ace. “I don’t want to wait anymore! I’ll take you from him and we’ll both be happy!”

“That’ll be rather difficult, what with you two not even being friends anymore. She doesn’t want to see you, doesn’t want to hang out with you. It’ll be rather hard for you to woo her if she doesn’t want to be around you. Besides, even if you were still friends, I wouldn’t let someone like you, someone was weak and pathetic as you, take her from me. I highly doubt pansies that climbed out of the crib too early is an attractive trait to her.”

“Ace, stop,” I whisper, tugging on his sleeve a bit. That’s going too far. This is all just going too far. I just want to go home and forget this, I want Jared to go home and forget me.

Ace looks at me questioningly and in the back of my mind, I wonder if this is how it was with Stephen. But Stephen was my best friend in that life wasn’t he? Amy’s my best friend in this life. I wish I knew what happened to Stephen, though I doubt Ace will tell me, or even let me dream it. It feels like a huge chunk of my past is missing. I don’t like that Ace is in control of my memories. A sudden ache makes itself known in my chest and I wonder what the pain is and where it came from. It’s so intense; I’ve never felt this kind of pain before.

“Jared,” I choke out, wanting to get out of there before I have some sort of breakdown.

A face flashes in front of my eyes when I go to look up, but it’s not Jared’s.

“Stephen! Look at what I’ve drawn!”

“Erin! Just jump! I’ll catch you!”

“A flower for you—I went in the garden and got you a yellow rose!”

“Isn’t it the boy who’s supposed to get the flowers . . .”

“But the maid said that yellow roses are for friends! And you’re my bestest friend ever!”

I lean back against the brick wall again to balance myself, my legs close to giving out as sweat gathers on my forehead.

Who . . . was that Stephen?

His face had been so blurry, I couldn’t make it out, and those voices . . . I know one had been mine.

“Erin,” Ace whispers, his hand touching my face, seeming to forget Jared’s presence.

I push his hand away and look at Jared, my strength abruptly beginning to leave me.

“Jared, I’m leaving now. I’m sorry but . . . please don’t talk to me anymore!” I bow my head a little and before either of them can react, I run for my car. Jared doesn’t follow and neither does Ace, which is probably a good thing.

I climb in my car and rest my forehead against the steering wheel. I sob against it, not caring that my lips are practically coated with saliva or that my eyeliner is smudging. This pain in my chest . . . is it like the poison somehow? What happened? Why am I suddenly remembering a face that disappeared from my life long ago?

I jump when I feel a hand going around my wrist. Turning, surprised and ready to scream, I freeze and my voice is long gone.

There’s a man sitting in the seat next to me, his hand wrapped around my wrist. He’s smiling so softly, I want to let him comfort me but then he turns around to see me and I cover my mouth with my hand.

Half of his face is burned off.

“Erin, why did you do this to me?” he pleads, looking as if he’s about to cry himself. “Why couldn’t you just let me go?”

“I don’t—what are you talking about?! Who are you?!” I scream, even though I know. I recognize that voice.

The fresh burn is beginning to spread across his entire face and he whimpers.

“Erin, please . . .”

“Stephen . . .”

“Please, it hurts so badly . . .”

“Stop it . . .” I cover my eyes with my hands and cry, this pain devouring me, choking me. I just want it to go away.

“Erin, PLEASE.”

“I don’t remember you! Leave me alone!” I scream and go to shove at him but he’s already gone. Frantically, I look around in my car and then around the almost empty parking lot.

“Why are you doing this to me,” I whisper, though I’m not sure who I’m directing the question to.

-

-

“Erin!”

I grumble as Eric starts to shake me awake. I bat his hands away and snuggle against my pillow, not wanting to face reality yet. He doesn’t seem to get the message however, and just sits on the edge of my bed, shaking me with one hand though he seems preoccupied. Soon, I hear my TV turning on and see that he’s found my remote. I hear what sounds like a reporter woman but I don’t really care enough to get up and see.

That is, until I hear her say, “One teen found dead.”

I shoot up in my bed and quickly crawl behind Eric, setting one hand on his shoulder and watching the TV with wide eyes. I see a small picture of Jared in the top corner of the TV with his name under it, it looks like a school photo of him.

The woman blabbers about how the attacker was at his house and the condition that they found him in.

“Was this the work of a man or a beast?” Is the last thing I hear before everything around me freezes and I realize I left him alone with Ace yesterday.

Ace, what did you do . . . ?

-

-

This chapter and the last chapter used to be one whole chapter, but the two didn’t seem to fit together for me so I split them up. Just a little fun fact for you guys. ;3 A lot of parts in this chapter weren’t in the original. Woo! Thanks again for the support! Love ya guys!