Prologue
"Ever?" I looked over at the woman sitting in front of me. With her natural blonde hair and blue eyes, she would seem like the most trusting person in the world. After all, she looked like she cared. But did she? I looked back at the picture of her and her family.
People were selfish, and though some people wanted to help, they wouldn't put their family in danger. That's how I'm different.
"Ms. Faun?" I zoned back into the question. What was the question?
"What do you remember?" The woman, otherwise known as Mrs. Sanders, asked.
I mulled over the question. "I remember. . . it was a rainy day. There were dark clouds overhead, and I was rushing to get home."
"Do you remember why you were in a hurry?" I could feel the dark memories closing in, but held them back.
"It was about to rain. Didn't want to get wet." I lied, watching the leaves, outside the window, dance across the yard from the wind catching them.
She nodded, encouraging me to continue. "I was running down the street, trying to get home, when a van pulls up beside me, and. . ." I paused. "They took me. Next thing I know, I wake up on a couch, and police are bursting through a door yelling at me to put my hands up."
She stares at me for a moment. "And that is all you can remember?" I nod.
She studies me for a few moments before sighing, and my eyes dart to the digital clock sitting on the corner of her desk.
10 more minutes.
She leans forward, almost reminding me of the way Sheriff Harvy leaned forward to try and intimidate me during 'questioning'. I was the victim, but they all acted like I was a criminal.
"Ms. Faun-"
"Forrest."
She blinked. "Pardon me?"
"It's Forrest. Ever Forrest." She slowly nodded her head.
"Alright. Ms. Forrest, I understand that you went through something traumatic. It was something you should never have had to go through." She hesitated. "But for there to be justice, we need everything you can remember about these men. We have these men in custody, but unless we have proof, we can't hold them. So we need you to cooperate."
I narrowed my eyes. "I told you and them that you have the wrong guys. They are innocent."
"Ms. Forrest, we have witnesses saying that these are the men who took you. And if you don't remember anything after they took you then-"
"I may not remember the in-between, but I know what they looked like." It took me a moment to realize that I was leaning forward in my chair, practically glaring daggers into her.
I took a deep breath looking away before looking back toward her after I had calmed down. "You've got the wrong men." I finally say. A loud chime goes off, but we don't make a move as we stare each other down. After a few minutes, she sighs. "Looks like it's the end of our session for today. I will see you next Tuesday."
I nodded at her, quickly walking out of the room. I wander around the facility before finding a bathroom. Looking at myself in the mirror, I realize that I'm not only a mess on the inside, but on the outside as well. With dark bags under my eyes, my hair unbrushed, and the T-shirt and sweatpants I threw on- I looked like a bum.
Well, you don't seem too happy. I heard a voice chuckle and looked to my left to see a boy. A very familiar boy.
"Leave me alone Kie," I muttered, closing my eyes.
Aw, he pouted. You thought you could keep me at bay, didn't you?
I sighed not bothering to answer. But you can't. I'm in your head. I'm your protector. I glare at him in the mirror, even though I know he isn't real, I can still see him, and hear him. I hated it.
"You're not my protector," I said sadly, but he was already gone. I looked back at myself in the mirror, examining myself, though what I saw wasn't my baggy clothes or my sullen expression.
It was him.
"I was yours," I whispered.
After all, isn't it my fault that he's dead?
