The Lost Mark

Chapter 21: Why?

I went to the same place I went every night, into my head.

"Are you sure you are willing?" A deep voice said.

"I'm sorry," I cried. "I'm sorry."

"Are you willing?"

I nodded my head ferociously. "Of course. It's all I can do."

"You can ask for forgiveness."

I shook my head. "It's the only way."

"You don't have to sacrifice yourself."

I smiled sadly. "It's the only way I can ask for forgiveness."

"We have forgiven you."

"But I don't forgive myself."

The man started to cry. "Don't make me do this."

A tear flowed down my face. "I'm sorry."

"Please."

"Drop it."

The man dropped the torch that was in his hand. "I'm sorry."

I smiled at the man one last time before I started screaming in agony as the flames licked my skin. I screamed and screamed until darkness came over me. The darkness always comes. It had felt like an eternity before a new heavenly voice said. "It's your turn, my child. Don't forget that I love you."

Then I woke up.

"Mama." A voice said as something shook me.

I slowly opened my eyes and smiled. "Hey, Nee."

"Are you okay?"

I looked at her. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You were crying and screaming."

I furrowed my brows in thought. "I must have had a bad dream." I shrugged. "but I don't remember anything."

"You are not lying to me?"

"No," I said incredulously. I can't believe she would ask me that. "I've never kept anything from you before, why do that now?"

She nodded. "You sounded very sad."

I rubbed my eyes and noticed that my face was wet. I rubbed my face with my dress to get all of the evidence of my tears.

"If you remember anything you can talk to me."

"I know," I said trying to remember my dream. "Oh."

"What?"

"All I remember is a lot of light and then darkness."

Nee looked at me confused before her eyes started to glow. "Everything begins and ends with darkness. Everything starts and ends with light. You are part of the darkness before your life begins, then when it ends you see it before you become part of the darkness once again."

"Are you implying that I have lived before? Was I reliving my death?"

"One only knows what they need to know."

"Daph just," I sighed. "Just... I'm having a hard time understanding."

"I am not Daph. I am the oracle. You understand just fine. You understand what you must."

"Nee's name is daphne. She goes by Nee, so why can't you be Daph if you are part of Daphne?"

Her eyes shuddered and I saw a glimpse of a smile before she shakes her head. "I guess you don't remember much."