Lyfers: Amnesia

Chapter 40 - Strangers

 – Daesyn? Daesyn, wake up. It's time to wake up, now.

At this familiar voice, she slowly opened her eyes, a light smile on her face. In a yawn, she sat up, and observed her surroundings; nothing had changed. It was still the usual sight that reassured her everytime she saw it, it was still that place called home. The soft rays of the sun projected on her bed a soft glow, and the light in the air felt magical. The atmosphere was delicate, calming, and there, she felt serene. She hugged closer the puppy plush she slept with, as a way to greet it.

– Do you remember, my little Dove? It's the big day for you. You haven't forgotten, of course, my darling?

She lifted her chin up with a joyful expression; a young woman was leaning above her, smiling. She detailed for an instant her long, pale blonde hair, her blue eyes, her tender expression, her lavender scent... It really was her mother, standing next to her and holding her hand.

– Of course not, Mom, she replied.

– Good. Get up, my Dove, you need to get ready.

Dove nodded, and pushed away the blankets, putting her bare feet on the hardwood floor, amused by its coldness on her skin. She headed towards the large dresser, the exact one she used to hide in all the time when they were playing hide-and-seek. She chuckled at the memory and opened it.

– Do you need help, my little Dove?

– I'm fine. I'm a big girl now, Mom.

– Right. You are growing up so fast.

– Girls, please hurry up!

Her father's voice made her giggle; he never had been patient, and it was probably hereditary, since she wasn't either. She couldn't wait for today, and had been anticipating for weeks already. She was happier than ever that this day ultimately came, and by so, got dressed in a blink.

As soon as she was ready, they both left her bedroom to go downstairs. There waited a tall man, finishing to adjust his blue suit-and-tie and to rearrange his short white hair. As soon as she saw him, Dove jumped into his arms, cheerfully, and he easily picked her up in a giggle. He kissed her forehead before putting her down.

– How's my favorite daughter?

– I'm impatient, Dad! Can we go yet?

– Didn't you forget something?

–...I'm not hungry, I don't want a breakfast! I wanna go!

She immediately pouted and crossed her arms; no, she couldn't wait anymore! Nevertheless, in front of her father's frown, no matter how amused it was, she could not retort anymore. In a sigh, she headed to the kitchen, and sat on one of the high chairs. Of course, they already had made her breakfast, and she smirked; it was her favorite. She began to eat her slice of sugar brioche, as she was way hungrier than what she said earlier. She finished it in a rush, emptying the glass of orange juice placed in front of her, and went back to the entrance, jumping up and down from excitement.

– Are we finally going?

– Yes we are, my little Dove. Let's go.

– Yay!

They both held one of her hands and the trio joyfully headed outside of their small, yet comfy, house.

– How are you going to name him? Questioned her father, smiling at her.

– Cinnamon, just like my plush!

– Cinnamon? That is a cute name. Do you think it'll fit him?

– Of course, because it'll be his name!

They shared a small laugh as they progressed into the empty street, gently lightened by the morning sunlight. Everything was calm, especially more when a silence created between them. However, as she watched her surroundings, Dove felt suddenly uneasy; she had been here before. She already had seen this scenery, but was only reminding of it now. Her worried look abruptly locked on her reflect in a window, and she gasped from the view; she wasn't the five years-old girl going to buy her very first puppy. At least, no, she wasn't anymore. She was now a twenty-two years-old woman that previously was in a fight with another gang. Innocence had left her long ago... along the death of her parents. Panicked, she stopped, maintaining them in place. They gave her a surprised glance.

– Are you okay, my little Dove? Asked her mother.

– W-we need to go back, she yelled. We need to go back home! T-this is dangerous, there's people that will hurt you if we continue! We need to stop!

– What are you talking about, sweetheart? Do not worry like that.

– N-...

All of a sudden, no voice left her mouth anymore; it was like her throat was paralyzed, unable to produce a sound. Her legs started to move by themselves, and unwillingly, she followed them farther. But she perfectly knew what was going to happen, and she was terrified. This is a nightmare, she thought, I am going to wake up! I don't want to live this again! No!

But she did not wake up. Instead, her fears came true; from the other end of the street arrived two men, heading towards them. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, as dread ran through her veins like poison, but she couldn't do anything. She was forced to stay there, to be once again a spectator of her tragic destiny. There was no escape.

The strangers stopped in front of them, and she stared at them, unable to look away; the first one was a bulk man with short, red hair, while the second was a thinner, blue-haired one, his hair so long it almost touched the ground. His face was lacerated by scars and his left cheek was completely burned. She observed them, more scared than she ever was, as her parents tightened their grip around her hands, nervously. A conversation between them started, but strangely, she couldn't understand a word of what they were saying, as if it was too distant. She was completely, utterly powerless, and it terrified her, even more when an argument burst out. The blue-haired man slapped her mother's face, sending her on the ground, and automatically, Dove crouched next to her, tears running down on her cheeks. She turned around to this stranger again, only to see he had raised a hand in the air, and clenched his fist in a sharp movement, followed by a frantic laughter.

– Run, Daesyn...

She clearly heard that low voice; her mother's voice. She desperately swung around to look at her father, but instead, saw his lifeless body in the concrete, bathing in his own blood, staining his white locks in red. She desired to holler her pain so bad her lungs hurt, but she couldn't, restricted by some unknown forces, the same ones that made her look at her mother, slowly bleeding out, life already leaving her previously happy blue eyes. In a sob, Dove clenched onto her arm; she didn't want to go. She didn't want to let go. Her mother used her last forces to push her away with a trembling hand, before hardly uttering something when she noticed her daughter up on her feet.

– Run, Dove... And promise me...

I know, Mom, she helplessly thought, but I won't keep that promise, I won't stay away from violence... It's going to come for me itself, Mom. I am sorry. But her mother's words caught her off-guard; they were absolutely not what she remembered during all these years.

– Promise me to be strong... To live... And to avenge... Taro.

Finally, the mysterious grasp around her got released, and she was able to open her mouth; she needed to ask her what she meant by this. She needed to know. But again, everything went back to black, and her chance to understand the meaning behind all of this disappeared along other colors.

– Dove! I beg you Dove, wake up! Come back to me!