Empty Eyes: Book 1

Chapter 24

The haze that surrounded me was becoming all too familiar. It felt as though I was wrapped in cool silk or water and was floating carelessly with no pain both physically or mentally. It could've been days, weeks, or even years that I lay in the endless abyss of comfort.

Surely coming close to dying this many times was going to eventually wreak havoc on my body. When I finally reached the surface and opened my eyes, I was in a familiar room, but not the one I expected to see.

My fingers brushed against the worn mattress beneath me and I looked around in disbelief, sitting up slowly so as not to make myself sick. I was back in my bedroom in the lower class part of Konoha.

My head was spinning with confusion. The memories of what happened before had me ripping off my covers and looking down at my body. One of my old, worn dresses adorned it and I didn't feel any aches or pains in my lower regions, which I definitely expected to have.

"If you don't get out of bed right now, you'll have no food until tomorrow." My mom's shrill and demanding voice met my ears and my blood ran cold.

Is everything back to how it was before I was arrested? Was it all just a dream then? I rushed out of bed and hurried out into the kitchen, shocked at its normal appearance. Last time I saw it, it'd been a mess because of the break-in.

"What have I told you about running in this house?"

I felt a whack on the side of my head and looked over to see my mother glaring down at me. "M-Mom? What's going on here?"

The woman grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the bathroom, pushing me in its direction once we were close enough, "What's going on is we're going to be late for church if you don't get a move on."

I stepped into the tiny bathroom in a trance, looking at my once again frail body in the small mirror. Was it all really just a dream? I thought about the sensations, the excitement, and the fear I'd felt. No. There's no way. Something's going on and I have to find out what it is. I have to find Sasuke and make him tell me the truth.

I freshened up before sneaking away and climbed into Naruto's bedroom window next door. He nearly leapt out of his skin when he saw me behind him in his mirror as he buttoned up his church shirt, "Saku! What're you doing here?"

I grabbed his arm and made him turn and face me, "What's going on, Naruto? Why am I back here?"

He looked at me uneasily, laying a calming hand on top of mine, "Are you feeling alright? Have you eaten today? Let me go get some bread for y-"

I tightened my grip on his arm, tears welling up as I pleaded with him to remember all that'd happened, "No! No! You can't forget, too!" My eyes widened in realization and he looked around in a panic as though trying to figure out how to calm me.

"Hinata! Remember how she snuck away from her dad so you two could dance at the ball? Remember how much you like her?"

His face heated up slightly and he looked a bit confused as he looked down at the dusty floor of his room, his grip on my hand lightening slightly, "Hinata..."

He met my gaze, "Why does that name sound so familiar?"

A wave of relief came over me. It wasn't just a dream! Everyone had most likely been glowed to forget. I pulled him into a tight hug, tears slipping down my cheeks, "Oh, thank goodness!"

I released my grip on him and tore out of the room via his window as quickly as I could. He called after me, but I ignored him and sprinted toward the colorful wall that separated the classes.

I'll just have to go ask the Uchihas themselves what was going on. Even if they no longer want me in the castle, I need to know. I need to hear it directly from the source.