Amnesia, Book 1: A Girl Lost In The Woods

<Dahlia> Chapter IV: Cursed

Eden, Population 108, Location Unknown

June 20th, 08:00 16 Hours Until The End

Dahlia woke with a scream—at least she thought so at first, then she realized that the sound had come from the last moment of her dream.

The pain in her stomach and back had returned with a vengeance. It radiated in waves through her body—but an instant later it was gone.

She’d slept miserably. All night she felt like she’d been locked in a battle—like her unconscious mind was trying to bring something to the surface and she kept pushing it down.

For a fleeting second everything felt like it was on the tip of her tongue, but now all she could recall were a series of distorted, queasy images—and that statue.

She didn’t want to think about it. She refused. She wasn’t marked by anything. The only one who knew she’d gone into the woods was James, and she knew that he wouldn’t tell anybody—why would he?

You’re cursed too Dahlia…

She pushed the thought away violently and shook her head. She wasn’t going to waste another thought on a stupid hunk of marble. She watched the morning sunlight ghost through the veil of curtains that swayed in the morning breeze, and tried to remind herself of happier thoughts.

She drew a blank.

You’re next Dahlia… The thoughts kept seeping back in.

She groaned and pulled the blankets back over her head.

Back to sleep—and she’d only accept the good dreams this time. She tried to fix in her mind the image of James’s apology. He’d get down on one knee and admit how he was one hundred percent wrong. It would be beautiful.

But no matter how she tried, she was wide awake—exhausted, but too tense to go back to sleep.

Why did it have to be day? Whose idea was that?

A voice drifted up to Dahlia from outside her window. “—I’m not saying you needed to wait. All I’m saying is that you should’ve asked permission first,” he admonished.

James?

“Do you want to know a secret James? I’ll tell you… but only because we’re friends… never ask for permission… just apologize if you’re caught,” came the response. “Believe me, this will be a nice touch.”

Dahlia threw off the covers and ran to the window. She saw James and Max below. What they were up to she couldn’t tell, but James had his arms crossed as he watched Max haul a pile of rugs across the lawn. “James?” she called down.

“Dahlia! Good morning!” He waved and smiled.

She waved back, surprised; then she remembered that she was still mad at him, and scowled. “What do you think you’re doing here?” she asked coldly.

“Morning Dahlia. You dream of me?” Max shouted jubilantly, holding up his hand. He muttered something to himself and then said, “Please don’t look down here for a moment… it’s a surprise. We’ll be done soon. Go and have breakfast or get dressed… or don’t… that’s a lovely nightgown… very thin… Max approves,” he said dryly.

“Hey.” James slugged Max in the shoulder. Max stumbled sideways a few steps.

Dahlia stepped out of the light and grabbed a pale green robe from her closet.

Max and James knew each other? Of course they did, she thought ruefully. They were probably best friends. That’s just what she needed right now: to deal with both of them together.