Star Beings: Dawn

Floodgates

DJ wraps her arms around me. I tense up.
"I'm sorry for this but it's for your own good." "What-"
Something hits the back of my head.
Everything goes black.

I open my eyes.
I'm back in my room.
There's people arguing outside.
"Elian-" "This isn't fair to Anai! I'm tired of all of you being too scared to tell her shit! If it's affecting her like this, we need to end the charade and start helping her get her memories back."
Elian. They told him everything. He sounds upset. Of course he's upset, I've been hiding shit for over a month. It's not like I expected him to be pleased, but he sounds... well not angry but... protective? Concerned?
"And if she snaps? If she starts hurting people? Then what? We just say "oops" and throw her in prison?"
Natalie. She always seemed to be on my side. But of course, she's worried too.
They all are.
"Both of you!"
DJ.
"Listen, I agree this could be dangerous but she said she's barely slept at all since the gala. That was over a month ago, that's got to be detrimental to both her physical and mental health. Yes, allowing Anai to remember could cause a psychotic break. But allowing this to continue? She's bound to go nuts."
"DJ, that's the smartest thing I've heard you say in a while."
"Thanks Nat, it comes from experience. Anyways..."
They lower their voices and I lose track of the conversation.
My stomach twists and I feel like throwing up.
They're all so scared of me hurting people. But I'm more likely to stab myself than hurt anyone here. Can't they see that? I don't want to hurt anyone. Why are they all so scared? I never meant to hurt anyone. Or maybe I did. Maybe they're scared I'll just revert back to who I was before all of this. But I'm different now.
Aren't I?
I feel my breakfast rise in my throat and I fight the urge to gag.
No.
"I am not a bad person. Not anymore. Not any..."
The door slowly opens.
I see the tired and concerned face of my uncle.
"Ani?"
The dam breaks.
I start sobbing.

Elian rushes to my side. "Hey! It's ok! It's ok..."
"I don't want to hurt anyone, I'm just scared. I don't know who I am or what's going on. I just want the nightmares to stop."
That's what I try to say. But it comes out in a jumbled mess of word vomit.
"Shh... breathe Ani. I'm here."
I see DJ and Natalie standing in the doorway.
DJ glances at her friend, who sighs and then nods.
"Alright. We'll talk with the others."
With that, they both leave.
"Hear that? This'll all be over soon."
I take a deep breath and wipe the tears off my face.
"Please, don't hide shit from me kid. Not shit like this."
I nod silently.
"Now get some more sleep. I have a feeling you need it."

I wake up the next morning to the smell of bacon. I walk out of my room to find Hera eating while the twins both make messes of themselves in their high chairs.
"Morning, Ani. Elian made breakfast, then got a call from DJ and left in a hurry." "Did she mention me?" I ask, wiping some jam off of Apollo's cheek.
Hera nods.
I feel my eyebrows jump in surprise. My aunt looks at me in confusion.
"What is it, Anai?" "Nothing, it's just..." "You're surprised someone is being up front for once."
I nod.
"I hate hiding things. From you. From Elian. From the Star Beings. Many times it's for the good of others, yes, but that doesn't mean it rids one of guilt. But since the star beings have given the ok on allowing you to remember, I see no point in hiding things anymore."
Hera smiles at me, then continues on with her breakfast.
I join her.

Elian arrives back in a bad mood.
"Welcome back-" "Those damn kids! That's all they are, anyways. Kids. I'm fucking 34, I taught the little shits, and I'm now the ruler of a fairly large group of fucking people and they still don't wanna listen to me! GODS!!!"
Hera silently takes another bite of bacon.
"So the meeting didn't go well, I presume?"
"No, it did not!" Elian shouts, angrily shoveling food onto his plate.
Hera sighs.
"Elian, dearest?" "Yes, sunshine?" Elian says through gritted teeth.
"Take a deep breath before you break that plate. It's not like the Star Beings haven't gone against us before."
"I know that but this time it's not really helping anybody. They don't understand that they're still just... teenagers. They were barely old enough to be making decisions as generals. Now that's over with and they're acting like a fucking high court. It's ridiculous!"
My Aunt and Uncle both stare at each other in silence.
For the first time all morning, I see Elian smile. Hera begins to laugh.
"I sound like you did back when we were still teaching them, don't I?"
My Aunt nods, still giggling. Elian shakes his head with a sigh.
"Those damn kids..."
He sits down, looking over at me.
"We leave Thursday, so start packing Ani. DJ is coming with us."
"Really?" I ask with a full mouth.
Elian nods. "She offered to. Hade did as well but I ignored them."
I chuckle, then grab my empty plate.
"Well. I better start getting ready. Do you have a spare bag I can use?"
"Yeah, let me grab it real quick." Elian sets his plate down and walks into he and Hera's bedroom, returning a few seconds later with a duffel in hand.
"Here you go, kid." "Thanks Uncle Elian."
I walk towards my room.
"You're welcome. Love you, kiddo."
I pause in front of my door, unsure how to respond to that.
"Love you too, uncle Elian." I finally say.
I'm not quite sure, but I think I see him smile out of the corner of my eye before I retreat into my room.
Father never said that. He thought it made him weak.
I smack the side of my head.
"Stop that."

I hope y'all have had a happy new year, it's already been trash for me. Anyways, here's some art of Lane. As for why it looks like an album cover: it is one! Though it hasn't been mentioned in the story yet (though it was referenced a few chapters back when Lane got swarmed by fan people and later on Anai mentions she and DJ having a chat in the corner) Lane became a somewhat well known musician during the three year gap. Her band was called Shades of Violet, as seen on the bottom of the pic.