Boshville

B. 9

Natalie shook her head. It had to be a lie. Daisy might have been a convincing liar but she was there for Natalie. She got her the very first bow she wore, she bought her many cute stickers for her sketchbook, she was there for her very first play and every other thing a mother would do.

"Natalie, you need to calm down". Natalie looked at Zee. She could see him but it was like his voice was fading. Natalie checked her arms. It was shaking. "Stay calm. Focus on my voice". She could hear Zee's slurred voice.

Natalie was not capable of doing what he asked. Her hands started vibrating. "What is happening?' Her voice even came out in octaves of a crack. Her feet shook without her permission. "Help me!" Was the last thing she heard herself scream as her feet moved.

Natalie felt the wind as it smacked her face. She saw herself in front of the van. She covered her face and braced for impact.

Suddenly, her feet stopped. Natalie caught the ground on time to break her fall. Natalie breathed out heavily. A loud explosion from behind forced her to look. She saw the van in flames. Natalie was too shocked to move from her spot.

A familiar light appeared in front of her. "Are you okay?" It was Zee. Natalie shook her head with tears in her eyes. "What is wrong with me?" She managed to swallow cries. "I'll tell you everything for real now. Please, come with me". Natalie slowly took his outstretched hand.

Zee teleported her to the car for the second time in the day. Natalie was shaken up. She refused to speak. She also blocked her mind from overthinking even though it was still doing so. "Your renomones are hurting my head". Zee tried to joke. Natalie looked at him. There was no life in her eyes and no smile on her lips.

                      < ~ >< ~ >

Casper was being woken rather violently. He could feel the cold floor under his body. "Wake up, you moron or we'll both be dead!" The person waking him snapped. Casper scrunched his eyes before he began to open them. He saw the soldier over his head. "Why are you so close to my face?" He asked with dull eyes.

"Yeah. Choose now to be comic". The man rolled his eyes. Casper sat up and held his aching head. "Why are you talking like that? Shouldn't you be running to save your job?" Casper was confused. "It's me, Casper", the soldier flicked his head, "you remember?"

"Moss?" Casper raised his eyebrow. "Yes, captain obvious", Moss chuckled, "can you stand?" "I think". Casper tried to get up. Moss still helped him. "How do we leave?" Casper questioned, "there are guards every where". "You don't have your memories yet?" Moss frowned.

Casper frowned at him too. "Why are my memories so important to you?" He said seriously. Moss sighed, "do you remember the cube at least?" He gave Casper sad eyes. "You shoved it in my head or I think so. It was not funny". Casper glared. Moss chuckled, "I'm sorry. There was no were else to hide it". Casper flicked Moss's head and said, "you had your head, idiot".

"True, I guess. Sorry".

"I forgive you. Besides, you have to explain what was going on between us".

Moss's face dropped. "We have to go". He pulled Casper to the door. Casper wanted to protest but he respected that it was a sensitive topic.

The soldier that was tasked to man the door immediately pointed his weapon at Moss. "Sergeant, what are you doing with the subject?" The man asked confused. "The General ordered that he be taken to the lab for reshuffling", Moss answered easily, "kid doesn't weigh anything so I was bringing him there".

The soldier eyed them suspiciously. Moss's forehead creased for a minute. "What is this hullabaloo?! You should be at your work stations!" The 'General' said from behind the soldier. The man saluted. "Sir, I was..." "Sergeant! I expected a lab check in minutes ago. Are you slacking on your duties?!"

"No, sir. He was hard to wake up".

"Excuses are for fools. I'd never be general if I made excuses. Get out of my sight and bring me results. Good results".

"Yes sir".

The other soldier quietly slipped away during all the shouting to avoid being yelled at too. The 'General' melted and Moss exhaled. He had turned slightly pale. "You shouldn't have done that". Casper scolded. "Let's move before the real General finds out you're gone". Was all Moss said.

The two continued moving. Whenever they met the guards, Moss would manhandle Casper lightly to avoid suspicion. The dull soldiers fell for it. They took pleasure in seeing the victims suffer therefore, they ignored everything else that happened around.

Moss rounded a corner at the west wing of the first gate. "Are you okay?" Moss asked. Casper shook his head. He was not dizzy but he had that feeling again where his brain was buzzing with millions of figures or information. He couldn't tell what was wrong. 

"Where does it hurt?" Moss asked with absolute dread on his face. Casper looked into his eyes. His very gray eyes. The colors held many things almost like it was at war with itself. Casper was sure that Moss knew his life well. Moss was the only person there on the day he lost his memory. He wanted to remember and he had a crazy idea that might just work.

"I need to kiss you". Casper said out of the blue. Moss's face held surprise. Casper was watching out for disgust but it never showed. "What?! Are you crazy?! Right here?" Moss flipped. "You were there when I lost my memories. If I'm gonna get it back, I need a connection to that time", Casper explained, "and...I'm not dumb. I can tell that we were a couple".

Moss smiled for a second. "As much as I would love to kiss you, I don't think it's gonna work", Moss shrugged, "I just need to know that you can walk. We can get out easily". "I can walk". Casper confirmed. "Good. Stay close".

Moss ran towards the gate and straight for the guard. The guard was very skilled yet he was only able to land a few punches on Moss. Moss, on the other hand was trained. Casper was super shocked because he had never known any violence except Natalie's friendly jabs.

A siren alarm went off. "Moss!" Casper shouted for him to avoid a hit to the face. Moss smirked and duplicated. His second version was a muscle bodied man who easily threw the guard away. Casper shook his head and he face palmed.

"You could've done that in the first place". Casper told him. Moss chuckled, "I guess I could", he replied, "it didn't come to mind". "Or you wanted to impress me". Casper wore a smug look. Moss did not bother to deny or accept it. The duplicate opened the gates and they ran out.

                       < ~ >< ~ >

Natalie was still silent when Zee parked in a diner for some munch. "You want anything?" He asked as he unclamped his seatbelt. Natalie ignored him and got down the car. She stared at the window oddly.

Her reflection showed a taller girl. Natalie wanted to laugh. She was a not so proud 5ft3 but now, she could be 6ft. Natalie stopped looking and went inside.

Natalie accessed the normal looking place. The diner was a small one and it was understandable since it was close to the gas station. It was unsurprisingly full due to known fact that it was the only restaurant within the long miles from true civilization.

"I'll order". Zee said over her shoulder. Natalie shrugged and went to find a table. She picked a table at the far end of the wall of the main kitchen door. "This is nice". Zee coughed while taking his seat.

The female waiter with tray headed their direction. "Here are your fries, your chicken balls", she dropped it on the table, "and chipoltle carrot soup with its side salad and a touch of molle sauce". "Thank you". Zee quickly said. The waiter went rigid. "Zarphon?" The woman removed her hat. "Carmosole"

Zee was about to draw her into a warm embrace. "Stay still, Zarphon", Carmosole warned, "there are bounty hunters all around this place. Do not open fire until they do first".

From frying pan to fire... I am an evil author

Anyways, the next chapter is the final stop for our contest suggestions. Make it worth it!

Love you,
Josy💜