Avatar Rose: Dusk

Chapter 23: Rose

"Hah. Very funny. Is this some prank to get back at me?" The boy laughs nervously, glancing at the other man for support. His nervous laughter quickly falters when he sees no amusement in my eyes. My eyes areround with confusion and weariness.

"Whoa, okay, that's not good. I bet it'll come back. Maybe we can just trigger some memories," he mumbles. He attempts to reach for my hand, but I take a few steps back.

I straighten my posture a little. "No thanks. I actually really like it here. Besides, I don't really know you guys."

"But you just said to Nathan 'I know you,'" the man remarks.

"There's a difference between seeing a familiar face and knowing someone. I just got excited, it's difficult not knowing anyone, even in memories," I snap defensively, rolling my eyes.

"Rose, I don't think you understand. You're not a normal person. If you try to ignore this problem, the world may be destroyed because of it," the girl says quietly. This just confuses me more.

Luckily, Alice steps beside me, studying the three travelers curiously. Her gaze quickly flits away and goes to me. "We should go, Rose. It's looking like it might rain, and I think we should take it easy on you moving around on your own. Rest, and we can walk around tomorrow."

Alice is just trying to help, but I'm really starting to get sick of being treated like a little kid. Lilly and Emily appear a few minutes later.

I consider protesting, but glance back at the three familiar faces. I get the feeling I don't like the two fainter faces, and feel a slight pain in my chest when I look at Nathan. He did hurt me. I just don't know how. It's like I'm mad about something that I don't remember.

"Yeah, okay," I mumble, turning my back on them.

"Hold up!" Nathan shouts, grabbing my arm. "We've spent months looking for you. I came here knowing you'd be angry that I followed you, but you're stuck with me, like it or not. I don't care if you remember me."

My face flushes red with annoyance. Nathan's personality was starting to become really familiar. He's a control freak. Protective in the most annoying way.

"Go home," I say to the three girls, who are hesitant at first. They eventually comply.

"Let go of my arm before I make you," I growl. It was hard to look and sound threatening, though. I was beginning to become dizzy, tired, and nauseous from all the sudden and long movement.

"You don't look so good. I've seen a lot of people coming out of comas, and they're only able to walk around for a few minutes. You should get some rest," the girl says.

"Burn in hell," I hiss angrily, attempting to walk away.

I hear someone sigh. "I suppose she doesn't know she's a bender, or the all powerful avatar. I have the tranquilizing darts."

"I guess. Sorry Rose, I think we've had a similar situation before," Nathan mumbles, as if he really doesn't like what their plan is. It's hard for me to process at first, because of my migraine and other thoughts.

What's an avatar? Some kind of rare disease?

I scowl at them. My migraine seems to get worse. But instead of shooting me up with sleep darts, Nathan pulls out a book. A sketchbook. He flips a few pages to a drawing, one of Nathan and I. It was clear we had more than just friends relationship. I just turn sickly green and tremble.

Flashes of memory and piercing pain whir around in my head until I feel feverish and begin to shake like a leaf.

"Memory sickness. Way to go, Nathan," the girl snaps. Their figures are blur.