What Lies Beneath The Clearing

14.4

When she looked up, Lennox could see her eyes glisten. After a few seconds Lennox felt her heart break. 

"Kaila I'm so sorry,"

"No, don't apologize. You held onto so much pain after what happened to me. Everything Caleb was feeling, Skye, Sasha, you took all of it. Look what it's done to you."

"What else could I do? It was my fault."

"No. I chose to follow you. The same way Sasha did. We all did. That's why you have to stop blaming yourself for what happened."

"I shouldn't've convinced you to come. I never should've gone there, maybe if I'd stayed away you'd still be alive."

"What makes you think I'm dead? You always had hope Lennox. I told you it'd pay off someday."

She smiled comfortingly as Lennox frowned. Before she could fully process Kaila's implication her friend had moved on from the topic. 

"I know that for Caleb and Skye's sake you want to figure this out. But you don't have long Lennox, so if you're gonna do it you need to do it fast." 

"What do you mean?" 

"I mean that if you figure this out, and I know you can, you could save yourself and them. You've already had one of the clues, the poem you dreamt of. It's not a poem, it's a riddle that only you can solve. But you already knew that. It's also a threat. Rest assured, your friends won't be spared. If you try and do this with them, they won't survive, it has to be you."

"But I don't know what I'm supposed to do," 

"Yes, you do, you have your memories to help you." 

"My memories?" 

"Of your visit to the manor last night." 

"No, Kaila I don't remember anything about what happened last night." 

"You will. And when you remember, you'll know what you have to do. You can do this Lennox. I know you can. It has to be you, you're the only one strong enough." 

"I can't, Kaila I don't want to," "I know." "I don't want to do this anymore." 

"It will all be over soon. Okay? I promise you. You have five days. If the riddle hasn't been solved by midnight on the fifth day from now, it will be the end of your life as you know it. Caleb and Skye will be gone, your father, Jay. If you're spared you'll have to start over." 

"No, no Kaila I need more than that," 

"That's all I can say. Goodnight Lennox. I hope to see you soon."