Forces Beyond The Grave

5.7

Jay didn't know what to say at first. By the sounds of it, Lennox and Kaila weren't just lucky to survive; it was more of a miracle that they did. He tried to imagine what it must've been like, but he couldn't even begin to visualize going through the same thing. 

"Nobody saw the smoke. There wasn't even a report of a fire. Whatever happened, nobody knew." He shook his head as she sighed. 

"Well, looks like we stayed away for nothing then." 

"You could've come back Lennox. You didn't have to stay away for two years." 

"And what was I supposed to say when I came back with Kaila? She'd been gone two years already, what was another two? I didn't know how to explain any of this, I didn't want to. And I couldn't explain this to my father." She looked at her arm, at her black skin. 

"It wasn't like that when you left. And you still cared back then, you must have." 

"Yes, I did. I lost my ability to feel three months after we disappeared. I don't know, maybe it had something to do with the blackness spreading, but I would get these headaches. Kail said the longer we stayed away the more we could try and fix the problem, fix me. But it just kept spreading, until one night I thought my head was gonna explode. It was the worst pain I'd ever experienced, like someone cutting into my skull while I was still awake. By morning it was gone, and I never had a headache again but I couldn't feel anything anymore. The black stopped spreading, so we didn't question it. I knew that if we ever did come back I would have to adjust, but lucky for me dad was happier just to have me back, he didn't ask for an explanation, so I never gave him one. I don't remember what it's like anymore. I did for a while, but it just kind of went away."

Lennox found herself trying to remember what it felt like to have an emotional response. When it didn't work she quickly changed her attitude. 

"So, now you know everything. Happy?"

Jay frowned. "No. Not even a little bit." 

"Well you should be, you can stop whining about not knowing." 

"Lennox," 

"You got what you wanted Jay. I should get back."