Anything For You

6: Memory

-at class-
-Natalie's POV-

The bell rang. I scrambled out the door. My quick escape didn't stop Leo. He grabbed me by the arm and towed me into a side hallway.

"Natalie, I'm asking again. Go out with me. Tonight. It'll be the best time of your life, I promise." He said.

"No way, Leo," I replied. I shook his arm off and stalked out into the main hallway. Cara was again waiting for me, with Castor.

"You'll regret this!" Leo shouted behind me. I kept walking.

"What'd you do to piss him off?"Castor asked.

"I refused his invitation." Cara didn't look surprised.

"You better watch your back, Natalie." She said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because when Leo says that, he always gets revenge. One time I told on him because he beat up a first grader. Next day, I had two black widows on my pillow. Gave me a nasty scare before I realized someone had covered their faces with tape, and suffocated them. And Leo was proud of it too. He went around in school every week, boasting about his stunt. People used to come to me for confirmation about his antics. And he never, ever got in trouble."

Castor stood protectively next to me. "I won't let him hurt you, Nat. We know he just wants another toy." I nodded.

"Yeah. I'm just gonna steer clear of that menace." I said. Cara laughed.

"Bold, Natalie. You'd be the first person to fight back in a long time," she said. "I lost the courage." Cara seemed to like mentioning her shortcomings a lot.

"Yeah, well, I gotta get home. See ya later, guys." I took off, the encounter from Leo still in my mind. Why was he chasing after me like this?

Was it the wish? No, it couldn't be. It wasn't. It wasn't-

"Natalie!" Castor called. I turned around. "Party at my house at six! Wanna come?"

"Can't," I shouted back. "Got work tonight! Gotta help Dad with something!" Castor nodded, and turned back to Cara. A sneaky little thought crossed my mind...they'd be a cute couple.

-at the museum-

(Still Natalie's POV)

The sun was about to set. I stood by Ciara's crate, which still had not been unpacked. We were supposed to do it tonight. We had not yet opened up the other three crates. I unlatched Ciara's crate, so she didn't freak out when she woke up.

The sun dipped behind the surface.

I dove out of the way as Ciara shoved the lid of her box. It sailed through the space I had just been. I stood up, brushing myself off.

I helped Ciara out of her crate. "There ya go," I said. "And if I didn't mention it last night, your dress is gorgeous." She smiled.

"Thank you," she murmured. "Where is my family?"

"Getting to that," I promised. I rapped on the side of one crate. "Hey, listen. If you calm down, I'll get you out of that box." The person stopped shouting. "Thanks."i quickly undid the pins. This person was even more eager than Ciara to get out. While I undid the fourth latch, they shoved with all their might. The lid swung up and slammed me in the face. I, stunned, slumped against the wall.

My vision flickered. I heard someone running, shouting my name. I groaned in response.

"Natalie? Natalie, please, come on!" Did I know that voice? I think I knew that voice. It sounded vaguely...British? Nope, didn't know any British people. A face flickered in front of me. A guy, with...an...Egyptian crown? Where am I?