The Veil of Forgotten Memories

Chapter 2

Lena sat cross-legged on the velvet cushion, her palms sweating. The air inside Jesse's tent smelled of incense and old parchment. The flickering candles cast dancing shadows on the tarot cards spread before her.
"The cards hold secrets," Jesse murmured, her eyes half-closed."Let them reveal it to you."

Lena watched as Jesse shuffled the deck, her fingers moving with practiced grace. Each card bore symbols—archetypes that spanned centuries. The Fool, the Lovers, Death. Lena wondered which one would reveal her dream's meaning.
"Focus on your dream," Jesse instructed. "Let it fill your mind. Now, draw three cards."

Jesse placed the first card face up. A woman sat between two pillars, a crescent moon at her feet. Her eyes held ancient wisdom. "The High Priestess," Jesse said, her voice hushed. "She guards the threshold between worlds. Your dream is a message from the other side."

The second card revealed a crumbling tower struck by lightning. Flames consumed its spires. "The Tower," Jesse continued. "A sudden upheaval. Destruction that leads to rebirth."

The third card depicted a warrior in a chariot, pulled by two opposing steeds—one black, one white. "The Chariot," Jesse said. "A journey awaits. You'll face choices, forces pulling you in different directions."

Lena's pulse quickened. The cards resonated with her dream—the mysterious man, the whisper, and the tingling at her neck.
"What do they mean?" Lena asked, her voice barely audible.

Jesse leaned closer, her eyes intense but hesitant as if she too is shocked. "The High Priestess beckons you to explore...hidden memories. The Tower warns of...upheaval, but also transformation. And the Chariot? means to decide your path."

Lena's mind raced. She remembered the stranger's eyes—the same blue as the Chariot's steeds. And the whisper...

Jesse's gaze held hers. "Look the dreams could mean something else, and card might be talking about your current situation right now considering how you're always worried about your grandpa linus and the Inn's not doing well plus your have a need to go out and explore. Maybe it's making you feel stuck with all this responsibilities."

Lena sighed "Maybe you're right."
Jesse suddenly have a good Idea "you know what? let's de-stressed and shake off those bad vibes. You need some happy liquids on you! and girl when's the last time you hookup? That's it Let's find you a man tonight!"

Lena laughs at her friend, Jesse always knows how to lighten the mood "Fine but how tomorrow? I still need to help out granpapi."

Jesse grunted  "Such a workaholic ugh fine! But make sure you wear you the sluttiest dress tomorrow!"

"Jesse! Bu-But-!" Lena wanted to protest but Jesse hushed her

"No excuses Lena Havens! We'll go clubbing tomorrow with the people I met today" Jesse grinned while she crossed her arms in a challenging way.

Lena sighed "Alright, But no more tarot readings, okay? My brain's doing somersaults."

"Ooh I cant wait! I'll text you the place! See you there!"

--

It was raining hard when Lena arrive to the Inn. Her anxiety went down when she discovered her bed is wrapped in a tarp so it's not damage. She been sighing all day she's soaked and is in need of coffee so she hurried inside

"Granpa I'm back!" She called out for her grandpa and he replied he's currently in the basement probably tweaking that old motorcycle again. He must be missing riding it. She wondered how funny it is that her anxious, cautious grandpa was once a dangerous risk taking motorcyclist.

Lena just shake's her head as she smiles at the taught of that, when suddenly the the bell above the entrance chimed, announcing the arrival of a mysterious guest. The stranger was tall, with midnight hair and eyes that held a thousand secrets. Lena felt a strange familiarity, as if she'd known him in another lifetime. But try as she might, she couldn't place him.

"Do you have any rooms?" The stranger ask.

Lena's breath hitched as she gaped at him. His presence seemed to bend the very air around him, drawing her in like a moth to a flame. His eyes—those piercing blue orbs—held galaxies within and Lena felt herself falling into their depths.

His jawline was chiseled, as if carved by ancient gods. His lips, a shade darker than dawn, curved in a half-smile that hinted at secrets. His hair, midnight silk, fell across his forehead, and Lena wondered if she'd ever touched those strands in another lifetime.

The man stood tall, his shoulders broad, and his frame exuded strength. But it was more than physical allure. It was the way he moved—the grace of a dancer, the precision of a warrior.

And Lena? She felt like a fragile vessel, teetering on the edge of revelation. Its like he was a riddle she yearned to solve.

The stranger smirked as if he just caught her off guard "I said did you have any rooms?"

Then she snapped out of it "Oh um, yeah we have rooms!" She hurriedly went to the register to take the guest Information. Lena you stupid girl he just caught you gaping at him!

"Uh I would just like to get your-"

"Ahh! Welcome!" Her granpa suddenly appeared
"Lena he's a regular guest you don't need to get his information just put him in room 13" room 13? Lena thought  "But I thought that room is unusable?"

Her granpa just laugh "oh you silly girl, who said it is? Just give him the key."

Lena thought her grandpas being weird and this stranger is weirder. When did they have any regular? They didn't have any guest for the month! Why room 13 out of all rooms?  Its locked is broken, the wallpapers faded and maybe the furnitures half eaten by termites. Who knows! she's never been to rooms 11-20

But She silently give him the key anyway.

As he went up in those creaky stairs Lena couldn't shake the feeling that she'd met him before, perhaps in a dream or a half-forgotten memory. But when she tried to recall, the threads slipped through her fingers like water.
--

That night, Lena lay in her own bed, staring at the ceiling. The nights at the Moonlit Haven Inn had always been restless for Lena. Shadows danced across her ceiling, and dreams clawed at her mind like hungry ghosts. But when this gentleman arrived, everything seemed to be at peace.

For the first time in weeks Lena sleep peacefully and the haunting dreams never came.
--

Author note: I know it's short one bawi ako sa next chapter hihi