Choosing my Loyal Guard: The Dead Ends

Memory Fragment 1

The scene changes around me and I feel smaller. In front of me is a woman with long brown hair and yellow eyes. Holding onto her leg is a little girl crying who looks very familiar to me. That light brown hair and blue eyes... isn't that Emi? But I don't recognize the woman. Where am I? I think I'm still in the palace garden.

"How dare you make Emily cry!" The woman raises a hand and slaps me hard. I fall to the ground and put a hand on my cheek. When I look back to them feeling dazed and confused. Emily? And not Emi? When the little girl looks at me with tears in her eyes, I see her smirk. Ah... this is just pretend. Emi was the same way with me.

"You won't even apologize! You only ever come up with useless excuses and refuse to take accountability!" The woman glares down at me. My hand trembles as I speak. "I-I didn't... I didn't make her cry... Mom please... believe me for once..." I reach out to her and she only steps back with a look of disgust in her eyes. I can tell she doesn't believe a word I say.

"Now Jess." The voice I hear sends chills down my spine. What is this feeling? Fear? I keep my head down as a man steps forward. "Don't be too hard on her. She's just a child after all." I feel his eyes on me and I feel my skin crawl. This is a familiar feeling for me... like how I felt with Uncle Benito. "Oh, Vincent... you're too kind to a revolting thing like that." I wish so badly that I could move. Why am I not given a choice? Then a blue screen appears in front of me as if to answer my question.

While in a memory fragment, you won't be given any choices. You witness Anna's memories from certain periods in time to learn about the person you've become. You will retain these memories even if you find a dead end.

So this is a real memory? "I'll take her back while you attend to little Emily." Vincent grabs my hand and pulls me up. I feel my breath quicken. An overwhelming feeling of dread waves over me. What has this man done to Anna to make her so afraid of him? "Let's go little one..." as he tugs me along, I whimper and try to struggle. "N-no! Mom please..." but her so-called mother is already walking the opposite way after picking up Emily. I see her blue eyes gleaming with mischief and joy. She loves seeing her sister in this state.

Vincent chuckles and looks down at me. When I meet his eyes, I realize just how much he looks like my uncle. His eyes seem to be undressing me... how old is Anna right now? Did she go through what I did in my previous life? As we make it to what seems to be his wing in the palace, he dismisses everyone and makes me sit down.

I sit there trembling with tears in my eyes. The miserable dread lingers as he seems to be messing with some then he comes out with a drink... but then I see what's in his other hand. No way... why is her life mirroring mine so much? As I see a needle filled with a light yellow liquid, I understand the situation Anna is in. She has no one on her side but this man... and he's taking advantage of her in the worst possible way.

"U-uncle please... don't... I don't want it..." I stammer out and stand up to back away. Vincent smiles. "It's alright, little one... this will make you feel really good and calm you down..." his voice is sweet like poison. "N-no!" When I try to run, he easily catches up and pulls me close. I struggle and cry, but then feel a sting in my hip. "Shh... just relax..." his disgusting voice starts to become distant as I start to feel hazy.

My vision blurs and the last thing I see before I fall unconscious is Vincent licking his lips dark blue eyes dark and creepy.

When I come to, Vincent is gone and I'm clean and clothed but I still feel disgusting. As I stand up and stumble out of the room, I feel tears running down my cheeks. Whatever cocktail he gave to me must have dulled whatever aches and pains I might have felt otherwise.