The Switch

Sarah- Questions

After the long stretch of murmuring and chanting I had never heard my father do before, Luke’s expression was what I’d like to call ‘dazed’.

Though, if anything, I doubted he even remembered his name.

Mr. Krystal sat with the driver up front. Mrs. Weathers, Luke’s grandmother, sat at the back. The Chairman, Luke and I sat together with Derek.

“Go ahead” Chairman prompted “Ask him the first thing that comes to your mind”

“What’s the first thing that comes to your mind?” I spurted out without thinking.

Luke’s eyes were unfocused.

“How much fun the Battle was” he spoke monotonously “and how hungry I am”

“You remember the battle?” Chairman asked astonished. Luke blinked

“No” he said “I already told you, I don’t remember any sort of battle”

“So then, when was the last time you saw Juan?” I asked again, and noticed Mr Krystal’s ears perk up at that.

“During the battle, when he shot my arm. It stung” was the reply

“What?” I was confused. I’d like to say I was almost as ‘dazed’ as Luke looked like he was.

“Six years ago” he gave us the ‘duh!’ expression “before mum and dad were killed”

“He’s not making any sense!” I complained.

Luke squinted

“Get out!” he whispered and his eyes moved around, then he fell on me, with his head on my lap. His hair fell on his face as he breathed evenly in sound sleep

“What just happened?” I looked around, alarmed and worried about the boy’s health. The chairman looked apprehensive.

“Give us some time” he said

“How’s your leg?” I asked. He smiled warmly and got up, walking toward where Juan was sitting “It’s in top notch shape. No worries”

I sighed, and frowned, looking at Luke’s head, resting peacefully on my lap.

Get out? Who was he referring to?

Unintentionally, my hand just scrolled down to his neck, where the tattoo was, and my fingers traced it. It was brailed due of the number of times it had to be redone because of the sealing, and now, he was going through this memory loss. I couldn’t help but think it was some normal human disease, but such problems are not caused by bacteria or viruses.

I was worried. Very worried.

What was happening to Luke?

This handsome face, this built up body, this caring soul, the closest soul to me…and he was malfunctioning.

In my memories, I was taken back to the time when Kenny was talking to the Chairman about Luke dying.

No. I didn’t want him to die. I could never live with myself if something happened to Luke.

The same voice rang in my ears, as an echo:

The Siren blood is full of deceit. Don’t trust them, child!