Echoes of heart

Chapter 4: The Hidden Path

Zorak's mind raced as he made his way back to his small apartment in the heart of the Dominion. The old man's words echoed in his head: The heart remembers, even when the mind forgets.

Could it really be true? Could Kaia still have some trace of memory buried deep inside her, even after all the Dominion had done?

He had to find out.

His apartment was a small, plain room—just like every other living space in the Dominion. It had a bed, a table, a chair, and a screen that connected him to the system that ruled their lives. There was no color, no decoration.

The walls were gray, the furniture simple. Everything was designed to be functional, and efficient, without distraction. That was the way of the Dominion.

But Zorak's mind was anything but calm. He paced the room, his heart beating faster than it had in years. He had always known something was wrong with the way they lived, the way emotions were stripped away, leaving everyone empty.

But he had never dared to act. Now, with the possibility that Kaia could be saved, he felt something stir in him—a fire he hadn't felt since he was a boy.

Sitting down at his table, Zorak opened the hidden compartment under the desk. Inside was a small device—something he had built in secret over the years.

It was a scanner, one that could read the hidden data stored in the minds of Dominion citizens. Officially, no one was allowed to keep memories of their past. But Zorak had learned that the system didn't erase everything.

Some fragments, some echoes, still remained, locked away deep in their minds.

He had never used the scanner before. It was dangerous—if the authorities found out, he could be taken away, just like Kaia had been all those years ago. But now, he didn't care. He had to try.

As he held the device in his hands, a thought struck him: how had that old man known about Kaia? How did he know about Zorak's feelings and his pain?

The people of the Dominion weren't supposed to feel anything, much less talk about it. And yet, that man had understood. It was as if he had seen right into Zorak's heart.

Who was he?

Zorak shook his head, forcing himself to focus. The answers would come later. For now, he had to take the first step. He had to test the scanner.

He had to know if there was still a part of Kaia that remembered him.

That evening, as the city lights flickered on, casting a cold, pale glow over the streets, Zorak made his way to the riverbank. Kaia was already there, standing still, staring out at the water. She looked so peaceful, so distant, like a statue carved out of stone.

But Zorak knew better. Inside her was a mind that had once been alive, a heart that had once loved him.

He approached slowly, his footsteps soft on the gravel path. "Kaia," he called, his voice gentle.

She turned, her face expressionless. "Zorak," she said simply. "You're here."

He nodded, trying to keep his own emotions in check. "I wanted to talk. About... us."

"Us?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly, as if the word confused her.

Zorak's heart sank. Of course, she doesn't remember. But he couldn't give up. Not yet.

"Yes," he said quietly. "We used to be friends. Close friends. Do you remember?"

Kaia's eyes flickered for a moment, but then the emptiness returned. "No," she said flatly. "I don't remember."

Zorak felt a lump form in his throat, but he swallowed it down. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the scanner. It was a small, thin device, barely noticeable in his hand. "Can I... can I try something?" he asked. "It won't hurt. I promise."

Kaia looked at the device, her expression unreadable. "What is it?"

"It's a scanner," Zorak explained. "It can check if there are any memories left in your mind. From before the Dominion."

Kaia blinked slowly as if processing the information. "I have no memories," she said. "The Dominion erased them."

"I know," Zorak said softly. "But sometimes... sometimes they don't get everything. Please, let me try."

She stared at him for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Okay."

Zorak stepped closer, gently placing the scanner against the back of her neck. His hands trembled slightly as he activated the device. A soft hum filled the air, and a faint light glowed from the scanner. Zorak held his breath, waiting, hoping.

The scanner beeped.

Zorak's eyes widened as a small display on the device lit up, showing a cluster of data—a fragment, buried deep within Kaia's mind. It was faint, barely there, but it existed. A memory.

Zorak's heart leaped. It was real. Something was still there.

He pulled the scanner away, his hands shaking. "Kaia," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "There's something. A memory. It's still inside you."

Kaia's face didn't change, but there was a slight pause before she spoke. "I don't feel anything."

"You don't have to," Zorak said quickly. "Not yet. But it's there. I know it."

She looked at him, her eyes cold and distant. "Why does it matter?" she asked. "I am who I am now. What I was before doesn't matter."

Zorak felt a surge of frustration and sadness. "It matters to me," he said quietly. "Because you weren't always like this. You were... you were someone else. You were my friend. We cared about each other."

Kaia's gaze didn't waver. "That person is gone."

Zorak closed his eyes, fighting back tears. "Maybe. But maybe not. I'm going to find a way, Kaia. I'm going to bring you back."

She said nothing, just stood there, staring at him. After a long moment, she turned and began walking away, back toward the city.

Zorak watched her go, his heart aching with every step she took. But now, he had hope. A small fragment of a memory. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

And he wouldn't stop until he had her back.

As Zorak stood alone by the river, the city lights reflecting off the water, he knew that the path ahead would be long and dangerous. But for the first time in years, he felt something stir inside him—a determination, a fire that would not be easily extinguished.

He had found a piece of her.

Now, he had to find the rest.