What Was Left Behind

Chapter 13: Forgotten Memories

Maia stared at Levi, her body numb with shock. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air: "You need to recover your memories." Her mind reeled, spinning out of control as the reality of what he was saying settled in.

Her memories weren't real.

She had lived her entire life believing she knew who she was, but now, everything she thought she knew was crumbling beneath her feet. Her childhood, her relationships, her very identity—it could all be a fabrication, the result of her father's twisted experiments. And the worst part was, she had no way of knowing what had been taken from her. What had been erased.

Her stomach churned, her hands trembling as she tried to steady herself. "How can I—how can I recover memories I didn't even know I lost?" she whispered, her voice barely holding steady.

Levi looked at her, his face tight with a mix of concern and determination. "There are methods," he said quietly. "Hypnosis, regression therapy... or there's something else." He paused, his brow furrowing in discomfort. "But it's risky."

Maia's breath hitched. "What do you mean?"

Levi glanced at the stack of papers on the table, specifically the documents detailing the memory manipulation trials her father had been involved in. "Your father's work wasn't just about erasing memories, Maia. He was developing ways to reverse the process, to unlock what had been hidden. But it was dangerous—there were side effects. Some people... they didn't survive it."

A cold shiver ran down Maia's spine. "Are you saying I should go through one of those trials?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Levi met her gaze, his expression grim. "I don't want you to do anything dangerous. But if there's any way to recover what was taken from you, this might be the only way. If your father erased your memories, then there could be something locked inside your mind—something that could tell us everything we need to know."

Maia's heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts spinning out of control. The idea of submitting herself to the very same process her father had inflicted on others was terrifying. But the alternative—never knowing the truth, never uncovering the secrets that were buried deep within her—was just as terrifying.

"I don't even know where to start," she whispered, more to herself than to Levi.

Levi was quiet for a moment, then he spoke again, his voice calm but urgent. "There's one person who might be able to help."

Maia looked up at him, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Who?"

Levi hesitated, his expression darkening. "Dr. Matthews. He was one of the doctors who worked with your father on the original trials. He disappeared after your father's death, but if anyone knows how to reverse the memory erasure, it's him."

Maia's pulse quickened. Dr. Matthews. The name rang a bell, though she couldn't place it. Her father had rarely mentioned his colleagues, and the few times he did, it was always vague, cryptic. But if Dr. Matthews had been involved in the same experiments, then he could hold the key to unlocking her memories.

"Where is he?" she asked, her voice steady, despite the fear gnawing at her insides.

Levi shook his head. "That's the problem. After your father died, Matthews went underground. No one's seen him in years. He could be anywhere."

Maia felt a sinking sense of defeat. "So we're back to square one."

Levi's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Not quite. I've been looking into him for a while. There are whispers that he's still practicing—off the grid, under a different name. If we can track him down, he might be able to help."

Maia nodded, though doubt still lingered at the back of her mind. Even if they could find Dr. Matthews, there was no guarantee that he'd help them. And even if he did, there was no guarantee she'd survive the process. Recovering her memories might destroy her.

But what choice did she have?

The following morning, Maia sat in her apartment, the early light casting long shadows across the room. Levi had left to make a few calls, using his network of contacts to try and track down Dr. Matthews, leaving Maia alone with her thoughts—and the lingering terror that gnawed at the edges of her mind.

As she sat at the kitchen table, her eyes drifted back to the letter her father had written, the words "Maia is the key" seared into her brain. What had he meant by that? What role had she played in his twisted experiments? Had she willingly been a part of it? Or had she been a victim like the others?

Her hands shook as she reached for the letter, her fingers tracing the edges of the paper. Memories—real or false—flashed through her mind. Moments from her childhood, her father's cold smile, her mother's nervous laughter, the sense that something had always been missing. She had always pushed that feeling away, convinced herself it was just her imagination, but now... now she knew the truth. Something had been missing.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed, shattering the silence. She jumped, her heart pounding as she reached for it. It was a message from Levi.

"Found him. Matthews is in town. Meet me at Blackwell Park. Noon."

Maia's pulse quickened. They had found him.

Maia arrived at Blackwell Park just before noon, her heart pounding in her chest as she scanned the area for Levi. The park was quiet, the usual sounds of children playing and joggers running noticeably absent. A heavy fog had settled over the park, the air thick with moisture and the scent of damp earth.

She spotted Levi standing near a bench by the pond, his hands in his pockets, his eyes scanning the horizon. He looked tense, more so than usual, and as she approached, she felt a cold shiver run down her spine.

"Did you find him?" Maia asked, her voice low, cautious.

Levi nodded, his jaw clenched. "He's waiting for us. But Maia... I don't know if this is a good idea."

Maia swallowed hard, her hands trembling. "We don't have a choice. I need to know what happened to me."

Levi didn't argue, but his expression remained grim as they made their way toward a secluded path that wound through the park's thick trees. The fog grew denser as they walked, the world around them feeling more and more like a dream—or a nightmare.

Finally, they reached a clearing, and standing at the edge of the trees was a man. He was older, his face lined with years of secrets and regrets, his dark eyes sharp and watchful. Dr. Matthews.

He turned to face them as they approached, his expression unreadable. "Maia Lockhart," he said, his voice calm but cold. "I wondered when you would come looking for me."

Maia's breath caught in her throat. He had been expecting her.

Levi stepped forward, his body tense. "We need your help. Maia needs to recover her memories."

Dr. Matthews's eyes flicked to Levi, then back to Maia, his expression darkening. "You have no idea what you're asking for," he said quietly. "The process—what your father did—it's not something that can be undone easily. And even if it can be, the cost might be too high."

Maia's stomach twisted with fear, but she refused to back down. "I need to know the truth."

Dr. Matthews stared at her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers as though he was weighing her resolve. Finally, he sighed, a deep, resigned sound. "Very well," he said. "But remember this, Maia: once the door is opened, it can't be closed again. What's inside... may destroy you."

Maia's heart raced, her hands shaking. But she nodded. "I'm ready."

Dr. Matthews nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing. "Then follow me."