Dividing line

Giving Guidance

Chapter 30: Giving Guidance

-Sapphire's POV-

"I... I'm sorry," Rishardo whispered into my ear, crying softly. His tears rolled off onto my cheeks and although it was wrong my heart burned for this moment to never stop. 

"Don't be, you protected me and I will always be thankful for that," I whispered back into his ear. Although I could remember Rishardo, the only other memory that lingered was the journal. "I have to get something to Flora. Could you give me a lift?"

"Sure, but what else do you remember?" he asked, and I answered truthfully.

"Flora, you, and the item I need to give her is all that I know plus some of my magical abilities... but seem to have gone from my magic memory, but I also know the hole that burns inside of me because of my lost memories," I said looking away, ashamed of everything I had forgotten... and I still didn't even know most of it! Rishardo rubbed the back of his neck but got back onto his feet and kindly put his hand out for me. I took it, slightly blushing, and got up. He still held my hand as we walked to where his car was waiting for us so that we could get going, then he stopped.

"Do you even know where Flora is at the moment?" he asked with a questioning expression on his face. I looked at him as if he should've known this but then remembered how he had left suddenly right before the great heist when everyone was captured, so of course he shouldn't have known. 

"I implanted chips on everyone in the headquarters after the big capture thing T.M did," I said this and as I did, I remembered him. My evil brother that had done so much to me, but what did he do to me that has me sop shaken up and sad? I can't remember... and that scares me even more than the impending darkness. I was ripped out of my thoughts by Rishardo.

"Let's go then, where is she?" he asked before shutting his door. I buckled in and racked my mind for an answer.

"The abandoned factory on Old Chesttun Rd.," I said, and we set out to find Flora.

We made it to the factory but it looked so bare and deserted that I almost purposefully said "sorry, wrong place", but I knew that this was the right place and that I had to do this. Rishardo looked at me with a cautious expression.

"Are you sure this is the right place? It really looks abandoned..." he said and his expression turned to a worried face as he heard a creak from the tree next to the car. I nodded and he bit his lip. "Figures... do you want me to go in with you?"

"No, I have known Flora for years and I have to do this alone. You're better off staying in the car," I said, not mentioning the fact that she could possibly not be the only living thing in there. He seemed to understand anyway though.

"I'll keep the car running for you," he said. Then he messed up my hair saying, "Don't forget to be careful."

I nodded my head and stepped out of the car, the journal hidden under my jacket that way he couldn't see it. Only Flora and I are ever aloud to see it, and for a good reason. I pushed the factory door easily open and cautiously step in. I take another few steps and sigh.

"Flora!" I call out in a soft voice, no reply. I call again, "Flora!"

Suddenly I am pushed against a wall, and a light slowly flickers on. I am pinned to the wall by a man, I can't see him that great but he is really strong.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" he says, pressing me harder against the wall. I struggle with a reply as the wind is knocked out of me.

"Micheal? What's going on?" a voice I know all too well asks. Flora steps out of the shadows. At first she doesn't notice who I am, but gasps as the realization hits her. "Sapphire? What are you doing here?"

"Do you know this girl, Flora?" the boy, presumably Micheal, asks her. She nods, and he lets me fall to the ground and walks over to Flora. I stand up and cough, still regaining oxygen. Flora comes over and hugs me, but then holds me by my shoulders that way we were face to face.

"What in the world are you doing here?" she asks me, and I explain as vaguely as I can.

"I have to speak to you... alone," I said and she nodded to Micheal to leave. Reluctantly, he walked away.

"Whose that?" I asked. Flora and I had had a big rift between us when she lost her memories so I found it difficult to talk to her, but tried my hardest to be as calm and gentle as I could.

"He's a boy I've been with since I left the I.G.B," she replied calmly. Her eyes glinted gold, and I could tell that she had been claimed. Yet, I could also tell that her mind seemed to refuse that. The love she has for this young man, the kindness she is showing now... she shouldn't be evil. How could I let this happen? "Who did you come with? I don't recognize the car."

"Rishardo. Like you, I lost my memories, left the I.G.B, and ended up finding Rishardo," I answered, and her eyes flashed with surprise. 

"I never thought... another boy... especially him, after what happened..." she murmured, but I didn't understand what she meant.

"After what happened? What do you even mean by that?" I asked, not remembering my own past. 

"You still don't have all your memories back, do you?" she asked. I only looked out the window to the side of us. She looked out as well, but then looked back at me. "So... what did you want to speak to me about?"

"I wanted to give you this actually," I said, handing her the notebook wrapped in red linen. She took it and unwrapped it. She seemed keen to inspect it, but looked at me for instructions. "Don't open it now, but keep it with you. You'll need it when... you know what happens."

She looked at me and nodded. I knew she understood, so I got up and left. In the car, Rishardo seemed quiet. He looked at me for a second, and opened his mouth. Just then, a car came out of nowhere, and all that I could hear was our screams.