𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐈 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 | f. w

4

Erin was pacing now, her mind spinning with more questions than she could keep up with. The book had proved it. Magic was real. But the more she thought about what Fred — because she was starting to think of him as Fred now— had said, the more it seemed like something was missing—a huge piece of the puzzle that Fred wasn't telling her.

She stopped abruptly, facing Fred who was still sitting on the couch, looking at her with that same intense gaze. Her mind raced, her voice coming out faster than she could even think.

"How is it possible?" she demanded, her hands on her hips, trying to make sense of it all. "How is it possible that no one's come looking for us? If what you're saying is true—if we used to be a part of this world—why hasn't anyone come for us? Your family, our friends... don't they know what's happened?"

Fred's expression darkened, the warmth from before slowly fading as if he had anticipated this question. He exhaled slowly, eyes avoiding hers for a moment.

"It's not that simple," he said softly. "The magical world isn't as... open as you think. We weren't just a part of it; we were involved in things that—"

He stopped himself, clearly wrestling with his words. Erin's curiosity burned brighter.

"Things that what, Fred?" she pressed, stepping closer to him, her voice quieter but filled with urgency. "What happened? What did you do? Why did they forget us?"

Fred met her gaze, his jaw tightening. "It's not about what we did. It's what they did to us. To keep us safe. To keep everyone else safe."

Erin's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about? Who did this? You said we had friends—family—this was real. And yet, no one knows where we've been?"

Fred's hand gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles white. "It's not that simple. No one in the magical world remembers what happened to us. It was like we were erased from everything."

A shiver ran down Erin's spine. "Erased?"

Fred nodded, his voice heavy. "Our memories, our identities—it's all been wiped clean. I've spent years searching for answers, and everything's been a blur. Until now." He paused, as though weighing whether he should say more. "Until I saw you again."

Erin's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean? You're telling me I was part of this... magical world before? You don't remember me from before?"

Fred gave a brief, frustrated sigh. "I remember pieces. Vivid ones. Like flashes of... us. But not all of it. And those flashes? They didn't make sense until I saw you. That's why I needed to find you. There's more to this—more than I can explain right now. But this isn't just about us. There's something bigger at play here. Something I'm still figuring out."

Erin's mind raced, but before she could press further, another question sprang to her lips—one that had been gnawing at her for some time.

"What about Oliver? Is he really George?" she asked, trying to piece together the connection between the two. "If he's George, then why doesn't he remember any of this? Why doesn't he know you the way you know me?"

Fred's face tightened again, but this time, there was a flicker of something deeper—something unreadable. "That's the million-galleon question, isn't it?"

Erin crossed her arms, her chest tightening with frustration. "You're not telling me everything."

"I can't. Not yet," Fred said quietly, his eyes suddenly distant. "George—Oliver—he doesn't remember because he's not... the same. Something's happened to him, something that kept him from remembering who he really is. Something that made him... forget us."