Timeless Bliss

Manipulation

I had a weird dream that night.

“Kyle?” I call into the woods, brushing aside branches as I search for him. There’s no response but the rustle of the wind in the leaves.

“Kyle, I’m serious.” I try again, wondering where I am and how I got here.

“Silly girl─ they’re lying to you,” says a voice from behind me. I whip around and come face-to-face with the man from the school. A gasp mixed with a growl comes from my throat, but it sounds garbled as I jump back in fright.

“What are you talking about?” I venture, “They would never lie to me.”

“Your little memory thief would tell you. You knew, but he made you forget.”

“Forget what?” I ask intrigued even against my will, “and how are you in my dream and how do you know this?”

“I know because, well, I know a lot of things.” He chuckles, taking a glance up at the full moon above us. “As for your dream─ that’s my power.”

“But, what did he make me forget?”

“Well, I’m sure he’s made you forget a lot of things besides what’s happened tonight. Aaron made him do it.”

I don’t believe him one bit, and turn to run. But, he’s in front of me, a brick wall in the middle of the forest.

“Let me go!” I shriek, shoving against him. It’s no use; he’s much stronger than me, even in my own dream.

“Listen to me!” He shakes me. “You have to get out! It’s not safe.”

“How would you know?” I mumble useless, though I know he hears me.

“Because, sweetheart. Your Aaron made me into an immortal too. And look how well that worked out. You know where to find me.” My mouth pops open in shock, but he’s gone.

“No.” I whisper to the wind, feeling a horribly cold wind that chills me to the bone.

I sat up gasping as cold sweat dripped down my forehead. The second I noticed Kyle sleeping innocently next to me, I leapt out of bed only to slam m calf against Andy’s bed. I’d forgotten we were still at the cabin.

“What are you doing?” They asked at the same time. Tears were dripping down my face by then, and I just wanted to get out.

The window was opened wide, and I made a move for it, Andy’s voice echoing behind me as the cool night air met my flushed skin.

I ran through the woods, looking for the spot where I’d spoken to the man in my dreams.

As I crashed through the brush, all the lights in the cabin going on behind me.

“I knew you would see things my way.” He said softly as I stopped in front of him, still sobbing.

“They’re coming.” I informed him, sending paranoid glances at the trees around me.

“I know.” He winked at me, turning his body toward where I’d come. Within seconds I could hear their panicked voices sweeping through the forest, disrupting the calm night.

“I’ve got her trail!” Kyle shouted.

“And hear they come. By the way, I’m Anderson.” He winked at me once again, before my so called ‘family’ shot into the clearing.

“Anderson.” Aaron nodded toward him, before his gaze shifted down to where I stood beside him, my arms crossed. “Bliss, you need to come back with us. He’s lying to you. He came to you in your dreams, didn’t he?”

I couldn’t help but nod at his calm, soothing voice.

“Bliss,” Anderson’s voice cut into Aaron’s next sentence, and my head snapped around. When my eyes met his, they looked worried. “He’s lying. They want you to think they’re nice. Sure, they brainwashed Andy, but he always was a follower. You’re not a follower. You never were.”

“I’m not a follower.” I repeated, turning back toward them my face hard. “I’ll never come back.”

“I can’t get into her memories. He’s blocking them.” Kyle said to the others.

“Why would I let you see her memories? So you can manipulate them?” Anderson growled to them, his dark eyes hardening even further.

“Can’t we just go?” I tugged on his giant hand. Anderson towered over me, as much as I hated to admit it.

“Of course,” He smiled at me, taking my hand and pulling me away from where the Sommers’ family was arguing.