Foreverland

Chapter V

Chapter V

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Iris had a restless sleep that night.

We've done this before.

Peter's words kept replaying in her head over and over. What had they done before? Taken in someone who had no memory and protected them against reapers? And if so, what happened to them? He hadn't answered any of these questions, and Iris thought he looked like he regretted saying anything.

She felt almost bad, because Peter seemed so sad whenever he looked at her. He looked like he wanted to tell her the truth, but he wouldn't. She felt bad for putting all of the boys in a bad-guy position for not giving her answers, but she definitely had a right to them. It was, after all, her life that was being threatened, and they all kept asking her to trust them blindly, which she did. 

Iris woke up and changed into the clothes Cam had brought for her. It seemed that she was either the only one up, or everyone was gone. She peeked into Max's room and saw him sprawled out on the bed, so she assumed they were all still asleep.

She found herself walking into the open room with the lake ceiling, and laying down on her back to stare up at the fish. Her hand moved to her neck, brushing her fingertips along the chain that held her locket. She watched them swim about, never taking notice of her beneath them. Iris wondered if they could even see her, if it was some sort of one-way view. She could see the top of the trees above the lake, but it was dark, she assumed because the lake was in the forest. She thought deeply about the lake, and felt her life, at the moment, was the same. It felt like she was stranded in a dark forest with fish swimming everywhere, but she was stuck beneath it all, watching everything happen before her.

Iris could very faintly hear the lapping of the water, and thought maybe she was just imagining it. Staring up at the lake calmed her greatly. Her eyes closed as she focused on the sound of the water, picturing the fish swaying to the rhythm.

She heard movement and turned her head. Max came in and sat next to her silently. Iris turned her attention back towards the lake. "Can they see us?" She wondered out loud.

"I don't really know," he said. "I think so. Maybe."

She watched two purple trouts swim by. "How old are you, Max?"

Max was quiet for a second before laying himself out beside her, shoulder to shoulder. "I don't remember."

She looked at him. "You don't remember your own age?"

He looked at her. "Well, do you?"

Iris frowned. "That's not fair. I don't remember anything."

"Neither do I, really." He shrugged.

"You know who you are," she said.

He smiled back. "Good point. Sometimes I wish I didn't, though."

"Didn't what?" She asked.

"Remember who I am," he said, airily.

She studied his profile. "And who are you, Max?"

He thought about it, looking back up at the lake. "I'm lost," he nodded. "I'm a lost boy."

Iris's heart sunk a little at what he'd said. Max seemed like the kindest, most happy of the four boys, at least from what she'd seen so far. She reached out and put her hand on top of his. "Me too," she said softly. He seemed so youthful, but in this moment, he seemed to be a hundred years old, just waiting for his time to come. She didn't know him, of course she didn't, but she had to keep reminding herself of this.