At End's Gate

FORGOTTEN MEMORIES

Paige was fast asleep. She was so calm. She felt peace sleeping these days. The nightmares had gone away. Sleeping now seemed to be the only peaceful thing she had left. Sometimes she would wish that she would wake in her room and discover that her experience was merely an illusion but reality isn't fair. It doesn't take the side of your desires. She allowed herself to drift into her dreams. She found herself walking in a passageway. It was the passageway that led to their parent's bedroom. She was so young at the time, probably nine years old. She knocked at the door. The door was opened by a young mesmerizing looking Claire." Sweetheart are you okay?"

"I can't sleep mommy."

"Come in and sleep in mommy's bed."

"Won't daddy be angry?"

"No Angel. He won't."

David who had well chiseled features, younger at the time saw his daughter come in with his gorgeous wife." What's wrong?"

"P can't sleep," Claire said patting her daughter's head gently.

"Come here princess." Paige climbed the bed. David hugged her." Daddy's here sweetheart. You're very safe. Sleep now." David placed a blanket on her.

"I love you daddy."

"I love you too pancake."

"Love you mommy."

"Love you too Angel."

Paige closed her eyes. Her parents thought she was asleep. David looked at his wife." We have to protect our children. We have to keep them safe."

"Yes but how?" Claire asked.

"I don't know yet but we need something good," he took a breath." Even if it means we have to sacrifice our lives."

"Agreed."

"I can't believe we're the ones responsible for their possible dangers. We can't tell them. They just have to live in this fake version of peace until the time comes." David scratched his head.

Claire took his hand." Don't beat yourself up. You love them and you're willing to do anything to protect them. Yes, you might think your methods are bad but you're trying the best you can."

He looked at Paige." My baby girl shouldn't have to be subjected to such a life. She's just a little girl"

"Don't worry. She's stronger than you think. She'll be fine. They'll all be fine."

"We have to tell our friends. They can help us protect them."

"The number should be limited though."He cleared his throat." We'll only tell Cameron, White and Collins. We'll protect their children as well."

"Yes, we should. I wanted to ask. Can't we just run away with our babies?"

"We can't. For now this is the only place he can't use his radar to find us. He's way too far away."

"Okay."

"If we're going to involve the children of our friends, we have to make it believable. We can't risk any alliances being known."

"David what are saying?" she asked looking at her husband with a confused stare.

"I'm saying the kids shouldn't interact with our neighbours children."

"How are you going to impose that. Conner and Paige have been best friends for quite a long time. Conner comes each day to play with the boys. The girls, Alexis and Lisa are like sisters to Paige. You can't remove the three of them out of my babies lives." Her voice was now louder." You can't."

"Honey calm down. You're going to wake up Paige. We have to do it to keep them safe."

She looked angry." So what are you proposing?"

"We can't remove them completely from their lives. If they move away or if we move that would be suspicious and compromise everything."

"So what do we do?"

"We remove the bonds they developed for each." He took a deep breath." We take away their memories of each other."

Claire started crying. He took her hand." Babe I need you to trust me. Look at me." She looked at him." Please trust me."

"I do David. I'm just sad. We're ruining our children's lives." She wiped the tears on her cheeks." But will removing their memories change anything? They'll still be neighbours."

"We'll tell our friends to limit the interaction between their children and ours. Psychologically they'll get used to the secluded environment. They won't bother interacting with each other. We try by all means to separate them."

A young Paige fell asleep. The next day the little girl went to Conner's house to play." Conner mommy and daddy want me to forget you. I don't know why."

"Paige you're crazy."

"Trust me. Some things up."

"P you crazy girl. You're crazy. My mommy and daddy wouldn't allow my memories to be tampered with."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah and how would they do that if they wanted to?"

"I don't know."

Conner laughed at her." You're crazy."

Paige laughed as well." Yeah. Maybe I'm just freaking out for no reason. Conner promise me something."

"What?"

"We'll be friends forever and you'll never forget being my best friend."

"You're creepy. I'll never forget our friendship."

Now Paige was in her room with her mother. Claire was brushing her hair." Mommy I heard you."

Claire's face looked agitated in the mirror." What did you hear sweetheart?"

"I heard you and daddy fighting. You want the boys and I to forget, to forget our friends."

"Darling I'm sorry if I you heard that. I need you to trust mommy. Mommy loves you and mommy will do everything to protect you."

"I trust you mommy," she said smiling.

Her memory took her to a dinner with her mom and brothers." Where's daddy?" James asked.

"Daddy is coming. He went to the store to buy you candy." The boys were happy but Paige knew better.

Claire called her daughter to the kitchen." Paige if you are to remember anything I want you to go into my room and take the metallic box under my drawer." They went back into the living room. David came and gave them the sweets. She felt tired and fell asleep. She then felt a hand moving her to wake up.

" Wake up Paige. Wake up." At first she heard her mother's voice which then deepened into that of her brother's. "Paige wake up." She opened her eyes to see James in a state of panic that was hard to bare.