At End's Gate

THE LIFE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW

Everyone was now attentive to her. She took a deep breath." I don't know how to even start." She stood up and started pacing.

"Paige calm down. Take your time," Alexis said.

Paige smiled." I'm proud. You're strengthening me to take courage. You're all grown Lexi," she said looking at Alexis." Okay let me tell you all. I had a dream the other day."

"Paige all this fuss is because of a dream?" Blake commented.

"That's the problem B. It felt like a dream but it was actually a resurfacing memory. I thought of a day I couldn't sleep when I was nine. I went to my parents room. I couldn't sleep. I slept in with them. I closed my eyes. They thought I was asleep. I overheard their conversation. They were talking about protecting us and that they had to make destructive decisions to protect us. They asked your parents," she looked at Conner, Alexis and Lisa," for help but their helping us had a catch. They had to destroy any possible ties amongst us to make it seem as if there wasn't any alliance amongst our families."

"What do you mean when you say destroy any possible ties?" Lisa asked.

"I mean we all used to know each other."

"Hah! Paige how could we know each other and yet alone have no memory of interacting with each other whatsoever?" Conner asked scratching his chin.

She took a deep breath." Our parents took away the memories of us playing together."

"Paige you can't be serious," James said looking confused.

"Unfortunately I am. Think about it. We all are neighbours but we didn't even greet each other. Our parents made sure our interaction with each other would be limited to make sure we didn't remember. I told you Conner. You were my best friend growing up. You didn't think I was serious." Conner looked slightly unsettled." Don't worry Conner. I myself didn't take it seriously. I'm sorry I actually confronted my mom. She told me to trust her. Before our memories were altered she told me that I should take this box under her drawer if I were to remember anything."

"Paige I'm overwhelmed. It's too much to take in," James said.

"Okay. What did our parents do?" Blake asked looking stressed.

"That question haunts me everyday. Whatever they did was bad."

Silence fell into the room for a while." Did you open the box?" Lisa asked.

"No. I wanted to open it after you know the truth."

"What do you think is in that?" Alexis asked.

"Possibly things that may help us remember our past or maybe explanations. I'm sorry for not doing anything when I knew."

"Paige you were nine. You were just a kid. You were not responsible for whatever our parents did to us," James comforted her.

"I'm actually sorry if I didn't believe you when you told me," Conner apologized.

"It's okay."

"Basically you're saying the life we thought we knew was a lie?" Blake asked.

Paige nodded." I'm sorry. Yes."

"Let's open the box," Alexis suggested.

"No. No yet," Paige said with a hesitant voice." I think we need to process all this. Since I remember basically everything I can tell you a bit for you guys to remember."

"P you're scared of opening the chest aren't you?"

"James I'm.." she sighed." Please let me tell you about our past a bit before we open the box." She looked scared. Everyone agreed so she started to tell them about their past. She told everyone the memories she could recollect about their childhood. She told the girls how she would help them tie their shoes and how they played dress up. Paige told Conner how she would always go to his house and how she would force him to give her his share of sweets. She told him how he used to take care of Blake and James like a big brother. It seemed as if she was the only one who remembered all that.

"Paige I'm sorry we don't remember any of that," Lisa said.

"Maybe whatever is in that box will help," Alexis commented.

"Paige I know you're scared of whatever is in that box but we're here with you. If there are any explanations or any dark secrets we'll deal with them together," James strengthened her.

"Okay. Let's open it."