Return to Me

Chapter 3

~~~Zachary Goode~~~

It has been four months after Cammie ran away. Then, she came back. I don’t even recognise her anymore. Her head was tilted down, and she looked at her own shoes while she’s walking. I know she lost her memory, but her confidence too?

In a distance I observed her. She’s got torture marks on her arms. I shivered to think what my mother had done to her. I hate my mother. I love Cammie, and she tortured her. I hate her. I thought when she sees that I really love her, she would let me be. But no, she didn’t. And it was entirely my fault for giving her the idea of running away. Guilt bickered in my heart as I wrenched.

I tried to approach her, but every time she saw anyone coming, she walked the other way, avoiding contact. She never uttered a single word. She never eats. She just wanders around. I have followed her once. She wanders through the halls, I think she’s trying to get something to trigger her memory. I would rather she not to recover her memory. The tortures are too hard to bear.

I tried to get her to talk. But then, she would look at me with betrayal in her eyes, then stalk off. When she first avoided me, I thought it’s fine, that I’ll just talk to her at meals. But then she never appears for meals. I always star at the entrance, waiting for her. But she never appears.

Bex tried to get me talk, and I went along with her. I think she is trying to talk to someone, and she thinks I’m hurting too, and I might use the distraction. I don’t care, her chatter is endless, but I never hear them. I just occasionally crack a smile, laugh a little.

Then, every meal, I grabbed something to eat, and then went to find Cammie. I often found her wandering on her own in the halls. Like she’s searching for something. Her mind’s off somewhere, and she had a dazed look in her eyes.

Then she would go back to her room. She would ruffle through her things, sigh deeply, and then go to class. Normally she would have noticed me tailing her, but I guess her mind is elsewhere.

I learned that she had never uttered a single word since she got back. The doctors said she should be physically able to, but she was mentally mute then. Her downcast eyes shone every time I see her. However, when she sees me, I see betrayal, pain, longing all in one gaze.

I longed to hold her in my arms, telling her everything’s okay. Comforting her when she cries. Cradling her and kissing her. However, I don’t think this is going to happen.

I only hope it’s soon that she came out of whatever world she was in, and come back to reality.

I went to lunch gloomily when Bex saw Cammie in the hallway. Me, Bex, Liz and Macey all followed her to the basement. ‘Cammie?’ Bex cried out, and I was standing near the basement door, so I could see her flinch. The others are hot on my heels.

I saw her slipping into one of the secret passageways. Then, the girls went in.

‘That’s weird. I thought I saw Cammie here.’ Bex said. ‘She didn’t get the codename Chameleon for nothing. Give her some credit.’ Macey snapped, obviously annoyed. Then, Liz’s voice rang out. ‘She hadn’t eaten for ages. She never appears for meals.’

‘It’s hard to pretend, isn’t it? I don’t even know what she remembers anymore. I’m surprised if she remembered how to talk. She never uttered a single word as far as I know.’ Bex huffed. I wanted to snap at her. We weren’t pretending. At least I wasn’t. I don’t know about them. They then went back to the dining hall. I remained in the basement, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Before long, I heard something creak open, and Cammie went out.

Her eyes went completely big as she observed me. I wanted her to say something, at least utter a word. I don’t feel appropriate to give her my signature smirk. Nothing happening is worth smirking. Instead, I opened up a conversation.

‘Took you long enough.’ I was hoping she would answer, at least open her mouth. But she didn’t. She made no move to talk.

‘Shouldn’t you sat something, Gallagher Girl?’ I smirked, provoked her more, wanting her to at least respond. I couldn’t bear her silence. Tears welled up in my eyes. After all, she wouldn’t even talk to me, her sort-of boyfriend. I felt lonely.

I thought of Cammie back then, the happy one, the cheerful one, the carefree one. Free-spirited, determined, lovely. But that Cammie was gone. In her place was the Cammie after the summer, completely transformed. I believe the old Cammie is there somewhere, this one is broken, torn, shattered. My Cammie.

I let the tears fall, rolling down my cheeks. Suddenly, she made a break for the door, which I blocked. ‘Come on, Gallagher Girl. Please say something.’ I begged her, and she shook her head. Then, I saw tears welling up in her eyes. Then, she pushed passed me, darting under my arms, and stalked off. I began a full-clown crying session, but I went into the bathroom. I don’t want anyone to see me like this. The old Cammie, the Cammie I fell in love with, is in there somewhere. And I would find it soon.

When I went to class, I saw Abby teaching the class how to use a rifle. I do know how, I just won’t demonstrate it. Then, I heard a scream. ‘Cammie!’ Tine shouted, and I turn to Cammie. I saw her point the rifle, fully assembled, at the door. ‘Cammie, put that down this instance.’ I saw her hands went limp as she let go of the rifle, let it fall to the floor, and backed away.

‘How did you learn to do that?’ Abby asked her. She took a piece of paper, and wrote down in wobbly letters. ‘I don’t know.’ Then, she slipped off.

I rushed after her, trying to catch up with her, while staying undetected by her. She went in a secret passageway, and was gone. I followed her, and was outside of the Gallagher Academy. I followed her through streets, as she stole some money, and reached a hotel. She checked in, and I checked in the room next to hers. I pretended to be a cleaning butler, and went in, planting some bugs and cameras. I know it’s no use to plant bugs, she doesn’t talk, but it’s worth a try. Then, satisfied, I went to sleep.

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