The Sweet Nothings || ✓

'AND YOU ARE ONE OF US'

Her eyes stared into space, no where in particular. Her small form didn't even twitch from sitting in the same position for two hours now. Not even the hardest of coaxing would make her move. It was like nothing affected her, nothing could. Like she couldn't feel.

This was because Lana had seen a devastating even happen.

Something she had been sure would never happen.

But now the surety was gone and despair and hopelessness had replaced it with intensity.

No one was in the room anymore leaving Lana alone with the haunting visions.

The video had taken away the last hope that Lana had so intently held on to. Before the video had even ended, Lana had had the much awaited breakdown. She had coughed and gasped and screamed and cried and howled, while heavy tears rolled down her cheeks.

Everyone in the room had frozen for a second, surprised to see their all tough leader break down like that.

And then Henry had slowly moved closer and soothed Lana by a warm hug.

At that moment, shattered by the visions, she hadnt minded the closeness. Instead she had seeked homage there.

Then slowly the tears had stopped flowing and the distressed sighs had stopped leaving her mouth.

Nothing that anyone said seemed to affect her, like it fell on deaf ears.

And after noticing her
unresponsiveness for about an hour, everyone had slipped out of the room, letting her dissolve in the murky puddle of daunting memories.

Lana remembered all of it with clarity.

She thought over and over of how little time they had had together.

Maia and her had bonded over such short time.

Even now she could remember every detail about her little sister. The small things that made her more adorable day by day. The slight scrunching up of her nose, the soft smiles, the stupid talks. Everything.

She was drowning in her sorrow, and no one was there to see through her eyes. The visions.

They flashed again. Just like the laptop screen.

She remembered.

The screen had come on, Lana had expected to see Xavier's face like in all the other videos but something else was seen. It looked like a CCTV footage of a well furnished dining room. Two people sat on the table while servants rushed around carrying dishes. She had been shocked at this very thing.

Maia was sitting beside Xavier, smiling leisurely at him while he talked. She looked pale but healthy for a person who had gone through so much. But what surprised her more was the fact that Maia seemed comfortable, like it wasn't the same guy who had tortured her, that was sitting beside her. She hadn't strangled him which should have been the immediate Maia-instinct. Something looked different about her.

And then the voices came on.

Xavier was telling Maia about the places he had been, about some random funny incident and amazing food to taste and she was simply smiling and nodding at him.

Then Lana heard him say-
"I'll show you the photo album later. You need to remember your family again." Xavier said and the word 'again' rang in Lana's ear.

"I know. I just want sometime." Maia said, looking tired. Xavier said warm laugh resonated in the room .

"Understandable. Take as much time you want. After all, you are strong. All of our family is. And you are one of us." Lana's ears rang again.

And you are one of us.

"I know." Maia paused. "I know brother."

Then she got up and hugged him.
That's when the screen had gone black.

But the video had said enough. Maia didn't remember anything. Not even Lana. And what's worse, Xavier was using her against Lana.

Currently Lana felt emptiness.

Devoid of emotions.

Because she couldn't save Maia. Her very own sister. The person she loved whole heartedly, who was surely alive.

But what now?

What's when Maia didn't even remember her anymore?

Was it still possible?

Lana shook her head, first action in the span of two hours. No. She couldn't think this way. No effort put in for her sister was ever futile. She made up her mind.

Getting up, she squared back her sore shoulders and moved out, wiping away the cranky look from her face. She walked briskly to the common room and entered again, into a crowded room.

This time everyone looked up. They were all gathered around a newspaper, looking at it with wide eyes.

Lana raised her brows.

"What's it?" She asked. Everyone looked down and slowly the paper was passed to Lana.

The heading read-
"SURVIVOR FOUND OF THE NEW YORK- ITALY PLANE CRASH."

And the picture underneathe showed that very familiar guy with his black hair that still had those flecks of grey and his steel blue eyes.

He was smiling at her from the picture and sudden hope bubbled up in her chest. She looked towards the date. The newspaper dated for a week ago.

Lana looked up.

"Why didn't you show this to me before?" She asked sternly.
Everyone looked at each other. Lizzie spoke up.

"We found this just now. It was outside the door tied with a ribbon. Like a gift or something."

Lana looked down at the paper.

"But-"

The bell rang, cutting her statement. Lizzie looked at Lana and them moved to open the door.

And he was here at last.

Lana couldn't believe it.

On the door he stood, very wind beaten, and hair tousled with his shirt out.

She rushed forward and into his arms and breathed in his familiar scent.

Damien Montez hadn't left her after all.