The Darkside

Best Left Forgotten

"What's wrong, Aunt Cassie?" I asked, noticing the panicked look in her face. "After you left, Charlie got very irritable and started screaming, hitting his hands on his chest and head, and banging his head against the wall. I tried to talk him out of it, but failed. He was bleeding from his head. I did the only thing I could and put a sleep spell on him," Aunt Cassie said. "That was good thinking, we don't want him cracking opening his head," I said. "Did you get everything?" Aunt Cassie asked. "Yes," I replied. "Let's get to work, then," Aunt Cassie said, grabbing one of the bags from my hand.

We walked by the cellar, where Melisa was sitting lost in her thoughts. "Melissa, what's up?" I asked, tapping on her shoulder. "Oh, just wondering whether any moment now I will become like Charlie," she replied. "No, Melissa, I don't think so," I said. "How can you be sure? Remember when you gave us the first potion? We were both healed, but then Charlie went out and ate raw meat, and now this," she replied. "Well, all that happened to Charlie, not you; you didn't run off in search of raw meat and you are not having phantom memories; it's all Charlie," I replied. "But why is it different for him?" Melissa asked. "Because, he was cursed by the dark witch and you weren't. You were just infected by his touch," I replied. "Now, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get off your ass and come help us," I said, smiling. "Alright," she replied.

We all got together and finished the potion, after which we chanted the Phantom Memory Removal Spell. After chanting we woke Charlie up. Charlie opened his eyes, but didn't move. He lay there on the floor looking at the wall. We stood there nervously, watching over him, hoping for a sign that the spell worked. After a few minutes of silence, he turned his head around and looked at us, asking why he was in a cage. "Oh, thank god it worked," Aunt Cassie said with a sigh of relief. I looked at Melissa, who said that it was a miracle. "No, honey, it's magic," I replied. "Yes, it is," she said, hugging me. "I wish I was a witch so I could perform magic with you," she said. "Well, I have to go home now," Aunt Cassie said. "Right now? Come on, Aunt Cassie, we couldn't catch up; all we did was run around trying to help these two," I said. "I'll be back soon; I need to get home to my family, not that you are not my family," she said. "I know, I will miss you," I said. "Me, too," she said, hugging me.

I was sad once Aunt Cassie left. I called Jared and asked if he was coming by after work. "Yes, I am; why, is there a problem?" he asked. "No, everything's good," I replied. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yes, I just wanted to let you know that the problem is solved," I said. "It is? Oh, I owe you one," he said. "Are you sure it's just one?" I asked, smiling. "No, I owe you my life," he replied. "No need to be so dramatic; I was just kidding," I said. "No, I mean it; I owe you everything," he said. "Just come after work," I said, hanging up. "What was that all that about?" Melissa asked. "Oh, he's being all dramatic, saying he owes me his life," I replied. "He's in love with you," Melissa said. "No, he's not," I replied. "He is, and has been all his life; I thought you knew," Melissa said. "No, I didn't," I replied. Come on, really? He used to hang around us after school instead of hanging with the boys, remember?" Melissa asked. "Well, maybe he was in love with you," I replied. She shook her head and said, "For a witch, you are so oblivious to the things around you."

"Well, being a witch doesn't mean I know what other people are thinking," I replied, going to the cellar to check on Charlie. He was seated on the bed and was looking around. "How are you feeling?" I asked. "I feel hungry and hot; why am I locked up?" he asked, confused. "Don't you remember?" I asked, wondering if he was faking it. "No, everything is a blur," he replied. "Maybe it's a side-effect of the spell," I said. "Spell? What are you, a witch?" he asked. "Octavia, what's going on?" Melissa asked. "Oh, this happens sometimes," I said. "Charlie, don't worry; the memories will come back," I said. "What memories?" he asked, "Where is my brother, and why am I in a cage?"

"Jared will be here after work. He will explain everything," I said, opening the door. "What are you doing?" Melissa asked. "Oh, it's okay," I replied. "Come out, Charlie," I said. I made grilled cheese sandwiches, which he sat and ate with no difference; it was the assurance I needed that he was okay. "You don't crave meat?" I asked. "Crave? What am I, pregnant?" he asked, making us smile.

Jared came by and was so happy to see Charlie back to being himself, at least almost. He hugged Charlie so tight that he made Charlie feel uncomfortable. "Come on, Jared, stop making it weird," Charlie said. Jared looked at him and then at us in confusion. "Jared, can we talk?" I asked. "Sure," he said and followed me to the kitchen, where I revealed Charlie's memory issues. "Okay, will he get his memories back?" Jared asked. "Eventually, but isn't it better this way? After all, it's just the bad memories that have gone," I said. "You're right," he said. "It's a way of self-preservation for him. This way, he remembers the good stuff and not what made his life a living hell," I said. "Put that way, it would be better if he never remembers," Jared said. "Can I take him home?" he asked. "Of course, just don't try to remind him anything he doesn't want to; let him remember on his own," I said. "Of course, I won't say anything. And thanks for everything. I will never forget what you did for my brother, Octavia. Also, where is Aunt Cassie?" he asked. "She went back home," I replied. "Well, will you tell her that I thanked her?" he asked. "Will do," I replied.

I was tired after all that had transpired, so I decided to go to sleep early; and so did Melissa, as she was planning to go home the next day. We went to our rooms to sleep, but sleep evaded me. My mind kept wandering off to the dark forest. 'Why does she resemble mom up to the beauty spot on her cheek? And why does she have the crescent moon pendant? Maybe the pendant is because she is a witch, even though she is a dark witch; and there are people all around the world who resemble unrelated persons, so that must be the reason for the resemblance to mom,' I said to myself as I drifted away to sleep. All of a sudden, I saw a shadow which said in an angry voice, "Your soul is mine witch."

I tried to wake up, but I couldn't move. I tried to speak, but no words came out. 'Maybe I am in a state of sleep paralysis,' I said to myself, not knowing if it was really the case as I have never experienced it before. The voice kept saying those words over and over again as I struggled to wake up.