Stolen Memories

Stolen Memories Chapter One

"Clary, are you serious?" The boy, Simon, laughed. 

"I'm sorry. I don't know you." Clary turned away from the door, her mind churning.

"Clary, you don't remember the time we camped out at the farm? Swam in the lake? Threw mud at Simon?" Jace, she realised, was pleading with her. He wanted so badly for her to remember.

But she couldn't. She knew the farm and the lake he was talking about but no one else had ever been there. Not Jace,  not Simon. It was Luke's farm. The place she had grown up. Alone. 

Clary had never had friends before the Lightwoods. She had stayed at the farm, been homeschooled by Jocelyn. Occasionally they would go to the town to get food or do some shopping, but that was with Luke or Jocelyn. Never with other kids.

"Clary, we were best friends. How could you forget us?" These boys were hurt that she didn't know them. But it wasn't her fault. They were strangers and that couldn't change, no matter how hard they tried to convince her. 

"I've already told you! I have no idea who you guys are!" 

"Clary, plea-" Jace reached for her.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" She turned and ran back into the Institute, not daring to look back at the boys.

"Clary?" Izzy called as she heard the lift land on their floor. "Are you ok? Who was it?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Clary brushed past Izzy, unable to look her parabatai in the eye. She didn't know why. She never kept secrets from Izzy, but this felt private, like it should be kept alone.

"Clary, I could hear you yelling. You can't just brush that off!"

"Watch me." She stormed off into her room leaving Izzy staring after her helplessly. Anger rushed through her, mixing with the confusion and regret already filling her.

When she was alone in her room, she finally let the tears fall, despite her confusion. She couldn't place them. They just came and she couldn't stop them. It was like she was watching from another life, and this Clary had lived in a very different world.