Divine & Wicked: The Trapped Memories (Book2)

《 Chapter III: "Vague Memories" (Part2) 》

Zach's eyes fluttered open as the bus braked to a stop. Glancing around, he realized they had arrived at Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Rising from his seat, he retrieved his bag from the overhead compartment and joined the other passengers disembarking. After a nearly two-hour flight, he wasted no time upon landing in Tennessee, promptly hailing a cab for the journey to his hometown. Peering out the window during the ride, he felt an intensified longing for the peaceful familiarity of the small town. He still cherished the quiet, simple life he had grown up with. As they approached his house, thoughts of his grandparents flooded his mind. He pictured their eager smiles awaiting him at the door, especially his grandmother's, whose cooking he dearly missed. The anticipation of reuniting with them filled him with joyous anticipation.

As expected, he was just stepping through the gate when Mrs. Rowland greeted him with a wide grin from ear to ear. She wrapped him in a tight hug, as though he had been away for ages, despite it only being four months. His grandfather stood at the front door, also beaming, arms outstretched, eagerly awaiting his turn for a hug. Zach approached him with a chuckle, reciprocating the embrace, while his grandmother giggled behind them.

"Come on, you must be starving," she exclaimed, guiding him to the dining table where she revealed an assortment of dishes, most of them his favorites. Taking a seat, he welcomed them to join him and eagerly sampled each dish. As he savored the flavors, a mixture of emotions washed over him; unsure whether to feel happy or melancholic as he missed out on so much. Nevertheless, he resolved to embrace the moment. After a delightful meal and catching up with his grandparents, he ascended to his room, collapsing onto his bed. Ever since owning that room, no other bed could compare to the comfort it provided, and he found himself longing for it. Lying on his back, he gazed around the room, finding solace in the familiarity of his belongings arranged exactly as he left them. If only the school break had been longer, he wished, yearning for more days spent at home.

As night descended and he readied himself for sleep, he mulled over his plans awaiting him the following day in their hometown. Yet, amidst his contemplation, he remained keenly aware of the secondary motive behind his return. The thought lingered in his mind: if he failed to uncover any clues or leads concerning the person he couldn't recall, it would cast a shadow over his life indefinitely. Thus, even if only for a brief period, he felt compelled to exhaust all avenues in his pursuit of unraveling the mystery surrounding that individual and unfold the connection between them.

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The following morning, at eight o'clock, Zach donned a black coat and wrapped a gray scarf around his neck before bidding farewell to his grandmother and heading out. He explained he intended to explore the town on his bicycle and visit some places. His first stop was the public library, where he hoped to unravel the mystery of his déjà vu with Nally from their school library encounter. Upon entering, he promptly began scouring the premises for any clues that might shed light on his puzzling experience. Despite spending nearly an hour searching, he came up empty-handed. Disappointed but undeterred, he resolved to continue his quest elsewhere.

He hopped back on his bicycle and pedaled over to Delamir High School. Upon arrival, he approached the security officer and, luckily, was granted entry after presenting his old school ID. Making his way to the main building, he headed straight for the library on the third floor. Much to his dismay, he found the door locked. As he turned to leave, he noticed two sets of library windows along the hallway wall. Testing his luck, he attempted to open them one by one. The first pair remained firmly shut, but with a bit of effort, he managed to nudge the first glass panel of the second pair aside, allowing it to swing open. Taking a moment to ensure he was alone, he scanned the area and spotted a CCTV camera at the opposite end of the library. Approaching cautiously, he confirmed it was inactive, indicated by the absence of a red light. With a sense of urgency, he returned to the window, sliding it open fully. Determined, he leaped over the sill and swiftly closed it behind him.