Existence

Chapter 16

They didn't stay long at the infirmary. There were around a dozen people there, half of them distinguishable as healers thanks to the green headbands covering their foreheads. It took no time at all for Casey to get patched up and for a healer to get Sarah a bag of ice for her face. The checkup on Thomas was cut short by his protests of being fine combined with Casey's pouts of wanting to go after Byron. The healer conceded with a precaution for Thomas to take it easy and come back if the pain in his head persisted.

"Where are you going?" Adam said as Casey made a dash down the road.

Sarah eyed the older Miller again, doing her best to keep a neutral expression as she tried to place why he looked so familiar and yet so foreign. Should she just chalk it up to family resemblance? His dark blond hair was just like Casey's, if not shorter. His deep blue eyes, a far cry from Casey's green ones, seemed off every other time she looked at him directly. Just like now.

Adam met Sarah's eyes and smiled. Her cheeks flushed at getting caught staring and she immediately looked away.

"Going after Byron. Weren't you listening to me?" Casey called over his shoulder. "Watch over Sarah!"

Adam sighed as he watched his brother disappear around a corner. He shook his head and turned to Sarah and Thomas, hanging his traveling cloak over his arm.

"Come. Let's get something to eat at the bakery."

Thomas remained rather silent as they made their way to the village bakery. Sarah worried it had to do with his head injury but when she put a hand on his arm and gave him a questioning look, he merely smiled and shook his head.

Adam garnered attention as they walked on, clearly as well-known as the other guys were. He spent most of the journey shaking hands, nodding at greetings, and exchanging pleasantries with the Solquines. To his credit, Adam didn't forget his two companions. He politely turned down invitations to stop by for a drink or a meal or a simple chat, explaining that he was on his way to the bakery with friends already. All the while, Sarah tried to place how he fit into her memory.

They reached the quiet and warmth of the bakery. The heavenly aroma of chocolate and cinnamon invaded Sarah's nose as Adam ordered an assortment of goodies for them to enjoy at a table by the wide bakery window.

"Have we met before?" Sarah finally asked once they were all seated and holding a pastry.

Thomas gave her a curious look but continued nibbling on what looked like a chocolate éclair. Adam put down his custard tart, considering Sarah for a moment.

"If I told you yes," Adam said slowly, "would you believe me?"

Even his voice seemed familiar. "When?"

"A long time ago. You were just a little girl."

"When I was six? Seven?" Sarah went on, her pastry forgotten. "How come I don't remember?"

"What has Alex told you?"

"Don't bring him into this."

Adam took another slow bite of his tart, his blue eyes sparkling with some emotion she couldn't decipher. He turned to Thomas, who froze mid-bite.

"What do you remember of your childhood ten years ago?"

"Stuff," Thomas said over a mouth full of pastry. He swallowed and cleared his throat. "Little events here and there."

"Do you remember every little thing?" Adam continued. "Every friend you made who came and left in the span of a day or two? What you wore every special occasion? The promises you made?"