The Memory Thief | ONC2020 [AMBASSADOR PICK]

Chapter 13

Silence filled the room as Liliya played with the end of her braid. Nyron sat quietly next to her. She knew he must've been curious. She was grateful that he kept quiet anyway, allowing her to gather her thoughts.

Her mother's questions whirled through her head like a tornado. Her face, as she begged Liliya to arrange it.

Could she really go through with it? Could she really ask Nyron to delete the very last memory she had of her husband and daughter?

She's my mum! I can't let that happen to her!

She's my mum... And she wants this. That's exactly why I have to do it.

"Nyron... I have to ask you something."

From the corner of her eye she watched him turn to face her, but she couldn't meet his gaze.

"Of course. What is it?" Something much akin to pity dripped from his voice.

She hated it.

"Remember that horrible memory I told you about? From when I was 14?"

"Yes." His voice went up, as if he was asking a question.

"You were right," said Liliya. "Turns out my mum does want to forget it."

"Oh," said Nyron. "I'm sorry. I wish I wasn't right."

"Would you do it?" She turned to face him, ignoring the way his eyebrows were knotted together, the way his lips curled down. "Would you take that memory from her?"

His chestnut-coloured eyes widened at her request. "Are you serious? I thought you were against taking memories?"

"I am!" she couldn't help but blurt out. "But my mum wants nothing more than to forget. She doesn't have much longer. If you can make the end of her life a little bit brighter, then who am I to stop it?"

Nyron stared at her for so long that she averted her gaze. "Are you sure? Once it's done, I can't reverse it."

She closed her eyes, then sighed. "She practically begged me to arrange this. This is what she wants. Yes. Yes, I'm sure."

"Alright," said Nyron, nodding. "It'll take some time to get everything ready. Are we safe here? Or is your police friend going to be barging in any minute?"

"No, she won't," said Liliya. "I told her not to come on the phone. Besides, she thinks I dropped you after her warnings. What do you need?"

"Just some chalk. Oh, and do you have any ingredients for a sleeping potion?"

"I'll see what I can find."

They rummaged around in the cabinets for a while until Nyron had everything he needed. While he set everything up, Liliya decided to go to bed and catch a few hours of sleep, in hopes that a rested brain would help her come up with a plan for Nyron in the morning.