In Her Waking [Formerly Breathe . . .]

Chapter 23

Rather than visiting during our usual time, father time visited in the late evening.

Father time walked through the garden gates which had now become our special meeting place to discuss matters.

Beside me stood Araya and behind was Quilpxe.

There was an average lady beside father time. She had neat black hair, gelled and put in a bun with some pretty hair rings.

Her face was that kind... that kind of face. The one that stranger has.

That stranger that you met just once but couldn't get that face out of your head.

A memorable face.

She was putting on a red T-shirt with a blue breast pocket. Two colours anyone could remember.

By now, I had guessed she might've been the memory person Karl was talking about.

Quilpxe looked a bit pressured. He dusted his T-shirt and walked over to her.

"It's a pleasure to..."
The woman put her hand in front of her and shut him up. "Don't act like you didn't steal something from me some years back."

Araya flashed me a look, then she kept her straight face.

Karl cleared his throat. "Hanna, this is Mhemrie, guardian of memories and visions. She works for me most of the time."

A flash of distaste came on Mhemrie's face and it her tone of voice didn't lack it either.

"For you? I work with you!" She snapped.

Karl raised his hands in honest surrender. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Mhemrie shook my hand. "Hello, Hanna."
I awkwardly replied. "Um... yes, hello"

Quilpxe offered Mhemrie a seat. Araya tried her best to remain invisible.

"Hello Araya." Mhemrie said.
"Uh... yeah." Araya mumbled.

We all sat down. Araya seemed expressionless.

"So. You decided to help?" Quilpxe asked.
"Yes." Mhemrie replied with a straight face.
Quilpxe put his head down. "Thank you. Mhemrie."

Father time cleared his throat, as a reminder that he technically was the one who convinced Mhemrie.

"Thank you too." Quilpxe said.

"Well anyhow, Mhemrie believes she'll be able to help you use the memory as a relic. Consequences won't be expected if the guardian extracts it herself."

"Yes..." Quilpxe agreed.

Araya's face flashed a look of terror. "Does my mother know about this?"

Quilpxe stuttered. "Well, not exactly but it doesn't matter if she does."

Araya looked at me. "I don't... I don't trust you... him."

"Araya relax, Mañana doesn't have to know." Karl said.

Araya looked down and fiddled with her bracelet. The huge white one she wore all the time.

"Oh." She managed.
Mhemrie sighed. "So,do we begin?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Araya sat in the middle of the rose garden. Mhemrie stayed right in the middle with her, so did father time.

Karl and I were out of the circle.

"Remember, when the aeopeks begins, nothing and I mean absolutely nothing should break the circle."

I whispered to Quilpxe. "What's the aeopeks?"