Our Last Summer

Chapter 08: The After Effects

(Madelyn's POV)

Pain shot through my head like I was experiencing another awful hangover. It felt like a knife was in my temple and someone was twisting it. I could barely open my eyes, but when I did, my head felt worse. We must've had a lot to drink last night.

I slowly pushed myself to sit up, feeling pain in my body as I did so. My body was hot too. I was hardly wearing anything to make me this hot. I was wearing a sports bra and leggings, yet I was sweating. I slowly got out of bed and looked down at my outfit. It was my same clothes from yesterday when we went on our hike, but my shirt was on the opposite side of the room. Although, I don't remember much from it.

I just remember walking through the forest with everyone. I walked into the bathroom, carefully took off my clothes, and turned on the shower. As I waited for the water to heat up, I leaned against the sink, holding my face in my hands. I haven't felt this bad since I had the flu. Even when I was drunk and high the other night, I didn't feel as bad as this. I was too hot even standing here naked. I made the water clod instead. I slowly lifted my head as a small memory popped into my head.

We were walking down the red trail instead of the yellow one to try and find the cave. And... blank.

I shook it off and stepped into the shower, the cool water pressed against my skin. I wished it was a warm shower, but my body was warming up. This was so calming. As I washed my hair, another memory started to come back to me.

We found the cave and Tyler had a gun. Then, Caroline walked in and we all followed her... Then... blank

My eyebrows knitted together as I tried to remember more. Why wasn't I remembering it? I never forget our nights. I don't even remember leaving the cave and having drinks. We must've left the cave and decided to go have fun. Maybe we didn't find anything.

I rinsed out my hair and put conditioner in it. Then I grabbed my body wash. I could only imagine how bad everyone else felt if I felt this bad. As I washed my body, another memory flooded my mind.

Ethan found a small walkway in the cave. We followed Noah and Caroline and we found a room full of crystals. It was beautiful. So beautiful I wanted to cry. It was sparkling and glowing. And there was a giant hole. Even Kaeo was shocked. We all crowded around it and... And... blank.

I know something weird happened last night. I can feel it now that these memories were coming back. I remembered Kaeo was with us. I wondered if we partied with him or if he was home with us. I don't remember. I closed my eyes as the water rushed onto my face, clearing the soap from my eyes and cooling my burning skin.

Caroline was freaking out because the rock wasn't there. Tyler threw a rock in the hole and then it sounded like the cave was going to collapse on us. We all fell on the shards of crystals on the ground, cutting our hands and knees. Blank again.

I pulled away from the water, coughing as I gasped for air. I vividly remember cutting my hands on the shards and Jason helping me get them out of my skin. I remember the pain I felt from it. Why am I remembering this?

I looked down at my hands and saw my skin was perfectly intact like nothing had cut them open in any way. I felt my heart start to race and my breathing picked up. I could see the dry blood around the palms of my hand, but there was no wound. Where is the wound? I turned back around and started to wash out the conditioner from my hair, trying to remember what happened.

The crystal filled the hole. It was beautiful and compelling. Kaeo said the myth was true. He was warning us and telling us the legend of Mana.

I shut my eyes tightly, needing more information.