Cyra (An Original Superhero Novel)

Chapter 3

My room was unfamiliar, the only thing I seemed to recollect was the smell. The blue walls were covered in photos of my mother, father and this boy Ashlyn called Ryder. Ryder seemed to be a big part of my life. A small journal laid on my desk next to a comic. Picking up the journal I flipped through it searching for maybe something about myself, all that seemed to be there was more pictures. I stopped at a page that seemed to be familiar somehow, the words ‘will you ever know how I feel?’ were drawn in pen next to a picture of Ryder. Obviously the old me had feelings for him.

Placing down the journal I walked over to my closet and opened it. It was covered in girly looking dresses and high heels. Yuck! I began pulling all the dresses from their hooks and piled them in the centre of my room. I grabbed out a pair of jeans and black tank top and swabbed it for the dress Ashlyn had made me wear.

“Peyton right?” I spun around, untucking my hair from my shirt. The boy in all my pictures stood behind me gleaming with happiness. “Redecorating?” he joked.

“Did I actually wear these, they are revolting?” I asked and Ryder smiled. He flicked his brown hair from his eyes, his eyes were an amazing ocean blue. It felt like he could see into my soul. “Nice to meet you Ryder,” I reached my hand out for him to shake.

He placed his hand in mine and shook it. His hand was soft, strong and incredibly familiar. “Ryder Highland, your old partner in crime,” he joked. He seemed so familiar it was hard to look away. “I’ve missed you so much!” he broke and ran over to hold me. He picked me up off my feet and kissed my cheek.

I pulled away abruptly. “I’m sorry, it’s just awkward,” I backed away.

“I’m sorry Pey, for a second there- I should go,” he walked out before I could say something. I wanted more than anything to remember this strong, tall boy, I called Ryder. I’m sorry…

The comic on my desk, I noticed had a sticky note attached that read. ‘Don’t touch until we get back’ I took it off and unwrapped it’s plastic. Merlin had placed a message in it for me, ‘To my precious Peyton, don’t ever give up on yourself baby girl. – Always with you, Daddy’. I kept a straight face trying to avoid letting myself cry again. “I’m sorry Dad,” I sniffed.

I found a television remote on my desk next to the comic, I switched it on. “The daughter of billionaire philanthropist, Merlin Jovan has been found alive after two years since Comet forty-six,” the remote dropped from my hand. Two years? I’ve been asleep for two years!

“You weren’t supposed to see that yet Peyton,” Ashlyn appeared.

“How could you not tell me?” I yelled.

“You’ve been through so much, I didn’t want to add to it”.

“That’s not fair and you know it, I have missed two years of my life!”

“Calm down,” she snapped.

“Go away!” I threatened. She nodded and backed away closing the door on her way out. I pulled an empty box from my closet and piled all the dresses into it. This was no longer me, I refused to be seen as a spoilt deceased billionaire’s daughter. Two years!

Walking into the bathroom, leaned over the counter I stared at myself in the mirror; that’s why I look different, I’m seventeen. I lost two years of my life. I punched the mirror and it broke into a hundred shards, I gasped and carefully stepped away from the glass.

I let myself fall into my bed and cried myself to sleep.

~  ~  ~

There was nothing I wanted more than my memory back, so I demanded Ashlyn to allow me to go to school. It was my senior year and I wasn’t willing to miss any more of my life. I decided to pretend nothing had changed and give it a shot.