Echo: The Girl That Time Forgot

Red Hair In Dark Water

Ayana's POV

I'm sitting awkwardly in the pavilion with Narcissus. I don't know why Echo thought it was a good idea to go running after Aika and ditch me with her handsy boyfriend.

So, he's hot? So he's hitting on me and my bestie just ran off? So what? Yeah I'm in a really bad situation.

"So, Ayana right? Where are you from? You're gorgeously olive eyes make me think you're from Athens, but you're foreign complexion makes me think you might be somewhat exotic."

I shudder at the slippery smooth sound of his voice, so sweet and full of flattery it makes me want to retch.

I glanced nervously behind me, praying that Echo would come back, but there was no sign of her, or Aika.

I turned back to Narcissus and batted my eyelashes. This guy is an idiot, he doesn't even understand how nymph culture works, don't they teach that at like every preschool? Where do I come from? Umm, nature.

I smiled and batted my eyelashes again, "Actually, I'm a nymph, we don't get 'born' like you humans do. Gaia's life force made me, her essence caused a flower to sprout, my life force is tied to that flower. So I'm from nature and the earth, not any specific country."

He looked a bit surprised, but he didn't miss a beat. "Really? That's fascinating. I'm surprised I'm just learning about this now."

I smiled sweetly, "As am I."

He took a step forward, staring at me with his deceptively green eyes. I took a step backwards, but bumped into the edge of the pavilion.

"You know I think I'm going to go see where Echo went," I said nervously.

"Tch, you don't want to do that. I'm sure that she's just fine," he said stepping in front of the doorway.

"It's not her I'm worried about," I muttered under my breathe.

"What was that?" He asked staring at me with scrutiny.

"Nothing." I took a step backwards and he took a step forwards. By now I'm really panicking and I honestly thought I was going to have to make a run for it,  when Echo burst in.

I nearly collapsed in relief and I let go of a breath I didn't even know I was holding.

"Guys, we need to go now!" She said panting.

I hadn't realized she was breathing so hard, and the apprehension that had just left, came flooding back. "Echo what is it?"

"Th-the men, from the river," she said ignoring me and turning to Narcissus, "One of them survived and he has the city guards an-and—

"Shhh, it's okay," he said scooping her up and began hurriedly walking out of the pavilion to the city exit.

I sighed. Once again I have been forgotten. Between Aika's flare and Echo's storytelling, people tend to overlook me. I'm the quiet friend, granted I am the quiet friend that knows all the tea, but even though I have accepted that I will never be as outgoing as Aika, or as profound as Echo, it still hurts every time I'm ignored.

But there is no time to feel sorry for myself as guards flood the town square and I take off sprinting after Narcissus and Echo. For some reason the guards don't chase us and instead run off into the woods away from us. They appear to be chasing something else, but what? I pondered.

We stopped by the lake and Narcissus set Echo down, but that was when I realized, Aika was gone.

Dread filled me as I called her name.
"Aika! Aika! Where are you!"