Again

and again again

I look down at my feet to see a cat rubbing up on them. Alice tosses Sophie a plate behind the counter. I take a sip of my coffee, wincing at it. Very bitter. I prefer tea. Rex, please find me like I asked.

I rest my hand over my arm as it starts tingling, and I look up to see Rex walking into the café. "Well hello there, darlin, what's a pretty little thing like you doing here all alone?" He asks, leaning on the table. I would probably swoon over that accent if he wasn't such a cat.

I kick out the seat across from me. "You found me," I say, and he looks at me curiously.

"Was I not supposed to be looking, princess?" He asks, taking the seat.

"How do you remember me?" I ask, and he takes my coffee.

"You called for me. I told you before, whenever you call, I will be there. Say my name, and I'm yours."

"Rex." I say, seeing a smirk play across his lips.

"My lady," he says and takes a sip of his coffee. "I will forever and always serve you."

"I don't need a servant. I need an allie. Especially right now." I look beside me to see Sophie coming over with an additional cup and a pot of coffee.

"How are you two doing so far today?" she asks while pouring the coffee.

"When do you get out of here?" I ask, seeing her look at me.

"I'm in until five. Why, you planning on taking me out?" She asks, sitting her hands on the table. "Not too sure your boyfriend is going to be a fan of that."

"Don't worry, ma'am, I don't mind in the slightest," Rex says with a wink. She turns and walks away, her face bright red. "So my lady, where exactly are we?"

"As far as I can tell, we're all asleep, and we've been asleep for eight years. You guys got sealed in Sabrina's mind for a while, but when there was a reset on them, you got pulled out and into your own forms here."

"Is Elijah here? That could be the key on bringing Anastasia back to us."

Elijah. Her kid! "You're a genius Rex," I say before running out of the cafe and towards where Anna is currently living, or at least was the first few times.

I step up to the house, seeing a little boy looking down at the ground while sitting on a swing. Blue hair though. No one would think anything of it in a world meant to keep us trapped. Not unless you start digging.

"You look different than I remember," I call, and he looks up.

Recognition passed over his eyes before he jumps off the swing and runs at me tackling me to the ground and burying his head into my chest. 'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,' I can hear the words in my head as he whimpers, holding onto me tight.

"How much of everything do you remember?" I ask, resting a hand on his head. "Elijah."

'Everything. She doesn't remember me and it's tearing me apart! She can't even hear me. It's awful. She doesn't know who she is, and I can feel our bond breaking.' That last line brings this all into perspective. The people aren't just trying to keep us here, they want us ripped apart until there's nothing left.

"Eli, come inside," I hear Anna call before I push myself up and hug Elijah. "Eli!"

"Don't let her fall asleep," I whisper before pushing myself up and walking towards her. That same look of not knowing who I am is in her face. "Sorry, but I kinda have to do this," I say before taking a fist full of her shirt and her arm, flipping her over myself and off the porch.

'Princess!' Elijah yells in my mind as I start walking away. I stop for a second and turn to him. 'Please get us out of here.'

"I won't stop fighting until I do."

Tara/Ivy is next. Where would I find- my thoughts are cut off as I see a girl in snake print boots running from a cop car. You've got to be kidding me.

I take off running after them. At least she wasn't hard to find. She turns into a narrow alley, and I follow her, hearing the cops getting out of the car. "What the hell did you do this time!" I yell and pull her to the right and climb up a dumpster before a fire escape with her now behind me.

"I feel like I'm just waking up every damn day in trouble now. Wait, who are you?"

We get on top of the building and start running again, the cops right behind us. Again, I'm saving this girl from authority. "Just trust me!" I yell and take her hand, jumping off the building. Water.

The entire scene changes around us, and we are falling down a waterfall. We hit the water together, and I swear I can see a light emit from her for a split second before I'm completely under.

Once we come up for air, I notice something. Her hair is shorter. It was really long a minute ago. I look around to see long black locks of hair in the water. We get out of the water, and her outfit is different too. Snake print pants, a black halter style bralette, and the same snake print boots. My snake charmer.

She reaches up to wring out her hair, and her eyes widen, and she looks at the water. "It suits you," I tell her, and she looks down at herself.

"How the fuck...." She starts before looking back up at me. "You." Slight recognition passes over her eyes. "I know you. We jumped like that before."

A smile breaks out on my face and I jump froward, wrapping my arms around her. She might not remember everything, neither do I really, but she remembers me a little bit. "Thank you," I whisper. "Let's go get something to eat. I'm sure you're hungry after jumping off if buildings and all." She nods and we walk back through the woods.