Sapphire String

Memory Weaver

I ran through the forest, not caring about the noise that was caused due to the branches I was breaking. There were more important things to worry about right now. I could hear my pursuers shouting and the sound of their footsteps thumping on the forest floor. I didn't want to go back to the lab–I don't want to see it ever again. The fastest way out of this situation would be to control them, but no, they were most likely immune to the effects, otherwise there's no way they could've held me there this long.

I stopped and looked up at a tree nearby. I won't be able to keep running, I was weak and exhausted. But I could hide. I climbed the tree, this time making sure I was quiet. I watched two of my pursuers stop next to the tree and look around. I held my breath, my heart in my throat. I could hear it beating, the sound echoing in my ears. I wonder if they could too.

"Where did she go?"

"The footsteps stopped here."

Did you know that people seldom look up? That's why hiding on a tree is by far the smartest move. I watched as they left, and let out the breath I was holding, when an explosion shook the forest. The birds took off from the trees, and I could've sworn even the moon and stars shook. A little owl stared at me from a branch on another tree, and I gently waved at it.

"The lab!" I heard someone scream.

Nice, looks like the bomb I placed there finally blew up.

My pursuers took off running in the direction of the lab, and I hopped down and walked gently towards the city, nursing my cuts and scrapes. I whistled softly, wondering how much of their research and data they had lost.

There was no point going home since I was sold off, and I knew they wouldn't take me back. Even if they would, I didn't want to. What do I do now?

I stood in the shadows of a tree at the edge of the forest and looked around.  I spotted a lone boy standing near the railings overlooking the sea, his eyes the same color as the ocean. He was the only one I could see around.

I walked over to him, as he turned to look at me. He looked at me with sympathy in his eyes, and I felt bad about what I was going to do. Just that one look in his eyes told me so much about his personality.

"Are you alright?" He asked me, glancing at the cuts and my torn clothes.

I nodded. "What's your name?"

"Kai Fuduki," he said, taking a step forward. "And you are?"

"Mayim Fuduki." I took a deep breath. There would be no going back now. "And I'm your sister."

He stopped walking and confusion crossed his face. "You're not my sister."

My heart stopped for a second, thinking I had failed, but this was no place or time for fear. "Yes, I am. I went missing last night."

"I-" his eyes glazed over. He looked at me in surprise, with shock and concern etched on his face. I felt a twinge of guilt, and ignored it. He pulled me in for a hug, as warmth flooded in me, followed by a wave of crushing guilt, a little too much to ignore.

"Mayim. I was so worried about you." This concern was for a person who did not even exist. This concern was for a lie of a memory, not me.

"Thanks, Kai. I'm back."

"I'll take you to our dorm, and we'll get you patched up, okay? You can tell me what happened." He sounded like he was close to crying, and that crushed my heart. But I will do anything and everything I can to survive. "Let's go home."

Kai turned and took my hand, walking forward, as I followed. I raised my left hand, and there, on my little finger, was a dark blue string, that connected to Kai's hand. I watched as it faded. I was worried I had lost my touch, but I hadn't. Now I've weaved myself into his memories. I didn't know what memories of me he had, but I knew they existed.