Aspen Heights, Book 2: Forgotten

Elita

I sat on the bed in my new dorm, bobbing my head to the music booming from my radio. I stared down at my laptop screen which displayed the results of my latest Google search. I was googling about magic, how it all worked. But unfortunately Google came up empty. Ever since Carol bought me a laptop last month, it had basically been my best friend, even though it was pink, which wasn't really my style. I was surprised to hear a knock at the door a moment later. I snapped my laptop closed and hit the pause button on my radio. I opened the door, expecting to see Sophia or Cassie here to apologize, or maybe Ben, but I was mistaken. It wasn't any of my friends, in fact, it was the last person I ever expected to see at my door. "Oh, um, hi! I wasn't really expecting you," I said, staring at Livia, her usually glowing face completely expressionless. There were dark circles under her eyes, and though she looked tired her hair and clothes were as perfect as ever. "Yeah, I've really been wanting to talk to you," she replied, tucking a loose brown strand into her complicated up-do. "Sure Livia, uh, sit down," I offered, gesturing to the bed. She didn't argue. There was an awkward silence as we both got comfy on the bed. "So, Livia, what's up?" I asked, secretly glad that I had someone to talk to. If only I could tell her what was really going on. That some of the time I wasn't really me. But what if I was me? What if I was actually forgetting things? My head began to hurt as I tried to understand what was happening to me. It was like I was only half there. "I know this is weird, that I'm here talking to you..." she responded, hugging her knees to her chest. "No! No. Not... Um, well, it's a little weird just cause I was pretty positive you hated me, but..." I sputtered, by cheeks growing hot. "Yeah, sorry about that. I get a little overdramatic. Anyway I just wanted to talk to you about the dance," she explained, her voice a bit hoarse. "Right, doesn't everyone? Well, I really can't remember what happened," I snapped sharply. "Oh...that's ok. I can," she replied, looking away as if looking at me might cause her to burst into tears. I was taken aback by this. I thought everyone had forgotten. "What?" I gasped, my jaw dropping. "I'm pretty positive that I'm not going crazy, regardless of what everybody says. Um, I just think that I should let you know what I think happened, cause it kind of involves you a lot," she explained, clearing her throat and taking a deep breath. "You see after you left the dance, the lights went out. And then there were people there," she said, looking frightened just remembering the overwhelming night. "People?" I asked. "Yeah...they were dark, dark people. They had dark clothes on and they were...evil looking," she said slowly. "The Haits, huh?" I asked thoughtfully. "I don't even know what that means but, sure. Anyway, they were asking about you. That wanted you. And you were gone!" she said, her eyes glazed over. "I thought people were passing out because of the food," I replied, confused. "No! No! That's not true! They brainwashed them! I know that they did, because I'm the only one who didn't pass out...and didn't wake up with a whole new memory." Her clammy hands shook and she closed her eyes, cringing at the nightmarish memory. "Why didn't you pass out?" I asked. "Cause I used Sophia's gun," she explained, wincing as if ashamed. "A gun..." I whispered. And then a memory popped into my head. I was in a room. An all white room, with no visible doors or windows. I was laying down, wearing a white dress... Or maybe a nightgown? It was almost like hospital clothes. "Elita! Elita! You need to get up now! Elita! Elita!" Someone was whispering. I woke with a start. "What's going on? What's going on?" I sputtered, panicked. "Shhhh, Elita, it's ok. They're going to take you away and they're going to lock you up. But you'll know how to get out ok? Just remember, don't tell them your name," the hushed voice warned. "How do you know my name?" I asked, trying to see who was talking. But my vision was blurry and all I could make out were two blue eyes. Bright blue eyes, just like mine. "I know a lot about you, ok? Just remember not to tell them your name, ok?" she repeated. I felt a strange trust for this person, as if there was some kind of connection between us. "Ok," I finally agreed. And then I remembered. "My gun! Where's my gun?" I cried, feeling around for the only self defense I had. "They probably took it, but that's ok. You can probably do without it," she said. I decided that it must be a girl. "No! No! I need it, it was my mom's. I can't loose it!" I whimpered. "She'll forgive you, it's ok," she replied reassuringly. "Who-who-who are you?" I stuttered, my eyes filling with tears. "I'm just trying to help you, ok?" she replied calmly. "Ok," I replied, a single tear sliding down my cheek. "Elita, Elita, are you ok?!" I heard someone shouting. I opened my eyes and blinked a few times. I was laying down on my bed again and Livia was leaning over me, looking frightened. "Huh?" I replied, half asleep. "Oh thank god! You passed out and you started shaking," she said frantically. "I'm fine, really, I'm totally fine," I replied, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. I messaged my pounding head and blinked a few times. "When I said gun..." She gulped, looking concerned. "I had a flashback." I replied. "From when you went missing? What happened? Do you remember the dance?" Livia asked. "No...thank you for telling me about the dance," I said, trying to change the subject. "Um...I just have to go really fast. I have to go," I added, running to the door. "Elita! Elita, wait! Do you believe me?" Livia asked desperately. "Yes. I do. And we're going to make everyone else believe you too," I said confidently. "But right now, I just have to go talk to somebody," I explained, leaving the room. I glanced over my shoulder as I speed walked away and saw Livia flop down on the bed in relief because someone finally believed her. I hurried down hall after hall in search of the only person I felt I could trust. As I went around the corner I nearly ran into Cassie, who was coming from the other direction. "Elita!" a surprised Cassie said brightly. "Oh, uh, hey Cassie. I'm kind of in a hurry right now so I kind of need to get through," I said, annoyed. I didn't mean to be rude but it just slipped out. It was almost as if I couldn't control my own speech, like I couldn't say what I really wanted to say. "Oh, um, ok, I was just coming to talk to you though," she said, looking offended by my dismissive attitude. "Ok, well maybe we can talk later, but I really need to get through, I need to talk to someone," I explained, eyeing the narrow hall of which Cassie was blocking anxiously. "And of course that someone isn't me, right?" she put her hands on her hips and glared at me. I felt terrible, but there was nothing I could do. I had no control over my own actions. "Um, no," I replied, shifting my weight from foot to foot in anticipation. "Of course not. You know, I guess I should be happy since this is exactly what you did before the dance," she commented mockingly. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, not in the mood to think up a witty comeback. "It means there's still some of the old Elita in you," she said, her usual bubbly smile turned upside down. And Cassie was right. She understood. I wasn't me. I wasn't even in my own body most of the time, and even now when I am I still don't always have full control. Every day it gets worse, it's like I'm getting kicked out of my own body, like my soul is being replaced. "Oh my gosh, this again? I am so tired of walking through the halls and listening to people whisper about how I'm not the same person and I'm totally different. I mean, it's ridiculous! I'm still the same Elita. People don't change!" I snapped angrily. But they did. I had changed. I was changed. But I couldn't tell Cassie. I felt like crying but I couldn't. All I could do was think and see. "But you did," she replied, her eyes boring into me. "You know I'm sorry that I can't sugarcoat everything for you anymore Cassie. Now get out of my way before I physically move you out of the way!" I shouted, enraged. "Whatever, I was trying to be a good friend..." she responded, pushing past me. If only I could reach for Cassie, hug her and tell her how sorry I was. "Who knows, maybe we can talk later, but not now." I sneered. "Sophia was right," I heard her murmur as I walked away. Even as I reached the end of the hall I could still feel her eyes on me, glaring at me disgustedly.