Through the Archway

Chapter Twenty-Five -- Part Three

Taylor blinked. Her eyes looked unfocused, and she squirmed out of Mark's arms. He looked hurt for moment, but managed to hide it with a worried smile. Taylor looked at them all with fear.

"W–what's going on?" she asked, looking around at them all. "What d–do you w–want?"

"We don't want anything, Tay," said Mark, reaching out to hug her.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Taylor shrieked, recoiling. Her eyes were full of tears, and she looked genuinely terrified. Mark winced like she had burned him and pulled his hand back.

"What's wrong?" Mark asked, looking to the group at large. "What's wrong with her?"

Evelyn leaned down, studying Taylor as though she was trying to soak up every last detail. "Taylor?" she asked. "Do you remember us?"

Taylor shook her head back and forward like a child, her eyes wide with fear. "N–no!"

Rebekah's eyebrows furrowed together. "Taylor," she said. "It's me — it's Rebekah."

Taylor stared at her for a moment, before her eyes widened in recognition. "Rebekah?" she asked. Her voiced sounded raspy, like she had overused it screaming at them. "Is that really you? Why are you over there?"

Rebekah smiled, glad that she had remembered her. "Of course it's me," she said. "Tay, are you okay?"

Taylor looked away from her, staring at the others. "I–I don't know... I don't... I can't remember anyth–thing..."

"Do you remember me?" Mark asked hurriedly, his eyes full of fear and concern. "Do you know who I am?"

Taylor studied him for a moment, frowning. "N–not really..." she confessed. Mark's face fell, his eyes dim.

"It's me," he said, his voice desperate. "It's Mark."

"Mark," Taylor echoed. Her face seemed to glow brighter as she said his name. "I remember Mark... I loved him, I think."

Mark grinned, his hopes restored. "That's good progress," he said, his eyes never leaving her face. Rebekah smiled comfortingly at Taylor, assuring her there was no need to be worried or scared.

"Do you remember where you've been?" James asked.

Taylor shook her head. "I just r–remember the archway, and... Everything else is blank."

Rebekah exchanged worried glances with the rest of the group. "You're sure?" James asked. Evelyn swatted at him, but missed. Taylor nodded shakily, staring at her hands.

"Should I remember anything else?" she asked, looking up at them all, as if they had the answers. Mark made to console her, but thought better of it. His hands hung limply at his sides, though he was staring at Taylor longingly.

"Taylor," said Rebekah, "Do you remember David?"

Taylor hesitated, and then nodded. "He was a prince, right?"

Rebekah nodded, ignoring Mark as he grumbled under his breath, "How can she remember him, but not me?" Rebekah smiled at Taylor, hoping that she knew something.

"Do you remember seeing David after you dis – I mean, after you left?"

Taylor frowned. "I don't think so," she said. "Should I have?"