Prologue: Emrys's P.O.V.
I woke up to something cold and wet touching my cheek. It kept nudging my cheek. Until I finally blinked my eyes opened.
I looked around confused. I was sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree. It's dark outside and the moon doesn't provide much light. Still, I can see perfectly fine, as if my eyes adjusted to the dark.
Is that normal?
That cold, wet thing nudged my cheek again. I turned my head to see a large buck standing next to me. He looked at me with his black eyes as if trying to tell me something.
Slowly, I reached my hand out to touch the buck. He inched away so I left my hand hanging between us. After a moment, the buck pushed his nose into my palm.
I chuckled as I moved to stand up. This buck is about as big as I am. He's so soft.
"Thank you for waking me," I said softly.
Then I looked around again.
It appears I'm in... a forest of some sort. At least, I think I am. Although, this doesn't look like any forest I've ever seen. Nothing is glow-
"Ah!" I groaned out as a sharp pain shot through my head.
I grabbed my head as I doubled over from the pain. The buck shoved its nose at me again. I tried to open my eyes, but everything was blurry. A ringing started in my ears, gradually getting louder and louder.
Just when I thought that the ringing was going to make my head explode, it all stopped. As if nothing had even happened in the first place. All the pain that brought me to my knees a moment ago suddenly all disappeared.
I looked up at the buck again.
"Do you know what that was?" I asked it.
The buck only blinked at me, not understanding what I was asking.
"That's alright. I'm sure it'll be okay. I just need to get home and...." I trailed off as I realized something.
Home? Where is home? Do I... have a home?
Wait... do I have... anything?
I tried to remember something about my home. Or maybe myself, but... I don't remember a thing. I don't even remember my name.
"Do you think you could help me find my way to... someone, I suppose?" I asked the buck.
The buck huffed. He turned his body, and began walking. I waited for a few minutes, unsure if he was really trying to help me. Then the buck turned his head to me, as if to ask if I was following. I ran toward him, putting my hand on his back.
I followed the buck through the forest. I heard several other creatures scurrying around. Most of them kept out of sight. The ones that didn't, would all look at me with curiosity in their eyes.
I couldn't help but feel strange as we walked through the forest. Nothing seems... familiar. I feel like I see things, and I know what they are, but... It's like something is missing. Something that I just can't quite figure out.
I feel like I've never been here before, but that can't be possible. I mean, I was here when I woke up. That must mean that I walked into this forest... Right?
I mean... How else would I have gotten here? Although... It is the middle of the night... Is it not normal for a child to be in the woods all alone in the middle of the night?
Wait... Is anyone even looking for me? I have to have parents, right? Aren't they worried?
First things first, I have to get out of this forest. After I find someone, then I can search for answers. Someone must be able to help me.
The buck and I walked for several minutes. Actually, I'm pretty sure we walked for well over an hour. Maybe even two. Eventually, though, we finally came to the forest line. The buck stopped, and looked at me. I looked out into the world.
It all looks... unfamiliar. There is only one road in front of me. On the other side is just more forest. I stepped out onto the road. The weird hard material felt strange under my bare feet.
Were all roads always made of this stuff?
Suddenly, I heard a strange sound. I looked up to see a large bright light coming down the road. It sounds like... like a monster, and it's coming at me fast. Like really fast. As it got closer to me, the one light turned into two.
Why isn't it stopping though? Am I supposed to move? Fight it?
Fight it... Why would I do something like that?
I know that I don't remember anything right now, but I am just a child. I can't be more than 10 years old right now. Why would I even think that I could fight anything?
***************
"Emrys, come here. Let me show you how your father wields his sword."
"That's it, my boy! Wonderful! You did it!"
"I'm so proud of you Emrys! You took them down with ease! At such a young age!"
"You will surpass me one day, Emrys. You are already better than I was at your age. You are so strong and smart. Those are good leadership skills. Never forget that."
***************
What the heck was that? I could hear the words in a voice that wasn't mine. Clearly, that was my father's voice. It felt familiar, but...
Why don't I remember him? Or those moments? And Emrys? Is that.... me?
Suddenly, the monster that was coming towards me started to make another noise. It kind of sounded like a horn, but different somehow. I just stared at it in confusion.
Then it started to skid to a stop. It was less than 5 feet away from me. The monster huffed, pushing out heat. It was hard to stare at it with the lights shining in my eyes.
After a moment, the beast opened up. I was shocked to see a person step out of it. It was a man. He was tall, middle-aged, and dressed very strangely. Then a woman stepped out from the other side. She looked to be the same age, and she was dressed similarly.
"Ben..." The woman said as she stared at me with wide eyes. "It's a... kid."
"Anne, get back in the car." Ben replied to her.
Anne ignored Ben's advice. She got out of the... car and shut the door. Then she walked up to me slowly. I just looked at her as she approached me. I don't feel scared, she doesn't give off a dangerous vibe. So, I let her approach me.
"Hey buddy," Anne said. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"Anne..." Ben said with worry.
I looked from her to him.
Ben seemed scared of me. I don't understand why. Do I look scary?
"It's okay, he's just naturally cautious," Anne told me.
My eyes returned to her.
"Plus... you look... like you might have been through something." She continued. "You're covered in dirt, and you have no shoes. Plus, your clothes are... Well... interesting. Are you sure that you aren't hurt anywhere?"
I gave her a confused look.
"I'm fine." I replied.
"Okay, well... What are you doing out here all by yourself? Where are your parents?" Anne asked.
"I... don't know," I said.
The couple shared a strange look before Anne turned a smile at me.
"Well, do you know your phone number or address? We can take you home." She asked.
Phone number? Address? What are those?
My confusion must have shown on my face, because the couple shared another look. This one was longer though. Their body language made me wonder if they were having some kind of private conversation somehow. It was weird.
After a few moments, Ben sighed heavily. He looked all around as if he was trying to figure out what to do. Then he finally looked at me.
"Come on kid," he said as he opened the beast. "We'll take you to the police."
********************
On the way to the police station I learned a few things. Like, the thing I thought was a beast is called a car or a motor vehicle. Once we got closer to the station, I saw many other cars around. Many of them looked different. It was so odd.
The streets were lit up with lamp posts. There weren't many people on the streets either. I guess it's pretty late at night.
I also learned that I am in the U.K., which stands for the United Kingdom. Anne told me that we are close to Manchester. She said that it was a major city. We're about an hour and some minutes away. Anne wondered if maybe that would trigger something in my memory, but it didn't.
None of this seems familiar. The forest seemed more familiar to me than the town. None of these names make sense to me. Car, city, the city and town names, and many other things.
Yet, other things seem... familiar to me. Like time, the language, even looking up at the star-filled sky, looks familiar. I just... don't understand.
Why can't I remember anything?
************************
"Yes, how can I help you?" The man sitting behind the desk asked Ben and Anne.
"'Uhm... we need to speak to an officer please," Anne said politely.
"Regarding what?" He asked.
"Well, if you looked up from your paperwork you'd see regarding what," Ben bit out.
The policeman's head snapped up. At first, he looked angry. Then his eyes quickly found mine, and his expression changed to shock.
"My god... What happened? Why didn't you take him to the hospital?" He rushed out.
"He said he wasn't hurt," Ben said.
"Look, we found him in the middle of nowhere. He was all alone, just... standing there. He can't remember a thing." Anne said, practically begging the policeman to help.
The policeman looked at me again.
"Okay, let me get the chief," he said before rushing off.
Anne and Ben turned around to look at me. Ben had a blank expression, and Anne is trying her best to smile at me. Then Anne crouched down to look me in the eyes.
"Don't worry kiddo," she said. "We're going to figure everything out, okay?"
I nodded in response, but honestly... I don't believe her words.
