7 yrs, Gone and Forgotten

Chapter 31: Alchemist Facility

Lee’s/Sydney’s POV

    Driving down the highway, watching the desert pass me by and the wind blow through my hair, I kept having flashes, I was in cuffs and shackles. I was on a bus and being shipped to wherever I was headed. I was the same age I was when I left the house in Georgia, so it must have been where they shipped me after leaving the hospital. I slammed my brakes on as two big gates slowly opened next to a sign saying, “Alchemist Facility.” I could see the sign and the gates through my own eyes, but it was also like I was seeing them through my young eyes as well. I slowly drove through the gates as I watched the guards just turn a blind eye to me, I thought it was strange, but then again everything these days seemed strange. Maybe they remembered me, a younger me of course, but still me.

     The road winded a little further until I came to a stop in front of a large building with a prehistoric looking wooden door. I parked the car and climbed out, taking several deep breaths of the dry desert air. Everything felt so familiar but yet so unfamiliar, my only hope was behind the wooden door.

     I walked slowly toward the wooden door when a flash stopped me in my place. I was in a line, there were girls around me, I turned my head to the side and three large wolves stalked toward us. I could feel my adrenaline kick in watching my own movie as the wolves approached each girl, one at a time and the girls submitted. I stood proud in front of the golden eyed wolf as he stared me down, I smiled and wanted to reach through my own movie and grab Luca by the neck and give him a big hug. I staggered back a bit watching myself defend myself against the animal and ride it like a wild horse making it submit.

     I shook my head quickly at the thought and question after question poured through my head. How did I do that, the wolf was huge, and why did I call it Luca, no, why did I know that was Luca?

    “No way,” I whispered as I rubbed my wrists where I could still feel the cuffs restricting me. “Luca was a wolf.”

      “Can I help you?” A deep voice sounded from behind me.

      I turned around and more memories rushed over me as I smiled, “Shaun?”

     He looked as shocked as I did as he pulled me into a hug, “Sin?” He pushed me back softly and looked me from head to toe, “Luca told me, but I swear I didn’t believe him. Where did you come from? No wait, what are you doing here? How have you been?” He held his hands up in mock surrender, “I know I am overwhelming you, and I have already been told I can’t say anything about your past.”

    “Then you know I am here to regain my memories?”

    He shook his head as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and we walked toward that large wooden door, “No, honestly I had no idea you would be coming here. All I was told is you have no idea who you were and if I were to see you not to say anything about who you were.” He pushed the door open, “But I really can’t believe I am seeing you in the flesh and blood.”

    I stepped through and memory after memory washed over me. I felt like I was hit with a tsunami full force, Carol, Claire, Eva, Lumen, Jake, Luscious, the school, the warrior training club, the trees, the rooftop, my old room. I took a deep breath and steadied myself against Shaun’s arm as I felt dizzy. They were coming so fast I couldn’t gain control; my heart began to race, and I felt my breathing become faster and shallower.

    “Here sit.” Shaun whispered as he guided me to a bench just inside the door.

    I closed my eyes and held my head as I opened my mind to let them all come. There were things I couldn’t make sense of, like my imagination had went wild, wolves, witches, all the things that go bump in the night, they were all there. There were so many memories full of love and laughter, the twins had been here with me, I had also saw my dad and Dylan here.

     My heart stopped and my lungs filled with air as the last vision approached and attacked, it was a large absolutely gorgeous white wolf. It ran at me full force and just as its mouth opened and wrapped around me, I opened my eyes and whispered a name, “Alsie.”

     “Sin are you okay?” Shaun whispered as I looked up into his concerned eyes.

     I patted my chest and exhaled all the breath in my lungs as I slowly shoved all the emotions back down. I had to be strong, it was all there, I remembered everything right up until I left this place. No, I didn’t remember everything, something was missing. I don’t know what it was, but I could feel it, like there were gaps in the memories that held just blackness. How was that possible though, all my memories from the other places didn’t feel like that, but here was different. I knew it wasn’t my magic or Alsie, I could remember that I could remember how strong I was, it was something else completely different.

    “Shaun?” he nodded as I finally was able to find my voice, “What happened to me? Where is my wolf?”

     He slightly patted my back and offered half a smile, “I don’t know Sin. I suspect that you will figure it out in due time, but I don’t have that answer for you.” He stood up and offered me his hand which I took and allowed him to help me up. “Why don’t I show you to your room and let you get some rest I am sure you are tired. Then maybe this evening you can walk around memory lane.”

    “My room?” I asked as he led me to the room I had lived in while here. I didn’t know how it could be mine though.

    He laughed and nodded his head, “It’s always been your room. We haven’t changed anything. All your things are there that you left behind and we keep it locked. Someone goes in once a week and cleans it, but you will always hold a special place here whenever you need it.” We stopped in front of the door as he unlocked it and opened the door. “Do you remember?” He asked as we stepped in.

     I nodded my head and smiled; I was home, the room was full of laughter and secrets, memories of being surrounded by friends. “I do, I remember everything.”

   “Good.” He hugged me and handed me the key to the door. “Come and go as you please, nothing is off limits here to you. Get you some rest, dinner is served the same time as always. Now I will leave you to it.”

    I caught the door just before he closed it and he gave me a questioning look, “The warrior club?”

   He cleared his throat, and I could tell he was immediately hesitant about answering. I held the door tight; I wanted an answer. He finally opened his mouth, “It’s still in operation, they are actually holding tryouts this evening to replace the leader.”

    “Can I watch?” I was eager to see the new talent.

    He slightly nodded his head, “You can, but there is something you should know.” I raised a brow, “Humans aren’t allowed here anymore. You are always welcome, and I know you can handle yourself if anyone causes problems, but I don’t know how they will take it if you attend the tryouts.”

    I couldn’t help but laugh as I turned loose of the door, “Trust me, isn’t my first rodeo. I can take it.” I mocked shewed him out the door, “I will see you this evening.” He only laughed as the door shut in his face.

     The first call I made was dad, he was elated to learn that I had my memories all the way up to the k********g. I remember what Claire, Jess and Lumen did to me and I was already making a plan on what to do about them. He asked a ton of questions and promised he would see me soon. I explained to him about feeling like something was missing from my memory, but he said hopefully it would all come together after the last place I needed to visit.

    The next call was Luscious, and he was as excited as my dad. He said he would also see me shortly and to save him a dance, whatever that meant. I just figured he wanted to spar; I remember us joking about it being more like a dance.

   Luca was the one with the most questions, and when I told him where I was, he only laughed. I talked to him about the missing memory and unlike dad he was hesitant to say anything about it, I felt like he knew something he wasn’t telling me. He made sure to remind me about the envelope I had that he wanted me to open at the end of my journey. I assured him I hadn’t forgotten and that I hoped to see him soon.

     I saved the best for last as I dialed the number and waited for the voice, I didn’t realize I had longed to hear for so long. “Hello.” He answered.

    “Jake!” I squealed through the phone.

    “Lee?” He questioned and I rolled my eyes.

    “Guess again big brother.”

    I heard him open a door and close it before he let out a deep breath, “Sin, really, is it really you?”

    I laughed, “Yep.” I chirped.

   “Oh my gosh, you don’t even know how much I have missed you. Tell me what all do you remember?”

   I went through the memories all the way up until the k********g. I explained that there were a few gaps but hopefully they would come soon enough. I also told him about who had been involved in the k********g and I thought he would bust my ear drum screaming obscenities.

    “Sin, where are you?” He suddenly asked breaking me out of my ranting.

    “Where do you think? I am home silly.”

    He cursed a few words before he put the phone back to his ear, “You have to get out of there asap.”

   “Why?”

    “Just trust me, you have to get out of there.”

   I didn’t really feel like arguing, I had another stop anyway so my time was limited, but I was sure I would return eventually. “I am resting now, and then watching the warrior tryouts tonight, I will leave first thing in the morning.”

   “Not soon enough, do not go to those tryouts leave as soon as you get rested, you hear me?” He demanded.

    I scoffed in the phone, “Yea okay. Listen I am going to take a nap, I will talk to you soon and hopefully see you sooner.”

   “You aren’t listening to me, are you?” He exhaled out slowly.

   “Not at all. Love ya.” And I hung the phone up.

   One thing I knew above anything else was I don’t do well with being told what to do, and Jake was no different. I was going to do just what I said I was, rest, watch the tryouts and leave in the morning. I had to find out what happened to my wolf, what happened to my magic, I had to know. One thing that made me more confident than anything was the memory of being able to control my emotions, I didn’t know what else I could possibly experience but having the memory and knowing the extent of my control made me feel even better about it all.