CHAPTER 13: THIS EERIE FEELING

====================================

Saturday, Xander entered Xia's room to wake her up. He sat beside her caressing her hair, gently poking her cheek to wake up. Xia opened her eyes and smiled, drowsiness is seen through her eyes.

"When did you sleep? You're still sleepy at this hour" Xander pat her head gently.

"What time is it?" Xia sat up and faced Xander with eyes longing for more sleep.

"It's already 9:30, get up breakfast is ready. We're going out today"

"To where?" Xia wearily asked.

"Get up and change sleepyhead. I'll tell you later" And with that Xander left the room. A text suddenly popped up. Xia looked at it and smiled. Finding it funny. Of all things to do first thing in the morning, it would be to text with Vincent

*How are you

*Fine

*Are you free today?

*I'm going out with my brother

*Oh... how about tomorrow then?

*Not sure... I'll inform you if nothing is planned

*Okay... Have fun ;)

Xia got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

Meanwhile, someone seemed to be in a good mood. Vincent kept smiling the whole morning, the attendants are anxious.

"The young master is smiling.... This isn't a dream right?"

"Could it be that young master has a girlfriend?"

Gossips circled around the mansion. Vincent strolled around the garden.

Meanwhile, Xia and Xander are at the manor. Both of them agreed to clean up the place that no one has ever visited for so many years. Xia lifted a box and placed it on top of the table. She opened it and found an old journal, box filled with pictures and several scrapbooks.

"That must be your old things, you always love to write in journals and make scrapbooks when you were little" Xander walked towards thw table and helped Xia organize things inside the box.

Under the piles of paper, Xia found a small puzzle box. It is locked but is still in good condition. The tiles are movable and it is not damaged anywhere. Her name is inscribed at the bottom.

"What's this?" Xia found it odd to found her name inscribed at the box.

Xander looked at it and couldn't find the words to answer. The box alone was a mystery. "I'm not sure, you weren't fond of these kinds of things back then"

"Really? Weird, what's in here?" Xia shook the box near her ear and heard that something is inside.

"The box alone is already mysterious for me, how would I suppose to know what's inside?"

"Could mom left it for me?"

Xander shook his head and sighed, "I'm not sure, mom doesn't have any of these. Why don't you try opening it?"

Xia looked at every detail of the box. She became curious at it, more so of what is inside.

"Xander, I'll be at the meadow for a while okay?" Xander shrugged his shoulders and continued in reorganizing stuff.

The meadow is filled with flowers, the sun is shining and the sky is clear. Birds are chirping over her head, butterflies flutter above the flowers. Xia breathed the fresh air and stretched her arms. She found shade under a tree and sat there. Figuring out how to open the box, she moved the tiles in random. A click was heard after moving one tile. Opening the box, Xia found a silver locket. It shaped like a heart with a diamond at it's tip.

She opened it and found a ring, it fits perfectly through her middle finger. There is a little picture inside, a boy and a girl holding their hands with their innocent faces smiling for the camera. Her little discovery made her curiosity grow. She sat silently under the tree. Evening came, Xander became worried. Xia hasn't come back after she left earlier at noon.

The door opened, Xia came in with a troubled look. Xander hugged Xia and guided her to her room. Xia looked around quietly around her room. The girl in the photo is her, it actually her. No matter how hard she tries to remember nothing happens. She could not recall her childhood at all.

A text popped up. Xia looked at the number and smiled. She felt that Vincent is stalking her. Texting her at the time when she is confused and down.

*How was your day?

*Okay, I guess

*What happened?

*Nothing much really

*Then what's with the gloominess?

*Tired

*You sure? Don't want to talk about it?

*What if you realize that you don't remember anything about your childhood?

*You okay?

*Yeah, just need some time alone

*Okay, good evening

*Thanks

Xia put down her phone and stared blankly at the ceiling.

'Why can't I remember?'

She didn't realize that she fell asleep. Xander checked up on her and found her sleeping. He didn't bother her and let her rest.

-----♠-----

(Xia's POV)

I found myself in a dark room. Everything is silent, I couldn't help but shiver. There was nothing around me, I turned around and found a door. I opened it, suddenly a blinding light shone from behind the door. I walked in, I don't know where I'm going.

I looked at my side and suddenly I'm at the manor. I can hear tiny laughter and someone playing the piano. I followed the sound and it led me to a room with a grand piano. I saw the children sitting, no, they are playing the piano at the same time. The tune is beautiful and light, laughter between them goes on.

I took a closer look at the kids but I never imagine to find myself. I took a step backwards and looked at the kid next to me but his face is blurry. I know that he is a boy but why can't I see his face. It can't be my brother, I just sensed that it can't be him.

I blinked and I am back in the dark room. I became frantic and tried to call for help but it seems that I've lost my voice. I felt as if I'm falling endlessly, I tried to reach out for something but what? I tried to call out for help but it was no use. I'm scared but I'm alone. Where is everyone?

–HELP!!–

-----♠-----

"Xia! Xia! Wake up!"

Xander shook Xia awake, he found her rolling across the bed having a nightmare. Xia woke up, tears are falling down from her face. Xander higged Xia tightly.

"Don't worry, I'm here. Big brother won't leave you"

Caressing her head, Xander helped Xia calm down. The maid came in the room with a glass of water. While recovering from shock, Xia drank the the entire glass. She is still shivering, she kept staring blankly in front of her. Xander is already in the verge of calling the family doctor.

Her breathing is shallow and her heart is still racing. Xander is panicking as well. A servant came in with the family doctor. Xander stood up and gave him space to check up on Xia. After looking at Xia's condition, the doctor lowered his head and asked Xander to come out for a minute.

"How is she?" Xander is still antsy. He couldn't help himself but ask.

"The nightmare may have triggered her past trauma. Everything is fine now, she just needs some rest"

Xander heaved a sigh of relief. After seeing off the doctor, he went back to Xia's room. He brought a tray of cupcakes and cookies with him, hoping to help cheer his sister.

Xander found Xia looking out off the balcony to the city that stretches to the horizon. Her eyes are still empty, she stood silent not moving an inch. Xander placed the sweets on top of the coffee table and walked to Xia's side.

"Do you want me to call Ann over?" Xander suggested.

"Could you tell me of my past?" Xia spoke softly.

"What do you want to know?"

Xia lifted up her head with her eyes closed. Her hair swayed as the gentle breeze swept pass her doll face.

"Everything"

Xander nod his head

"Okay"

He grabbed Xia's hand and led her through the woods. Xia vexed by Xander's actions chose to follow quietly. They reached a clearing, no flower is found. It is a wide area of grassland. It laid flat with trees surrounding as if it were towering walls.

"Where are we?" Xia asked.

"This is where you used to play. A place where everyone can always find you doing your stuff"

Xia looked around, frowning because of disappointment.

"Anything wrong?" Xander saw her troubled look.

"How come I can't remember this place? If this is where I always go then why can't I even get a glimpse of it in my memories?"

Xander sighed, "Those are all in the past, if you can't remember then maybe it's something you shouldn't"

Xia narrowed her eyes, "Something I shouldn't"

Xander patted her shoulder and walked away, "Don't be late for lunch"

Xia scanned her eyes across the clearing.

-----♠-----

(Xia's pov)

I feel like something is missing, apart from that there's one more thing that kept bothering me. Why do I feel like Xander is trying to avoid something from happening? Everything is a mess inside my head.

I want to know my past, what I was back then, who I was with back then, and that boy whom I saw with me in that dream.

-----♠-----

A thought crossed Xia's mind, she ran back to the manor and went up to the room that they were cleaning yesterday. She searched through the old boxes. She came across the box that she and Xander were looking at. Xia gathered the photos and went to her room.

She carefully laid the old pictures across the table. Looking at it intently, she picked up a photo of two children sitting on the swing side by side. They were wearing the same smile Xia saw in her dreams. The boy's face couldn't be distinguished because of the sunlight and picture's age.

Disappointed, Xia could only sigh. She cleaned the place and put back all the photos inside the box. She hid it under her bed for safe keeping.

"Who is he?" Xia murmured to herself. She went downstairs to meet Xander to not arouse suspicions.

'Whatever happens, I need to find out who is he'