Memories with a Kiss

Storm's eyebrow twitched and I don't know if my eyes were lying or not, but for a moment I saw his expression hardened.

"What the f**k." One of them cursed, staring at me with shock. He had brown hair and a weird accent. I think I saw him with the university's soccer team.

"W-what are you doing to Faye?!" I forced myself to speak but I was trembling really hard. My feet instinctively took steps backward as they walked closer and closer.

"Sh*t, it's Ellixia!" The one holding Faye's unconscious body chuckled, staring at me with a devilish grin. I remember him. Long hair with a tall figure. He's the number one troublemaker at school!

If my memory serves right, he's Nikolai Klein.

He put Faye on his shoulder like a bag of sand, his taunting eyes never leaving mine.

"What are you doing? Get her." A voice commanded from behind. My eyes shifted to him and I was left in a state of confusion.

"West Raven?!" I couldn't believe it. He's the President of the school council!

He's a bad guy all this time?! And to think I voted for him!

They started walking faster and faster and before I knew it, my legs started moving and I found myself running for my life.

"What in the world is happening?!" My brain was in complete turmoil and I don't even know where I'm going. I kept running and running for minutes, trying to find a door or a window but this mansion is just too enclosed! All I could see were endless dark hallways. I

can't find a door or something!

"Kitty, where are you? You like hide and seek, huh? Don't worry, we'll find you wherever you are." A playful voice echoed in the vast dark hallway where I was standing.

They're already near?!

I was already panting heavily but I forced myself to run, my chest felt too tight with fear that I couldn't breathe. I wanted to cry but the panic and anxiety inside me were too much.

"Where am I? How should I get out of this?" I whispered desperately as I roamed around.

There was no source of light and I don't know where in the world I am.

I am lost.

I pull my hair roughly, shutting my eyes tight for a moment.

If I want to get out of here the only way is to retrace my steps and go back to where the party was held. The only door out is in there.

But how am I supposed to do that when that evil President is in there?! He knows that's the only way out and he's guarding it in case I come back.

And Faye!

How am I supposed to save her?!

"Found you."

My scream echoed in the vast hallway when a whisper came from behind me. Adrenaline took over my body and I kicked the man behind with all my strength. I heard a loud thud and his painful groan.

Run!

My legs started moving again and I ran like crazy. I didn't stop and kept running and running, tears started to flow in my eyes as I felt so helpless, scared, trapped.

But my feet halted when I heard footsteps in front of me. It was getting nearer and nearer.

Sh*t! What should I do?!

Just then, I felt a cold hand covering my mouth, dragging my whole body in an instant.

"Hmpf-!"

"Scream and I'll bite you." He warned, his voice was deep and low. It was dark but I was able to see his face. He had pale skin, dark hair, and black eyes. He's one of them but I don't know who he is.

My body flinched when he placed his index finger on my lips. He was pressing me on a wall and I think we were in some kind of room. I squinted my eyes to see amidst the darkness but there were no windows at all.

"Where did she go?" I heard someone talking outside the room.

"I don't know. D*mn, her kick hurts." It was soccer guy with his weird accent.

We waited silently inside the room in the same position. Almost half an hour passed when the stranger let go of me. My legs automatically gave up, my body slumping on the ground as I leaned on the cold wall.

"Why did you help me?" I whispered, catching my breath. My chest was still running wild from the fear and panic.

"I didn't." He walked away and went to a corner, placing his palm on the blank wall like

he was searching for something.

I heard a faint clicking sound and an underground passage opened.

"What..." My voice trailed off. I stood up and looked down the passage. There was a stair downwards and lit lamps along the way.

"Now go before they find you."

"How am I supposed to know that this is not some kind of trap?" I asked cautiously. I took some steps away from him but he only sighed.

"Think whatever you want. If you don't want to go out of this place then fine. Run out there and let them catch you." He started to walk out of the room.

"Wait!" I called in a low voice. His tracks stopped even before he opened the door.

"What's your name?"

"No." He turned, his eyes were dead as they gazed at me. "You better not know anything. And don't trust anyone."

"Even you?"

"Even me."

iii

"W-what?"

"I mean, what are you talking about, Xia? Party last night? Unconscious bodies? Me getting carried like a sack by Nikolai?" Faye laughed like a mad man.

"Sshh!" The others at the library hushed her.

"Sorry." She answered, still grinning. She turned to me and placed her hand on my forehead. "Do you have a fever? You're surprisingly funny today." She chuckled and wiped the tears forming at the corner of her eyes.

Wearing our dark blue coat, red ribbon, and plaid skirt, we're now in school like usual. It felt like nothing happened last night and that is the creepiest thing. Faye didn't remember any of it. Even the others whom I saw at the party. They don't remember a single thing at all about last night. I already asked them and they all just laugh at me, thinking I've pulled a joke.

"Hey, you okay?" Faye asked. "You look pale, Xia."

"No, I-I'm fine."

"Maybe it's just a dream," She shrugged her shoulders and started reading. "And you hated parties, right? So why would you even attend a party?"

That's right. I hate parties and have never gone to them. Not until last night.

"You know, let's just review for now. We have a quiz later." She suggested and started reading again.

Was it all just a dream?

But it felt so real. I knew it was real. The black dress Faye lent to me was the one I was wearing when I woke up.

Why did they forget it?

Why are they acting like nothing happened?

"Did they spike your drinks?" I mumbled.

"What?"

"No. Nothing. I just-I just need to go to the restroom." Faye stared at me with confusion but I only replied with a smile.

There's only one way to know if it's real or not.

I heaved a deep breath and stared at his favorite spot,

the abandoned building's rooftop.

iii

"What do you think?"

"What?"

"Is it real or not?" Storm leaned at the low wall enclosing the rooftop, his white hair swaying with the wind. After what happened last night, it was kind of weird seeing him in his usual uniform, a dark blue coat, neatly tied necktie, and dark pants.

There was a devilish grin pasted on his innocent face.

He's always kind. The Storm I knew was as kind as an angel. Never before did he grin like a villain. His expression says it all.

"So it was true," I answered bitterly. "You tried to kill me, Storm! You tried to kill Faye!" My voice roared with anger. My clenched fists were trembling hard because of rage.

"Oh please, Xia," He chuckled and leaned closer. "Why would I do that?"

"Then what was that last night?!" Tears started to form in my eyes.

I am hurt. I'm really hurt.

I treated Storm as a friend for years and I know at some point he did, too. He did treat us as a friend. How could he do this to us?! How could he do this to me?!

"We didn't try to kill you, Xia. Why would we do that? Did one of them hurt you?"

"No, but Nikolai tried to hurt Faye and you didn't stop him! No one stopped him!"

"Oh, Xia," He sighed, brushing his hair back roughly with a hand.

My body flinched when thunder roared in the dark sky.

"you're really clueless, aren't you?" He started walking closer, making me take steps backward as he went closer and closer.

I drew a sharp breath when my back hit the hard wall. The cold wind scraped against my skin, the sky getting darker and darker. I flinched when he slammed his arms on the wall, trapping me.

His eyes stared at me intently. His expression was as cold as ice.

My body trembled when he went closer. I felt his cold breath passing down my neck like a knife.

"You're the Mnemosyne we've been looking for. Ellixia, it's you."

Mnemosyne.

I heard that too last night. What does that mean? Why am I the Mnemosyne?

"What Mnemosyne, Storm? I don't even know that! Maybe you got the wrong person!"

"Is that so?" He crooned. "Then why is it that when we hypnotized everyone last night you weren't affected? You were standing perfectly, Xia. Believe me, you're not someone you thought you knew."

"No." I shrugged my head firmly.

I know who am I.

I'm just a normal teenager trying to live life.

Since the day I was born, I have been with my granny, living in a simple house. There was nothing special about me. I'm just like everyone else.

I'm just Ellixia Grant!

"I'm telling you, Storm. You're completely wron-"

He shut me up with a kiss. His soft lips crashed into mine and my eyes widened.

Fragments of memories started flashing in my mind.

Storm pulled away and I immediately tried to catch my breath.

What was that?!

The memories weren't mine. It was about a little boy with almond-shaped eyes. He has white hair just like the guy in front of me.

It was Storm.

"One of the Mnemosyne's abilities is to see someone's memories through a kiss. And I think you did see something." He stated. "You still don't believe me?" He asked, rain started pouring at us. Thunder crackled in the vast sky as we stayed still on the rooftop.

"W-why..." My voice trailed off. "A-are you saying I'm not human? That I'm something different?" My voice was fading.

I don't want to be like this.

I don't want to be different.

I don't want to be cast out.

"And you're not alone." Storm answered.

"We're not humans either and we need your help."

"Why?"

He started to get closer and closer until the tip of our noses touched.

"Watch."

And for the second time, he started kissing me again.