Chapter 45

Chapter 45

JOSH- 

"What do you mean by no I asked him. Why would you not want to know more about your history with Kaysi?" 

"I just don't... Okay!" Evan stood up and left the hut." 

"What is his problem?" Micah asked. 

Becky looked over at Micah and shook her head. Micah looked at Becky with confusion. 

"If there's something you know, shouldn't you let us know? Becky, Kaysi is our friend, so why would we not help her?" 

"Yes, Kaysi, you are my friend, but I was asked to keep his feelings quiet, and I wish to respect that." 

"I, more than anyone, should know what feeling guilty about Kaysi's past means." 

"Which one of us has not exactly been the best of friends? But the stories I've heard and my closeness with her in this short time. I think her heart's bigger than that." 

"Kaysi, how would you feel if you knew someone here potentially caused your memory loss? Not intentionally well, at the same time, the act was still Unforgivable." 

"I think forgiveness is within the heart of the person. Whether or not I forgive them depends on whether the person feels condemned for their actions. Do they sincerely feel remorse or wish to change it, or what actions have they displayed to become a better person?" 

"So far since I woke up out of my coma, a lot of things have happened, but I didn't understand. I have recovered a lot of my memory. Yet there are still a bunch of gaps; maybe that is for the better. But I could forgive any one of you here. You all have saved my butt at one time or another. And anyone that might have intentionally hurt me back then, I could not see myself not forgiving you." 

"So that settles it, then," Micah blurts out. Any one of us she would forgive. So, let's get her memory back and move on. I don't think he is held to the same judgment as you, Josh, whatever Evan is feeling. Maybe you should go out there and talk to him." 

"You're right, I can't deny that, and at the end of the day, we almost face the music. I'll be right back." 

Becky grabbed My wrist. " Josh, although we all know that you're guilt that you feel may seem to be stronger. Also, respect that others may go through their trials and tribulations." 

"Yes, which makes me the best person to go and talk to my brother. I know more than anyone here that I shouldn't be forgiven so easily." 

I got good at tracking. The many years that Benjamin taught me some of his skills. It is well known for how many times Kaysi and I crossed paths. But everyone knows that that was not a coincidence. I just don't know what my brother's thinking. What could he have done so badly that crushed his spirit when it came to Kaysi? Why would he go so far as not to want to recover her memory? 

As I followed the trail, I got further and further into the deepness of the forest. It was starting to get thick and viny. Something didn't seem right. I felt as though I was being watched. My Phoenix fire wouldn't let anybody come too close to me, so I'm not afraid of anybody trying to play tricks on me. 

I'm going to continue looking for my brother and fight whatever decides to show up. I'll just make sure to keep my guard up. The nocturnal wildlife chirped and laughed in the woods, echoing in the trees. 

But I didn't understand why the forest seemed to be changing from a woodland Terrain to a more rainforest climate. The ground became foggy, and the sky started to lightly mist. Could this be the cause of a demon or a natural occurrence? 

"EVAN, I yelled!" I lost track of his Trail. I hope he was somewhere nearby. 

"Brother, come out and talk. I should know better than anyone the guilt you may be feeling. But that's still not how we treat our friends. She still should know the truth." 

"You know that is rich coming from you." 

Evan slowly walked out of the deep darkness and crept closer. I could still barely see his figure, as it was still quite dark. No form of natural light was around to help. The moon was hidden by the clouds. A light that came from the village was now smothered out between the deepness of the forest and the fog rolling in.

The sounds of the strange animal laughing started to become louder. The other animals of the forest became quiet. I think the quietness amplified the laughter. What animal was causing such a loud sound? 

"Evan, I think we need to head back. We can talk more about the subject when we're back in the village." 

"No, do you want it so badly to come here and start patronizing me, knowing everything that you've done? You ain't nowhere by far innocent. Yet you want to unlock her memories." 

"Yes, I feel as though it's something that we can work out together. Whatever sins you think you've done, I don't think amounts to what I've caused her. We had a conversation before I got here, and she says it doesn't matter as long as you're willing to change. No matter what, she'll forgive you. She just asked that you show proof that you've changed." 

"That's the thing: I've changed every time I've met her. And every time I've tried to start over. Change my identity and make new memories. And yet, I can't stop myself from running away from her." 

"So, if you know her like you say you do. Then why is it so hard for you to face her." 

"I don't know. Again, why are you trying to lecture me? You've done a lot of changing yourself. To the point people can barely recognize you. Yet they still give you the same disappointing look; you sicken them." 

"I know that, and I already expect that it's not going to be easy to forgive me. I can't go back in time and be right about the things that I've done. But just like Kaysi said, we can move forward." 

"There is no moving forward, not for you or me. It's best if we keep her memory shut down and locked away. And hope that they never return." 

"Our memories are who makes us, including the bad ones and the good ones. We didn't go through some of the bad things; we wouldn't become the people we are today." 

"You're not going to convince me," Evan said as he punched a tree behind him. A tree shattered and splintered, cutting a hole in the middle." 

"Is that how we want to go about this? Well, come on. If you want to fight it out, if you want to get some of that negative energy out, then let's do it." 

The laugh of the forest grew louder and louder, almost distorting my thoughts. I could barely think straight. 

"How do you think about this? If I kick your ass, you come back to the village and take whatever punishment we're about to get when her memories are restored. If you win, you can walk away, but I'm going to let you know right here and now. I'm not going to let you anywhere near her, but you might as well stop being a Waymaker. Because regardless of our emotions and intentions, we are to protect those around us." 

"Fine, but what do you know about friendships? Or any relationship for that matter cuz you've never been around." 

"Evan, you're right, but I still don't think you're in your right mind, so I could beat you until it resets. 

The laughter turned to a voice that sounded like it was saying, "Fight...fight...fight." Was it an animal making the sound? 

We both matched each other's punches, slugging each other in the face. We both stumbled. I had forgotten that my brother taught me a lot of our fighting moves when we were younger. 

"I know every move you used to use when you were a little kid. Did you forget that I was the one that trained you?" He said as he threw a wild right hook, which was dodged by my quick side-step, followed by a swift jab to the jaw. 

"Yeah, but little brother, no matter how much you think you've passed me, smarts, You may continue to try to humiliate me by calling me little brother, thinking you're superior to me. But you forget I was born first and was the strongest." 

A sickening thud echoed in the forest as the punch connected with the side of my cheekbone. And I barely dodged hitting the tree. 

The tree was crushed and fell timbering to the Earth, crashing to the ground and shaking the forest. 

"Yeah, but I'm much stronger than what I used to be when we were younger too!" 

Something seemed unnatural about his strength. I have fought alongside his side for quite some time now. Was he holding back? Why would he do that when we needed him to fight at times that is full strength? He would have put the rest of us in danger by not using his strength properly. 

"Have you been holding back?" I braced myself against his onslaught, fists clenched tight, and eyes narrowed in his direction. 

No, I feel stronger tonight than I have before. Maybe it's because you pissed me off more than I've been before. Everything about you pisses me off." 

Fury flashed in his eyes as he unleashed a flurry of punches fueled by his deep-seated anger. 

"Have you just been angry with me this whole time and have been holding it back?"

Sweat streamed down my face as we traded more blows; my chest was tightening from exhaustion, and yet he still seemed unfazed. He hadn't even started to break a sweat. Something doesn't seem right. 

"Do you hate me that bad? You hold a grudge against me for what? Because I stayed by Dad's side. I walked away as soon as you opened my eyes." 

I thought he was over the time I lived with Dad, but maybe he's been holding it back this whole time. I followed behind. Perhaps he didn't mean for me to come back with him. 

"Would you have been happier if I stayed with Dad? Would you rather I have kept on the path of evil? So you would have a chance to maybe one day face me and kill me. That way, your actions would be justified because I was evil!" 

No...Yes... It's your FAULT...You didn't. Evan grabbed his head and shook it back and forth as he spoke. You seem very confused and indecisive. Something seemed off and wrong with him. 

The laughter echoing changed from the words "fight to kill." It bounced off the forest, repeating, screaming, "Kill... kill... kill." That's it. It has to be a demon; it can't be an animal. Could it be a demon that's affecting my brother?