Memories

Audra

Acheron had me outside non-stop. Ever since my fall in the lake and my run-in with the black smoke, he had changed. Something had snapped. His emotions—what little he ever showed—were gone. His face remained deathly expressionless, his presence colder than ever despite the fire he wielded. Even Sylvin noticed. He barely allowed me time to rest, let alone eat or sleep. I was becoming a hollow shell, just a tool he would use until the moment he could take my power. I huffed, raising my arms again. The task? Summoning a simple water bottle to me. It should have been effortless, but my power felt sluggish, hesitant, like it was just as exhausted as I was. That fall had shaken me to my core. Why hadn't the lake stolen my magic? What had really happened to Mallory? The questions tangled in my mind, weighing me down. "You're not getting it!" His voice cracked like a whip, yanking me from my thoughts a second before a wave of fire came hurtling toward me. I barely had time to flinch. The flames lashed against my skin, searing pain through my nerves. I gasped, stumbling back as the burning sensation spread. "Now heal!" he boomed. Tears blurred my vision, but I obeyed. I tried to gather my power, to force it around me, but it only responded in weak, broken patches. Small droplets of water formed over my burns—scattered, useless. My breathing hitched as Acheron stepped closer, his eyes narrowing into sharp slits. Then, without warning, his hand shot out, seizing me by the throat. His grip was firm, almost trembling. "You worthless waste of space," he spat. His fingers dug into my skin. "Without your magic, she..." The words cut off. His breath hitched—so brief I almost missed it. His jaw tensed, lips pressing into a thin line. For a fraction of a second, his grip slackened. He tore his gaze from mine, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood. Then, just as suddenly as he'd grabbed me, he dropped me. I hit the ground with a thud, pain jolting through my spine. But I barely registered it. I was too busy staring at him, at the way his hands curled into fists at his sides, at the flicker of something—anger, grief, regret?—that crossed his face before he turned away. Without a word, he walked off, disappearing into the trees. I lay there on the forest floor, my burns still stinging, my mind reeling. I wish I could go back to a more simple time. I looked up at the setting sky. The purple and orange hues reminding me of a moment from my past.

5 months ago

I checked my phone, tapping my fingers against the case as I waited for Isla to text me back. My dad drove in silence, the hum of the car blending with the faint music from the radio. Outside the window, trees and passing cars blurred together, streaks of color rushing by as we neared the fairgrounds. Then, finally, my phone buzzed.

Audra, I'm here! Are you close?

I quickly typed a response.

About five minutes out.

A moment later, she sent back a thumbs-up emoji. I smiled and clicked my phone off, turning my attention back to the road just as we pulled up to the fair entrance. "Alright, kiddo," my dad said, slowing the car. "Have fun." "I will, thanks, Dad," I said, pushing open the door. The air was thick with the scent of buttery popcorn, fried dough, and something sugary that made my mouth water. Laughter and excited shouts blended with the distant twinkling music of the carousel. I hurried over to the ticket booth, purchasing a wristband before stepping inside, scanning the bustling crowd for Isla. I spotted her by the Ferris wheel, her brown hair illuminated by the colorful orange, yellow, and purple lights. "Sorry I'm late," I said, catching my breath as I reached her. "I couldn't get my dad out the door on time." She waved it off with a smile. "That's okay. I'm starving—let's grab some food!" Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the nearest food stand. We wandered through the fairgrounds, munching on funnel cakes and sharing bites of caramel apples while chatting about school, upcoming exams, and the ridiculous drama Isla always seemed to get caught up in. Then, as we neared the row of carnival games, my eyes landed on a familiar sight—a ring toss booth lined with prizes of all sizes. One in particular caught my eye. A small, white wolf plush sat high on the shelf, its soft fur almost glowing beneath the carnival lights. Something about it tugged at my heart. "Isla, I'm gonna try this one," I said, pointing toward the booth. She glanced at it and nodded. "Alright. I'll be at the darts." I handed over a few tickets and took my first shot. The ring clattered against the bottle's rim before bouncing off. I exhaled, trying again. Another miss. Again. And again. Each ring felt like it was mocking me, rolling just past the bottlenecks. Frustration built in my chest. I sighed, gripping the last ring, ready to admit defeat—

"Mind if I give it a go?" A deep, familiar voice rumbled behind me, sending a shiver up my spine. I turned, my heart skipping a beat as I faced Malik. He stood there, hands casually tucked into the pockets of his jacket, dark hair slightly tousled from the breeze. Even in the chaotic swirl of lights and movement around us, his presence was steady, grounding. Heat crept up my neck as I nodded, stepping aside to let him try. Malik handed the guy his tickets and he handed him back three rings. With effortless confidence, Malik took the ring, rolling it between his fingers before flicking it toward the bottles. It landed perfectly. The second ring. Perfect. The third. Again, without fail. I watched, mesmerized, as his sharp chocolate eyes narrowed in concentration. His tongue peeked out slightly as he lined up the next toss, and my stomach did an unexpected flip. I had never seen him so focused on something so... trivial, and somehow, I found it incredibly cute. The booth operator gaped at him, stunned by his impossible precision. "Well, kid, I'd say you earned yourself a prize," he said, motioning toward the stuffed animals. "Anything you want." Malik turned to me, amusement flickering in his gaze. "So, what'll it be, Audra? The giant llama? The monkey?" His lips curled into a teasing smirk. I barely hesitated. The white wolf. I reached for it, cradling the plush in my arms, its soft fur pressing against my fingers. There was something strangely familiar about it, something comforting. "That's the one you want?" Malik asked, sounding surprised. I nodded, smiling to myself. "He reminds me of someone." The words left my lips before I could stop them. Something flashed in Malik's gaze—something unreadable, intense, and fleeting. He studied me, then the plush, his expression shifting as if he were putting together a puzzle only he understood. Before I could dwell on it, another voice cut through the moment.

"Glad you two found each other," Ajax's voice rang out. I turned to see Isla standing beside him, holding a stick of cotton candy. Their hand intertwined. She grinned, clearly entertained by the scene before her. "Yeah," Malik said, slipping into his usual playful tone. "She needed some help desperately. Good thing I was here." He chuckled, his eyes smiling. I rolled my eyes, but my face felt hot, my heartbeat a little too quick. I squeezed the plush wolf against my chest, its soft fur brushing against my fingertips. It was just a silly carnival prize—nothing more. At least, that's what I told myself.

Days later, I found myself in the forest again, the white wolf plush resting in my lap. A cool mist clung to my skin as the waterfall crashed into the lake, sending ripples across the water's surface. A soft yip came from behind me. I turned, spotting my wolf companion at the edge of the bank, watching me with those familiar golden eyes. A smile tugged at my lips as I stood, brushing the dampness from my arms. Holding the plush close, I carefully hopped across the rocks to meet him. Settling onto a flat stone by the water's edge, I dipped my toes into the lake, letting the cool sensation ground me. The wolf stretched out beside me, his large body relaxed but attentive. I lifted the toy, holding it out for him to see. He sniffed at it, ears twitching with curiosity. "I went to the fair with my friends," I said, my voice light with amusement. "I tried playing a ring toss game to win this, but I was awful at it." I giggled at the memory, tilting my head toward the sky, where fluffy white clouds drifted lazily. He let out a low whine, resting his chin on my lap as if urging me to continue. "But just when I was about to give up," I murmured, running my fingers over the plush fur, "the boy I like offered to help." A soft warmth filled my chest at the thought. I glanced down at the toy, a small smile forming. "Well… as you can see." I waggled it playfully. "He won it for me." My fingers brushed over its yellow eyes. "They reminded me of you." The wolf let out a quiet whimper, licking his lips before pressing his head into my lap. His golden eyes gleamed under the dappled sunlight, watching me with something I couldn't quite name. I laughed, the sound light and unburdened, echoing through the trees.

Present day

A sharp sting from my wounds jolted me back to reality. I sucked in a shaky breath, but the pain that gripped me wasn't just physical—it ran deeper, cutting through me in ways I couldn't escape. I missed Malik. The realization hit me like a crashing wave, stealing what little breath I had left. The wolf… he had been Malik all along. Which meant—my stomach twisted—I had unknowingly confessed my feelings to him. Heat rushed to my face despite the pain wracking my body. My mind reeled, replaying that moment by the lake, the way I had spoken so freely, never realizing who was truly listening. Had he known? Had he understood? And then—another memory surfaced. A few days later, he asked me to the dance. If he already knew how I felt, why had he seemed so nervous? Why did he act like there was still a chance I'd say no? Confusion swirled inside me, tangled with the longing I could no longer suppress. I needed answers. I needed to see him. A sudden determination coursed through me, pushing away the fog of pain and exhaustion. I wasn't going to sit here drowning in questions. I inhaled deeply, reaching for my magic, feeling it stir beneath my skin like a long-lost friend. Warmth spread through me as the energy surged, knitting my wounds back together, easing the dull ache that had settled deep in my bones. Relief washed over me, but the effort left my limbs heavy. I exhaled slowly and let my body sink into the grass, exhaustion taking over. But this time, I wasn't just surviving.

I was waiting—because now, I knew exactly what I needed to do.