I didn't see the memories again; they faded away. But the people I saw earlier were back, standing still. The next thing I knew, the people to my right started screaming in what seemed like awe.
Some screamed, while others chanted my name. This moment was supposed to be beautiful, but it was the complete opposite. It felt like I was in a horror movie, although they weren't able to harm me physically.
Their screams did something to my insides. I was scared. The chanting mixed with the screaming, making me feel like I was losing it. For the first time ever, I was terrified. Was this what being remembered felt like?
And then—
A sudden halt.
I thought it was over, but I shouldn't have tried to predict how things worked here. I turned to my right.
A woman stepped forward. I could see her face—she wasn't familiar at all, but that didn't stop her from chanting.
"ARIANA LARKEN, YOU ARE MY HERO!!!!!"
As she stepped back, she was replaced by a man. His face was blurred.
"I AM SOOOO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!"
His voice was familiar.
Just when I thought that was it, the screaming started again—but this time it was accompanied by a loop. I was going crazy. This was the kind of thing that could make someone lose their senses.
I mean forget everything about their existence.
But somehow, every time I see the memory, I remember everything so clearly that it feels like I experienced it all yesterday.
But right now, I wasn't seeing a memory.
I was seeing all the memories—spinning around me, mixed with the loop it was too painful I fell to the ground.
"ARIANA LARKEN, YOU ARE MY HERO!!!!!" "I AM SOOOO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!"
Mixed with screams of joy that felt like screams of terror I sat still hands over my ears.
This place was like hell—my hell for choosing more. It was torturing me. It felt like my brain was on fire. At first, I thought I was just going to watch my memory unfold.
I finally understood.
This place wasn't a cinema.
The in-between was using all the things I once adored, my obsessions, to cause me pain I don't know how.
Finally—
A sudden halt.
The memory was back.
I was still on the cold floor. I sprang up quickly and moved closer to it. I recognized this memory.
It was Saturday.
I saw young Aria skimming through channels, trying to find a good one. When she couldn't, she groaned loudly.
Then she heard the doorbell.
"I'll get it!!!" Mom yelled, running toward the door.
Young Aria shrugged like it was a normal Tuesday.
"Hiiii, thank you for honoring the invitation," Mom said.
I saw the look on young Aria's face—it was instant recognition.
It was the same man who had been yelling at the same boy who always stared at her.
Lewis.
That was his name.
"Hi… Lewis, right?" young Aria asked, filled with both shock and guilt. Just yesterday, she had read what was written on his paper, and now he was here.
Wow. Karma. Nice one.
"Yes," he said calmly, his face void of emotion.
"Aria, you know him?" Mom asked.
"Yes, he's my classmate," young Aria replied.
"Ohhh, Ariana Larken? One of the selected students who will compete with my son and other students in competitions?" the man asked, looking at her with his light brown eyes.
"Yes, sir," young Aria said politely.
"You can call me Mr. Adam. You and my boy must be really close friends—he always talks about you," Mr. Adam said, smiling.
Young Aria stared at the boy who always stared at her, hoping never to get caught. The boy whose only words to her had been I'm sorry—she wondered how possibly he could talk about her, what did he even say.
"I guess," she replied, her eyes never leaving Lewis, who stood unfazed. "So, Mom, what's going on here? How do you know him?"
"We are work partners. He came to assist me on a difficult task, also I believe I have met him at your school once. Now can you and Lewis go upstairs you can show him your room while we discuss?" Mom asked.
"Sure," young Aria said, leading Lewis upstairs to her room.
The moment they arrived, she shut the door and turned to him.
"What do you tell your dad about me? Why do you always stare at me? What do you want?" She bombarded him with questions.
"My paper," he said confidently. "I want the paper you took from the library."
"How do you—" Her words failed her.
"I know a lot of things, Ariana," he said, stepping toward her. "But the most important thing, I need to tell you is that you must find it."
"Find what?" she asked.
"Aaahhhh!" He grabbed his head in pain.
She didn't understand anything.
"What is wrong?" she asked, stepping closer.
"Nothing. I need to leave. Just… just hand me the paper," he said.
She did.
He walked out the door. She followed him.
When they came down the stairs, he walked towards his father and whispered something into his ear. Mr. Adam apologized to Mom, and with that, they left.