I shot up from the bed in an instant, hyperventilating. Sweat ran down my forehead.
The room felt strange. I looked around: a closet, a study space, nothing else.
My eyes drifted to the window.
It all looked familiar. I couldn't place it.
"Where am I?" I muttered, seeking the memory. A sharp pain stabbed through the head. I pressed my palms against my temples, trying to push it out. Something was trying to surface. Pictures… unclear pictures.
The more they surfaced, the sharper it got.
Then, the door swung open. I couldn't tell who it was. The pain had me locked down.
Suddenly, I felt hands push me down, forcing me back to the bed. I couldn't tell who they were or how they got there so fast. "Easy soldier," they said in a familiar voice.
I looked up. It was Kyra. Up close, her face was clear. I remembered. This was her room.
"Kyra," I said, voice weak, "how long was I gone?"
She looked to the side, hesitant to speak. "I'm sorry..." She paused. "It's been three weeks."
My chest tightened, in shock. Three weeks? Impossible. I couldn't recall a thing, but that made it believable.
Kyra laughed out loud. "You should have seen your face." She pointed. "Three weeks. Seriously, Ty? It's been thirty minutes."
I felt the urge to hit her. I didn't. Most of the blame was on me for falling for it.
"Ty," she said, concerned.
"What now?"
"Take it easy, okay? You hit the floor pretty hard. You'll probably have headaches for a while."
No shit. I'd figured that out already.
I tried lifting my head, to go back to my room. The pain hit instantly and pinned me down.
"Ty, I said take it easy! I don't mind you sleeping in my bed. I'll be gone for a while, so I won't disturb you in your sleep," she said, voice heavy.
I gave in and stay where I lay.
Then I noticed something. She was off. Her silence, the way her hands gripped the sheets tighter, the way she avoided my eyes, the way she looked downward.
Something was bothering her. So I asked, "Is everything okay?"
She chuckled, "What's this? You're concerned about me? Ty, I didn't know you had feelings."
I shot her a look. "I just want you gone. That's all."
Her, joking in serious situations was starting to piss me off.
"It's okay," she said. She paused, and her voice got heavier. "Ty?"
"What?"
"If I left without a reason, would you hate me?"
Her voice was tight, reluctant. I didn't know where this was coming from, or how to answer.
"Please," she pushed. "tell me your honest answer."
"I honestly don't know."
She pursed her lips tighter. Dissatisfied, probably. I didn't know if I should try again.
It felt pointless. So I didn't.
She stood and started for the door.
At the doorway she paused, back facing me, hand on the frame.
"If I left and you hated me, just know I'm sorry," she said, voice thick with sadness.
My vision was fading. I couldn't think, I couldn't answer. When she was gone, everything went dark.
I fell asleep.
When I opened my eyes, she was gone. The pain was too.
"What was she trying to say?" I muttered, remembering her words before she left.
I sat up, using the opportunity to go to my room. That was a mistake.
The second I hit the floor, the pain hit back, sharper. A buzzing sound filled my ears, and Images slammed into my head.
Felt like a memory I'd lost.
But what? I couldn't tell.
Each step made the pain worse.
[dei… kzs]
The buzzing sharpened. Still distorted. A voice in my head.
[daay… zks]
"Day X?" I muttered, "What is Day X?"
Day X? I'd heard it before. I just couldn't place it.
I reached the staircase. Vision distorted, hearing warped, the voice louder now.
[Day… X]
Then, the earth pulled me closer. I was passing out. Someone caught me before I did.
I couldn't tell who it was. "Kyra?" I called out anyway.
Then, I passed out.