The Memory

Mornings have always been the bane of my existence, the sun shining through my sheer curtains, the loud noises of people and the hooting of cars on the streets. The constant grating sounds set my nerves on edge, despite me living in this shoddy apartment for over two years, you would think I'd be used to it by now.

Grabbing my keys and bag I had diligently packed the night before I made my way out the door, my apartment was one of the few ground floor apartments. Which meant no stair climbing and easy access to the exit door. I walked out into the musty morning air on my way to grab a quick tea at my favourite boba tea shop. I was more of a tea drinker than anything though I did rely on coffee when I needed a serious pick me up. As I walked I noted how busy the streets were today, the early year rush had begun and of course I hated it. The holiday season was over and now I had to return to my boring job as an office administrator for my local High School.

I let out a long *sigh* thinking of all the student enrollments and things I needed to do today to gear up for the upcoming semester. The boba tea shop was usually quite quiet in the mornings as I walked in, the clean white counters shone, and the massive drink menu on the screen above flashed before me.

"Morning Shan!" a chipper voice said, Alon the shop owner greeted me. I was his constant regular ever since his store opened, I smiled "Morning Al, the usual?" I said.

He laughed his smile line crinkling at the corners of his brown eyes, "Already done" he announced proud holding up my usual, matcha boba tea with extra boba. I laughed " Ah you know me so well". He winked, " Of course".

I whipped out my phone to pay, when another card tapped the card machine before me. I looked up, there stood a woman, she was tall, blonde with piercing blue eyes that seemed to tug at my soul. "On me" she winked, I blushed "Th-thank you" I stammered. Alon raised his brow and smiled "Welcome ma'am. Can I get you anything?" The woman shook her head looking down at me, " Just coming to see an old friend".

I looked up at her confused, " Um.. well thank you, I think I need to get going to work. Bye Alon see you tomorrow" I took my drink that was sitting on the counter and walked passed the woman. Normally I'd have struck up a conversation with her or offered something to return he kindness, but something about her made me want to stay away. A neck raising feeling I couldn't shake. I walked out the door hoping she wouldn't follow and kept walking straight to the bus station.

Her voice drifted beside me " Do you remember when we used to walk the halls of the Nasberg Keep?" I stiffened in my walk feeling a coldness radiating off of her body, "Ma'am I don't-"

She continued to speak " Those were such peaceful days, when we would cause so much chaos and get into trouble. I miss those days don't you Keelan?" The name stuck me like a blow and I stumbled. "Ke-elan? Sorry my name is Shannon". She moved to stand in front of me grabbing my face her blue eyes seem to suck me in, " No you are Keelan, I have been looking for you for so long", her expression was both sad and ferocious, " Now you will come with me". Her strength was incredible, I tried to move, fight anything and yet I could not stop gazing into her eyes.

"Do not fight Keelan" she said, "It's time to come home-" Her words were cut off by a loud thundering clap.

I fell to the ground disorientated and looking around, I was no longer on the street but in a back alley. The woman was lying on the ground still her blonde her draped around her face, at the entrance of the alley stood a man. He had a gun pointed right where she was standing, the end of the gun smoked and I realized he had just shot her.

"Miss-" I quivered looking at her lying near me. I stared at her unmoving body, had that man just killed her? The urge to scream filled my lungs but as the man stepped forward I could not bring myself to make even a sound. His boots hit the ground with a metallic clang and he walked to the woman’s body and kicked her “Hmmm…. Must be a decoy” he muttered.

“You killed her” I breathed and he turned to me, his face was weathered and dark from years in the sun or hard labour. His beard was long unkept and greying and his eyes were hard as they took me in.

“So, what makes you special that she’s come out all this way to look for you?” He asked, I looked at him, “I don’t know what you’re talking about”. He grunted and raised the gun to point at me. I instinctively raised my hands and tried to move away, “ Please!” I begged.

“I-I don’t know please!”.

“You’ve got 10 seconds to tell me why an elder is here looking for you”

Elder, I had no idea what that meant but something told me that this man was not to be trifled with.

“ 10, 9 , 8..”

“I don’t know please! She just randomly approached me , I swear this is the first time I’ve seen her!”

“4, 3, 2”

I felt red hot tears beginning to form, is this how I die? In a random alley shot by some crazy man.

I felt a scream emanate from my throat in terror as I started at the barrel of the gun pointed right at me, “Help!!” I shouted, I felt a sharp impact in my chest and a blooming pain spread throughout my body.

I looked down, blood spilled through my white shirt, shock and disbelief overwhelmed me. He shot me, he actually shot me. I coughed and the pain struck again, my head pounded I had actually been shot. I looked up the man’s face was expressionless as he stared at me.

“Well shit!” he said, “You’re a human-” he said it with such a casual tone that I wanted to shout at him yes I was human but could not. I felt the strength in my body begin to flow out of me and my body felt so cold. The last thing I saw before I slipped into darkness was the man crouched by me holding something to my mouth.