Page 130 of Where Darkness Falls

He loves her.

It’s evident in the way his eyes light up every time she does well or when he hears her laugh.

Perhaps it’s merely adoration.

Regardless, their connection reminds me of…

I can’t quite remember?—

Suddenly, a pressure in my skull tightens, as if it were a vise grip—the thoughts continuing to swirl around. Then I hear it. Somewhere deep within my subconscious, a muffled, melodic laugh rings out.

“Are you coming, Emyreus?”A sweet, sing-song voice echoes.

No.

This isn’t what I’m trying to remember.

But, it is too late.

Suddenly, it’s as if I’ve been launched into a moment of time when I was just a boy following the now blurry image of an eleven-year-old girl:

She stops abruptly when we round the edge of the Galrosan palace. Then, I see them: two sentries patrolling the grounds. She pulls me behind a large shrub, placing her hand over my mouth, just as the approaching footsteps grow louder.

Surely, they saw us when we rounded the corner.

We aren’t supposed to be out here without a detail following us, but it was her ludicrous idea to sneak away.

I should’ve tried harder to be the voice of reason to her little scheme, but somehow I didn’t have the heart to tell her no.

Within a few moments, the footsteps grow louder, as do the voices.

“Shhh,” she whispers.

I suck in a breath—certain that we’ll be caught.

However, they pass by our location without so much as a second glance at the shrubbery.

I release abreath.

When all of this is said and done, perhaps I should inform my father about the lack of skill his soldiers seem to have, if they can’t sense two hiding children.

“Come on! I need to show you something,” she beckons.

Then, she’s running across the courtyard toward the open woods.

“Come on, Emyreus,” she laughs.

No!My mind screams, shutting down the memory.

I’m back in the present, and everything is spinning rapidly. I close my eyes, forcing the throbbing pain away. I fear that the torrents of my mind will give way at any moment. One day, the pressure will become too much, and what I’ve locked deep within will rush back to the surface. I normally lock out the memories from my childhood, yet this one threatens to break free.

“Open your eyes, Emyreus,”the girl’s voice calls out again, trying to pull me back into that moment.

I won’t ever go back to that day.

I can’t go back!

“Please?”Her warbled voice pleads.