POV: Lianne
Meet me where the moon and the waters kiss.
Ruen’s message was vague. It didn’t say exactly what time and where we should meet, but since it was already night time and that the note mentioned ‘water’, I opted to go to the only body of water the camp had: the lake. Now I’m walking along the shoreline trying to find him and hoping I was right with my hunch.
With the pristine lake and the reflection of the moon on its surface, this could be possibly the one he was talking about.
Nobody was around, I presume, because of the camp show and that proved to be an advantage. It provided me an easier way to find him.
And yes, just over the distance, I noticed a man standing near the shore. The water almost touched his boots, but I think he was too engrossed with staring at the lake that he didn’t notice it.
My heart skipped a beat this time. Oh my God. Is it him?
I was doubtful to approach the man. If it was really Ruen, what am I to say to him then? Should I tell him that I met Cain again? Or that I dreamed of him? That it could possibly be a fragment of my memories of a life long ago? I just didn’t know what to say. However, with all the doubts in my head, I willed myself to approach him.
I felt nervous. I kept controlling my hand from trembling as I neared him. When I finally arrived a few meters behind him, I stopped, feeling hesitant if I should cut his reverie. I didn’t make a sound. I just gazed at his back… his wide slender back for a minute, until he turned around to face me. I was surprised.
His eyes rested on me. He didn’t smile or frown. He didn’t even greet me, or say one damn word. He just stood there as if waiting for me to speak.
‘Speak Lianne!’ I ordered myself, but no words would come out of my mouth.
The tension was too much. I felt butterflies in my stomach. My heart started to drum faster against my chest and my palm became sweaty despite the cold air surrounding us.
Still, he continued staring at me.
I couldn’t believe how awkward it was for me just standing with nothing to say. I shifted my eyes past him and into the lake behind him. At least, this would calm down my nerves. I took a deep breath and gathered my confidence again.
A strong gush of wind passed my back, tossing my long hair to the front. I immediately reacted and brushed it back in place.
Then out-of-the-blue, he started to speak. I was taken aback.
“That necklace definitely suits you, Lianne. It reminds me so much of the past.”
“The… past?” I uttered feeling lost. Cain said the same. Were they actually saying that I had a life in the past other than this one?
***
POV: Ruen
It seems she did get my note. I couldn’t keep a smile forming on my lips as I saw her walking towards me.
No turning back now.
I felt like I’m in Cloud Nine just thinking that she’ll be close to me again, but when I noticed a brief reflection of a green light from her chest when she was still in the distance, my eyes thinned. The emerald necklace. How did she get it? Or more importantly, who gave it to her?
My mind reeled with the many questions inside my head. I turned to look at the lake and closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down before she arrives.
But when she did, I couldn’t keep myself from interrogating her.
“Cain gave it to you?” I asked, point-blank. I just need to know quickly who gave it to her.
“Ye… yes, ” she answered, albeit reluctantly. She routed her eyes on the ground looking guilty.
My head seemed to battle inside. How? When? Where? A lot of questions emerged, but I didn’t want to pressure her from answering. I didn’t want to scare her away.
“Does it bother you seeing me wearing this?” I heard her say. I was surprised how blatant her question was.
I paused for a second, thinking. Then, I neared her. She just stood there, not at all showing any hint of fear towards me. I touched her arm softly, tenderly like a fragile vase, and then pulled her to me, whispering my answer on her ear.
“I don’t know what to say. I am happy to see you wear the necklace, Lianne. You own it after all, but I don’t like the person who gave it to you.”
“But I don’t own this necklace. It belonged to her, ” she replied, most likely referring to herself on the painting that she saw in the dungeon-now-turned-basement. I saw them visit there through the surveillance cameras installed. I had unlimited access to the Security Room of the mansion after all.
I shook my head. “No Lianne, you are her.”
She bit her lip and let out an unsure exhale. “Cain said the same thing.”
“No, please, ” I placed a finger on her lip and shook my head again, “Please don’t mention his name, Lianne. For me to wait for you for a long time; the desire to have you close to me; isn’t it obvious I am truly bothered by his presence in your life?”
“I… I’m sorry. I don’t know you feel that way, ” she stated, blushing a little. She most certainly doesn’t know what I feel, but she will once she remembers everything of our past together.
“I was in my cabin when he gave this to me, ” she added. “I don’t really want to accept it but-”
She paused, somehow unsure if she should go on or not. My heart sank again, but this time in the lake of jealousy.
“What did he do to you?” I asked, painstakingly trying to make it sound as calm as possible. But oh how I would love to break his neck right now.
In response, Lianne gave me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, he did nothing. I was able to defend myself this time.”
Her words relieved me a bit. Just a bit. At the back of my head, there was still this concern jutting out, wanting to know what really happened between the two of them inside the cabin.
“Tell me everything, Lianne. I want to know, ” I asked once again, this time my tone possessive.