As I spoke the words, the air around us seemed to shift. A strange, low hum filled the room, and the pages of the book glowed softly under my fingers. Logan watched me closely, his body tense, ready for whatever might happen next.
I continued, my voice shaking slightly. “Obscura memoriam… nulla recordatio.”
The glow from the book intensified, casting eerie shadows across the walls. I felt a strange pull in my chest, like the magic was drawing something from me as I spoke the final words. “Fiat oblivio.”
For a moment, nothing happened. The room was silent except for my mom’s steady breathing. Logan knelt down beside her again, checking for any signs of change. “Is it working?” he asked quietly.
I swallowed hard, unsure. “I… I don’t know.”
Just then, my mom stirred, her eyelids fluttering slightly. Logan and I froze, holding our breath. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking up at the ceiling, dazed but awake.
“Mom?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
She turned her head toward me, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Audrey? What… what happened?”
Logan and I exchanged a quick glance. “You fainted,” I said quickly. “Are you okay?”
My mom sat up slowly, looking around the room with a puzzled expression. “I… I don’t remember fainting. How long was I out?”
“Just a few minutes,” Logan replied, his voice calm and steady. “You’re okay now.”
She rubbed her temples, still looking disoriented. “I don’t know… I feel so strange.”
I forced a smile, trying to keep my voice steady. “It was probably just stress, Mom. You should rest.”
She nodded slowly, her eyes still clouded with confusion. “Maybe you’re right.”
Logan helped her to her feet, his hand steady on her arm. “Let’s get you to the couch. You should lie down for a bit.”
As he guided her to the couch, I let out a long breath, the tension in my chest finally releasing. The spell had worked-at least for now. She didn’t remember what had happened.
But as I glanced at Logan, I could see the same thought reflected in his eyes: that was a close call.
After ensuring my mom was comfortable on the couch, I turned and walked slowly up the stairs, my heart racing with each step. I needed a moment to gather myself. As I entered my room, I closed the door and leaned against it, taking deep breaths to steady my racing heart.
I walked over to my bed and sat down, feeling the weight of everything that had happened. I lay back against the pillows and closed my eyes, trying to process the chaos.
First, there was the moment with Logan. The way we almost crossed that line-it felt so real, and yet so confusing. I could still feel the heat of his touch, the closeness we shared. My heart raced at the thought, but guilt quickly washed over me. He was my stepbrother, and this was all so complicated.
Then, there was the spell. I had cast it to protect my mom, to keep her from remembering what had happened. I still couldn’t believe I had done that, using magic like it was nothing. It felt powerful, but also dangerous. What if something went wrong? What if the spell didn’t hold?
I thought about my mom, how confused she had looked when she woke up. I hoped she wouldn’t remember anything, but the worry gnawed at me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were in deeper than we realized.
As I lay back against the pillows, my eyelids felt heavy. I tried to fight it, but the exhaustion from everything that had happened started to take over.
I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind, but it was hard to focus. The events of the day played over and over in my head-the spell, my mom, Logan.
Slowly, I felt myself drifting. My thoughts became jumbled, and I couldn’t keep them straight. It was like I was floating, caught between waking and sleep.
Finally, I let go. My body sank into the bed, and I fell into a deep sleep.
In my dream, I found myself standing in a foggy forest, the trees looming tall and dark around me. The air was thick, almost electric, and I could hear a distant whispering, like a thousand voices murmuring secrets. I felt a strange pull, urging me to move deeper into the woods.
As I walked, the ground beneath my feet felt soft and spongy, almost alive. Shadows danced at the edges of my vision, flickering in and out of focus. I called out, “Hello? Is anyone there?” but my voice echoed back to me, swallowed by the thick mist.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the fog-a tall woman with flowing hair that seemed to shift colors like the leaves in autumn. Her eyes were bright, almost glowing, and she looked familiar yet unrecognizable.
“Who are you?” I asked, feeling both drawn to her and afraid.
“I am a keeper of memories,” she replied, her voice melodic. “I hold the past, the present, and the possibilities of the future.”
I felt a chill run down my spine. “What do you mean?”
“You seek to protect those you love,” she said, stepping closer. “But in doing so, you may lose sight of what is truly important.”
“What do you mean? I don’t understand!” I protested, backing away from her.
She raised her hand, and the air shimmered around us. Images began to form in the mist-my mom smiling, Logan laughing, moments of warmth and connection. But then, darker images emerged: a confrontation with Miranda, shadows lurking, and the book glowing ominously.
“Every choice has its consequences,” the woman said. “You cannot shield them forever.”
I felt my heart race. “No! I’m trying to keep them safe!”
“Safety can come at a cost,” she warned, her voice echoing around me. “Sometimes, the truth is more important than protection.”
Just then, the fog began to swirl violently, and I felt myself being pulled away from the woman. “Wait!” I screamed, reaching out for her. “What do I do?”
But the mist enveloped me, and I was thrown into darkness.
I jolted awake, heart pounding. My room was dimly lit, and everything felt surreal. The remnants of the dream lingered in my mind, the woman’s warning echoing like a haunting melody. I sat up, my thoughts racing.
What did it mean? Was I really putting my mom and Logan in danger by trying to protect them? I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. I needed answers.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and took a deep breath, determined to figure this out.