Hunted Memories

The little girl opened her eyes to see water all around her. Feeling something hard under her, she looked down to see that she was laying on a large log of wood. Confused and scared, she stood up, realizing that she had been laying by the shore of a beach. She couldn't recall how she got there. She couldn't remember anything from before she woke up.

Alone, lost, and frightened, she wandered around the beach, unsure of what she was trying to find. Her tiny legs were getting tired.

Where am I?

Where did I come from?

Who left me here?

Her fragile mind could not understand what was going on. The more she thought, the more confused she became. She could see kids playing with their parents. Tears welled up in her blue eyes. She sat down on the sand and cried, hungry and afraid.

A woman squatted in front of her. "Hello, little girl. Why are you crying?" the nice lady asked.

She tilted her head in confusion, wondering if she could trust this nice-looking lady.

"You can trust me. I won't hurt you," the lady assured her.

Feeling the warmth coming from the lady, she threw herself at the lady, hugging her for comfort. The lady rubbed her back, trying to console the crying child in her arms.

"Tell me what is wrong, so I can help you," the lady told her.

She reluctantly let the lady go. "I don't know where I am,” she said, crying softly.

"Where are your parents?" the lady asked.

"I don't know. I don't remember anything." She rubbed her nose, sniffling.

"Okay, dear, I'm going to take you to my house first, then we can go to the station tomorrow. How does that sound?" the lady asked, and she nodded.

The lady bent down to pick the girl up when something caught her attention: a large tattoo on her arm. It began from her shoulder and ended at her elbow. The lady was astonished; she had never seen anything like that.

"How did you get that mark, dear?" she asked.

The girl looked at her arm. A crescent moon sat proudly on it. "I don't know. I can't remember," the girl replied, confused.

The lady stared at the mark, impressed at how detailed it looked. The moon looked so real, and it seemed to come alive when hit by the sun’s rays.

"What's your name, sweetheart?"

The little girl thought for a while before replying. "I don't remember."

She groaned in pain as her arm burned yet again. Rolling onto her back, she pulled her arm up to get the weight off the burning arm. Her blue eyes were fixated on the glowing mark.

She would never get used to this pain. The burn increased as the days went by.

She sighed.

Kathy switched off the lamp as the light was beginning to bother her. She always loved the dark because when it got dark, she could no longer see the evil she was cursed with.

Her mum called it unique, but she saw it as a curse. She recalled her life as a kid, always having to hide and take a lot of precautions. Swimming, camping, and every other thing kids did were prohibited.

She climbed down from her queen-sized bed, her feet brushing against the soft black carpet as she sauntered to the bathroom.

Pulling off her clothes, she stood naked in front of the huge wall mirror. Dark blue eyes stared right at her. Her eyes were the weirdest part of her. They were the darkest shade of blue with tiny crystals floating in them. She would always tell people that she wore contact lenses.

She pushed back a stray strand of black hair trying to creep into her eyes. She knew how beautiful she was—light skin, pouty red lips, with a petite figure that never failed to draw attention to her. With round perky breasts and a slim yet curvy figure, she sure was blessed. However, beauty could not conceal the evil that she was.

She stepped into the hallway after her morning routine. The cold air hit her face, generating goosebumps all over her body. It was going to be a cold day. She tightened her scarf, enjoying the warmth it brought.

She walked into the kitchen and poured some cereal into a bowl.

”Good morning, sweetheart,” someone called from behind her.

Her mum, April Mallory, was a beautiful woman, who at the age of forty-five didn't look a day over thirty. With black hair that was slowly turning grey with age, April could easily pass as Kathy's biological mother, but Kathy knew that was not the case.

”Good morning, Mum.”

”How bad was it?” her mum asked.

”Not as bad as yesterday, although it lasted longer this time.”

The episodes happened frequently ever since her twenty-first birthday.

April nodded in understanding. ”Don't forget to take your pills and grab your coat. I love you, sweetheart.”

April kissed Kathy's forehead and left for work.

Kathy left the house after eating in a hurry to get to work. Her job at the diner didn't pay much, but it was enough to get by. Entering the diner, she pulled her coat closer, silently praying that nothing happened today.

”Hello, Stacy.”

Stacy was the head chef who Kathy looked up to.

”How are you today, dear?”

”Good. How are you?”

”I’m fine, my dear.”

Kathy shot Stacy a bright smile, making the older lady smile back at her. The bell at the front door rang indicated a customer's arrival. Kathy grabbed her apron, pen, and notepad; it was going to be a busy day.

Many customers later, Kathy was exhausted. Her feet were swollen in her boots, and all she wanted to do was put her feet up and relax.

”Bri, can you cover for me? I just need to rest awhile.”

Brianna was another waitress in the eatery.

”Sure thing, love,” Brianna answered with a wink. Brianna was gay and had been hitting on Kathy ever since she got a job at the diner.

Kathy smiled at Brianna, then walked to the storage room. She removed her boots, coat, then sat on the floor. Leaning on the cool tiles of the wall, she closed her eyes.

”Kathy.”

She was walking in a forest. Trees and shrubs were all she could see around her.

”Who is it?”

”Do not forget, my child. Remember who you are.” she heard the voice say again.

All of a sudden, she couldn't hear anything else. It was all silent. Suddenly, she heard a crash, followed by what sounded like a group of horses racing towards her. She looked back to see that certainly, there were men on horses racing towards her. Not wanting to wait to know what or who they were after, she broke into a run, darting deep into the forest. She could feel stones slicing into her feet making her realize that she was barefoot.

Confused and scared, she kept running in no particular direction.

She wondered why she was being chased. Who was that voice and why did it sound so familiar?

Her limbs were getting tired. She had no idea who was chasing her or why, but she knew that she had to run.

She paused to catch her breath. She felt as though she had been running in circles. Everything looked the same.

”Over here,” she heard from behind her.

She dashed into the forest again, pushing her legs to go faster.

”Don’t let the kid get away!” she heard another voice yell.

Kid?

”Kathy.” She heard a distant voice.

”Kathy!”

She gasped and awakened. Her body was soaked with sweat. She could almost hear her heartbeat from how fast her heart was beating.

”What is wrong with you today? I've been calling you for a while now.”

Brianna frowned at Kathy's silence. However, Kathy was too disoriented to say anything. She got up and dusted off her pants.

Flashing a fake smile at Brianna, she said, “I’m sorry, Bri. I'll get back to work now.”

She ran out of the storage room, leaving a stunned Brianna behind.

She continued working while trying to figure out what the dream meant. She could still hear the voice echoing in her head. “Remember who you are.”

She wondered if that was supposed to mean anything or if it was related to the things happening to her.

Who was that kid?

”Thank you.”

”Would you like anything else?” she asked a customer.

”No, thank you. I'd like the bill, please.”

After serving the last customer in the diner, she walked to the back of the counter.

”Are you okay? You seem a little off today,” Stacy asked.

”I’m okay, Stacy. I'll be better tomorrow.”

Stacy searched her face for any indication that she was lying but couldn't find any. Kathy had mastered the art of pretense over the years.

”Well, you better be. We have a late customer tonight, and you are the only waitress available now. Brianna had a bathroom emergency, so she is probably still in the restroom. Mr. Hunt called earlier to make a reservation for 8 PM.”

”Who the hell eats dinner at 8 PM?” Kathy asked, a little surprised.

”Rich white men, I guess.”

She chuckled.

”Why would a rich white man choose to eat here when he can eat in an expensive restaurant?”

Stacy shrugged then said, “It’s not our business to worry about that.”

The bell rang.

”Oh, he’s here.”

Kathy walked to the man to find him already seated and going through the menu.

”Good evening, Sir. My name is Kathy, and I'll be your waitress for the night. Would you like to order now, or do you need some more time?”

The man raised his face to look at her. She couldn't stop the gasp that escaped her lips.