Morning, 10 August 2020

The Hill of Edenus was quiet.

The wind moved gently through the grass as Botas stood beneath the hilltop tree, his hand resting against its damaged bark.

The tree looked different now.

The lightning strike had left its mark.

Even though days had passed, something about it still felt unnatural.

Botas stared at it for a moment before looking toward Elizabeth.

"Have you noticed anything strange about the world lately?"

Elizabeth looked at him.

"The short days... the unexplained explosions that the news doesn't even mention."

His expression became more serious.

"There's something strange happening."

He turned back toward the tree.

"Not to mention this tree."

His fingers brushed against the rough bark.

"Struck by lightning."

He frowned.

Something about it bothered him.

Elizabeth watched him quietly before stepping closer.

"I think you're overthinking it."

She leaned against him.

"I'm sure the tree will grow back to normal."

She smiled, trying to ease his worries.

Then she kissed his cheek.

"Come on, let's go."

Botas looked at the tree one last time before following her away from the Hill of Edenus.

But neither of them noticed the person watching from a distance.

Chris stood hidden in the background.

He watched as Elizabeth and Botas walked toward her home.

His eyes remained fixed on them.

Especially on Botas.

"I hate Botas," he muttered.

His voice was filled with bitterness.

"He's just a rich kid hanging around in the wrong places..."

Chris narrowed his eyes.

"I hate his kindness."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"His innocent bullshit."

He continued watching.

To Chris, Botas wasn't just another person.

He was an obstacle.

Someone standing between him and what he believed belonged to him.

As Botas and Elizabeth reached her home, he kissed her goodbye.

Then—

A flash of lightning struck a nearby tree.

Chris froze.

The sky was clear.

There was no storm.

No warning.

Only the sudden flash.

But only Chris noticed.

He looked toward the tree.

"A lightning bolt during a clear sky..."

A strange smile appeared.

"Seems even the gods disagree with this relationship."

Night

The house was finally quiet.

After helping her mother with chores, Elizabeth was exhausted.

The events of the past few days had drained her more than she wanted to admit.

She changed, climbed into bed, and closed her eyes.

For a moment, everything was peaceful.

No questions.

No fear.

No strange memories.

Just silence.

But as she was about to fall asleep...

Something felt wrong.

A presence.

Someone was there.

Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes.

Her body tensed.

She turned around.

Standing beside her bed was Chris.

And somehow, he looked completely comfortable.

He was holding her phone.

Scrolling through it.

"Shh, no noise," he said casually.

Elizabeth stared at him.

"I'm TikToking."

He continued scrolling as if being inside her room in the middle of the night was completely normal.

Elizabeth didn't know how to react.

Fear was there.

But so was confusion.

Chris was dangerous.

She knew that.

But his behavior never matched what she expected.

One moment he acted like a threat.

The next, he acted like they were friends.

And that uncertainty scared her even more.

She watched him silently.

Wondering what he wanted.

Wondering what he was planning.

And hoping, somehow...

that this time would not end with her getting hurt.

"Oh no, no. Don't be scared."

Chris noticed Elizabeth's expression and calmly placed her phone beside her.

The casualness of his movement made the situation feel even stranger.

He wasn't acting like someone who had broken into her room.

He was acting like someone who belonged there.

"I'm not here to hurt you," he said.

Elizabeth stared at him.

She wanted to believe him.

But everything about the situation told her she shouldn't.

Chris looked toward her.

"I know Botas is your boyfriend..."

He paused.

A strange curiosity appeared on his face.

"Gosh, I've always wanted to know who it was."

Before Elizabeth could respond, Chris moved closer.

He climbed onto the bed and pulled the blanket over himself.

Elizabeth froze.

The situation made no sense.

Every instinct told her that something was wrong, but Chris acted as if this was a completely normal conversation between two people who knew each other well.

He looked around.

"Still smells like it always does."

Elizabeth's expression changed.

She didn't know what frightened her more.

His words...

or how comfortable he seemed saying them.

Chris smiled.

"Let's talk all night..."

His eyes moved toward her.

"Lizza."

The way he said her nickname felt strange.

Like he was trying to imitate someone else.

"Like Botas calls you."

Elizabeth stayed silent.

She didn't understand him.

She didn't understand what he wanted.

And that uncertainty made it difficult to relax.

Eventually, exhaustion overcame her.

Despite the fear and confusion, her eyes slowly closed.

And she fell asleep.

In the dream...

Everything felt different.

The world around her changed.

She was younger.

Back in fifth grade.

Elizabeth sat quietly, writing a letter to her mother.

The classroom was peaceful.

Simple.

A time before everything became complicated.

Then someone approached her.

Lusion.

He held a letter in his hand.

"Elizabeth... I wrote you a letter."

She looked up.

A smile appeared on her face.

She accepted it without hesitation.

"Thank you."

Lusion smiled.

"I want to be with you forever."

His voice was confident.

"I even want to marry you someday."

Elizabeth blushed.

"We will when the time comes."

She looked at him warmly.

"I'll wait for you to propose."

Then she gave him a bracelet.

A promise.

A memory.

Something that belonged to a simpler time.

The sound of her phone alarm interrupted the dream.

Elizabeth opened her eyes.

Morning had arrived.

Morning, 11 August 2020

Elizabeth sat beneath the tree outside her home.

The same tree that had become connected to so many memories.

She looked into the distance, lost in thought.

The past few days refused to leave her mind.

Especially Chris.

She couldn't understand him.

He had entered her room.

He had terrified her.

He had acted like a threat.

Yet last night...

He had simply slept beside her.

He didn't hurt her.

He didn't attack her.

He just stayed.

Elizabeth frowned.

Why?

Why would someone act so evil...

yet sometimes seem so ordinary?

She wanted to understand him.

Maybe that was the part that scared her the most.

Suddenly—

"Hey."

A voice came from behind her.

Elizabeth immediately tensed.

She quickly stood up and turned around.

Behind the tree was Lusion.

He was smoking quietly.

For a moment, relief crossed her face.

Without thinking, Elizabeth rushed toward him.

She wanted to hug him.

But Lusion stepped back.

The movement stopped her.

Elizabeth froze.

Her expression changed.

Confusion replaced the happiness she had felt moments before.

She wondered what she had done wrong.

"All I ever wanted was to be with you... without facing any problems," Lusion said.

His expression became heavier.

He looked away, staring toward the sky.

"But it seems that even here... you still bring back the past."

Elizabeth frowned.

She didn't understand.

"What do you mean?"

Lusion remained silent for a moment.

There was sadness in his face, but also something she couldn't identify.

Something that made her uneasy.

"Even if you think he's your boyfriend..."

He looked back at her.

"I'll allow it for now."

Elizabeth froze.

The words felt strange.

Like they carried a meaning she was supposed to understand.

"But you'll always be mine."

Before she could ask what he meant, Lusion turned and walked away.

Elizabeth watched him disappear.

She didn't move.

She couldn't.

Her mind was filled with questions.

What was he talking about?

Why did he act like there was something between them that she couldn't remember?

She slowly sat down beneath the tree.

"What's happening...?"

Her voice was quiet.

"Everything seems so messed up ever since I lost my memories."

She looked at her phone, hoping to distract herself.

Something normal.

Something that could make her forget for a moment.

But as she moved her arm, she noticed something.

Her sleeves.

She was wearing long sleeves.

Elizabeth stared at them.

She didn't remember choosing them.

Slowly, she pulled them upward.

Then she froze.

There were marks on her arms.

Memories.

Feelings.

Things her mind had hidden away.

Her breathing became heavier.

And then—

A memory returned.

Flashback

Darkness.

That was all she could see.

Elizabeth was trapped.

She screamed for help.

She cried.

She begged.

But no one answered.

The room remained silent.

Until a voice came from the darkness.

"Calm down."

Elizabeth froze.

"No one can hear you..."

The voice continued.

"Not even your dear Botas."

Her eyes widened.

She knew that voice.

"Lusion..."

Her voice trembled.

"Please let me out."

She struggled against the fear surrounding her.

"I'll do whatever you want."

Silence followed.

Then Lusion answered.

"I've already done everything I wanted."

The words sent a chill through her.

"That's the reason you're in this dark room."

The darkness felt heavier.

Then—

A metallic sound echoed.

Something had fallen.

Elizabeth looked toward the sound.

Lusion spoke calmly.

"That's a razor."

A pause.

"You might use it to kill yourself."