The Forgotten (The Lost Children Series Book 1)

by Jennifer Sivec

  She walked on and realized the sky around her was a sickly gray color. Everything remained still, the air sitting heavy. It was neither hot nor cold, and nothing moved; not the grass or the trees. She had a nagging feeling that she had seen this before, but nothing could come to mind and Anabel shook it off. Once I eat, I will think clearer.

  She continued on, the grass thick and heavy on her feet as she stopped every now and then to listen for the sound of Saiya’s voice. She realized as she walked on that the ground had changed, and the grass was beginning to disappear. She was walking into a wooded area. She thought it strange since she hadn’t seen it before. Is it possible the sound of Saiya’s voice was coming from here? Anabel was confused. She didn’t remember seeing this forest before, and she hadn’t been walking for that far of a distance that it would suddenly appear. She listened for the sound of animals, insects; anything that would give her a sign of life. Again, she heard nothing.

  Anabel growled and screamed in frustration. As she did so, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and she realized she was being watched. She stood as still as she had ever stood before, her breathing suddenly shallow as she felt paralyzing fear down her neck and through her limbs, making her whole body tingle.

  She looked around, frantically, searching for a weapon of any kind. She realized the only thing remotely close to a weapon was a small stone and she lunged for it, thankful to have anything in her hands besides her fists to fight with if she needed it.

  She didn’t see anyone, but she could feel someone’s eyes on her, following her every move.

  Out of her right eye, she saw some of the thick bushes move as something bounded toward her, too fast to register. She lifted her hand, prepared to strike, and was knocked to the ground. She landed with a thud, the wind knocked out of her. Anabel mentally kicked herself knowing she was never the fighter. Saiya was the fierce one who wasn’t afraid of anything. Anabel had a sharp pain in her heart as she thought about her sister and hoped desperately that Saiya wasn’t alone.

  She lay on the ground, winded, anticipating another strike. When she was finally able to catch her breath, she stood up, cautiously. She looked around for her attacker and was stunned to see nothing but an adorable, long-haired, white dog! She crept around cautiously, looking for signs of someone else, but she realized there was nothing around but her and the dog.

  The dog looked at her, its tongue hanging out and looking quite proud that Anabel was overcome so easily.

  “Shame on you,” she scolded, shaking some of the dirt off her skirt. “Bad dog!”

  She heard footsteps running toward her and the dog turned around quickly, wagging its tail as fast as it could. Anabel looked around for another rock and readied herself to fight once again.

  “Brooke! Brooke! Where are you?! Brooke,” Anabel heard the boy’s voice before she saw him. She watched in astonishment as a boy of about the same age as Saiya emerged from the exact spot in the bushes the dog had just come from.

  The boy saw Anabel and froze. Another boy ran up behind him. He was older and carried with him a drawn scabbard. Both boys stopped and stared at Anabel with a mixture of shock and awe.

  “Who are you?” the older boy demanded, recovering quickly as he pointed the scabbard toward her. The girl looked strangely familiar. He wondered where she’d come from and if she was alone.

  “Anabel. Who are you?” Anabel said, trying to sound brave but faltering. She was excited to see someone else, but with the way he was holding his scabbard toward her, she knew he meant business.

  “Jakob,” the boy said, lowering his weapon after determining that she wasn’t a threat. The girl’s clothing wasn’t made of the same fine cloth as his or his brother’s. Her dress was simpler and plainer than theirs. She didn’t seem to notice the difference in their clothing and he didn’t bother to mention it.

  “What are you doing here?” the younger boy said, his voice low and sweet. “We haven’t seen anyone but you.”

  “I don’t know. I’m lost I suppose,” Anabel said, fighting back tears. The boys seemed harmless enough, and she was no longer as afraid as she had been. A feeling of relief flooded over her as she realized she wasn’t alone. Where are we?

  As though he was reading her mind, Jakob spoke. “Do you remember anything? Where did you come from?”

  Kell had wandered over to pet Brooke who seemed to be sniffing around the perimeter of where they stood. Jakob kept a close eye on him and made sure he didn’t go too far away. Anabel watched Jakob who was clearly Kell’s protector, and it made her long even more for Saiya.

  “I don’t remember anything. I’ve only seen you. I’ve been alone and I can’t find my sister. She is the only one I remember.” Anabel’s stomach was rumbling uncontrollably and she put her hand on it as though to quiet the noise.

  Jakob rummaged around in the small pouch that was fixed to his side and handed her the last piece of fish he had saved. She took it, gratefully. As she gobbled it down, she kept her eyes on him, still not sure she could trust him.

  Jakob sat on the ground and motioned for Anabel to join him. Brooke wandered over to Jakob and sat close, as though listening to every word. They recounted the strange events of the past day, becoming more confused as they spoke. None of them had any recollection of a time before they woke up. Aside from one another, the fish the boys ate for breakfast, and Brooke, they had not come across any other living beings. It was almost as though nothing existed in their lives before they had awoken.

  “This doesn’t make sense!” Anabel said, standing up and pacing. “What could have happened? Why can’t we remember anything? I have to find Saiya.”

  “Where did you see her last?” Kell asked, standing up. He thought how afraid he would be if he were all alone. “We’ll go with you!”

  Jakob shot him a sharp look. “Wait a minute, Kell. We don’t even know where to begin.”

  Brooke started whining and crying. At first softly, then so loud none of them could hear anything but her crying. They all turned to her, Jakob ready to yell at her to stop. But when they looked, she was turning in circles and stopping, turning in circles and stopping.

  “She’s pointing to something,” Kell exclaimed running toward her.

  Jakob stood and watched her for a moment longer and realized Kell was right. She was turning and then pointing with her nose toward a part of the forest none of them had been in before. Jakob hesitated. “What are you pointing to, you silly dog?” he mused.

  Brooke ran over to Anabel and grabbed the hem of her dress with her mouth, pulling her in the direction her little nose had been pointing to.

  “Wha-a-a-a-t …” Anabel was amazed at how strong the little dog was.

  “She knows where your sister is!” Kell said, excited.

  “Stop it, Kell. There’s no way Brooke knows …”

  “Stop talking! Stop talking!” Anabel said, her voice demanding.

  Jakob and Kell were suddenly silent, straining toward the direction in which Brooke was pulling Anabel.

  “Help! Anabel! Help!” a small voice could be heard echoing faintly from a faraway place.

  “It’s Saiya!” Anabel yelled, racing toward the voice and through the thick wood without hesitation.

  Jakob was stunned by her quickness and took off after her, grabbing Kell’s arm as he went.

  “Anabel! Anabel! Stop! It could be a dangerous! We don’t know what’s out there.”

  The thick brush seemed to close behind them, and none of them noticed as they ran away that the place where they were standing had completely disappeared.

  18

  THE GOVERNOR AND GOVERNESS

  The Governess sat on the edge of the bed and ran her fingers through the Governor’s thick, black hair enjoying the coarseness of it, and how it curled right at the ends.

  “You will come to love me,” she whispered, a tingling sensation flowing from her lips and vibrating slightly on his ear. She was pleased to see him smile in his slee
p as she placed the flat of her palm on his head. “You will love me, and only me. Your dreams will be about me, and only me. I am your love, and there is no other. And soon, there will truly be no one else in this world who you will love, either.”

  He furrowed his brows for a long moment as though fighting the words, but eventually his face relaxed and Kyla was struck once again with how handsome he was up close. She would never get to have this experience as a Yashwa, their males only alive for the soul purpose of repopulating their own kind. Her father was the one and only male Great One, and there was nothing decreed to bring another male into power. Not for centuries.

  Kyla leaned in as close as she dared and put her lips on Will’s. She kept her lips on his, enjoying the softness and sensation for the first time.

  She didn’t realize that he had opened his eyes and was staring directly at her.

  She jumped back, startled, when she felt his eyes on her.

  He laughed, his mouth pulling into a huge grin. “Why, Governess, what are you doing?” he smiled, teasing her.

  “Oh, I …” Kyla stammered, embarrassed, but suddenly excited as she realized he called her “Governess.” It’s working!

  “No, I liked it,” he pulled her close. “It makes me feel better.”

  “Oh good,” Kyla said, enjoying the feel of his breath on her cheek.

  He kissed her again, his lips strong. She closed her eyes, lost in his embrace, her plan finally working.

  He stopped abruptly, sitting up as he did so. He finally felt like walking around.

  He insisted on walking alone, not wanting Kyla, Milo, Aldo, or anyone else following him around. Even though Kyla tried to insist that he wasn’t ready to walk alone and still feeling the warmth of his lips on hers, frustrated at how suddenly he pulled away from her.

  He was getting his strength back, still unable to believe that his attacker was a woman. What kind of woman must she be to be able to take me down so easily? He wandered slowly and gingerly through the Governor’s House, feeling its emptiness, unsure of what he was looking for. The house felt foreign to him and he couldn’t identify what felt so out of place, but he knew somehow that something was missing. Something here isn’t right!

  He thought about his wife, pretty and small. She was clearly smitten with him, but aside from waking up to find her there, he had no other memories of her. When he looked at her and even when he kissed her, he felt a distinct sense of nothingness. There were snippets of a life with her, but they didn’t feel real, not like a tangible remembrance that he could sit and hold. He knew he was upsetting her, which wasn’t what he intended to do. She clearly cared about him, and it wasn’t her fault that he couldn’t remember her. He must have been hit in the head a lot harder than he realized.

  He walked down the long staircase to the main hall of the house. He stared at all of the doors leading to various parts of the house, and had no recollection of where each door led. He knew that he should know the house like the back of his hand and the emptiness in his mind frightened him.

  The Governor was a big man, a former Warrior for his People. He had faced many enemies in his time, but none terrified him as much as the blank spots in his memory. His strength was legendary, but his ability to outmaneuver the enemy was even more so. He had reached the highest position of his People because of his ability to protect and guide them, but now he could remember nothing beyond the events of the morning. How will I lead my People if I cannot remember yesterday or the day before?

  “Governor!” Kyla’s voice came echoing through the halls. “Where are you going, sir? You must rest!”

  “I’m fine,” he said, holding back a growl. “I want to walk. My legs and back are stiff and I need to move. Why does it feel so empty in here? Where are all of the People? Why is it so quiet?”

  “What People?” Kyla asked, innocently.

  “The People who live here. The People who should be working here. Where are those People?” he asked. He was unable to hide his annoyance and ignoring his guilt, as she shrunk away at the harshness of his tone.

  “I sent them away, for now. They will return, eventually, when it’s safe. There are only your soldiers guarding the house, for our protection. We cannot trust many People right now.”

  “Who made that decision? You? Alone?” the Governor demanded, his voice growing sharper.

  Kyla didn’t even attempt to hide the hurt in her blue eyes. “I did, sir. Milo suggested it, since your attacker was someone from the inside. She was a woman posing as a servant. We have heard whispers that there were others amongst the staff, so we dismissed those we didn’t know closely and sent the others away until we could be assured we were no longer in danger. We were only trying to protect you.”

  “I’m sorry,” the Governor said, putting his arm around her. “I’m not thinking clearly. Everything feels … wrong.”

  “The Healer said it will take some time, but you should feel back to normal soon. Once we are sure the danger has diminished, we will invite everyone back in. For now, we are locked down.” Kyla spoke more confidently, gently steering the Governor back to his room. “You need to rest, Governor.”

  Will smiled at her, suddenly tired. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I should just try to rest now.

  He leaned on her slightly as she walked him back to his room. She helped him lie down and covered him with heavy blankets, then she gently stroked his hair and spoke softly to him. Eventually he gave in to sleep and Kyla sat next to him, still watching for the tell-tale signs that he had fallen into a deep sleep.

  She waited patiently until his breathing became heavy, his head falling slightly to one side. She was quiet in her movements as she reached into the drawer of the nightstand next to his bed and pulled out a pair of long, sharp, scissors. She knew what she needed to do and didn’t hesitate. She had mastered her new Human body, and felt confident in her ability to control it. The Ubilez were clear in their direction if I am to be Will’s Governess forever.

  She smiled as she opened and closed the scissors, watching the sharp blades gleam in the light. She looked at Will once more to makes sure he was sleeping, then she carefully unbuttoned his shirt and lifted the scissors high above his chest.

  19

  THE SERPENT

  “Sssssstop sssssscreaming. There is no one here to sssssave you,” the voice said, seemingly closer than it was before.

  “S-s-s-tay away from me!” Saiya splashed and kicked blindly, as hard as she could, hoping to keep whatever it was in the well with her far away. She heard his voice to the side of her, above her, behind her. She heard his voice everywhere.

  “But you came down here with meeeee,” the voice said.

  Saiya imagined a slimy green Serpent with glittering yellow eyes slithering around her and she shuddered from fear as well as cold. She was soaked to her bones from the water that had risen up to her neck.

  “Anabel!! Anabel!!” Saiya was terrified. She stood on her toes, trying to make herself taller as the water made its way up to her chin.

  “I think you may tasssste sssssweet,” the voice said, close to her ear. She thought she felt a long sharp fang nearly pierce her cheek as his large head was dangerously close to hers. “I can’t wait to ssssseeeee what you tassssste like.”

  Saiya grabbed into the darkness, surprised to find her fist grasp something dry and scaly, but not as large as she thought it would be.

  “A-a-a-a-ck! Let meeeee gooooo,” the voice sounded different, like it was choking and Saiya squeezed as hard as she could with both of her tiny hands.

  She could tell the thing was thrashing hard, trying to get free as water splashed up into her nose. She held on as hard as she could, angry with herself for having been afraid.

  “Anabel!” she cried out, determined not to let go. Anabel had never let her down her entire life.

  The water continued to rise and Saiya gagged, imagining how dirty it must be. She held her breath as she felt it touching her lips and started to go into her ears
. She thought she heard the voice laughing but she wasn’t sure, hearing mostly sloshing as its body continued to try and escape from her grip.

  She felt his long body wrap clumsily around her, trapping her torso and threatening to take her down deeper into the water. But Saiya stood her ground and tightened her grip, not sure how much longer she could hold on, but she knew she would rather drown than be eaten. She knew Anabel would cry at the scaliness of the Creature, but Saiya was used to playing with lizards and snakes, and it didn’t bother her. She even knew how to swim, but the heaviness of the thing was weighing her down, and she dare not let go yet.

  Saiya raised her head as high as she could, the top of her nose and head still above the frigid water.

  Anabel, where are you? Please … save me!

  20

  THE PRISONER

  The Prisoner saw a flash of light and then there was nothing but silence and stillness.

  She wasn’t sure how long she had disappeared as she searched for her body, but couldn’t feel it or see it. There was nothing but her thoughts, yet for some reason, she wasn’t afraid. She was in a gray place, and for the first time since she was a little girl, she felt completely free, unencumbered by the chains that were holding her in the prison.

  Am I dead? she wondered.

  There was no sense of time. She had the sensation of floating, but there was nothing she was moving toward or away from. As strange as it was to feel this way, there was a peacefulness that was flooding through her. She realized it was the first time she could remember when she wasn’t fighting. Her entire life had been spent fighting, but here, wherever she was, there was nothing to struggle against. There was absolutely … nothing.

  Am I lost? Am I supposed to be here?

  She wanted to remember something, anything. But the strong desire that always held her to “want” was lessening. She remembered fighting for everything in her life, but even that memory was beginning to fade. Everything was beginning to fade.