Elizabeth sighed as she turned back to the cubicle, the monitor now black ,void of information. She wondered who she had been kidding, thinking she could look over some newspaper articles and get answers to her past. She couldn’t even say for sure that New Orleans was even a city she had ever been too. Her mother had told her it wasn’t, so why was she so sure it had been? Because, it felt so…familiar, her other half of her brain told her.
Damn, where was Leo? He had promised, she thought, turning back to look around the library. The young couple from earlier was just walking out, the boy’s arm around the girl’s shoulder. Elizabeth smiled as her eyes wandered away from then.
Then, as if in slow motion, her heart stopped. The hairs at the base of her neck rose in alarm. Every instinct in her screamed for her to run as panic consumed her. She could sense something... her eyes searching around her as she blew out a slow stream of air. Determined to fight her instinctive urge, the desire to find the source of her fear grew stronger. She stood straighter as she turned her body slowly a hundred and sixty degrees to search every corner and shadow within her sight.
A sharp painful gasp escaped her when she saw a figure of a man standing within the shadows of a far bookcase. She knew without a doubt that this was the source of her fears as she watched him push away from the bookcase he had been leaning against. Muscles rippled under the close fitting shirt as he moved, his body relaxed, the shadows still hiding his features from Elizabeth except for a small smile curving his lips. That smile… all consuming in her mind, provoking a memory from the recess of her mind.
It was an argument, violent and ugly. The woman from her dreams looked desperate and alone. So alone as she paced, her hands waved in a forceful violent manner as she looked at a man in the shadows. The woman’s voice desperate as she insisted on her daughter being dropped off, so no harm would come to her.
Then just as quickly, the vision ended. Elizabeth’s heart caught in her throat as she tried to hold onto the vision. An inner voice told her this man was the same man in front of her. She attempted to lift the fog which hid the man in the shadows. But all she could see, as if a spotlight was placed on it alone, was a smile, small and calculating. This she knew by instinct.
Elizabeth felt her mind and body wanting to shrink away from the memory. Determined to not let the black void of her mind win, she fought the urge as if she was fighting for her life.
Smiling, Roger stepped back further into the shadows, not wanting to push it too far, remembering what Sara had said about pushing it too quickly and sending the memories further away from him. Roger was also wondering what was she expecting to find anyways from this place? When Aurora had told him she would be at a library researching for an answer to her past, he couldn’t help but to chuckle to himself, knowing that what Elizabeth needed to learn about herself she couldn’t find in any library. He had made sure of that.
He needed her to remember, once she did and he got what he needed. Then...well...he’s pretty sure she wouldn’t have to worry on any level about her health, mentally or physically.
He smiled as the fear on her face was replaced by confusion as she fell back against the railing. A frown marred her delicate features as she looked off. She was remembering something, he could tell. The thought made him feel in control of the situation once more.
Nodding in satisfaction, Roger stepped away, letting her absorb what her mind would let her see. He would find out later from Aurora exactly what it was. He was enjoying the cat and mouse game he was playing with her mind, almost hating that it would have to end soon, but he was starting to get restless.
He made his way down the stairs, then he stopped when he saw the private investigator Aurora had told him Elizabeth had hired step through the doors of the library. The sight of him, gave Roger, his first restless and uneasy feeling as he quickly stepped behind a column so as not to be seen. Anger filled him as he watched the investigator talk to the information desk before he turned towards the stairs. The sight of him had added a layer of complication to his plan, which he would rather not have. Roger had learned to trust his instincts over the years, and there was something about this guy that wasn’t right.
Elizabeth’s heart did a flip in nervousness when warm callused hands covered her eyes and her hands instinctively reached up to pull them away. Then a familiar voice warm in her ear, made her hesitate in confusion, as she realized that she was sitting, wondering when she had sat back down. The light his hands blocked was a relief from the sharp pain behind her eyes, caused by the recent flash of memory.
Leo’s presence was a reassuring, calming effect as she found her body relax. Happy with the distraction, she ran her hands over his. “Well, it seems like it could be this man I met a few days ago. Or maybe this other man I met, or...”
Leo laughed as he removed his hands to step around Elizabeth’s chair. He leaned casually on the table next to the material she had been working on, as he reached over to move the lever. “Any progress?”
“No. It’s frustrating.” Elizabeth said, her eyebrows furrowed in aggravation. Then she looked back over at him, her eyebrows now raised in question. “By the way, were you, or were you not suppose to be here earlier to tell me a better way?” She asked as she hit his leg playfully.
“I was,” He said as he reached over to minimize the screen currently on the monitor, “I was unforeseeably delayed. But I’m here now, and by the looks of it you need a break. I know this great band that is playing in a bar just down the way.”
“What are you talking about?” Elizabeth asked, confusion with the change of subject.
“About you having a break. When I walked in just now you were white as a sheet.”
“It not because I’m tired. It’s because...” Elizabeth looked around the room, the man gone. “It was because I saw the man from the other night.”
Leo spun around, “where?”
“He’s gone now, but it is even more reason for me to continue searching. He needs to know something I know. But before I can protect myself, I must know what he needs to know.”
Leo sat back. “What?” he asked before he shook his head as he waved a hand for her to continue. “No, forget it. How do you know this?”
“I don’t; for sure, it’s mostly a hunch. But remember a woman’s hunches are seldom wrong.”
“Who says that?”
“Me!”
Leo laughed. “You do have your own way of looking at things. Don’t you?”
Elizabeth shrugged as she smiled up at him. “I guess.” Feeling thankful, as the pain behind her eyes subsided.
“Did you recognize him?” Leo asked.
“No I couldn’t see him clearly enough in the shadows, but something about him evoked a memory.”
“That’s good, what type of memory was it?” He asked, with raised eyebrows.
“An argument. It was between him… or I should say I believe it was him… I’m not for sure…exactly. It is all so confusing.” Elizabeth said , in self-doubt.
“Just say what you saw and try not to analyze it, yet. We can always analyze what you saw later.” Leo said in encouragement as he brushed a strand of Elizabeth’s hair away from her cheek.
Elizabeth nodded as she blew out an apprehensive breath. “Okay, it was an argument between this man and a woman. The same woman I have seen before, or I should say, many times in my dreams. Anyways, she was telling him that she didn’t want someone to go with them…that it would be too dangerous. The man’s face, I couldn’t see clearly, he was standing in the shadows like always.” Elizabeth said in frustration and stood up to walk a few feet away to get her bearings and to curse her weak mind once more for hiding what she needed to know.
Elizabeth’s heart flipped in her throat as she felt Leo place his hands on her shoulders while standing behind her. “You’re doing good.” He said, his voice encouraging, his breath warm against he
r neck.
“Doing good?” Elizabeth asked in exasperation and she turned to face him. “I have no more information about who this man is than I did before.”
“But, you do.” Leo said as he took one of her hands into his. “You may not have seen his face this time. But you will. It will all take a little more time.” He said as he pulled her towards him to wrap her in his arms. “Besides your starting to get visions. This is a good thing. It means you will start to hopefully get your much needed answers.”
“But, why do I feel, all of sudden, that I don’t have the time I had before to find those answers.” Elizabeth said as fought back tears.
“I don’t know.” Leo said as he stroked her hair. “But, you have me now and we will figure out this together…you are not alone.”
Elizabeth sighed as she felt him brush the top of her head with his lips. Her faith in his words gave her a small sense of comfort.
“Okay...So, in your dreams. You state that you know the woman?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know. When I’ve told my mother about her, she said it was probably the woman who kidnapped me as a child. According to my mother, the couple who took me fought and the woman was killed. That’s all she would tell me.” Elizabeth said as she stepped back out of his arms, her own arms reaching to hug her midriff. “Leo, am I that weak of a person, mentally, that it would take my memory completely?”
“No, don’t say that. You were just a child.”
“But, I’m not now. So why can’t I remember? It’s just so frustrating.”
“We will figure it out. You think your mother could help any?”
“Oh. No. I don’t even want to go there. If she found out this stuff was happening then she would fly down to try and take me away. You don’t understand how smothering she can be.”
“We do it without her help then,” He said with a shrug.
“Good,” Elizabeth said as she looking back up at Leo. Then she smiled in an attempt to lighten the mood, once more. “So, Mister Detective, do you think my instincts are right and this man I’m seeing is a part of my memory loss?”
“I think you’re most likely right,” Leo said his voice taking on a serious note as he leaned back so he rested against the table behind him.
Elizabeth sighed, “I just, keep seeing…his smile.” Elizabeth shivered as her cool hands rubbed her arms. “The sight of it just gives me chills.”
Leo reached over to pause the movement of her hands. “Well, don’t force it. It’ll come back to you when you are ready.” He said as he leaned back, a frown marring his features, his arms crossing his chest. “But I’m not liking that this man keeps showing up. I think we need to regroup. Which brings us back to you, who I can tell still needs that much needed break, which should help you think more clearly.”
Elizabeth rubbed the back of her neck, realizing he was correct. “You’re right. I can’t seem to focus anymore today, anyways.”
“So do you want to go see the band then?”
“Yes, that sounds nice. Do you mind if I call Aurora, my friend I told you about ,and see if she would be interested in meeting up with us? I really would love for you two to meet.”
“Sure.” He said with a smile. “Although, I would love to have you all to myself.” He continued with a wink.
“Great.” She said ignoring his comment as she stood up, her hands gathering the material she had been going through. “I just need to return all of this stuff, then find a phone, unless you have one I can use?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.
Leo pulled out his slim cell phone. “As a matter of fact, I do.” He said with a smile as he passed over the phone.
Elizabeth thanked him as she stepped around him. After returning the archival material, she stepped outside the library doors to hopefully get a better signal than she had been receiving inside the library.
The phone rang several times before Aurora’s voice answered.
“Aurora, I’m still at the library but I was getting ready to head out and I have a proposition for you if you are game.”
“A proposition.” Aurora said, Elizabeth hearing the laughter in her voice. “Well, that sounds intriguing.”
Elizabeth laughed as she looked over at Leo. “Remember that private investigator I had told you about?” Elizabeth asked, as she watched Leo with appreciation, the sight of him giving her heart an unexpected beat. “Well, he knows this great band that is playing not far from here. I thought it would be a lot of fun to go, and maybe you could call that guy you met the other night and we could all go.”
“Does sound fun” Aurora said. “As a matter of fact I talked to Roger earlier and he should be here any minute. I’ll ask...wait, I think he’s here.” Aurora said, as Elizabeth heard the phone drop on the table, then Aurora’s footsteps rushing away from the phone. After only a few minutes, Aurora returned to the phone. “Elizabeth, Roger just got here and he said that he had already made plans for us.”
“Well can’t they be changed?” Elizabeth asked in frustration, wanting to spend time with not only Leo but also wanting to spend time with her friend with whom she had taken this trip.
“He says, that they really can’t be changed.” Aurora said, Elizabeth noting the undertone of hopeful understanding in her friend’s voice.
“Fine.” Elizabeth said in disappointment, as she looked back over to Leo, who was watching her. “Well, maybe later, then.”
“Yes, later.” Aurora said before dropping a notch in volume. “Hey listen, maybe, I can talk him into joining up with you guys later.
Chapter 16
The brush soothingly glided through her hair, now darkened by the dye. A woman’s familiar voice was next to her explaining the reason why they needed to run and live under different names. A Bugs Bunny cartoon played on the T.V. in front of them, the sound loud in the little room. The brown and white comforter was rough against her delicate young hands as she gripped it in fear. Not fear of this woman brushing her hair, she instinctively knew, but fear of the person from whom they were running.
Then, like Alice in Wonderland, she felt her body fall, her stomach flipping in her throat, the weeping willow tree high above. Her hands burning as she held the coarse rope of the swing, the wood plank hard beneath her as she swung so high the rope grew slack. Finding herself frozen for a moment in time, a beautiful angel floated in front of her, her face so much like her own, a conflict of emotions, her voice soft and translucent, “Don’t forget the weeping willow my love.”
Elizabeth’s hands reached out when the swing’s rope jerked taut from the downward movement. The dream and the present blended as one. With her heart in her throat, Elizabeth cursed at the dream, her hand reaching for the light switch on the nightstand. The sudden brightness, painful on her light deprived eyes, created spots that danced across the paper as she quickly wrote down the details of the dream, before it faded once more into her subconscious, her hands unsteady with the memory. When she finished writing what she could remember, she threw back the comforter and the cool air rushed over her body, raising goose bumps on her arms and body causing her teeth to chatter at the chill, Elizabeth grabbed the hotel terry cloth robe on the chair next to the bed and quickly wrapped it around herself to cut the chill of the room. The warmth of the fabric slowly seeped into her bones as she walked over to the sitting area, her notes in hand.
The dreams, nightmares, were coming more frequently along with her loss memories themselves, it seemed, as flashes of random strangely familiar thoughts would fill her throughout her days leaving her feeling vulnerable and exposed. But, what she found the hardest to shake was the feeling that her life was a lie of astronomical proportions. The things she had been told by her mother were full of holes and untruths. Making her more confused than what her mind was attempting to reveal to her, she found herself questioning everything that she remembered. If only she could call her mother a
nd confront her with what she was remembering, but she knew too do this she had to have more, otherwise her mother would find a way to sabotage all that she was discovering.
Elizabeth sighed in frustration as she sat down on the firm couch, tapping the notes against her chin. Wondering if she was truly ready for what she may discover once she remembered all that had been lost. This had been the main reason for taking this trip to New Orleans, but she just had no idea at the beginning of this journey that it would go in this direction. Why, she wouldn’t have known this was ignorance on her part, she realized, since her nightmares had always portrayed the opposite of what she was told. But, she also knew that she loved her mother and wanted to believe that what her mother had told her was the truth and not lies. She also knew that she was too far to turn back now and she would eventually have to confront her mother with what she was remembering.
So far, the library had seemed of little help, the news clipping she had seen triggered no memories for her. Wondering if she was going about this the wrong way, she decided she needed to ask Leo because she still felt that her lost memories held a desperate secret from her that needed to be revealed before it was too late. This was a constant thought for her as she felt a desperation that seemed to expand exponentially with each passing day. Her instincts were telling her she needed to find her past sooner, rather than later.
Elizabeth looked over to the bed Aurora was supposed to be occupying, wishing her friend was there to talk to, disappointed that their grand vacation had become separate trips for them both. Although she had planned the New Orleans trip with the idea in mind to discover what she had forgotten, she had also naively believed she could do that and still have fun with Aurora in the city of the big easy.
Aurora, had always been the one person she could talk to. Now Elizabeth found her unavailable to her and more available to this mystery man who had appeared on their first night in New Orleans. Roger… that is what Aurora called him. Elizabeth just wished she could meet him, then maybe she would be more comfortable with who he was. With the returning of her memory, she found herself becoming more suspicious of who he really was, it just seemed that every time that she tried to meet him, there was one reason or another for not doing so. Then she felt silly for such thoughts. Who was she? Was she so special that Aurora’s mystery man could not be anyone else and not a man that found her friend irrationally desirable? Not all things revolved around her and her mysterious past. The thought that it would, was egotistical, she told herself.
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