42

Violet Miller and the Absence of Everything

One Hour Ago

All sounds and sights had vanished. The girl was in a deep pool of water with coolness on her skin, blue behind her eyelids, and the distant peaceful sloshing of waves. There was nothing inside her, just an endless dark. No emotions, no familiarity, no memories. Until there was a voice.

“Haley,”a woman called. The girl couldn’t place the voice, but the sound of it sent a rush of warmth through her. It was like she’d entered a dream she’d forgotten about, a dream that was reaching out to her, calling for her to come back to something.

“Haley,”the voice called again. “Haley, hurry up. We’re going to be late for our trip! Do you want to read Peter Pan on the drive?”

She heard the distant slamming of car doors, the click of a seatbelt, and crackling music coming through a radio. She heard the voice of a young girl reading a book out loud about a magic boy named Peter speaking to a girl named Wendy at her window.

“Violet.” A new voice called her name. This one was different—a guy’s voice. Strange and cold, dark and alluring.

Violet? Who was Violet?

“That’s you, dear Human,” the voice told her. “I’m talking to you, Violet Miller.”

The other sounds vanished. The girl opened her eyes, and new surroundings rushed in, sharp and clear. The visual hit her hard enough that she tipped over, but a strong arm caught her and helped her balance. Beneath her feet was solid ground, around her was… a warm, bright green forest.

“Oh dear,” the guy said. “He really messed you up, didn’t he?”

Violet—it seemed that was her name—blinked at someone standing before her. A young man looked back, casting her a sympathetic smile. He was tall and broad with fair skin, strange silvery eyes, heart shaped lips, and rich red hair.

“Who are you?” Violet asked as she looked around, trying to place where she was. They were deep into the trees, and nothing else was in view apart from a dirt path a stone’s throw away. The forest appeared wild and unkept—roots plunged from the earth, tree branches were snapped off as though a great storm had rushed through, and shredded leaves were everywhere.

Signs of a struggle. Violet wasn’t sure how she knew that.

The guy drew in a step and gave her a beautiful smile. “Don’t you recognize me? I’m your lover, Violet,” he said. When their eyes locked, Violet felt herself being pulled in, like he and her were two magnets and the universe was pushing them together. She found she couldn’t look away, and though it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, it also brought her a sense of comfortable familiarity.

“My… lover?” The word choice seemed odd.

He reached out, and she meant to take a step back, but he got to her first, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and holding her tight against his chest where a necklace of furry pendants tickled her skin. He had an unusual fragrance, like sweet sugar and tea leaves. And… vanilla ice cream?

“There, there. You’re safe now, dear Violet. I rescued you from that monster,” he said.

“What monster?” She had to admit, he was warm. She found herself relaxing in his arms.

“You don’t remember what happened?” He pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. He looked confused and slightly hurt, his heart-shaped mouth tipping down at the corners.

She wanted to ask what he was talking about. What had happened? When she tried to think back, she recalled nothing at all, no memories apart from a few seconds where she’d heard a woman’s voice in her head.

Who was that woman? Where did she go? Violet looked both ways, but she didn’t see a woman anywhere.

“I’m sorry,” Violet said to the guy. “I don’t remember.” She looked off, trying hard to recall something. Anything. There was a deep sense of hollowness in her chest, like something had been dug out. The amount of confusion made her feel faint. She wanted desperately for someone to tell her what was going on and to answer all the questions looming at the tip of her brain.

The guy placed a hand on her cheek, bringing her gaze back up to his strange deep brown and bright silver irises. “I saved you, Violet.” He brushed her hair out of her face. “A monster stole your memories and tried to kill you. But don’t worry, I’ll never let him hurt you again.” He tugged Violet back against his chest, and Violet leaned against his frame as she realized her body felt so tired she could barely stand. Her mind worked hard though, going over what he said.

“A monster tried to kill me…” It was a question from a dry throat. Her pulse picked up speed at the realization.

“Yes, Violet. His unhidden name is Mor Trisencor—my enemy. It looks like he stole every one of your memories to torment me, and now you don’t remember the things we’ve been through together. He was jealous that you belonged to me.”

Heat touched Violet’s eyes, tears forming at the sounds of those things—those beautiful words about being together. Belonging to someone.

“Thank you for saving me,” she whispered, feeling the need to be polite. Because even after the feelings of familiarity, she felt a strange coldness toward this guy that seemed reserved for acquaintances.

She pulled back to look at his face again, trying to place it. Trying to memorize it so she wouldn’t forget it again. His gaze dropped to her mouth and heat spread through her when he leaned in like he was going to kiss her.

She tore back a step.

He blinked, a flit of frustration crossing his handsome face, his mouth twisting to the side.

“I don’t know you,” Violet said, not sure if she was apologizing or explaining herself. “I mean I don’t remember you yet. I don’t want to do…” she motioned between his lips and hers, “…that.”

The guy slid his hands into his pockets. He pulled a red gemstone out of one of them and rolled it over his fingers, but he didn’t take his eyes off her. “There’s something I need you to do for me, and I only wanted to kiss you before I asked.” He reached for her hand, and she felt something cold slide into her fingers, but when she tried to look down, he pushed her chin back up and levelled her gaze with his. “But I understand your hesitation. You must be very confused. Why don’t you come with me, and I’ll brew you a tea and we can talk about it. You might change your mind then.”

Violet shook her head. “No.” Nausea crept into her stomach out of nowhere. She turned toward the path to walk away, placing a hand against her forehead as dizziness spilled in. None of this felt right. What sort of weirdo tried to kiss someone who didn’t remember them?

She only took five steps before his voice snapped through the forest.

“Haley Whitefield,” he said.

Violet’s body went rigid. Her muscles felt ready, like they were waiting for something, eager to move. She looked down at herself, at her body that wouldn’t cooperate. The guy sauntered around and came to stand in front of her again. He didn’t look at her with sweetness anymore. Instead, a dark twinkle replaced the kindness in his eyes.

“When Mor comes for you,” he started, “I want you to kill him.”

Fire pooled into Violet’s veins. Her hand tightened around something, and she looked down to find a dagger she didn’t realize she was holding. She gasped at the most sudden, powerful, uncontrollable desire to kill the next person who walked into her view.

The guy leaned in, his face an inch away. “Don’t move from this spot until he finds you,” he added.

Violet watched in horror as the red-haired guy took a few steps back. A slow, sinister smile crossed his face. He disintegrated into thin air before her eyes.