Because the title was too long to fit in the box thingy, I will clarify what it is here: "C3 A Petty Attempt, and an Interesting Development".
Seiyra's POV
I woke groggy, the breakdown from the night before still clear in my mind. I shivered.
Pushing myself into a sit, I gently rubbed my forehead. What happened after the breakdown? Did I retain enough consciousness to pull myself to the couch? Certainly not. I never have before. Each time this happened, I found myself having woken in the relative same spot as where I collapsed.
It was strange, to have woken in a new, mostly comfortable spot. I suppose there has to be a first time for everything.
Yawning, I lightly tossed the blanket wrapped around my frame off. I maneuvered my legs over the edge of the couch and accidentally hit something. For a moment, nothing registered, after all there was nothing fragile other than the glass table several feet in front of me, out of reach.
But the moment my mind registered that the object I hit was warm, and that I never set anything in front of the couch, my senses woke. Above those facts was the fact that the object groaned.
Slowly - whether to not startle it or myself, I was uncertain - I looked down at it. Immediately I recognized it was a male frame. The male's legs were bent up to his chest while his arms crossed over his knees. His head rested lightly on his arms, facing me.
"Alex…" Just remembering the encounter from the night before, I shivered, partially from excitement but also from fear. Not because I was scared of Alex. Nothing like that. No, I was scared of losing him again.
I slid off the couch and onto the ground beside him. I crouched down as I looked at his features. It was amazing how he looked exactly the same as I had last seen him.
My confused expression faded and was replaced with a gentle one as I stared at Alex's calm expression. His eyes were closed and his lips lightly parted. When awake, his features appeared sharper, but when asleep, he looked younger and almost fragile. But then, this may be due to his amnesia.
"You know, I'd imagine it can be seen as strange to watch a person sleep."
I released a yelp and fell back onto the floor the moment Alex spoke. I didn't notice until now that his eyes had opened. "You are awake!"
"It took you long enough to notice."
I blushed and turned to the side, a look of shame gracing my features.
I heard Alex chuckle beside me, and I couldn't help but smile.
"You hardly seem that different…" I murmured. "You enjoyed teasing me back then, too." I smiled lightly at the memories.
"Telling me these things does nothing. I'm sorry." I looked up at Alex as his voice seemed to hold genuine solemnity. I shook my head.
"Do not be sorry. It is not your fault. You did not ask to have amnesia. I will not, or rather, cannot blame you for this." To emphasize the genuine truth behind my words, I smiled at him.
"I suppose." With that, Alex turned his head from me and lowered it so that he was looking at his folded arms.
"Alex, if you would not mind, or if you would like, I could tell you of some of our previous experiences. See if it might awaken something." I suggested lightly. Honestly, I didn't think he would approve, but I figured it would get our minds to focus on a happy time we shared. I think I had just the one in mind.
"I suppose you could. But I make no guarantees as to what will happen."
"Of course. Neither of us knows what will happen. It will be like… a trial and error. If it does not work, we will try something different." I pushed myself from my sitting position and stood beside Alex. "Hold on. I will get my journal, and read an entry." Alex nodded lightly and I stepped carefully over him and into my room.
I glanced outside of the small makeshift doorway to see if Alex was watching, to which he was not. I slid my hand under my poorly furnished mattress and pulled out my journal, filled with some thirty entries, and still going. Every so often, when my mood reached a certain point, I would add a more recent event to my entries. I hadn't added one for some three weeks now, so more than likely, I would here soon.
I stared at the journal for a moment before standing. I turned, and left my room.
"Here we are. I will start with a more positive entry." I positioned myself back beside Alex, before setting the journal onto my lap. I paused.
"Something wrong?"
"Mm… You know that I like you, right?" Alex nodded. "Alright. That is all I needed to know. We shall start with…" I paused, skimming, back to front, through the journal, "this one." I stopped at entry number two, because it was the day I first met Alex. A day I would like for him to remember.
"What is this one about?"
"It is the day you and I first met. I mention a few things I would have liked not to mention, but I should not hold back. You may get your memories back one day, and for them to be so unexpected…" I trailed off. Shaking my head, I smiled. "Let us start."
…
For the purpose of things, mostly my personal emotions and mental sanity, I am going to write about a happier time, before I was kidnapped; the day I met Alex Mercer.
It was a normal Sunday evening. I didn't work on Sundays or Wednesdays, mostly because my boss never liked overworking her employees. I worked for a local business that sold fresh fruit at indefinitely fair prices. We weren't a scheming business, bent on stealing money from our customers. Granted, things were tough because of it, but we pulled through, never using or getting more than what we needed. But, now I'm just rambling. But, hey, these were the best times of my life. I enjoyed work much more than the average person.
But, back onto what was undoubtedly the best day of my life.
The weather was clear, and the sun was comforting. Mid-Spring was always my favorite time of year, the cool air, the beautiful flowers, in the few areas there were any, and watching friends suffer from allergies. I'd never endured them, so I cannot sympathize with them. Again, I'm rambling. I do that a lot...
Alex was something of a... celebrity around this city. Everyone knew of him, some idolized with him, some were curious, but most feared him.
Me? Well, I was a mix of all three. I was curious as to what he was, and what happened for him to endure such a change in his humanity. I idolized his strength and ability to do what was necessary to get what was best for the people around him. At the same time, I feared him. I knew he was something of a, well, monster, in the least offensive use of the term. He was human, as well as not human. Perhaps 'Advanced Human' would be a good term, something much less offensive than monster, and much more suiting.
But I first encountered Alex after making a run to my work to buy some fruit for a fruit salad. I can't say I'm one to generally eat healthy, but I do love a good fruit salad.
With a bag of strawberries, red raspberries, and mandarin oranges, I made my way home. Several coworkers talked with me for a few minutes; the ones that weren't busy. This held me up some, but it wasn't like I had any plans or anything. And looking at it, it's a good thing they did. Because, had I left just a minute earlier, I certainly would have missed him; missed Alex. And that is something I would have grown to regret; never knowing him before he experienced something that upset him so greatly, he wished to simply destroy the world.
Of course, things were… awkward at first, awkward, then painful. I was rather nervous and cautious, and he wasn't all that happy to be around people. I could sense it with his posture, and, well, his obvious sneers at the people around him. He was walking down the street, shoving some people out of his way, and avoiding others.
When he came to my side, he shoved out an arm, pushing me over. The shove was so violent and unexpected that I tripped over my foot and slammed into the building beside me, head first. I released a small shout, the instant headache and blurry vision overwhelming me. What I assumed were my bags lay on the ground beside me, some of the contents spilled out.
With an attempt to grab at my items, I realized immediately that was not a good idea. The moment I attempted to move, a sharp pain split through the right side of my head. I groaned and lifted a hand to my head, then examined my hand. As I expected, there was blood.
What I didn't expect was a hand to reach into my vision and grab at my wrist. Instinctively, I attempted to pull my hand away, but the grip was strong. With blurry sight, I looked up at the figure. I blinked several times, successfully managing to clear my vision enough to realize the person touching me was Alex Mercer.
In one swift movement, he pulled me to my feet and pushed my back gently against the wall. I leaned against it for support the moment he released my wrist.
"What are you-" I watched as he bent down and grabbed my fruits, placing them back into the bag. He rose, then held them out to me.
"I'm sorry." His voice, oh god, his voice. It was not what I had been expecting at all. No, this was so much better than what I'd expected.
"It's… It's alright. I'm fine. I'll just…" I placed a hand on my forehead and groaned, "go home and rest or something." I frowned, realizing I wouldn't be able to eat my fruit salad like I'd hoped.
"Allow me to help you."
"I'm sorry?" Surely I heard wrong. There was no way the Alex Mercer was offering his help to a random girl he hardly knew. Not when he is who he is, and not when anyone can be an enemy. But, no, I heard right.
"I said, allow me to help you. I will take you home."
I hesitated, then asked slowly, "In what fashion?"
"Excuse me?"
"I know who you are, and sort of know of the things you can do." I thought for a moment. "Are you going to take me there the… hard way?"
"That depends on what you consider the hard way."
"That jumping and gliding you do. That sounds terrifying." Alex laughed at this, then grabbed at me gently. He maneuvered me against his side, pushing one of my arms over his left shoulder and the other around his waist. I yelped, gripping tightly both him and my bag of fruits when he suddenly jumped into the air.
"I guess I don't have to tell you to hold on!"
"You're an ass!" In just a matter of minutes, I established this.
"I know!"
"And cocky!"
He laughed at this, too, and also agreed. I cracked a light smile at it, but didn't allow him to see.
Suddenly, we landed, but that didn't last long, because the moment we did, he jumped again, and we were soaring through the air.
I kept my head so close to his chest, that I was certain I got blood on his jacket.
"Are you even looking at what's beneath you?" Alex shouted out.
"No! I'm too scared to look!"
"Afraid of heights?"
"Not really, no! I love heights; it's you I'm afraid of! What if you drop me?" I pushed myself tighter against him at the thought.
"Oh, just look!" I shook my head frantically at this. "You won't get another chance like this, woman, just do it!"
"Oh, fine!" I lifted my head, only to lose my breath almost immediately. "Oh, wow…" Granted, it wasn't the most beautiful thing in the world, seeing the city from up this high was certainly a pleasure. I'd never been in a plane, or any flying aircraft. This was the highest I'd ever been, and it was breathtaking.
"See? Worth it?"
"Yeah… Definitely…" And it was. Never would I change the fact that I looked. Never would I change the fact that I met Alex Mercer.
"And… Here we are." I froze at this. He was indeed before my house. And I never gave him directions.
"I don't want to know how you know where I live." I shook my head, stepped away from him as he landed lightly.
"It's a sense I have. I can sense where anything is that I'm searching for."
"Hey, I said I didn't want to know!" I laughed, hitting his chest lightly. "Anyway, Alex, you should probably get back to your life. I'm sure you have things that must be tended to, yes?"
He nodded at this. "Then goodbye, woman."
"Hey, before you go, the name's Seiyra. Not to be confused with Sarah. Mine is spelt S-E-I-Y-R-A; pronounced say-ruh. It was nice meeting you." I lifted my hand as a farewell gesture, expecting him to shake it.
"Alex Mercer, as you apparently know. It was nice meeting you, Sarah." He smirked at this, and jumped away onto the nearest building as to avoid my hitting him.
"I said it's Seiyra!" I shouted at him.
All I heard was a vague sound of his laughter as he leapt away and out of sight. And out of my life for three months.
Gently, almost to myself, I whispered, 'Goodbye,' and turned to my house, going inside, shutting the outside world away.
That night I had my fruit salad. It was delicious, but I missed work for the next two days with a minor head injury that caused a massive migraine and frequent dizzy spells.
Still, that Sunday was the best day of my life. I wouldn't take it back for the world.
…..
I inhaled deeply as I finished reading. "That would be entry number two, according to my journal. Honestly, I should have started with my encounters with you first, and not my-" I cut off, not willing to say what I actually started with. "Other events," I finished off with.
Alex was silent beside me, his gaze seeming distant. "You stress your name often, don't you?" He snickered playfully when he asked this.
"Very often. And you enjoyed pronouncing it wrong, and calling me Sarah. A part of me…" I trailed off. I shook my head, then lowered it.
"A part of you…?" He urged me to continue.
"…A part of me hoped it was a form of affection showing through. But I knew better than to hope someone like the amazing Alex Mercer could like a common woman like Seiyra Valasil. And that is alright. I knew better than to hope for such a thing, and I mentally prepared myself to never feel affection from you." I waved my hand almost comically and chuckled in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry."
"Alex, do not be. As I said, it did not hurt. Mental preparation is the best prevention!" I smiled wide, and lifted my pointer-finger, as if I was stating a fact.
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Stay so positive when you have so much of a reason not to be?"
"Well… it is not exactly easy." I started, facing the wall in front of me distantly. "I mean… I have endured a lot of suffering, but dwelling on it had gotten me nowhere. If I did not try to recover, I would have probably committed suicide in an absentminded way. When I dwelled on everything, the only thing I did was sit in a corner and think. I would relive what I had experienced constantly, and only worsen what I had thought of myself."
I inhaled deeply, and exhaled slowly. "In simpler words, it was hard, but when I accomplished it, I had found that I felt much better. It took a long time, I would say… some three months. And I did not recover alone. I actually… had the help of your sister, Dana."
"My sister helped you? She sounds like a kind person."
"She is. She can be assertive if she believes it is necessary, but she is generally a joy to be around, though I would never admit it to her face." I glanced at him. "I just… I do not know how she would take your return…"
"Why? Weren't we close?"
"Yes, you were… But when you grew to be… Destructive, she distanced herself. Whether it have been in fear or loss of care because of what you became, I am uncertain. I never asked, because it was personal."
"I see… I did a lot of harm, didn't I?"
"…Yeah. You did. But I am certain you had a reason. You were never one to do something rash without reason. I knew you fairly well, and that was a certain trait of yours."
Alex thought for a while, then spoke, asking a question I didn't expect.
"Seiyra, what day is it?"
"Um… If I am correct, Sunday. Why do you ask?"
"Do you have plans anytime soon?"
"Uh… Yeah... Tomorrow. Why are you asking this?"
"I want to atone for what I have done. It may be a… desire to simply right what I did wrong to you, but it's a start."
"I see… Tomorrow I will be gone for a few hours. I have to go run some errands and pick up a few things. If you could watch my home to make sure no one gets in, that would be wonderful."
"I can do th-" I cut him off.
"Wait. That is not all. I have one request of you. This is not a demand… but I would definitely appreciate it if you would comply."
"Go on." I turned to Alex, to find him already facing me. I stared directly into his eyes.
"Please do not leave me."
Alex seemed taken aback by this, but I never allowed my gaze to falter. "Alright. I won't leave. I promise."
Relief washed over me immediately, and a smile followed quickly after. "Thank you, Alex."
"You're welcome, Seiyra."
I leaned back against the couch and looked up at the roof of my home. I tilted my head to the side, amazed at how quickly night came.
"It is already night."
"Nice observation."
"Oh, shut up." Still, I smirked at his remark. "I suppose we should get to sleep, yes?"
"Probably. You'll be sleeping in your room?"
"Yeah." I stood then stretched with my arms above my head. Before turning to my room, I grabbed my journal. "I cannot just leave this around, now can I?"
"It's not like I would read it, though. It's yours."
"I suppose." I paused. "Anyhow, I am off to sleep. Try resting a while."
"I'll try."
"That is all I ask. Goodnight, then. See you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Seiyra." A blush spread across my face, at the sound of my name being said by him. Thankfully I was no longer facing his general direction, and instead had my back to him.
"Y-yeah. Goodnight."
Alex chuckled behind me, obviously aware of my embarrassed stature.
"Sh-shut up." I groaned lightly as I walked into my room. I put a hand over my flushed cheeks as I stepped around a corner in my room so that Alex could not look behind him to see me. I bent over slightly, in an attempt to flush the redness away. After a few seconds, it worked.
It was heartbreaking; how he was able to say my name with such distance and it still be his voice. I took in a ragged breath, then straightened. It was no use brooding over the fact that he forgot me. Not when he was right outside my room. Not when he was so close. That should be enough for me, and yet…
I didn't think I'd ever be the same after this encounter and knowing that Alex would never remember me. How I wish I could go back to the day I met Alex. It was a carefree time; a happier time. I miss those days so badly, I was growing willing to do anything to get them back. Anything to get the one I once believed I'd loved back.
But, all was hopeless, wasn't it? The sooner I accepted that, the easier things would be.
I just want to apologize wholeheartedly about the long delay. Honestly, I have no excuses other than lack of interest and severe lack of ideas. I have a goal, but getting there is a bit of a task. The next chapter will be phase one of my plan. And it will continue on from there. Anyhow, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I am hoping, but not promising, to have the next chapter up here decently soon.
