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Several more weeks had passed, and the gang's mood had become better. Well, it had become a lot better, especially Odd's. Everyday, they would visit Rayne at the factory and say hi. She was starting to learn how to speak again, though she sometimes had hard times saying the names of her old friends.

"No, its Aelita. Eye-lee-tuh." Aelita encouraged, but she just wasn't having any luck.

"Lita." Rayne said happily, a goofy grin plastered on her face. Aelita just gave a heavy sigh and walked over to Odd.

"Odd, maybe you should try. She does seem to be fond of you." Odd blushed a little, but all the same, he went and sat down next to Rayne.

"Hey Ray." he grunted while sitting.

"Odd." Rayne chirped, and a smile was brought to Odd's face.

"Yeah." he whispered. Tears were begging to pour out like rain.

"Odd, sad?" Rayne asked with an innocent look. She tilted her head to look at him and he started to laugh.

"You know, you look really cute when you do that." he said between laughs. Rayne just smiled and said.

"Happy." She was able to get her point across with just one or two words, and it was really cute too. The only problem existing was, she wasn't the Rayne that they remembered. Everyone missed her so much even though she was sitting right in front of them.

"Ae-li-ta." Rayne suddenly said, breaking the dreary silence that filled the room. Aelita's eyes widened, and she gave Rayne a huge hug.

"Oh Rayne! That was perfect!"

"Hey, Aelita, you're choking me!" It was so strange. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at Rayne. At that moment, she had actually sounded like the girl they remembered. Although, as quickly as it came, Rayne went back to her docile nature that was now her own. It was sad. For a split second, Odd and the others actually thought that they had their friend back. The strange silence filled the room again, and Aelita let go of Rayne.

"Quiet. Shhhh." Rayne whispered, putting a finger up to her mouth. Everyone remained silent, and Rayne seemed pleased with herself in having her friends obey her.

"Maybe we should go you guys." Jeremy suggested weakly. He too was on the verge of tears. The others nodded, said their good-byes to Rayne and left.

ODD'S POV

(in bed) I stared up at the ceiling as Ulrich's soft snores filled the room. I couldn't stand it. I had said such mean things to her, and now her entire memory of me and the others is gone. I never even got to apologize. Is this my punishment? I suppose so. I just miss her so much. She's not like any other girl I've met. I used to try and date every girl in my grade. Heck, I even dated two girls at a time. But when I met Rayne, I felt so different. It was like I didn't want just any other girl; I wanted her. Just seeing her smile made me happy. It made me feel good to see her cheerful face, and now... I can't even have that without realizing that she doesn't even know how I feel anymore. I had to do something. I decided to make my way to the factory and tell her how I fell. I got out of bed, and I went to go see Rayne.

RAYNE'S POV

Odd. Odd. Why does that name sound so familiar? I want to know... who he is... why I feel so safe around him. Who is he? There are so many things going on that I can't explain, and I can't even speak anymore. I can't even tell these strange new people how scared I am. I want to tell them, because they seem so familiar. I feel like I've known them from some where.

'You don't remember do you?' a cold voice echoed in my head. What was that?

"Who's there?" I call out into the empty void of my mind.

'You really don't know who I am, do you?' the voice persisted.

"Please, tell me. Who are you?" I beg. I was scared. A voice was in my head, and I didn't know whether or not I was going crazy. Suddenly, a searing pain filled my head, and my stomach started to burn. I began to scream, hoping someone outside these electronic walls could here me. "What are you doing to me?" I cry out. The pain in my head increased as the voice boomed in my already aching mind.

'You will come back to me. You will be mine once more. I created you. You cannot escape me.' It felt like my head was about to split open from the pain, and the pain in my stomach didn't cease. The cloth covering my belly began to burn off, reveling the strange symbol left on my skin. I never knew what it was until now. Now I knew what it was, and I felt scared. It was the mark of my creator. It was the mark of XANA.

ODD'S POV

I could hear Rayne's pain stricken screams just as I was entering the elevator. Fear pulsed through my veins as I jabbed the button and started plummeting towards the super computer. All I could think about was how to get to her. I had to help her, even if she couldn't remember me. I just had to be the one to know she was okay. I reached the room after what seemed like an eternity, and just as I was about to enter the room, everything became deathly quiet. My heart almost stopped when the door opened, showing Rayne collapsed on the floor. I quickly ran over to her and sat her up in my lap. Her eyes slowly fluttered open to show a look of pain and terror.

"Rayne, are you okay?" I asked in a trembling voice.

"Odd. I'm scared. He hurt me. He's coming for me. I'm just so scared." Rayne muttered as she pulled me closer. Hers tears that had now started to fall began to stain my shirt. I couldn't understand it.

"Rayne," I said. "you're talking. I don't get it. What's going on? Who hurt you? Who's coming for you?" I was so worried. I was afraid of the answer, because I had an idea of who it was just by looking into her eyes as she stared up at me. One word escaped her lips.

"XANA."