Chapter 12: Lost Memories
After some minutes, the car begins to slow down and smoke starts to come out of the hood. "Ah. What now?", Nelson says as he leaves the car. He opens the hood and sees that the wiring and pipes were sliced and the engine was badly damaged. "Guys? The engine is busted. We would have to ditch this car.", Nelson says as he slams the hood down with frustration. "We are literally 10 miles away from our place. Don't expect us to walk all the way back.", Sparks says as he leaves the car. Nelson turns off the car and throws its key away. "Wait, I have a phone with me. Lemme find a signal.", Dark says as exits the car. "There. 3 bars will do it.", he says before Nelson snatches it. Nelson dials a number and starts to walk away from the car. "You could have just asked?", Dark says. "Leave him alone, Dark. Nelson has suffered a lot.", Pyro says. "What do you mean? He's the toughest person I ever met.", Dark asks. "Get in the car. I'll tell you.", Pyro replies. Dark enters the car and says, "So, another long story?". "Yes. So its like this. Nelson lost his parents on the day he was transformed. He said that his parents were in the garden shed fixing a gas leak, his mother was outside while his father was fixing it. He was playing with his lighter when the transformation kicked in. It made him to throw the lighter in pain towards them. That triggered an explosion which killed both of his parents. All he wanted was to yell at his parents to help him but as you heard, that failed horribly. When the transformation was complete, he actually cried. He never took notice of his new body. Me and Sparks found him few hours later, unconscious but alive. We took him inside his house. He told us this story when he regained consciousness. He also asked us to kill him. We couldn't kill him and we couldn't let him ,live like this and at that time I remembered something. You had some drugs which made people to forget about their experiences. So, we told Nelson that we would bring a neurotoxin to kill him. We sneaked into your house and stole those drugs. We gave him some doses of it. It worked instantly and he forgot stuff dating back to 2 days before the transformation. We told him that, his parents are in Canada and that they went there as tourists. We also told him that on the day of transformation, the garden shed exploded due to a gas leak and a spark in the light system. We took his parents cadaver or what was remaining of them and buried them in his lawn beneath a tree.", Pyro says as he becomes more and more upset.
"God. That's awful. Now I know how Mike feels.", Dark says. "Yeah. He got a new body and life but for a great cost.", Pyro says in a very depressing tone. In the mean time, Nelson comes back and says," We would be stuck here for a while. Darkness can't see any vehicles which can be used by us and can't get hold of any person who can drive us back.". "I guess we are walking then. Come out Dark and Pyro.", Sparks says as he walks towards them. "Wait. Mike can help. He can drive a car as good as Nelson. I know its his break and all but then what other choice we have?", Dark says as he leaves the car. "That's a good idea, but what about the vehicle?", Sparks asks. "Don't worry about it. Mike can handle this easily. Nelson, call my place. Mike will be there.", Dark replies. Nelson dials the number and starts to walk away from the car.
After a minute, he comes back and says, "Mike is on his way. We'll have to wait for more 15 minutes till he gets here.". "Well then. Dark? You never told us how you came all the way from Truckee to here.", Sparks asks. "Its a very long tale. I woke up, saw that I transformed into this, ran in the woods, stayed in a shed for a week and the rest is.. well.. it will take more than a day to explain.", Dark replies.
15 minutes pass by and Nelson spots a van coming towards them. The van gets closer and it stops. "Get in the van.", Mike says. "Well. You saved us Mike.", Sparks says as he gets in the van. The rest, follow Sparks before entering into the van. "Well, let's head back.", Sparks says as Mike turns the van around. "I'm sorry Mike but, we had only 2 choices. Either to walk 10 miles or to call you.", Dark apologizes to Mike as he starts to drive. "Apology accepted, Dark. It wasn't your fault.", Mike says.
"Mike? You may wanna join us tonight for a movie night at my house. Its gonna be great.", Sparks asks. "Yeah sure. I'll come.", Mike replies. 20 minutes pass by and the van reaches Dark's house. "My house is just around this block.", Sparks says before exiting the vehicle with Pyro and Nelson. "Where did you get the van from?", Dark asks as he leaves the van. "I don't know. It was right in front of the house, all parked up with the keys inside.", Mike replies as he turns the ignition off and steps out of the van. "That's weird. Someone did this on purpose but who?". Dark says as he walks towards his house. "Someone who knew.", Mike says before ringing the door bell. "Can it be-.", Dark says before getting interrupted by a familiar voice as the door opens saying, "Hello there guys.". "Darkness!", Dark exclaims in shock. "Who?", Mike asks. "I'm Darkness. The voice of the rebellion. I was living with Dark's mom ever since the day of transformation.", she says. "Now I know why there was a weird peculiar scent in the house. It was you!", Dark says. "Now. Come in.", Darkness says before making way for both of them to enter into the house.
"Oh. It looks like you guys are back home. If you need something then ask me.", Dark's mom says before heading upstairs. "I don't spend much of my time here though. I just spent it all in the hideaway.", Darkness says as he heads towards the living room. Mike asks, "Hideaway? You guys have a hideaway?", as he follows her. Dark follows Mike. "Yeah we have. Its some 30 miles away from here.", Darkness replies. "The more important question is. How did you know that our vehicle will be destroyed?," Dark asks in a serious tone. "Chill down, Dark. Its simple. For one, that's my van which I always use when travelling to the hideaway and back. Two, Autumn and Flareyhearts were learning to drive. Three, they told me about Mike. So I parked the van outside with the key in it and hid behind a bush. Mike took the van and ran off. Can't say I caught him as that was the only vehicle in that block. Lastly four, yes. I do know how to drive a car.". "That makes so much sense but I don't trust her Dark.", Mike says. "Don't worry. Sparks trusts Darkness and so do I.", Dark says. "Hmm.. Fair point.", Mike says.