Chapter 4

I awoke with a startled gasp. I was in the middle of the woods. Juju now back in his dog form was lying next to me. I smelled smoke. I swiftly sat up and saw a fire going. Harvey and Rosie were sitting by the campfire. Rosie was her human self and clothed in one of my sister's clothes. She had Harvey's jacket wrapped around her. The moment they started to look my way, I pretended to be asleep.

"He's been out for a long time...I think I hit him too hard." I heard Harvey whisper.

I don't remember him hitting me, but I had dried blood on my face; so he obviously hit me pretty hard. The question was why was hitting me necessary? I couldn't remember a single thing. Why was Rosie wearing Harvey's jacket? That's when it came to me. It finally clicked in my brain. I should have known better. I knew Harvey might try to steal Rosie away from me; and now I had proof. I then heard voices I didn't recognize.

"Princess...we can't thank your young friend here enough for saving us."

"Yes...I thought we were all doomed until he took those dreadful chains off me."

"I thank you all the same Rosie...but I'm sure my brother Leo is worried about you."

"I know Uncle...but we did what we had to do." Rosie's small voice replied.

"I also can't thank you enough Harvey for protecting my niece."

"Oh...well...thanks...it's a team effort."

"Speaking of team...do you think Bryan, will be okay Harvey?"

"I...I don't know Rosie."

I closed my eyes and began to drift back to sleep. In my dreams there was nothing but bloodshed and screams from nowhere.

"Bryan...awaken and bring me the Princess...feel your headace grow worse until she is mine!"

I groaned and sat up breathing heavily. Juju was startled by me. He whimpered and tried to nudge my hand.

"N...not now Juju...not now."

With difficulty I got to my feet and then tripped as my headace made me dizzy.

"Bryan..." It was Rosie. She slowly got up.

I couldn't be near her. I got up holding my head and tried to get away.

"Bryan? Where are you going?"

"Leave me alone."

"Bryan?"

"Leave me alone!"

I grunted and tried my best to get away from her and the others. She persistently followed.

"Go away Rosie!"

"Bryan no, let me help!"

"I said go away!"

She caught up to me. She grabbed my arm and turned me around.

"Bryan please!"

"Go be with Harvey alright?!"

"What?!"

"You two obviously love each other!"

"Wh...what are you talking about?"

"Don't be stupid Rosie! You're wearing his jacket! And I know he's 10 times the man I'll ever be...he's been with tons of girls so hey what do I know...I just wish you would have told me you liked him!"

"Bryan...no...please your disoriented."

"Disoriented?! You and Harvey are the ones who are disoriented?! I thought you both were my friends?!"

"We are...Bryan please...it's Margolas...he's poisoning your mind. It's nothing...whatever you believe it's not true! None of it's true!"

"Bring her to me!" Margolas shouted.

"No!" I screamed and turned away. I then tried to run but tripped in the process.

"Bryan!" Rosie tried to follow and tripped herself. We fell forward down a hill overlooking a cave. We toppled and both fell in it. Our bodies hit the dirt pretty hard, and it caused the cave opening to collapse trapping us inside. I landed on my back, and she landed on top of me. Her face was the last thing I saw before the last rock fell and the light disappeared.

She created a green orb of light above us.

"Bryan..."

She got to her feet and pulled her hair behind her ears.

"Look...You know I can easily use my powers to move those rocks...so can you...but I don't think we should go anywhere until we get this sorted."

I brushed the dirt off my pants.

"And how am I supposed to do that?! Margolas is in my head Rosie! He-"

"Bryan! You and I were talking before...you're talking and yelling at me now and he hasn't said a word has he?"

"No but Rosie-"

"Has he!?"

"No..."

"See...you were focused on something else...you thought Harvey and I were together...it drove you crazy...that was all you could think about...and you know he's there...you know Margolas is somewhere in the back if your head, but you can't listen to him...you said you could fight it, but you can't, you said you were alright, but you're not...you let him in Bry...you have to refocus and get him out."

I...I know Rosie...but I-"

"And I know...I know what the pain feels like...the fever...the depth of your soul feels like its on fire...you feel as if you have no control that you just have to obey...but you don't."

"How do you know?"

"I'm half anodite Bry...I have similar mind powers to you...and Margolas forced me into hurting my father...he then told me to come to him...but I fought back...he can't touch my mind now."

"But how Rosie...how did you do it?"

"Refocused my energy on something else...thought of memories that make me happy...memories that make me who I am. Memories that no matter how far deep he goes into my mind he can't take them away from me."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. It got super quiet and I felt my pain subside. My headache finally after hours began to fade. I then felt fingers brushing my fringe back. As I opened my eyes there stood Rosie. She then touched a cut that was on the side of my head.

"Does it hurt?"

"Not so much now?"

"Is he gone?"

I smiled shyly.

"Yeah...I think he is..."

She looked deeply into my eyes.

"What memories did you choose?"

"My sisters being born...my parents loving me everytime I had a diabetic attack...Harvey and I playing basketball at his house...our trip to the beach when I was little..."

I leaned in closer to her.

"The first time I met you..."

I had never kissed a girl in my life, much less an alien girl, but it was about to happen. Everything Dad and I ever talked about came flooding back. I had a different urge. It wasn't one from Margolas to snatch her up and take her to him. In fact the thought of him all over her, the way I wanted to be made my blood boil. This urge was stronger. Her lips were so close. This was my first kiss. I've secretly wanted to kiss her since I got to know her. She was everything and more I wanted in a girl.

As we were about to kiss, the rocks moved from the cave's opening. She didn't move them and neither did I. It was Juju and Harvey.

"Here you guys are! Rosie you okay?!"

"She's fine Harv...why wouldn't she be?"

"No offense Bry...but you haven't been yourself."

"Well I'm back Harvey...I'm back."

He ran over to us and looked into my eyes.

"Yeah...that sparkle in your eye is back...I...I guess I can tell you I'm sorry now...now that I know it's really you."

"Sorry?"

"I had to hit you...I...I've never felt more like a piece of shit in my life to do that to you."

"I understand why you had too."

"So...we're good?"

"Yeah Harv."

"And...you don't...you don't have any feelings for Rosie?"

"Huh? Dude...she's cute...but I got my Lola..."

"Yeah...I guess I forgot that..."

"Thanks to Margolas you forgot a lot of things."

"Not anymore Harvey...I got some memories that Margolas can't take away."

I looked at Rosie. She smiled at me.

"Margolas is gonna have a rude awakening now...we got the rest of the Florauna on our side now."

"Thanks to you Harv."

Yeah well...don't make a big deal out of it...let's go tell them you're alright. Come on Juju!"

Harvey and Juju ran off. I looked down at my hand. Rosie and I had been holding hands they entire time.

"Come on Bryan...I want you to meet my uncle."

She started to follow Harvey and Juju; only her hand was still in mine. I pulled her back and spun her around. Her lips finally met mine and we kissed for the first time. That's a memory I'll have forever.