-Talia-

So…it happened again. That stupid flash thing. This time, I wasn't sure what I was looking at, but I heard meself say, "Oh…my…sweet savior." Was that Jack Sparrow in front of me? But that wouldn't make sense…not only that, but I didn't know what Sparrow looked like. Why would he be the first person who came to me mind? It was too much to handle…and it aggravated me.

It was clearly starting to worry Asher when it happened again during our conversation the day after we left the island with that weird person on it who that wench--I mean Pandora--knew. I heard meself say my trademark rule about me ship, then welcome someone to the Lily. The question was…who exactly was I welcoming? And…no, it just didn't make any sense.

The obvious reason would be that I was going crazy, but I preferred to blame Pandora, so the next day I paid her visit to ask her about the flashes.

"Wench!" I slammed her door open, startling her as she jumped a foot in the air and turned to face me. She was standing at her window staring out. I was momentarily distracted by my confusion as to why she would be standing at her window. If you could call it a window, that is. But I quickly regained my composition. "What in the name of God are these flash things I'm having?" It was a very straightforward way of asking, but it was better than sitting around and waiting to discover the reason. She stared at me as if I didn't speak English, then she frowned.

"Umm…?"

"Well?"

"…What do you mean by flash things?" She asked. I could have smacked meself for putting it that way. She obviously wouldn't know what I meant when I said flash things. I sighed.

"Every once and a while, some…thing will flash before my eyes or I'll hear something…what are they, tell me now!"

"Umm…have you ever considered that I may not know right away??" I stared at her. I didn't have time for sass. Just as I was about to step forward and grab her by the collar, she held up her hands. "…Okay…umm…to be honest, they're probably memories from the alternate past I've been telling you about."

I sniggered. "That can't be. This is the only timeline I've ever lived in. Ye must be mistaken." I shifted my jaw back and forth, waiting for her reply. After she said nothing, I stepped forward. "D'ye hear me?"

"I heard you." She sighed, frowning childishly. She looked frustrated. "…If that is what you believe, then there is nothing I can tell you about these flashes. Tough luck." She certainly had a very casual attitude.

"Tough…luck?" I stomped my foot. "Ye listen to me, wench. Somehow I know these things are yer fault and that means yer going to tell me what they are, and I mean NOW!" She pulled back slightly, her eyes wide.

"Well, if you're not going to cooperate with me, you'll never find out what they are." Me jaw fell slack. Cooperate?? She wanted me to cooperate?? Me eye twitched as I opened my mouth to reply. "Before you answer, take a moment to change and listen to me for once. You aren't going to find out what they are by bullying me into it, you'll just have to wait to ask me until you can calm down."

"What are ye, some kind of parent??" I snarled. Oh, she was going to pay.

She sighed. "I already told you what they were, but you didn't believe me." I bared me teeth.

"They aren't memories, and that is final."

"You can't decide whether or not they are what they are. If they aren't memories, what are they, then? Perhaps you're just going crazy, in that case."

"Only one of us is crazy, and it is not me." I turned and left, seething with anger. She had just contradicted me, lied, and called me crazy. I walked straight into me room and slammed the door shut, throwing meself onto me bed. Fume, fume, fume…

Knock, knock.

"Talia?" Asher's muffled voice from outside me room sounded confused.

"What?"

"Are you okay?" I sat up abruptly.

"Why?"

"…I'm just asking…uh, can I come in?"

"…Yeah, sure." I dropped back onto the bed. The door opened and Asher walked inside. He shuffled over and sat on the bed. "Asher. Have ye had any weird flashes of…people ye don't know? Or voices in yer head saying things?"

He stared at me like I was crazy, and I must admit, the statement I had just offered him made me sound a bit insane. "Umm…no. Are you absolutely sure you're alright?"

"Shut up, Asher."

"Okay."

After a long silence, I sat up and somehow my face was contorted into a frustrated, subtle pout. "I hate Pandora," I said.

"Should I ask why?" I said nothing. "Okay. Uh, should I leave?" I paused for a moment, and I guess he somehow got the notion to leave, so I grabbed his arm.

"Don't leave." I said. He sat back down. "…Hi Asher."

"Hi Talia." We both smiled.