Ash frowned as she looked at the building in front of her. She glanced over the older brick building, looking for any signs that would suggest it was a doctor's office. There was no plaque on the door or to the side of the door with a doctor's name. In fact it didn't even look welcoming, the neighborhood it's located in wasn't the greatest neither. Ash sighed and glanced at her father "I thought you found a good psychiatrist." "I did." "There are no signs of this being a doctor's office." "Oh, he only takes a handful of patients. He's a very busy man, we're lucky he agreed to see you. He's the best in England, actually he's probably the best in Europe." Frayne lied. Maybe, he shouldn't of called him the best though, that was a bit much. Yeah, he shouldn't of said that. He frowned, oh well. "Well, go ahead." Frayne nudged his daughter forward as he reached for the door to open it. "You don't have to knock?" Ash questioned. "Ash, it's a doctor's office." He sighed as he pushed her inside the building.
It doesn't look like a doctor's office, Ash thought to herself as she looked around. There was old wallpaper that was peeling off. Vertical stripes with a floral design, the stripes were a dingy white color and a blue-ish color that might've been more aqua at one time, now it was just a sad shade of blue. On top of the stripes were flowers, baby blue, mustard yellow, and pink. It looked horrible. As she looked around she noticed the furniture looked almost as bad as the wallpaper. A small uncomfortable looking sofa sat in the room to her right, it also had a dated floral print. It looked more like a grandmother's home that refused to update than a doctor's office. "Dad, this place looks like it hasn't changed since the 1970s. Are you sure about this?" Before Frayne could respond someone chuckled from the end of the hallway. "1970s? More like the 1920s." The man continued to laugh. "I don't know why you're laughing, this is your pathetic house." Frayne scoffed. Ash stared at the man at the end of the hallway, his long red hair fell just below his rib cage, and even though he was a decent distance from her, she could clearly see his pale green eyes. "House?" She turned towards her father. Didn't he have his own practice or office? "He recently purchased this apartment, he's working on turning it into his office." Frayne mumbled awkwardly. Lydon grinned, since when was Frayne such a bad liar?
"How are you feeling?" Lydon sat on the end of his chair behind his desk, he didn't look very professional. Propping his head up with the palm of his right hand, he stared at the brunette across from him. "Um, I'm fine." Ash mumbled. "Do you feel sad or angry at times? More than usual?" The girl shook her head. Nothing was wrong with her emotionally. The man hummed to himself. "Tell me, what have you been seeing recently?" "Shadows, um, the first one I thought at first was a dream. It looked like the shadow of a man, he seemed solid but smokey at the same time." Ash fidgeted in her seat, even though he seemed relaxed something about the way he was looking at her seemed dangerous? Maybe that isn't the right word to describe it. Regardless it made her feel uneasy. "The second time I was with my friend, it was just a quick glance. It was gone after I looked away for a moment. It looked similar to the one in my bedroom though." "Is that all?" "Um, I accidentally bumped into a girl. She seemed pretty normal and I apologized, however, when I looked down her shadow...I don't know. It scared me though. It wasn't a normal shadow." Lydon nodded. "Did anything happen the week before this started?" "No, normal just like the weeks before." Lydon frowned. "Did you meet anyone before this started?" Ash shook her head. "How would meeting someone cause it?" Lydon stumbled over his words for a moment before giving a decent response. "It could've been something as simple as meeting someone that triggered your psychosis." "How?" "It could be as simple as you passing by someone. Since it's similar to the shadow of a tall man, you might've bumped into someone or even glancing at a shadow." Ash racked her brain, trying to remember if she noticed a man that tall. "Lydon, could I have a word with you?" Frayne stepped forward and nudged Ash towards the door.
"So?" Frayne questioned after shutting the door behind Ash. "I don't know." "You're useless." Frayne scoffed. "If she hasn't met anyone, maybe the formula just needs to be adjusted. From what we know, she has to meet him. If she hasn't met anyone new, it has to be the formula. She's a teenager now, it could be hormones for all we know." Lydon shrugged as he relaxed in his chair. "Hormones." Frayne deadpanned. "I mean, the hormones could be affecting how it's been working." Lydon casually turned his chair in circles while he spoke. "What are you, a child?" Frayne snapped, his grey eyes glaring at Lydon. "You're always so grumpy, poor Ash. Tell me, does she snap at every little thing someone does too? Is she your mini me? She didn't seem very friendly now that I think about it." Frayne growled, stepping forward he snatched Lydon from the chair by the collar of his shirt. "Do not insult my daughter." He hissed. Lydon grinned, his green eyes seemed to be mocking the angry man. "So, comparing her to you is insulting her?" He chuckled as he was shoved harshly back into the chair. "Want me to ask Issac? He knows more about this situation than we do." "No." "He'll find out eventually. He might even have a simple answer." "Bring him into this and I'll skin you alive." "We were actually suppose to let him know as soon as this started." Lydon reminded the angry man. "You're too attached." "She's my daughter." Lydon sighed, he didn't feel like arguing more. "If you say so." He watched as Frayne paced the office, obviously racking his brain to find an answer without bringing Issac into the mix. "She might know something." Frayne eventually mumbled. "Who might know something?" "Fix the formula. I'm going home." He didn't bother to glance at the redhead as he left the office and grabbed his daughter.
It was dark in the house, Clara frowned as she looked around. "Where's Ash?" She questioned the man across from her as she fidgeted. She knows better than anyone that she's not liked by the man. He doesn't exactly hide it. Still, she's always been as respectful as she can be to him. However, after all the years she's known him, this would be the first time she's ever been this uncomfortable. Scared. "Sit down." It was a demand. Clara felt a cold shiver go down her spine, too scared to question him she did as he said. "Ash isn't here." "She sent me a text asking-" Clara cut herself off as the dark haired man pulled a phone from his pocket, holding it up so the girl could see it. Ash's phone. "She accidentally grabbed my phone before she left today." He shrugged. Clara balled her fist hoping to hide the face that she was shaking from the man. "Why did you text me?" Frayne sat across from her. "I just needed to ask you something." "Oh." She whispered, he was really making her uncomfortable. Frayne scoffed, her fear was irritating him. "Has Ash met anyone recently?" Clara stared at the man, that was odd. "I don't think so, why?" Frayne glared. "She didn't meet anyone the day she came home late and you stayed the night?" Clara frowned as she thought about the day. "After school we went to a cafe." "Did she meet anyone?" "I don't understand." "How can you not understand?! Did she meet anyone?!" Frayne snapped, his grey eyes darkening as he yelled at the girl. Clara shrunk down into the chair. Ash's father is terrifying. She's always known he was unfriendly and he didn't care for her, but she never realized how truly terrifying he is. "Well, at the cafe a guy was flirting with her, she swears he wasn't but when I looked at him he just looked irritated. He was giving her a flirty smile." Frayne leaned forward, his nails digging into the arms of the chair. "Did she talk to him?" "No." "But-" Clara cut herself off, she was probably just imagining it. "What?" The man hissed. "There was an odd aura. It was probably just my imagination though." "Odd aura? What did he look like?" Clara paused, looking confused. What did he look like? Clara racked her brain, trying her best to remember the boy. All she could remember was the smile, his hair color and hairstyle seemed to be erased from her memory. Frayne watched as confusion and panic filled the blonde girl. "I don't remember. Why don't I remember?" She mumbled to herself. Frayne's eyes narrowed. The front opened catching the attention of both of them."Dad, I'm home." Ash stepped into the living room and frowned, Clara was sitting in a chair across from her father and a thick tension filled the air. "Clara? What are you doing here?"
The girl didn't answer, instead she sat frozen in her seat. What did he look like? It wasn't that long ago, she couldn't have forgotten that easy. "Um Clara? Dad?" Ash glanced at both of them. Her father looked annoyed and worried. Clara seemed to be slightly panicking. "What happened?" She stepped forward, placing her hand of Clara's shoulder. "Are you okay? What are you doing here?" "I don't remember!" Clara jumped from her chair and reached for Ash's shoulders. The brunette winced at the tight grip. "You remember the guy at the cafe right?" She slightly shook Ash and she spoke. "The one that kept smiling at you but wasn't friendly to me?" Ash frowned. "He wasn't unfriendly towards you." "He didn't smile at me." "You stared at him like a weirdo, I accidentally glanced at him. We've been over this." Ash sighed. "Okay, well that part isn't important right now." Clara's grip tightened. "Do you remember what he looks like? Your dad asked me, and I can't remember! All I remember is his smile, I can't even remember the color of his hair." Ash gently grabbed Clara's hands to remove them from her shoulder's afraid there would be bruises if the girl didn't let go soon. "Dad, why were you asking about that?" Frayne frowned. "I thought maybe she might remember something you didn't, you tend to be forgetful at times." "Surely the boy at the cafe isn't why I've started seeing things, he doesn't even look anything like the shadows." "Of course, Clara was just recalling everything that happened. You didn't mention it so I asked for more details." "But, why don't I remember what he looked like?" Clara cut in. "Clara, it's not that big of a deal, you barely glanced at him." Clara frowned. "But-" "You're over thinking it Clara." Ash turned to her father. "You met him the other day." Frayne gave Ash an odd look. "What?" "It was the boy that walked me home, I got dizzy on the way home and he noticed I wasn't feeling well so offered to walk me home. I tried inviting him in for tea, but I think you scared him when you opened the door." Frayne frowned. "Ash I-" No, there is something wrong. He needs to speak to Lydon. Frayne remembered that Ash hadn't felt well the day she come home. However, there was no boy with her. Clara remembers a boy but doesn't remember what he looks like. "Ash, did he tell you his name?" "Joseph, I told you that when you kind of met him, I guess technically you didn't meet though. Neither of you spoke to each other, he said he had to go so he didn't come in for tea." Frayne sighed. "Don't invite boys over. You didn't even know I was home and you wanted to invite a strange boy in." He lightly popped the back of her head as he spoke. "Clara, it's not unusual to forget someone's face, especially if you barely glanced at them. It would be different if you spoke to him." Frayne headed for the kitchen as he spoke. "Ash, what do you want for dinner?" "Can I stay for dinner?" "It's rude to ask like that." Frayne scoffed at the brown eyed girl. Clara frowned, she's missed dinner at her house because he asked her to come over. "I suppose you're always rude though. Fine, but you need to go home after dinner." Frayne sighed.
Frayne left for his office as the girls ate dinner in the dinning room. He made sure to shut and lock the door before calling Lydon. "Oh hey, how are you?" "What does he look like?" Frayne hissed. "I'm fine, thanks for asking." "WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?" Frayne snapped, annoyed at the redhead. "Hmm, I don't know. I've never met him." "Isador hasn't told you?" "Why would he tell me and not you?" "Ask him." "Okay, okay. Anything else?" Frayne grabbed a piece of paper from his desk. "Find out if he goes by other names." He mumbled as he wrote down a few notes from today.
Clara doesn't remember boy's appearance
Boy walked Ash home
I met him?
Erased memories or medication side effect? Dream?
Joseph
Frayne stared at the short lost in front of him. Ash didn't speak to the boy at the cafe, and though Clara didn't remember his appearance that wasn't a big deal, neither of them spoke to the boy while in the cafe. However, if he walked Ash home why didn't he remember that? Frayne would remember a boy walking his daughter home, especially if he was a stranger that walked her home because she didn't feel well. This started before Ash spoke to the boy though. From what Isador told him, there is no way it could be the boy. Frayne groaned. Regardless the boy still bothered him, even if he isn't the monster. Frayne would never forget someone bringing his daughter home. Did he actually bring Ash home though? Could everything just be getting worse? Could it have brought her home and appeared as the boy before her? He needs more information.
"Dad, I'm hungry." Ash walked into the kitchen, a red t-shirt hung off her shoulders, touching her knees and hiding the grey shorts underneath. Frayne sat at the table with a coffee mug before him. "Did you forget how to cook?" The man replied. The teenager frowned and reached for a container on the counter. Frayne glanced up, his grey eyes widening. "What are you doing!?" He stared at the brunette in disbelief. Ash turned around, confusion spread across her face. "You told me to get my own breakfast. I decided to eat leftovers." She replied. Frayne glared. "That's cake." The girl glanced down at the chocolate cake in front of her. "Yeah, it'll go good with a cold glass of milk." The man stood from the table and grabbed a magazine from the bar. "You know better than that." He scolded as he popped the back of her head with the magazine. "I don't want to cook." She whinned while pulling out a cake knife." Frayne snatched the cake knife from the girl and shoved her towards the table. "You brat, fine, I'll make you breakfast." He scoffed while grabbing some ingredients from the fridge. "Are you going to ask me what I want?" "No, I don't care what you want. I'm making you a ham and cheese omelet." Ash grinned though her father couldn't see it. "Okay, that sounds good." Frayne frowned. "On second thought, maybe oatmeal." Ash glared at his back. "I don't like oatmeal." "I don't care." "I'll go to a cafe and have cake for breakfast there." Frayne rolled his eyes as he cracked three eggs into a bowl and added some milk. "Not if I ground you." "For not wanting to eat oatmeal?" Frayne shrugged. "Yeah, why not." "You better not under cook the egg."
Frayne sat the omelet in front of his daughter and grabbed himself another cup of coffee. "Ash, could you tell me more about the boy, Joseph?" The girl raised her head to look at the man above her. "Dad, there's not much to tell. I saw him in a cafe once and he happened to be walking by when I didn't feel well, so he offered to walk me home." She shrugged and looked back down at her omelet. "You don't know how old he is? You didn't have a conversation with him when he walked you home?" Frayne pressed more. "Honestly, I didn't know what to say. I felt bad that he went out of his way to help me. I mean, he didn't really try to make conversation either but I was so awkward. I'm sure he could feel how tense I was. On the other hand he was calm and didn't seem bothered. I feel bad I didn't speak to him now." Ash sighed as she grabbed some of the milk in front of her. "I guess I was kind of rude to him." She frowned. Frayne sighed he wanted to ask her what he looked like, though he couldn't. She can't find out that he has no memory of a boy walking her home. "Why are you so hung up on this? I know you can be overprotective but this is a bit ridiculous." Frayne glared at the teen. "I'm just worried, can you blame me? Anyway, didn't I tell you, you can't date until you're thirty." Frayne watched in amusement as his daughter's face started to heat up. "What?! I don't even know the guy, you're jumping to conclusions. I can't believe you!" She turned her head away trying to hide her red cheeks. "And what do you mean thirty?! I'm sixteen, I'm old enough to date." Frayne raised a brow. "This is my house, my rules." He grinned as she started to get worked up. "What makes you think I'll be living here when I'm thirty?" She glared at him. "Maybe I'll be in Italy, or an Asian country. I want to travel the world. There's no way I'll be here until I'm thirty." "Well, I hope you won't be here until you're thirty. But you still aren't allowed to date until you're thirty." Ash scoffed. "That doesn't even make sense. If I wanted to I would date right now." She crossed her arms over her chest and she glared at the black haired man. Frayne just continued to grin, holding his head in his palm as he watched his daughter pout.
She's late. Ash frowned as she glanced at her phone. It was only ten minutes so far but it irritated the girl that her blonde best friend is late. Her thumb hovered over Clara's name in the message app, she sighed, deciding to wait five more minutes before messaging or calling her.
Twenty minutes, she's twenty minutes late. Ash glared at the phone, Clara also hadn't responded to the text message five minutes earlier.
Where are you?
Clara?
The movie starts in twenty minutes.
You told me to go ahead and buy the tickets online. I've wasted my time and money, the movie starts in five minutes.
...
Are you okay?
Seriously, you're worrying me.
"You look upset." Ash stiffened, opening her mouth to snap at the person. Though when she met their eyes the words got hung in her throat. It was him. The boy smiled kindly as he watched the brunette's eyes widen in shock. "It's you." She mumbled, then glancing at his clothing she frowned. "You really should wear long pants outside." He chuckled at her concern. "I told you before, It's fine. I'm not cold." "But-" "Never mind me, are you okay?" Ash tore her eyes away from his pale legs. "Yes, it's nothing. I'm waiting for a friend." She mumbled. "Oh? I'm sorry to bother you then." "No, it's fine. She's late-" she glanced down at her phone and frowned. "-really late." It wasn't uncommon for Clara to be late, but she would always reply after Ash contacted her to remind her. "I should call her mom, I'm sorry I-" Ash glanced up from her phone and met his eyes, tilting her head slightly she frowned. "I-" She mumbled as she started to reach for the boy as if she was in a trance. Blinking she jolted. "Oh, I'm sorry! I uhh, I should call her mom. I-" she blushed and turned from him awkwardly. "I'm really sorry, I don't know- uh I should go. Goodbye." She turned and quickly walked away from the boy. The boy just grinned as he watched the girl walk away.
Sitting down on a bench she pulled out her phone. Scrolling through her contacts she clicked on Clara's mother's number. "Hello?" Ash fidgeted in her seat when the woman answered. "Hello, Miss Alice, do you know where Clara is?" "She's at home, hopefully resting. She had a high fever when she woke up this morning." Ash's eyes widened. "Oh! I'm sorry. I was worried because we were suppose to meet today and she didn't show up." The women's voice turned stern. "And she didn't call you to let you know. I can't believe her, I'm so sorry sweetie. I hope you didn't wait too long for her. I'm going to give her an earful when I get home." "No, no. It's okay, she's sick. I didn't know, I was just worried so I called you." "She was awake earlier, it's not like she's on her deathbed. There is no reason for her not to contact you." Ash frowned. "With her fever she probably forget, it's okay. I was just worried." "Sweetie, I'm at the cashier now. I'm sorry Clara didn't contact you. You should come by for dinner when Clara is feeling better." Ash nodded though the woman couldn't see. "Of course. Goodbye." "Bye sweetie."
"I can't." Clara snapped. "What? Wait, are you mad at me?" Ash questioned as she laid back on her bed. The phone sat on her desk beside her on speaker. "Yes." "Why?" Clara huffed. "I'm grounded." "What did you do?" "I didn't call or text you to let you know I couldn't meet up with you Saturday." Ash sat up in her bed, turning to look at the phone she frowned. "Seriously?" "Yes!" "I-" "Apparently I worried you, and you lost money because of me." "How did she know I already paid for the tickets?" "..." "Clara?" "I told her." She mumbled. "It wasn't that expensive, I don't mind." "It's mainly because I didn't call you." "Well, you were sick." "Mum said you sounded really worried. So, she's angry at me for doing that to you." Clara sighed. "I'm sorry Ash, I should've called you. I would've been really worried too." "Yeah, you should've." "I would call Frayne in that situation." Ash laughed. "No you wouldn't." "...Yeah, I would go to the police about a missing person instead." "My dad isn't that bad!" "Yes he is." "Anyway, how are you on the phone if you're grounded?" "Oh, mom told me to call you to let you know I won't be able to talk to you for a week, at least on the phone. I'll see you at school on Monday." "Okay, bye. Sorry you're grounded." "Bye." Ash laid back on her bed with a sigh. "I guess miracles do happen." Ash glanced up to see her father leaning against the door frame. "It's my fault she's grounded." She mumbled as she turned away from the dark haired man. "Well, I'm just happy I don't have to see her for a week." Before Ash could reply he spoke again. "We're going to back to Doctor Lydon on Wednesday, your medicine is ready." Ash sighed. "He's weird, are you positive he's a doctor?" "Yes." Frayne glanced at his phone as it started vibrating in his hand, he gave Ash a slight wave before walking into his office to take the call. "What?" He mumbled as he answered. "You need to take her to Isador." Lydon's serious tone made Frayne uncomfortable. "Did you-" Lydon cut him off. "I don't know anything yet, but we need to talk to Isador and do a blood test. Something is wrong." "I'm not taking her to him." Frayne snapped at the redhead. "We don't have a fucking choice. If you don't you might lose your daughter. I think I know what the shadow is, but I need blood work and to know more about the situation. Isador has the answers we need to figure out what's going on." Frayne let the phone drop to the ground and closed his eyes. Why couldn't he just take her and leave the damn country?
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