The soft rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room as Blake stirred awake. With a stretch and a yawn, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, feeling the cool touch of the wooden floor beneath his bare feet.
"Guess it's time to face another day," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his tousled hair as he made his way to the bathroom.
As he brushed his teeth, Blake couldn't help but notice a peculiar detail—he was ambidextrous. He wielded his toothbrush with ease, effortlessly switching between hands.
"Huh, didn't know I could do this," he remarked with a wry smile, quirking an eyebrow at his reflection in the mirror.
His gaze drifted to the small silver hoop adorning his right ear. "Where did this come from?" Blake wondered aloud, tracing the outline of the earring with his fingertip.
The mirror offered no answers, only a silent reflection of his own uncertainty. With a sigh, he tore his gaze away and turned to leave the bathroom.
The condo felt suffocating, the air heavy with unanswered questions. "Need to get out of here," Blake muttered, feeling a sense of restlessness gnawing at him.
The mirror offered no answers, only a silent reflection of his own uncertainty. With a sigh, he tore his gaze away and turned to leave the bathroom.
The condo felt suffocating, the air heavy with unanswered questions. "Need to get out of here," Blake muttered, feeling a sense of restlessness gnawing at him.
As he stepped out onto the porch, he found Elena standing there, a wine glass delicately cradled in her hand. He couldn't help but wonder how she managed to maintain such composure despite always having a drink in hand.
"Good morning, Elena," Blake greeted her, mustering a polite smile as he approached.
Elena's expression softened as she turned to face him, a fleeting warmth in her emerald eyes. She moved to hug him and after, she cupped his face, about to plant a kiss on him but hesitated mid-motion, withdrawing her hands with a pained expression.
"I... I forgot," she murmured, her voice tinged with regret. "I forgot I wasn't allowed to do that again."
Blake furrowed his brow in confusion, feigning innocence. "Allowed to do what, Elena?"
Her gaze faltered, a hint of sadness flickering across her features. "To show affection," she replied softly. "You've been... distant lately. It's as if you've lost your love for me along with your memory."
"I'm guessing whatever happened yesterday is the reason she's not here yet. Or perhaps I'm too early. I'll just go wait for her by the stream," he resolved since it was now like their little meet up location despite the fact that it had only been twice they met.
Just as he turned to leave, a voice shattered the silence, causing him to freeze in his tracks. "Why are you here? To mock us? You and your mistress succeeded with your plans, congratulations," the voice accused, sharp and filled with bitterness. Startled, Blake whirled around to see Nana emerging from the bushes, her presence commanding attention.
"Whoa... I didn't see you there," Blake stammered, caught off guard by her sudden appearance. His eyes took in her attire, the simple yet striking garments that adorned her slender frame. She was in her usual attire. A white strip of fabric folded around her chest and then a longer black one that was tied around her waist,reaching her knee.
But it was the look on her face that caught his attention—a mixture of anger, hurt, and traces of tears.
Confusion clouded Blake's features as he struggled to comprehend her words. "Wait, what? What did I do?" he asked as he replayed her accusations in his mind, searching for any hint of understanding.
.
Nana's gaze bore into his, her expression hardened with resolve. "I see, you and your mistress are alike. You act as though you know nothing of which you are accused but then proceed to cause more pain and agony for my people!" she declared, her voice filled with righteous indignation.
Blake's brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to make sense of Nana's accusations. "I swear, I don't know what you're talking about," he insisted, his voice tinged with frustration and disbelief. "I'm just trying to understand what happened here."
Nana's eyes bore into his, filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. "You may claim ignorance, but your actions speak otherwise," she retorted bitterly. "You and Elena have brought nothing but suffering to our village. And now you come back here, as if to gloat over your victory."
Blake shook his head, his mind racing to comprehend the gravity of Nana's words. "I swear, I had nothing to do with whatever happened here," he protested, his voice tinged with desperation. "I'm just trying to piece together my own memories. I don't even know who I am, let alone what I've done."
Nana's gaze softened slightly at Blake's words, but her resolve remained firm. "Ignorance is not an excuse for the pain you've caused," she replied, her voice heavy with emotion. "But if you truly seek answers, then follow me. I'll show you the truth of what happened here."
With that, Nana turned and began to walk away, her steps purposeful yet measured. Blake hesitated for a moment before falling into step behind her, his mind swirling with questions and uncertainty.
As they walked along the trail in silence, Blake couldn't help but steal glances at Nana's flawless complexion. Despite living in the forest, her skin seemed untouched by the harshness of their surroundings.
Lost in thought, Blake remained quiet, sensing that Nana was not in the mood for idle conversation. He resolved to speak only when spoken to, allowing the weight of their shared silence to hang heavy in the air.
As they continued along the winding path, Blake couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation building within him. What did Nana have to show him, and how would it shed light on the mysteries that surrounded them? He could only hope that the truth would bring clarity to their tangled web of secrets and lies.