28 days, 9 hours, 28 minutes left

My feet carried me away from that neighborhood and into the next. I moved without really knowing where I was going or with any concern about getting lost or anything really. I ran with the intention of not thinking, and it worked. I didn’t think about anything while I was running except putting one foot in front of the other.

I got tired a couple streets away from the house and stop in a park I spotted. I collapsed onto the bench and looked around. The park is completely void of other people, and is fairly small. There’s a swing and slide at the other end and a couple of benches.

I dropped my head back and stared up at the branch covered blue sky. I’m jolted from my staring when I heard a sharp, “Hey.”

I tilted my head and found Lex standing with her arms crossed in front of me. Her presence surprised, I would have thought if anyone were to track me down, it would be Liam. Her face was blank of any emotion and I gestured with my hand that she could sit down.

“Hi.” I said quietly in greeting as she sat down beside me, leaving a few inches of space between us.

“So, you had no idea?” She said after a few moments of silence.

“No, I had no idea.” I said, “Not that I would anyways. I don’t have all my memories.”

“What?” Lex asked, incredulously.

“You didn’t know?” I asked, surprised, assuming she did from her comment about abilities earlier.

“Of course I didn’t, but this you makes a lot of sense now.” She said, still looking quite shocked.

“I thought that was part of my abilities?” I questioned, ignoring the comment about myself, and she shook her head.

“No, Lottie, that’s not part of your abilities. It’s obviously a glitch.” She responded.

“Glitch?” I asked, my voice an octave higher.

“I’m not the best person to explain that to you, John is actually.” She winced and I slouched down at the news.

“Great.” I said sarcastically.

“He’s really not a bad person.” She said and I nodded.

“Why do you call me ‘Lottie’?” I asked, switching the topic to something I had wondered about since she first said it.

“We, uh, knew each other.” She said, her gaze darting away from my face.

“We did? How?” I asked, curious at any potential information about my past.

“Well, we grew up living next door to each other. You were my best friend.” She said, avoiding look at me as I was filled with sadness about forgetting her. She’s definitely grown on me since we first met in the basement and I had a strong desire to have the memories of growing up with her as my best friend.

“I’m so sorry.” I apologized and she frowned at me.

“Don’t apologize, Lottie. It’s not your fault, you weren’t given a choice in the matter, none of us were.” She said, her voice laced with anger that I knew wasn’t directed at me.

“What to do you mean?” I asked, not fully comprehending what she was saying.

“Sorry, but like I said earlier, I am so not the person to explain all of this to you.” She said and I nodded, “Maybe we could head back? So you can get some answers?”

“Okay.” I said reluctantly, still not thrilled about the idea of seeing John again, a dark loathing filled me when I thought of him.

“Are you going to be alright?” Lex asked, as if she could sense my newly developed feelings towards John.

“I can handle it.” I stated, getting up from the bench. Lex followed suit and we started heading back to the house together, taking our sweet time.