Chapter 4

‘’You have to kill him!’’ Those words kept resonating in Alessandro’s head like those large bells on ancient churches that could be heard through an entire town. Why bring murder into the picture? Was that really necessary? Couldn’t a simple talk solve the problem? Perhaps the portal from which he came from could be open again and disappear? Alessandro was reviewing his options, anything was better than killing the one person who looked exactly like him; and apparently not only on the physical aspect.

‘’Why? Why would I do that? It can’t be the only way!’’ Alessandro exclaimed while looking to Dr.Kelly with a worried yet saddened expression.

‘’I am sorry, honey; but if you do not wish to kill your double then the only way to live your life as normal as it can get is to write a completely new chapter and start from zero.’’ The doctor responded with empathy.

‘’But I don’t want that! I want my life back!’’ Alessandro said in desperation. He did not understand how the doctor could see or take death so lightly. He did understand that his double was a fake version of him, but regardless of that detail, it was a life. The only thing Alessandro was seeing in this situation was the sole fact of sacrificing one life to get his old one back. It just wasn’t the righteous way, just the easiest, and Alessandro wasn’t necessarily on board with that.

‘’Well, if you want it back, then you know what you have to do.’’ Dr.Kelly simply said in a neutral tone, she was kind of sympathetic of the young elf, but unfortunately, there was nothing else she could do other than be plain honest with the boy.

Alessandro let out a long-tired sigh without saying anything else, there wasn’t much else he could say. There was only one thought on his head and he was ready to execute it when the time was right.

The rest of the day passed by quickly, Alessandro entertained himself talking with Officer Mariano who was being polite but in reality, he was wishing for the boy to shut his mouth so he could do his job properly. Alessandro being the talkative type did not stop talking even when avoided. Perhaps he was just trying to connect again with his human nature, he did not see nor talk with any other human being in those forty years he was captured. Therefore, Officer Marino had to deal with the young elf and his stories. That was until his mother arrived to take him home.

The moment Alessandro saw his mom, he instantly ran to embrace her. His mother, friend and the light of his eyes was finally there, in his arms, hugging her strongly which was going to most likely confused her due the fact that Alessandro was behaving like he had not seen her in years. That of course was the case for Alessandro but not for his mother. The last time she saw her son was four days ago because he was supposed to be on a road trip with his friends, not in a completely different country.

‘’You have a lot to explain, young man!’’ Alessandro’s mom said to her son while hugging him. ‘’But first tell me how you are sweetie? How did you…. You are taller!’’ she exclaimed upon holding her son’s face in her hands to look at him more directly.

‘’How are you taller? You definitely look taller sweetie!’’

‘’What?! Mama that’s impossible, it’s me! I’m the same guy!’’ Alessandro said to his mom a little nervous, knowing full well why she was asking that question and noticing the differences, but he couldn’t tell the truth to her and that was just consuming him.

‘’Of course, you are but, it’s very weird. I could have sworn you look shorter the last time I saw you sweetie, it wasn’t that long ago, just four days!’’

‘’Four days? Wait, where was I supposed to be?’’ Alessandro asked in confusion, trying to remember when was the las time he was with his friends, but couldn’t necessarily recall when exactly was it.

‘’California sweetie, you went on a road trip with your friends. Why do you not remember this honey? And why are you in Mexico? You never told me you were traveling here!’’

‘’I…well I, I don’t…’’ Alessandro babbled in that moment, trying to find an answer for his mom that didn’t require lying but much to his dismay, lying was the only option, an option he was not good at.

‘’Allow me to explain, Mrs. Sorrentini, correct?’’ A sudden hoarse voice interrupted the young elf, he looked behind him to see the whereabouts of that voice, only to realize it was from Officer Mariano standing alongside with Dr.Kelly.

‘’Why is she with the cop?’’ Alessandro wonder in thought while looking from the policeman to the attractive Doctor lady. She left hours ago, yet there she was again. As soon as Alessandro’s curious blue eyes set on her, she winked at him in a mischievous way, whatever her deal was, it certainty caught the elf’s attention.

‘’Yes, that is correct.’’ She confirmed to the man who addressed her. ‘’Officer, is my son in trouble? Why is he here? Can someone explain to me what’s happening?! And why is my son wearing these oversized clothes?!’’ There was confusion and a bit of fear in her voice. Alessandro understood why, after all, the situation was looking very bizarre. Also, Alessandro’s behavior was not helping and he knew that up to a certain point, but he did not know what else to do. He had to lie to his mom and he was very obvious about it, the poor boy had more honesty in his veins than lying. His previous attempts at lying were rather see through and unsuccessful, this time it wasn’t going to be any different.

‘’We will explain everything, Mrs. Sorrentini, if you could please allow us to speak to you in private?’’ Dr. Kelly said while signaling to Officer Mariano’s office.

Alessandro didn’t know what was the doctor’s plan but, he decided to trust her. He kissed his mom on the cheek like he always used to do before sitting down on a chair to wait for the adults to talk.

‘’You should listen to them mama, I’ll be waiting for you.’’ He reassured his mother with soft smile, only then the woman let out a sigh relief. However, there was still concern in her expression, but she listened to her son and went inside the office so all her questions could be answered, or so Alessandro hoped. He was even fine with a believable explanation.

Alessandro couldn’t stop looking at the watch hanging on the wall, all he could hear was its tick tack every single second. He was fidgeting his fingers anxiously while waiting for someone coming out of that office. It wasn’t until twenty-seven minutes later that his mom burst out of the room to hug her son tightly and dearly.

‘’Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry, it’s ok, your dad and I will work together to help you recover your full memory back, ok honey?’’ She said with a gentle smile at the same time she softly rubbed Alessandro’s back.

‘’Uhm.. o-ok!’’ he simply said in a nervous tone, not understanding at all what his mom was talking about but assuming this was product of Dr.Kelly which in effect, it was.

‘’Yes, Mrs.Sorrentini, do not worry, it should not take long, he did remember you and his full name, meaning his loss of memory is not severe, just temporary.’’ She said in a friendly voice and that particular smile Alessandro was liking more than the usual.

‘’Ok, what’s going on? What did she say to my mom? And how is the officer believing this?’’ Alessandro wondered in silent.

‘’I like you, my pretty elf, so I decided to help you!’’ An echoing but familiar voice invaded Alessandro’s mind. ‘’I used my ability on both the officer and your mom. Yes, I have powers, you should have two or three of your own, you will soon manifest them. In regards of what is happening to your mom and the officer, I made them believe that you had an unfortunate accident in that road trip with your friends she told us about. Your friends are on their way home and you were the only one missing. You all took the wrong turn and ended up on the Mexico frontier, the details are not important since I can make humans believe and do whatever I want. So, worry not my pretty elf, your mom has orders from me to forget that any of this happen, she will only believe that you went on a trip to Mexico with your friends. Also, I noticed you are a bad liar but, you must try to go with the flow and act like you are kind of lost in the meantime ok? Also, I altered her perception of you, so she is seeing you with a simple bandage on your head due to your supposed severe hit on it, the one that caused your memory lost. You must be cautious about this my pretty elf; your double will be home when you return. You must know how to act when you face him. If you understood everything I said, just look at me. Also, I wish you good luck in your homeland, my pretty elf’’

That information was transferred to Alessandro’s head in less than five seconds and as Dr.Kelly told him so, he looked at her and smiled afterwards.

‘’Thank you, doctor… you never told me your name?’’ Alessandro spoke to her in his thoughts, hoping he would be heard again.

‘’My name is Violet, thank you for asking, my pretty elf.’’ She responded telepathically while returning the smile to Alessandro.

After their internal dialogue, Alessandro left with his mom, ready and desperate to be home. He of course did not leave without giving Violet a good friendly hug and a strong hand shake to Officer Mariano which also ended in a hug, just in case the policeman got jealous. Despite all of the events that happened on a single day, he enjoyed this experience and even had the opportunity to meet someone like him, a changeling. However, his biggest issue was his double living his life. Was he going to fallow Violet and start a new life like she did? Or was he going to do what he had to in order to get his life back?

‘’I chose option two.’’ He whispered in a determined voice the instant he stepped foot on the airplane with destiny to his home.

‘’I will get my life back.’’