When Lee asked her those questions, she didn’t know how to respond. Why was she so attached to Ezekiel? Why did he matter so much to her? The flash of light hit, and she felt something had pulled her away. Broken pieces of her memories flooded in. She searched for answers in them but found nothing. Everything was either so twisted or missing or too shattered to put together. She saw people she knew from the corporation, such as Annabelle and Angelica. But she saw other figures she couldn’t remember. It was as if their entire existence were cut out from pictures. However, Ezekiel was as clear as day. The others had blurry parts in the background, things she couldn’t focus on or clearly remember. But him? He was the only thing with no cracks, nothing erased, everything focused in. So why was it that she remembered that day and every day after with Ezekiel so well but everything else was such a huge blur?

She remembered it all to a T. How the moon light hit his scrawny stature. How he cautiously approached her as if he were trying to persuade her that he was not a threat as she had done the same for him. But what made her stay with him? What made her trust him? Was it the way he talked? Or was it the way he acted towards her?

Monique: How do I know you won’t take me back to Twilight Baleful?
Ezekiel: You don’t trust me?
Monique: I just broke into your house…
Ezekiel: And you’ve had a long history of being burned before.
Monique: Don’t read my mind without permission!
Ezekiel: Ahh…sorry.

He slowly made his way to her. She stood still, trying to figure out just who was this guy and what did he want. He caressed her cheeks softly. He entranced her by using his looks and touch. His voice sounded like a siren’s, softly calling out to her. Even though she asked him not to go inside there, he was already in her head. Rewiring parts of her.

Ezekiel: Why would I do anything to harm you?
Monique: I-I
Ezekiel: All I want is out of this hell hole. And I do hope someone as sweet as you will help me.
Monique: S-sure but why me?
Ezekiel: Maybe its fair that you broke into my life.

She blushed. He sinisterly smiled. He knew it worked. Say the right things, make the right moves. But he knew he had to continue this charade. So, they talked all night. About how they were never enough for the adults in their lives. How they wanted to run, run far away. He asked her why she needed to go so far, why couldn’t she just do what he wanted to do. But she was still head strong. She insisted on going to New Orleans. So, he insisted on coming along.

Monique: What’s out there for you anyway?
Ezekiel: Adventure, a chance to get to know you better. Besides, you wouldn’t have to travel on foot and run into the chances in seeing your former colleagues of yours. We can ride in style and spend all the fortune my parents’ have.
Monique: Won’t they catch onto you?
Ezekiel: That’s if they care enough.

She was convinced. But, deep down, she felt awful. Like this was wrong. She shouldn’t have said yes. She shouldn’t have agreed. But she did. Because on the surface, she felt something that she never felt in, well, ever. She felt enamored by him. She couldn’t tell if it was love yet. She knew telepaths who could essentially manipulate and control others’ emotions and thoughts. Was he one of them? Questions formed yet never left her head. Everything felt so barricaded. He would reassure her nothing is going on, that nothing was wrong. That everything she was thinking, or feeling, was her just being delusional. That there was nothing to worry about. That everything was okay. And she believed him.  

The next day they both set out for their adventure to New Orleans and mapped out all the cities they were going to pull over at. They were going to spend the day driving from Midtown East, New York, New York to Berryville, Virginia. It was a 4-hour drive and he promised that she wouldn’t regret making pitstops. She didn’t mind or rather couldn’t oppose to the plan. It wasn’t her car that they were taking. It wasn’t her money that they were spending.

Monique: What’s out here in this small-town area?

Ezekiel: What? Are you all about the destination? Not the journey?
Monique: I mean, to be fair, I can’t necessarily enjoy the journey. You know, getting chased and all.
Ezekiel: Well, with me, you can enjoy the finer things in life. Like taking in the scenery. Taking it slow.
Monique: Is it really taking it slow to be traveling with someone I’ve barely ––––

He interrupted her with a kiss. Quieting her thoughts and leaving her bewildered as he walked away. How could he take something so precious, so sacred….and do it in one fell-swoop without a second thought? But more importantly, why wasn’t she mad or bothered by it? She was left to ponder these thoughts as they made their way to Knoxville, Tennessee. He went on and on about how she would love everything about that place. She kept nodding her head, making it so she was listening to every single word he said. But she honestly didn’t care. She had a place to get to. She didn’t want all these stop overs. He left her at a dinery in some hole in the wall place to take a phone call.

Ezekiel: What do you want, father?
Father: Where have you been?? Your mother and I have been worried sick about you.
Ezekiel: Haha, now you and I both know that’s a load of bull shit. So, let’s call off the charade and tell me what you are really calling me for father?
Father: Clever child. Were you also clever to know that the girl you’re with is company property?
Ezekiel: Very aware of that, but how do you know I’m with her?
Father: I’m not an idiot, son. The security cameras were on. And you know very well traffic cams capture everything.
Ezekiel: I’m not giving her up, father. She’s too…valuable.

He stood there, observing Monique playing with her food as she waited for him to return.

Father: My boss won’t be incredibly pleased to know you’ve stolen their property.
Ezekiel: Property neither of you could keep under control.

She caught his eyes and smiled at him. He smiled back.

Ezekiel: I do, however, have a proposition to make.
Father: You are not in any position to make any proposition.
Ezekiel: Now. Now, father, the girl you whined about not being able to control is now in my possession, isn’t that correct? So, why not make this wager? How about I get this girl under my control, and when she is, she can be all yours.
Father: And what is it you get in return?
Ezekiel: Utter control of that pesky little elite team you have going on there. Oh and, she has to listen to whatever I say. It’ll give me a chance to evolve my potential.
Father: And how do you know He’ll let you do as you please?
Ezekiel: How else will you get your precious subject back?

Ezekiel hung up the phone. He then entered back into the place where he had left Monique. She wanted to ask him a million questions, like why was he out for so long and who was he on the phone with. But none of these questions came to fruition. It was as if intrusive thoughts entered her mind, like a siren whispering sweet nothings in her head. Blocking every instinct, every urge, she had to run. It beckoned to her, convincing her nothing is wrong, everything is okay. Whispering, everything is okay. However, when he tried to, once again, convince her there was nothing out for her in New Orleans, she resisted. It was the only thing she held on strong to. A place for her in a town that she couldn’t remember why it had meant so much to her.

Monique: It’s important to me.
Ezekiel: Aren’t I important to you?
Monique: You are, but please, trust me.

Ezekiel at last, came up with something that would ensure his complete control over her. He had concluded that if he could rid of everything she held so dear to her, he could have complete and total control over her and her heart. He convinced her to stay for a few more weeks. He wanted to show her the area, the scenery. Everything. This was so he could be the knight she dreamed of. The person who would save her. The person who could never betray her. She agreed as long as they make it to where they needed to be, she agreed. He convinced himself this was a way to take utter control over her. Oh, how wrong he was. As they left, Ezekiel another idea popped into his head: what if he could rearrange the memories? What if he could take them a part, piece by piece and rewrite them? And on their way to New Orleans, he tried, and succeeded, in picking parts of Monique’s memories. Every question he asked her about her past, he picked them apart, leaving holes and pieces when the story would end. He’d ask the same questions again, but she couldn’t recall. The memories he took couldn’t be destroyed nor completely erased; he wasn’t skilled enough to rid them all. So, he instead locked them away where she couldn’t reach.

They made a pit stop in Baton Rouge, just an hour away from where she needed to be. It was there she met him. A man who looked to be older than her by ten years who reminded her so much of someone she once knew. But who? He had crimson eyes that spotted her miles, and miles away and somewhat spikey strawberry red hair. He gawked at her as if he lost her once upon a time. Step by step, he approached her. Yet, Ezekiel got in the way. He puffed out his chest to the stranger, trying this absolute best to protect Monique.

Ezekiel: Can I help you?

He was speechless. Words tried forming but nothing came to fruition. Monique pushed Ezekiel to the side. For a brief moment, she snapped out of the rosy tinted trance. She knew how to protect herself before, she didn’t need someone protecting her now.

Monique: Hi, I’m sorry, do I know you?

Those very words carved holes in his chest. How could she not know him? How could she forget? He shook his head to choke down the tears coming out.

Stranger: I-I’m sorry. You just…you just look like her so much.
He thought about what he was going to say for a moment.
Stranger: I-is there a chance I can talk to you in private? For just a few moments? Please?

Before Monique could agree, Ezekiel pulled her to the side.

Ezekiel: I don’t trust this guy. Let me handle this.
Monique: It’s okay. I can handle this.
Ezekiel: What if he tries to take you back to the company?
Monique: I can handle myself.

He didn’t want to argue with her, so instead he went inside her mind once more. She tried so hard to resist, but his will was stronger than hers. He rearranged her thoughts and emotions.

Ezekiel: I don’t trust this guy. Let me handle this.

She agreed. Even though she knew deep down inside she knew he was someone to her. But who? She lied to the stranger, but also lied to Ezekiel and followed them to a secluded area. She hid herself behind the dumpsters, close enough to hear the entirety of the conversation.

Stranger: Where is the girl?
Ezekiel: Not telling you. What do you want with her?
Stranger: She’s my little sister! She’s been missing for over six years.
Ezekiel: And how do you know she’s your little sister? You said she looked similar, that doesn’t mean she could be yours.

He pulled out a flier with pictures of a younger Monique.

Stranger: Please, we’ve been looking for her. And in every turn, we’ve been shut down or told she doesn’t exist. A-and I know that’s her. I just want to bring her home.

Ezekiel’s eyes widened in surprise as Monique mimicked the same reaction. She had always assumed the worse about her family. Always assumed no one really wanted her, that everyone had abandoned her. She wanted to walk closer, wanted to ask if this were all true, but before she could, Ezekiel interjected.

Ezekiel: Yeah right. You just want to sell her back to the corporation. Make some easy cash by prying on her.
Stranger: What? No! She was taken from us! She —

Monique blanked out. Ezekiel had an inkling feeling that she was there, watching. By the time she came to it, the stranger who claimed to be her brother was gone. She asked him where’d the stranger go, but he deflected every question she had. Eventually, she stopped asking altogether.

Monique: W-what just happened?

She pulled herself from the memories. It was as if she stopped a film midway and pulled herself out of the narrative. All these holes in her memories, all of these pictures that seemed ripped apart, why were they pulled apart? Why were they missing? If they were so important to her, why were they just gone?

Ezekiel: Because you don’t need them. You didn’t need them.
Monique: Who are you to tell me whether or not I needed them? They were mine! And now they’re gone…missing.
Ezekiel: Oh, they aren’t gone or missing, my dear. I simply cut them out. Buried them far, far away.
Monique: W-why?
Ezekiel: Because you didn’t need them. You only needed me.
Monique: Bu-but they could’ve…they could’ve helped me!
Ezekiel: Helped you to do what? Figure out who you are? Where you belong? You belonged nowhere else but with me, darling.
Monique: H-how do you even know that?
Ezekiel: Because you needed me.
Monique: Needed you? I needed answers. I needed to know who my friends, my family were. The people who—
Ezekiel: Who what? Loved you? Only I could ever love you. Only I could ever be what you needed.
Monique: You’re insane! I didn’t need you!

Ezekiel roughly grabbed her wrist.

Ezekiel: Yes, you did. You needed me. And I only did what any loving boyfriend would do.
Monique: Manipulate me?? Erase every part of my memory??
Ezekiel: Exactly! So, I could be your one and only.
Monique: You’re disgusting.  

She shoved him off of her, causing him to lose his grip. Before he could get up, she dashed off away from him. A door appeared in front of her. It was strange, the same door that looked like the entrance to Lee’s house. She quickly ran inside and slammed it behind her. As she turned around, she felt as if she entered the painting Lee had in his living room. A garden filled with beautiful dark colored flowers. She found Lee, in a white robe, watering them and checking on their health. As she approached him, something differed. He had curled black, scaly, horns and his eyes were a tad bit narrower. What was stranger than ever was when she called out to him, he did not answer. He didn’t even look at her. As she got closer and closer to him, he noticed her in his peripheral vision. He then did a double take and proceeded to drop the watering can. Words formed but no sound came out. She observed him, moving closer and closer.

Monique: You’re not Lee, are you?

He nodded in agreement.

Monique: Can I ask your name then?

He shook his head.  

Monique: Can you…can you speak?

He nodded.

Monique: So, you just don’t want to talk to me. Well, can you tell me something? Are you the demon that is attached to Lee?