To Seek The Truth

"Thank you." Maria said after I handed her a cup of tea.

"How do you know me, Maria?" I asked.

"You really don't remember?" She asked. "Seventeen years ago, I was one of the children at the orphanage around the time you were volunteering."

"Orphanage? What do you mean? I don't follow."

Confusion was evident in her eyes. "Aren't you Miss Krista? The Church leader's daughter?"

I sat on the sofa, frozen. Church leader? What was going on? I felt dizzy.

"But how did you find me? How did you know I was here?" I asked.

"I never intended to find you. I wasn't here to look for you. I escaped and ended up in this town. Then, as I was walking around looking for a place to stay, I recognized your scent. Then, I followed your scent and found you in the forest." She explained.

"You followed my scent? So, you really are a vampire?" I asked, curious.

"No, I'm not. I used to be human. But after you set fire to the lab and burned everyone in it, the Church needed new test subjects. And we were the closest they could lay their hands on."

"I… killed… people?" I stared at her in shock.

"You really don't remember anything?"

I closed my eyes and tried to think. Nothing. I really couldn't remember anything. It was no use.

"But that was seventeen years ago, how would you know my mother's scent?" Kilian asked. He was obviously on alert. He didn't trust the woman completely.

"Because of this." Maria gently placed a gold necklace on the table. It was a beautiful heart-shaped locket with a bright ruby in the middle. "This is yours."

"Mine?" I picked it up and held it on my palm. A tear fell from my eye for some unknown reason.

"You said it belonged to your mother."

"What is going on here?!" Adam came back from the hospital. "Who are you?"

"Adam. Her name is Maria. She says she knows us from seventeen years ago."

Adam stared at her for a while, and I saw panic in his eyes. "No, we don't know her. How many times do I have to tell you not to trust anyone so easily?"

"It's you. I remember you. You also volunteered at the orphanage." Maria said.

"No. We don't know anything about an orphanage. Now, please leave." Adam said. He grabbed Maria by the arm and pulled her to the door.

"Adam, what are you doing? Stop it!" I held Maria's other arm and pulled her to me. "I said stop it!"

"This girl is going to ruin us!" Adam said. I heard the desperation in his voice.

"Please, I need your help. My friends, we can still save them." Maria pleaded.

"That's got nothing to do with us. Now go!"

"You may have burned the lab, but you didn't destroy the research completely. It's still going on. This time, they're preparing for war. Please, I beg you."

"There's nothing we can do to help you!" Adam pulled Maria too hard and she hit her back on the door. "Go now while I'm still being nice."

"Adam! What's gotten over you?!" I yelled at him.

"Please. Even if you don't care about me, can't you at least help me for Amelia's sake?"

That name. It struck a chord on me. Amelia, where did I hear that name before? Then, I fainted.

"No!" I screamed and tried to run to her, but Philip caught me and we hid behind the bushes. Nobody heard me. My scream was muffled by Amelia's screech. She was in pain, and I couldn't even do anything about it.

"There's nothing we can do for her now. If we get caught here, everything we've done would be for nothing." Philip said then he held me tight.

The tears I had been holding back fell like rain. My heart sank.

"Don't worry. We'll just have to save her. But for now, let's get out of here before anybody sees us." Anita said.

Then, we heard Amelia scream and saw her fighting for freedom. She broke the chains and started attacking the elites. But she was outnumbered. In the middle of the chaos, our eyes met for a second. I reached out my hand and gestured for her to run to me. She was about to come running to our direction when she was stabbed from behind. The spear went through her heart and I watched as life disappeared from her eyes.

"Nooooooo!" I cried. Philip placed his hand over my mouth and pulled me to run."

I opened my eyes. What was that? A dream? No. It was a memory. A memory of Amelia. Then, more memories of her came to me in an instant. Amelia, that poor little girl. I started crying.

"Annie! What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Adam came quickly to my side.

"Amelia, I remember her."

"You got your memories back?" He said, pulling away from me.

"Only a few memories of Amelia came back." Then finally, I asked. "What are you hiding from me?"

"Nothing. There's nothing."

"Don't lie to me! I know you're hiding something. I know!" I started crying again. "Where is she? Where's Maria? I need to talk to her."

"I sent her away already. She won't do us any good."

"Why? Does that mean you know her? She was telling the truth then?"

"Let's talk about this later after you've calmed down."

"No! I want to know the truth now!"

"Krista!" He shouted. "Please…"

"What did you just call me?" Even he was surprised with what he blurted out.

"No. Annie, please. I---"

"Leave me alone. I don't want to see you." I fell back on bed and pulled the blanket over my head. I heard him leave and close the door behind him.

I woke up the next morning with a heavy heart. Adam already left for the hospital and Kilian was already preparing for school, despite being grounded. After he left, I quickly ran to the bedroom and grabbed my bag. I put some of my clothes into it and went to the kitchen. I stuffed some food from the cupboard. Then, there was a knock on the door. I opened the door and Maria was standing outside.

"Perfect timing. I need you to take me there." I said.

"Where?" She asked.

"Home."