"Other than I woke up in someone's backyard three days ago and I made my way out here, no," Ryan was shocked. Did this girl really not know who she was or was this some mistake and he was talking to a doppelganger?
"Shit! You're Scarlett…the Scarlett Quinn!" he said getting excited. "Fuck! I can't believe I'm talking to Scarlett Quinn, I have to tell my friends…"
"Um…hey I don't think I'm the girl you're talking about, I don't remember who I am," the girl said.
"Screw that, I know you, I'm talking to Scarlett Quinn," he exclaimed as he grasped his hair tightly. The girl stared at him, her grey eyes filled with annoyance. She wanted things to go back to the way they were when she didn't have to talk to anyone. Why the hell was this fucker here?! "I um…I'll take you to my house, it's obvious you don't have a place to stay, you can stay with my family for the time being,"
"Um…thanks, but you're not just doing this because you think I'm this Scarlett girl right?" the girl asked and for once that night, the guy actually looked genuine.
"What? Of course not, look you're my idol but I promise this isn't just because you're Scarlett, I wouldn't have left you here even if you weren't her,"
"Thank you,"
"My car is down the cliff, whenever you're ready to go, you can tell me," he said. "Aren't you hungry?"
"Uh…not really, no why are you asking?"
"You said you've been out here since three days ago so I figured you'd be hungry, I've got a burger in my car," the girl didn't exactly feel hungry but she did want to sink her teeth into something.
"Maybe I'll have a bite or two,"
"I'll go get it,"
"Let me come with you, you can leave right after,"
"But you're going to come with me right? I can't bear to see my idol roofless,"
"What about your parents? What am I going to say to them?"
"Don't worry about my parents, the entire city knows who you are,"
"Tell me how this Scarlett girl is so popular anyway?" the girl asked as they made their way down the cliff.
"Well she's the daughter of Nathan Quinn and granddaughter of Nicholas Quinn, the richest business tycoons in the business world. She has a brother, Zevan and rumors are spreading that she has a younger sister though it hasn't been publicized yet,"
"I doubt you've answered my question Ryan,"
"Which is?"
"How the hell she's popular?"
"Oh um…she's the youngest CEO in the world. She turned nineteen on the 1st of July that was just a week ago, can you believe that? Though she handed over things to her cousin Rodriguez,"
"So that's just it, being the youngest CEO in the world?"
"There's another rumor spreading among the rich that her family is the real monarchs of Devaria," he said. "Devaria is a really small country, hard to locate on a map and it's ruled by monarchs, it's a beautiful place actually but the current monarchs are really letting the place fall apart, lots of people die every day and the monarchs aren't doing anything about it,"
"So the Quinns are letting these fake royals destroy their kingdom?" the girl asked sarcastically.
"They're your family and you're Scarlett Quinn, so stop talking that way,"
"Are you sure about that because I'm sure that if they were my family, they would be inches away from that throne by now,"
"And what if they're not because you're not there?" Ryan asked suddenly. She didn't expect that, what if that was the reason why they hadn't gotten the throne yet? "Look… if you don't want to go back to your family because of overwhelming personal issues you can stay with my family but please don't talk about Scarlett or the Quinns that way again because they're really nice people and you're Scarlett Quinn," he said. She sighed and nodded her head. The name did sound familiar and it felt like it was hers and probably because she'd met someone who knew who she was but Ryan didn't feel familiar to her, he was a stranger both in her memories that were a blur and now.
"Do me a favor and don't tell your parents I'm Scarlett Quinn," Scarlett said as they got into the car. Ryan gave her the burger and put the car in gear.
"So you know you're her?" Ryan asked.
"No, I still don't remember but if I actually am her, then I'll be swarmed by paparazzi and your family won't live their peaceful lives again and I really don't want that to happen,"
"Um, sure…does your family know you're out here?"
"I…I'm not sure," after a while Ryan stopped the car in front of a beautiful house.
"Mum! Ryan's back…and I think he brought Lorraine…" a girl's voice echoed. "Oh wait, it's not Lorraine, she's prettier,"
"Eliza!" Ryan groaned.
"Hi I'm Eliza, Ryan's sister," the girl introduced herself. She had raven black hair and hazel eyes and didn't look anything like Ryan. This slight detail didn't escape Scarlett's notice. "Oh my crap, are you who I think you are?!" Eliza shrieked. "You're Scarlett Quinn,"
"Um…I…"
"There's no freaking way you can deny that, you are definitely Scarlett Quinn," Eliza exclaimed. "Mum! Ryan brought Scarlett Quinn back home,"
"Eliza! Shut the fuck up!" Ryan yelled. Eliza flinched as Ryan's voice echoed. Ryan ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "I'm sorry, just please don't tell anyone who she is," Eliza smiled and shrugged off his words.
"Who wouldn't know who she is? She's Scarlett Quinn for god's sake,"
"Alright we definitely can't lie to mum and dad but don't tell anyone else who she is okay?"
"I don't think this is a good idea Ryan, maybe I should just go back…"
"No you can stay!" Ryan and Eliza both yelled.
"Why can't we tell anyone who she is?" Eliza asked.
"Because she doesn't remember anything," Ryan replied.
"How can you not remember who you are? You're Scarlett Quinn,"
"I've heard that a lot tonight so I can't deny that I am Scarlett,"
"Ryan won't you come inside?" his mum called.
"Go inside Eliza, we're right behind you," Ryan said. Eliza went inside with a smile on her face and Ryan turned to Scarlett. "Has anyone ever told you your eyes are amazing?" he asked trying to ease the tension but instead of easing the tension, Scarlett's head ached. She'd heard words similar to those before. A blurry image of a guy with auburn hair and sea blue eyes flashed through her eyes. Ryan tried to calm her down but an unknown force pushed him backward. He fell on his back and barely missed hitting his head on the curb. Scarlett's head eventually stopped banging but not completely. Sweat trickled down her face as she crumpled to her knees. Ryan managed to stand and stared apprehensively at Scarlett before helping her stand.
"We're coming mum," Ryan choked out and led Scarlett inside. Ryan's mum was setting the table for dinner. As she looked up, her eyes met with a pair of beautiful grey eyes.
"S…Scarlett Quinn?" Ryan's mum called. Ryan's mum stared surprised at Scarlett. "I…I'm Lionel, Ryan's mother, please have a seat," Lionel said. Ryan told his mum why he brought Scarlett back and everything Scarlett told him. "Are you hungry Scarlett?"
"It's alright,"
"Are you sure? Ryan said you haven't eaten since three days ago,"
"I'm fine really and he got me a burger before we got here,"
"We'll get you some clothes,"
"Thank you,"
"You can stay as long as you need to," Eliza took her to a room upstairs. Scarlett had a warm shower and when she came out of the bathroom, she found a vest and a pair of shorts on the dresser. After she wore the clothes, she sat on the bed and faced the mirror. Where was her phone at this point? It would've really helped with her memories. Her mind was in a mess and she didn't realize there was someone standing in front of her.
"Hey kid," her head turned immediately she heard that voice. It sounded so familiar, the voice, being called kid. Her grey eyes met with a pair of ice blue eyes. He stared at her with a strong sense of familiarity that made Scarlett realize she knew who this person was but she just couldn't remember.
"Who are you?" she asked. Her voice echoed in her head, she was asking this exact question. 'What do you want from me?' the questions continued in her head and it brought about an immeasurable amount of pain causing her to clutch her head in pain. The man stared at her silently. He didn't like that this was happening to her. 'Why did you have to be a hardhead kid? You can't even be a hardhead properly!' he exclaimed in his head. Another image flashed through her mind. A dead woman and this same man was the one holding the woman's body.
"You know kid, I never actually killed that woman, she committed suicide and I took her body, the man said. Although her head throbbed, she managed a confused glance at him. "You never really thought this whole Lethe thing out, did you?" he asked.
"What the fuck are you talking about?'
"It's already midnight, making it the fourth day since you lost your memory and you've already started having flashbacks, your plan wasn't foolproof and you just wanted to run from your battles,"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm saying that as a dempire you don't run from your battles, instead you fight them even to your last breath,"
"What the hell is a dempire?"
"A dempire is a mixed race between demons and vampires, that's what you are and let's not forget, you're also the dempire princess," he said. "If you find anything complicated, just tell me,"
"How do I do that?"
"I'll be there whenever you want me,"
"I don't know you and why would I even tell you anything?"
"You did…and because, right now I'm the only one who can help you with anything you find strange,"
"Why are you telling me this?" Scarlett asked, her pain long forgotten.
"Because I need you to regain your memories as soon as possible,"
"Why? Why do I need my memories back?"
"I know how much you want peace in your life kid but right now even if you make the whole world lose their memories, your life will never know true peace until you fight every single battle thrown at you…" he paused as he noticed Scarlett's brows that were creased and her eyes closed. "Open your eyes," the man said. Her eyes flew open as those words echoed in her head again. She'd heard these same words from this same voice. She shut her eyes in pain and Scarlett clutched her head in pain and clenched her teeth trying to muffle a scream. She lay on the bed drenched in her own sweat. What the fuck just happened to her and who the hell was that man?
A week later, she went to college with Ryan. Lionel thought it as a way to take her mind off her memories and she was grateful they didn't think she was imposing on them. The first day she went to college, everyone noticed her immediately, almost like her step alone announced that she was there.
"Holy shit she looks just like Scarlett Quinn!" someone screamed and made everyone's head turn toward her. Ryan and Scarlett both looked panic not knowing what to do.
"Oh my God it is her! It's Scarlett,' another voice shrieked.
"Ryan you know Scarlett Quinn? Why did you shut up about it?" one of Ryan's friend said as he hit him playfully.
"This isn't Scarlett, she's…" Ryan turned to Scarlett thinking of what to say. Scarlett looked at him panicked. She didn't know this Scarlett Quinn was this popular else she would have refused Lionel's request to come to college with Ryan. "She's…she's my cousin Olivia," Ryan blurted. He really couldn't think of any other thing to say. He turned to Scarlett, her panicked expression wasn't gone. "She likes co splay and her favorite character is Scarlett Quinn, right Olivia?"
"Um…yeah that's right, I'm sorry guys but I'm not Scarlett,"
"I still want a picture with you, you look and sound so much like her," a girl said. Scarlett sighed in relief. If they knew she was Scarlett, it would really bring way too much attention to her, judging from the way Scarlett was very popular just for being the youngest CEO in the world, it wouldn't take long before she got unnecessary attention and she was very certain she didn't want that.