The fog curled around Lisa and Liam as they sprinted through the shadows, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth. Lisa's heart was racing, but not just from the thrill of escape—she could feel Liam's hand gripping hers, warm and alive, but with a hint of desperation. It was as though he knew, somewhere deep down, that he should remember her but couldn't.
They finally stopped by a dense cluster of trees, ducking behind a large oak as the creature's growls echoed faintly in the distance. Liam released her hand and doubled over, catching his breath. He looked around, his eyes darting, as if the world itself was a stranger to him.
"What… was that?" he asked, his voice unsteady.
Lisa tried to keep her own panic in check. She hadn't expected any of this—the ritual, his return, and certainly not whatever lurked in the fog. "I don't know. It's like… something else came back with you."
A flicker of memory crossed his face, just a glimmer, gone as quickly as it came. He shook his head, frustrated. "I'm sorry, I just… this all feels so familiar, but wrong, too." He glanced at her, his gaze searching, his voice softer. "I'm sorry for… whatever I've forgotten."
Lisa's heart clenched. This wasn't how she'd imagined their reunion. She had dreamt of Liam's smile, his warmth, maybe even his sarcasm. But this boy before her was fractured, like he was only half-formed.
"Liam," she started, her voice barely a whisper, "you… meant a lot to me. We were close, but something happened, and I… I couldn't let go." She swallowed hard, forcing herself to keep going. "So I did this. I brought you back. I thought maybe—"
He took a step back, his face shadowed. "You brought me back from… death?" His tone wasn't accusatory, just deeply, unnervingly confused. It was as though he was trying to grasp the pieces of a half-remembered dream that kept slipping from his reach.
"Yes," she answered simply, her heart racing.
He stared at her, trying to process. Then, unexpectedly, he let out a soft laugh, somewhere between disbelief and wonder. "Of all the things I don't remember, I didn't expect that to be one of them."
Lisa smiled, despite herself. Leave it to Liam—even in the midst of confusion, his humor still broke through. For a fleeting moment, he almost looked like the boy she remembered, the boy she'd missed so desperately. But it faded as quickly as it had come, leaving only the stranger in front of her.
A tense silence settled between them, but before either could speak, another low growl echoed through the cemetery, closer this time. Liam tensed, his gaze darting over the shadowed trees. Lisa grabbed his hand, her grip tightening. "We have to keep moving."
They slipped further into the mist-laden woods, their footsteps barely audible against the damp earth. As they moved, Lisa noticed Liam's cautious glances at her. There was something he wanted to say, something that weighed on him.
Finally, he broke the silence. "If I don't remember anything… does that mean I don't remember us?"
Lisa hesitated, the weight of his words pressing on her. She didn't want to lie to him, but the truth hurt more than she could admit. "I… I don't know. But maybe… maybe if you're here long enough, you'll remember. Or maybe we'll make new memories." Her voice faltered. She wanted to be optimistic, but she wasn't sure she believed her own words.
He looked at her, his gaze softening. "I hope so."
For a moment, it felt as if the world had narrowed down to just the two of them. The mist, the danger, even the looming darkness—it all faded, replaced by the quiet, tentative bond forming between them.
But the moment was shattered by a loud snap behind them. They both turned, their hearts racing, as the fog parted to reveal a dark figure standing just a few paces away. The figure was cloaked in shadow, its form twisted and unnatural, its eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger.
Lisa's heart dropped. She tightened her grip on Liam's hand, her voice trembling. "We need to go. Now."
But before they could move, the figure let out a low, guttural snarl, and took a step toward them. Liam instinctively stepped in front of Lisa, his body tense, his eyes narrowed.
"Stay back," he growled, his voice filled with a fierce protectiveness that surprised even him.
The creature paused, cocking its head as if sizing him up, before letting out a mocking laugh—a sound that sent chills down Lisa's spine. "You think you can protect her?" it sneered, its voice like gravel. "You, who don't even know who you are?"
Liam stiffened, but he didn't back down. Lisa could see the confusion and fear in his eyes, but he refused to let it show. She felt a surge of admiration—and a hint of the old spark she'd once felt for him.
The creature advanced, its movements slow, calculated. "You don't belong here," it hissed, its eyes narrowing. "The dead should stay dead."
Lisa's heart raced, her mind scrambling for a plan. She hadn't come prepared for this, for any of this. She had only wanted Liam back, but now it seemed like her actions had unleashed something far darker.
Just as the creature lunged, Liam grabbed Lisa's hand and bolted, pulling her through the trees. They sprinted, the creature's footsteps pounding behind them, echoing through the fog. Lisa's mind raced, her heart pounding. She had brought Liam back, but at what cost?
They darted between the trees, weaving through the mist, but the creature was relentless, its growls growing closer. Lisa could feel her legs burning, her lungs aching, but she didn't dare slow down. Liam's hand was warm in hers, his grip steady, grounding her in the midst of the chaos.
Finally, they burst into a small clearing, the mist parting to reveal a towering oak tree in the center. Liam skidded to a stop, his gaze darting around as he tried to assess their options.
"We're trapped," he muttered, his voice tense.
Lisa's mind raced, her thoughts frantic. She had no plan, no idea how to escape. But as she looked up at Liam, she felt a surge of determination. She hadn't brought him back just to lose him again. She would fight for him, even if it meant facing whatever dark force she had unknowingly unleashed.
Just then, the creature stepped into the clearing, its eyes gleaming with a sinister hunger. It stalked toward them, its movements slow, confident, as if savoring their fear.
Liam glanced at Lisa, his jaw clenched. "Whatever happens… don't let go of my hand."
She nodded, her heart pounding as they faced the creature together. It let out a low, rumbling laugh, its gaze fixed on them. "You think you can escape?"
Liam tightened his grip on her hand, his gaze unwavering. "We don't have to escape," he said, his voice steady, a spark of defiance in his eyes. "We just have to survive."
As the creature lunged, they braced themselves, ready to face the darkness together.