With clear disappointment in her eyes, she stared at the face of the boy, who stood before her confused, avoiding her gaze. He was looking from side to side, biting his lower lip so hard that she had the feeling that he was about to hurt himself. She could see that he was dumbfounded, which is why he couldn't act. He tried to think of something on the spot, but seeing her gaze, he immediately gave up. He knew very well that she was not stupid enough to believe any fairy tale.
Furthermore, he sighed with resignation and put down the two mugs of tea he had prepared for them. He glanced at Alison and, with a nod, ordered her to sit down. She, however, remained seated. George smiled uncomfortably and sat down on the couch, then again encouraged her to take a seat. He insisted for so long until she finally agreed.
- Will you tell me where my rosary came from here? I'm sure I lost it exactly when I returned to the forest at your insistence," she said, not taking her eyes off him. - Just don't lie because I really don't like it.
- I took it from you," he replied without thinking, and the girl gasped. She didn't think he would be so direct. She thought he would still try to wriggle out.
- Excuse me? - She asked, hoping she had overheard.
- I took it from you deliberately," he repeated. The girl shook her head, and George sipped his tea. She noticed that he had calmed down. He was no longer as nervous as before. He smiled under his breath and put the cup down on the table. - I had to do it because I had no choice. I'm just his pawn. I agreed to it the moment I made a deal with him.
- With him? - She asked, bewildered, and he nodded. Alison furrowed her brow. She got the impression that he was beginning to be amused by the whole situation. - Who did you make a deal with?
- With the devil himself. - He laughed and sipped his tea, and she felt like she was about to give up the ghost. - Just kidding," he added and handed her a second cup. - Have a drink, you're awfully tense. I feel like telling you some important details, since you caught me anyway.
George was acting strangely. In a few minutes, he changed beyond recognition. First he was so confused that he couldn't look the girl in the eye, and now he seemed amused.
Was he up to something?
- Ah, Alison. I preferred you in your previous incarnation. You were much braver and incredibly charming," he announced, glancing at her hands, with which she was embracing the cup. She couldn't control her nerves, which were clearly visible to him.
She felt a cold sweat pour over her. What was he talking about?
- In a previous incarnation? - She asked in a trembling voice, and he squinted and smiled half-heartedly.
- It's a pity you don't remember because I really missed you when you disappeared. You were my first love," he replied carelessly, and the mug fell out of her hand, spilling the warm tea on the floor. George puffed out his lips, then waved his hand. - Don't worry. I'll clean up later. Now we have more important topics to discuss, don't we?
- Why are you acting so strangely?
The boy looked at Alison, then crossed his arms over his chest.
- Strangely? Now I'm acting naturally. That's just the way I am. - He became serious and looked closely at her face. - I wonder why you look the same as before. Probably you saw this photograph at the exhibition? Then you were so in love. You don't even know how much I envied him, but I was nothing compared to him. I'm still a piece of trash who has to obey him to continue to live, and you are still the whole world to him," he stated. - Even if you only look like the former Alison.
She swallowed her saliva hard and freaked out when a noise sounded in the hallway. She looked at the landlord, who was clearly not concerned.
Seeing her frightened face, he smiled again and rested his elbows on his knees. He leaned toward her and rested his chin on his hands.
- Don't be afraid, Alison. You are safe here. He will not let anyone hurt you, although there are some beings who want to take revenge on you," he stated, and the girl shifted her gaze to his face. George shrugged his shoulders and rose from the couch. - I think at first he wanted it too, but you are lucky that you are his weakness.
- Did he hurt my leg? - She asked unexpectedly. - Why did he do that to me if he would rather not hurt me?
- He wanted you to suffer a little for the harm you did to him. Besides, he needed your blood to free himself from that place. He thought it would be enough pain for the betrayal you committed," he said, and a stranger boy entered the room. Paying no attention to Alison's presence, he sighed and sank on the couch.
- I wasn't supposed to come, but my legs are already refusing to obey me. It's damn cold outside, and I'm tired of dozing off. I required a rest, but don't pay any attention to me," he replied, propping his head on a pillow. He glanced in the girl's direction and smiled friendly. - Hi. You are still just as beautiful, only that your personality is different.
She blinked her eyelids, wondering who she really was, and why did everyone know her? What was the past all about, and what betrayal had she made? Was it a silly prank, and she was on hidden camera? Although... this photo and memories had some connection to it. Everything was a mystery that she had to solve on her own.
- I've had enough of this. Will you tell me everything you know about me? - She asked suddenly, and George corrected the photograph standing on the shelf, then turned to face her. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall, looking at the reclining boy, as if to agree with him whether he could do it.
The gray man waved his hand and closed his eyes.
- Do what you want, I'll take a nap meanwhile because I'm tired," he stated, after which he turned his back to them. The girl looked at Georg, who nervously rubbed his forehead.
- I'll tell you as much as I can. I don't want problems, but your loss of memories kills me," he said, and she bit her lip and nodded. - Alison, do you believe in reincarnation? Because something similar happened to you....
*
She had never learned so many things at once in her life as she did today. The funniest thing about it all was that she only learned a few answers to the questions she had been asking herself. There were still many mysteries related to her person and her previous life that she had to discover on her own. What she learned today, she absolutely could not ignore. She had to be more careful and watch out for enemies who wanted to harm her. George did not explain to the girl what she had done when she made the betrayal, but since she had brewed beer in her previous life, she had to drink it now. From the beginning, she felt that finding herself in this place was not pure coincidence. Everything was planned. If she hadn't dreamed about Jack for the first time before leaving, he would never have found her. Because of this, he broke into her mind, prompting the girl's thoughts.
It was solely his fault that she found herself in this place.
Only now did George explain to her that it was then that she first remembered him. Although she only saw a blurry face, the memories were real. At first, he was surprised that even though she had been reborn as someone entirely different, her feeling was so strong that she still remembered him.
However, she was most shocked to learn who she was in her previous life. Ever since she was a child, she knew there was something wrong with her because of her immense faith and love for God. The rosary that George took from her was not ordinary, as it was hung around Alison's neck moments after she was born. It is not known who did it, but it protected her from evil only when she had it by her heart. If she had worn it around her neck all the time, Jack would never have been able to enter her mind.
That's why George was tasked with taking the rosary away from the girl. He did it the moment he hugged her, and she didn't suspect anything. She thought he was kind enough to simply want to give her encouragement.
Unfortunately, she didn't find out who George really was, since he had known her in a previous life and still looked young, but he reassured her that he was definitely human.
Only, how could that be possible?
She didn't understand any of this, but she was slowly beginning to believe everything. Because how many people in the world are there who were angels in a previous life?
*
It was already dusk outside, and she silently beat a path through the city, trying to reach the nearest bus stop. Her leg was giving out as she had put too much strain on it today. The doctor told Alison to rest a lot, so the wound would heal faster, but she couldn't sit still with so much going on around her.
Limping, she bravely covered more streets, but still couldn't see the bus stop. There was only one stop in the town, where all the buses stopped. If there had been no accident, the lash would still be in working order, and so she was left without a car. There was no chance of rescuing it, and she was incredibly attached to it.
She stopped when she realized something was wrong. The streets became desolate, and a thick fog appeared around her. With panic in her eyes, she looked around her, but was unable to see anything.
A terrifying sound, like from a horror movie, reached her ears. Not seconds passed, and she felt like one of the heroines of the genre. She was unable to move, as fear paralyzed her body.
Breathing heavily, out of the corner of her eye she looked around her, getting the impression that something was watching her. She felt someone looking at her from behind the fog, trying to mess with her head.
The first person she thought of was Jack. She was sure he was the one trying to scare her. George confessed to her that he wanted to take revenge on her for the betrayal she had committed. He was attempting to scare her and teach her a lesson for what she had done to him. Since he had gone to the side of evil, he had shed many feelings.
If it weren't for George, she still wouldn't know so many important details about her. She would still be wondering why so many frightening things were happening around her, and why Jack had chosen her. Now she knew the answer to that question. He needed the blood of a sinless and firmly believing person, and she was perfect to set him free.
Her attention was caught by a shadow that appeared in the fog. She strained her gaze and, despite her fear, stared at the spot, hoping it was him. On the one hand, she was afraid of him, and on the other, she wanted him. Their love was so strong that Alison's heart still remembered him.
- Alison. - She heard the clear derision in his voice, and then it occurred to her that it wasn't him. Although she did not know him in this life, she could recognize Jack perfectly, if only by his silhouette. The person heading in her direction was definitely shorter.
Calmly. This is just a figment of my sick imagination, she thought, closing her eyes. She opened her eyelids, hoping it would be over, but froze when she saw an unfriendly face in front of her. The man stammered then laughed, seeing how frightened she was.
- I have always liked you, Alison, but now especially. This is the second time I've seen you like this," he said, laughing under his breath. - The first time was in the hospital, just to clarify," he added, then touched her hair. - I'm sure you don't remember me, but my name is Rafael, and you've never had any sympathy for me, so it's no surprise that you do now, too. You have always revolted Jack against me, claiming that I am unfit to be a friend," he announced, looking at her face. - But the truth is that you were the one who was not fit to be his lover! - he raised his voice, and the smile disappeared from his face. Suddenly, he grabbed her by the neck and pressed her against the wall of the building, and she couldn't catch her breath.
She stared at his face, trying to push him away, but he was too strong. Rafael, seeing her efforts, smiled devilishly and intensified his grip. She felt that she was beginning to run out of air.
- You probably wish it were that easy, but death is too beautiful for you. This is just the beginning, Alison," he said and let her go, and she slumped to the sidewalk. She started coughing with difficulty taking in air. Someone grabbed her arm, and she opened her eyes and looked at the crouching woman with unconscious eyes. Behind her stood several other people, who looked at the girl with concern in their eyes.
Alison calmed down, and the woman helped her up.
- Are you all right? You started choking so suddenly that you scared me to death. I already wanted to call the emergency room," she announced, and the brunette looked around, realizing that the fog had disappeared, and the town had become alive again. - Maybe I'll drive you to the hospital after all? - suggested the woman, still holding her hand. The girl shook her head, and people began to disperse. Many of them became seriously worried, and a few others said she was crazy.
She opened her eyes wide when a male voice rang out next to her, addressing the woman directly:
- There is no need for this. I will take care of her now.