The rhythmic tapping of rain against the windowpane filled Angelo's small, dimly lit room. Drops trickled down the glass in uneven patterns, mirroring the disarray in his mind. The cryptic message from the unknown number still lingered on his phone screen, glowing faintly in the darkness: Remember.
But remember what?
Angelo lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, his mind replaying the strange encounter from the previous night. The shattered mirror, the sinister reflection, the name—Lysandra. It was as if his own past was playing a twisted game of hide and seek with him, offering fragments but never the full picture.
His phone vibrated violently, snapping him out of his daze. A video call from Jade. Reluctantly, he answered, the screen lighting up with Jade's annoyed face.
"Okay, spill," she demanded, not even bothering with a greeting. "You've been acting weird—weirder than usual—and don't even try to lie because I'll know."
Angelo rubbed his temples, knowing Jade wouldn't let him off the hook. She always had this uncanny ability to see through his carefully constructed walls.
"I... I don't know," he admitted. "It's like... there are pieces of my past that I've forgotten, and now they're starting to show up in bits. It's messing with my head."
Jade's expression softened. "Do you think it's connected to... you know, your thing?"
Angelo sighed. His powers. The ones he barely understood, that he never spoke about. Even Jade didn't fully know the extent of them—no one did.
"Maybe," he said quietly. "But it's not just that. There's this name... Lysandra. I don't know who she is, but it feels important."
Jade leaned closer to the screen, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Maybe you should try finding out. Sometimes facing the unknown is the only way to make sense of it."
Easier said than done, Angelo thought. But Jade wasn't wrong.
---
Later that day, Angelo found himself wandering through the narrow, rain-soaked streets of the city, his hood pulled up as he lost himself in thought. His feet carried him aimlessly until he realized he was standing in front of the old theater again.
The shattered mirror was gone, but the unease in the air remained. As he stepped inside, the floorboards creaked beneath him. Something about this place called to him, like an unfinished story waiting to be told.
"Looking for something?" a familiar voice asked.
Angelo spun around to see JJ, munching on a bag of chips, standing at the entrance.
"What are you doing here?" Angelo asked, surprised.
"I could ask you the same," JJ replied, stepping in. "I followed you. You've been acting all mysterious and broody. Thought maybe you found a secret arcade or something."
Angelo couldn't help but chuckle softly. JJ's relentless curiosity and carefree attitude were sometimes exactly what he needed.
"There's no arcade," Angelo replied, shaking his head.
JJ shrugged. "Then what's up with this place? It's creepy as hell."
Before Angelo could answer, a faint whisper echoed through the theater.
Remember.
JJ froze, looking around. "Okay... I definitely heard that. Creepy voice in an abandoned theater? Yeah, that's my cue to leave."
But Angelo was already moving toward the stage. Something was pulling him there, a force he couldn't resist.
"Angelo... seriously, man, this is how horror movies start," JJ called after him, but Angelo wasn't listening.
He reached the center of the stage, where the mirror had once stood. There, on the floor, was a small, ornate locket covered in dust. Angelo picked it up carefully. As soon as his fingers touched the cold metal, a surge of memories flooded his mind.
A little girl's laughter. A field of flowers. And a voice, gentle and soothing.
"You'll always have me, Angelo. No matter what."
The image of a young girl with striking blue eyes and dark hair flashed before him. Lysandra.
Angelo staggered back, clutching his head.
JJ rushed over. "Hey! Are you okay? What happened?"
Angelo, breathing heavily, stared at the locket in his hand. "I... I remember her. Lysandra."
JJ blinked. "Who?"
"My... sister," Angelo whispered, realization dawning on him. "She was my sister."
---
The walk back to Angelo's apartment was a blur. JJ, sensing the weight of the moment, didn't press for details. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets, quietly walking beside his friend.
Back in his room, Angelo sat on the edge of his bed, turning the locket over in his hands. It felt strange, remembering someone he didn't even know he had forgotten.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed. A text from Jade.
Found something. Meet me at the café.
Angelo grabbed his jacket and headed out, JJ trailing behind, still munching on his never-ending supply of snacks.
---
At the café, Jade was already waiting, a laptop open in front of her, and Eli sitting beside her with a bored expression.
"Okay, so I did some digging," Jade began as Angelo and JJ sat down. "And by digging, I mean I totally didn't hack into any databases because that would be illegal."
"Obviously," Eli muttered sarcastically.
Ignoring him, Jade continued. "I found something interesting. There was an accident about 17 years ago. A family lost a child—Lysandra Zayne. The report says she drowned in a river during a family trip. But... there's something off."
Angelo leaned in, his heart pounding. "What do you mean?"
Jade turned the laptop screen towards him, showing a blurry photo from an old newspaper article. "The body was never found. Just... vanished."
Eli, now more interested, raised an eyebrow. "So, you're saying she might still be alive?"
Jade shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe there's more to the story than what the records show."
Angelo felt a mix of hope and dread. If Lysandra was alive, where was she? And why did he forget her?
"Guys," JJ chimed in, pointing at the screen. "Look at the date of the accident."
Angelo's eyes widened. It was on his birthday.
---
That night, Angelo couldn't sleep. His mind raced with questions. The memories of Lysandra, though still fragmented, were more vivid now. Her laughter, her kindness, the way she always protected him.
Why did I forget you?
A faint blue glow filled his room, and Angelo sat up, startled. The locket in his hand was glowing softly.
Without thinking, he whispered, "Lysandra?"
The glow intensified, and Angelo found himself standing in a vast, white void. In front of him stood a young woman, her blue eyes shimmering with a mix of sadness and relief.
"Hello, Angelo," she said softly.
Angelo's throat tightened. "Lysandra... is it really you?"
She nodded. "It's me."
"Why... why did I forget you?"
Tears welled in her eyes. "Because I made you forget. To protect you."
"Protect me from what?" Angelo asked, confusion clouding his mind.
"From them," Lysandra whispered, looking around nervously. "They're coming, Angelo. And they won't stop until they have you."
"Who?" Angelo pressed.
But before she could answer, the void shattered like glass, and Angelo found himself back in his room, breathing heavily.
The locket was no longer glowing, but Angelo knew one thing for certain.
His past wasn't just forgotten. It was hidden.
And now, someone—or something—was coming for him.