Why are wings so beautiful? Are they just perceived that way because they can soar to the sky where only mere humans can dream? It was so bright. Where did all this light come from? I felt overwhelmed with a white radiance. I was about to cover my eyes to shield myself, but found that I couldn’t move. I had no idea where I was or how I had got there. Even squinting seemed impossible. I could not feel my body. I could not feel anything, but I wasn’t afraid. In fact, I felt at peace. “Remember,” echoed a voice. Was the voice somewhere nearby or was it merely in my head? “REMEMBER,” it was definitely in my head and all around me. Remember? That’s right! I had to remember who I was, and how I got here; quickly before I faded into nothing. “Where am I? Who am I?” I asked the echoing voice. I was thankful I still had my voice. “You are in Limbo,” answered a different voice. Two doors appeared on either side of me, and my mind began to clear a little bit. The doors were large and a bit imposing. The one on my left had an ancient rendering of a winding staircase carved into it. The one on my right displayed a large circle cut into fourths. In each portion was a symbol that I seemed to recognize, but I didn’t know from where. There was the Egyptian, Celtic, Japanese and Afghan symbol for life, but each door had a hand print on it. I looked at my hand…is that where it goes? Am I supposed to choose? “Who am I?” I asked the voices. “You are Goldenflame, a warrior of the Three Kings of Jupiter, planet of the Gods…us,” a third voice told me. I had heard about them before from someone named Tio I think and Gonzo. Even met them once when I was sucked into a book but what is a Goldenflame and what was I suppose to do? “Choose the door on your right,” it was the first voice that had spoken to me, the one that told me to remember, but I didn’t know what I was supposed to remember. “Where will it take me?” I asked. “It will bring you back to life. We don’t have time to train a new Goldenflame, so we are bringing you back, so you can protect Earth,” a voice answered. I was still confused. “The one on my right will take me to Earth, and the one on my left will take me to heaven?” I asked. “Heaven, hell, even we do not know what lies beyond that door,” they answered in unison. I looked to my left. You know in books and a movie when given a decision, the character always chooses to come back to life. What if I was different? What if really they were just afraid of something new? I materialized, but I knew it wasn’t my real body, just an image I created to help me cope. I took a step towards the door with the winding staircase. What if I liked feeling at peace? “Emma Carter,” said the first voice. I stopped, “Is that my name?” I asked it. “Yes,” it answered. Images flashed into my head. My name acted as a trigger. I remember there being people three girls and a boy in my…I think, my life. I remember fighting and pain…so much pain. I remember being afraid and hating everything. “I don’t want to go back to that,” I told them. Liz, Carmen, a third that my mind was foggy about, but I knew existed somewhere, and Adam, I remember them and they are better off without me. I told myself. Didn’t I deserve peace? I took another step towards the door with the winding staircase. “Goldenflame, stop!” they shouted. “We need you back on Earth.” I turned, angry now that my memories had returned. “I am not just a Goldenflame! Some tool to be used by you. My name is Emma Carter. I am a sixteen year old high school student who lives with five brothers, my father and his stupid girlfriend. I have three best friends and love to skateboard. You give me a title and think you can control me. I am more than just a pawn, some reincarnated soldier. I am done playing by your rules! Even in death, you’re saying I don’t have a choice? Well, I am choosing, and you can’t stop me! What if I choose peace?” I placed my hand on the door to heaven. A bright light appeared through the crack as I pushed the door open. “Then you wouldn’t be my daughter.” I stopped breathing. The voice that occupied my memories…the voice that soothed my heart and made it ache with longing. It was my mother. I ran and squeezed her tightly, afraid to let go. “Mom,” I squeaked. She patted my head. “It’s ok to be scared,” she told me. I shook my head, “I’m not scared, mom, I’m choosing the unknown. I’m choosing death,” I told her. She looked at me as if I were three again, “My little lady bug,” she smiled. “You and I both know this isn’t what you want,” she told me. “You are a fighter, Emma. To break away from that would be breaking you. If you chose heaven you would spend the rest of your existence in self loathing. Leaving your friends when they need you the most isn’t who you are. I wish you would have picked a safer hobby, but if fighting makes you happy then you should do it, but for your reasons not anyone else’s and don’t try denying it. I know you feel more at peace fighting than anywhere else.” I tried to protest, but she stopped me. “Even when you were little, you always took the tougher path. You let people think you’re dangerous and cruel even when being kind is easier and gets you farther in life. You could give up and let your friends do all the fighting for you while you sit here peacefully in the afterlife, but you’re choosing to go back,” She told me. I sighed and looked at the white ground. “I’m sorry, mom. I do want to stay with you, but I can’t abandon my responsibilities even if I am given permission to do so,” I told her. “I try so hard to deny it don’t I?” I smiled at her. “You are a fighter,” she told me. I nodded. “Even if I hadn’t shown up, I knew you would have chosen life, but I wanted to see you,” she told me. “And I’m glad you did,” It hurt to let her go and turned to my right. “I will see you again,” I told her. I sighed again and shook my head. Why do I have to be so stubborn? But this was me whether I agreed with it or not, I could never stop being me. “So how does this work?” I asked them. I grinned to myself; at least I got to scare the crap out of those stupid Gods Bishamon, Chokaro, and Fukurokuju. “Wise choice, Goldenflame. After all, you did promise someone you would come back for them,” said a voice. I rolled my eyes, what are they talking about? “Place your hand on the door to life, and you will regain your body,” they told me. I stopped just before my hand touched the stone. “What is it?” the deepest of the three voices asked me. “I am not leaving until you answer my questions,” I decided. “How do we defeat Fugin? Is Liz still under his control? How did that fireball pierce my armor? Why is my mind foggy, like I am forgetting something?” I hesitated on my last question, “Was Fugin the cause of my weird dreams?” “All your questions can be answered by Illusionist,” answered one of the voices. Liz? “She doesn’t remember anything,” I told them. “Make her,” they told me. “Why do you Gods have to be so mysterious? Why can’t you just help me do my job!” I screamed at the empty room in anger. They didn’t answer. I paced for a few minutes to calm myself. “Bishamon?” I called out. “You are the one who created me right? What am I?” I asked in a calm voice but really I was dying to know. I wanted to know if I was evil, if I was a good person. If I would ever be happy or if I was just living to live; because it was my job and choosing the afterlife now I wouldn’t feel like I deserved it. “You are more important than you realize,” said the deepest voice that I took to be Bishamon. I decided I hated these Gods.
“He has broken through the dimensional doorway!” screamed a Reciliux soldier. The crashing of rubble and screams of the injured was almost too much for Carmen’s ears to bear. “I can’t concentrate!” she yelled in frustration. She was still drained from Lynashia taking over her body. Dane was digging through the pockets of a fallen soldier. He found a pack of cigarettes. He lit it using what was left of a burning building. Liz was huffing, leaned over with her hands on her knees to keep herself up. “We can’t stop him,” she managed through huffs. “I’ve got nothing left.” “I can’t bring Lynashia back. My body won’t survive it,” Carmen told them. “We can’t give up,” growled Dane breathing out a puff of smoke. “What do you expect us to do!” snapped Liz. “Don’t take that tone with me, Illusionist,” Dane threatened in his Australian accent. Dane got closer to Liz and used his height to intimidate her, but Liz couldn’t be put down that easily. With her short stature, she had been dealing with tall smug jerks her entire life. “What are you going to do about it, fur ball? Sick your fleas on me?” she spat. Dane snarled and raised his claws to strike Liz but halted when he saw her expression. Her jaw had dropped and she was looking behind him paying him no mind. Slowly Dane turned around thinking Adam had flown back for another attack, but his arms dropped instantly when he saw what Liz was seeing. “Holy Cheez-its,” said Liz.
I had woken up in what I assumed was the Reciliux morgue. I was surrounded by dead soldiers, and yes it was extremely creepy. I checked myself for wounds but they had all disappeared. I made my armor appear and recede to make sure my powers were still in good shape. Conveniently, my staff lay beside me. I stood and looked around me, “At least I am no longer surrounded by white,” I spoke to the empty room. “Sleep well soldiers it’s time for me to suit up.”
When I stepped outside I was greeted with one giant mess. How long was I out? I swear there used to be a city here. I made my way through the rubble when I spotted Carmen, Liz, and Dane. Where was Adam? I wondered. “Does anyone in your group ever stay dead?” asked Dane. Liz gave him a dirty look, “I was never dead you idiot.” Carmen and Liz ran to me. “Where have you been?” asked Carmen as she hugged me. “Sorry, I missed the party. I was stuck in limbo; it was a drag,” I told her. “Watch where you’re flying from now on,” she scolded. “Yes, mom,” I rolled my eyes and escaped her embrace. “Well, I see you got an upgrade,” said Carmen. She was right I noticed my armor looked a bit different. My armor had turned a darker shade of gold and on my chest there looked to be an actual flame. The Sabatons, which were just my foot armor, now had an extra layer of metal and the armor covering my lower arms were now riveted.
“You’re late,” Liz told me but she kept her face to the ground. “I’ll buy a watch,” I responded. Liz ran to me hugging me tightly, hiding the tears that ran down her face as she nuzzled into my shoulder. “Don’t ever scare us like that again,” Carmen looked at me seriously. I nodded. “On the plus side, you look bad ass,” Liz smiled. Dane came over and shook my hand, “It’s good to have you back, Goldenflame.” I was thanking him when an image flashed through my brain of a person, but I didn’t know who it was only that Dane reminded me of her. I shook it off as déjà vu. A loud crash interrupted my thoughts. “What was that?” I asked them. “That would be our big problem,” said Carmen. I noticed they all looked exhausted, what was going on? “I thought we had a truce with Fugin?” I asked them confused. “We do,” said Dane. “It’s Adam,” said Carmen. “He turned into a dragon, and is destroying everything and everyone that butts in ever since you, you know…kicked the bucket,” Liz told me.
All it took was for me to hear that it was Adam for me to fly off like a mad woman. “He opened the portal!” A Reciliux soldier screamed. Portal? It took five witches to close the portal. How could Adam open one? And why…oh…no. Adam is going to try and attack Fugin and break our truce! I willed my staff to fly faster and hoped that I wouldn’t fall off. I shot through the portal quicker than a Jimmy John’s sandwich. I felt the tremor letting me know I had entered another world. Last time I entered the doorway; I had stumbled and landed on my tush. This time I lost my balance but managed to get it secure under my feet before hitting the ground. With no powers, it had taken weeks to get to Fugin’s strong hold. Now that I didn’t care about mystic sensors I was already to the desert, and in the distance I saw a large red dragon headed towards the palace. I jumped off my golden staff and threw it with as much a force as I could muster straight towards Adam. I landed hard in the soft sand. It took me a second to shake off the dizziness of my fall, but when I looked up; my staff was flying through Adam’s wing. That giant monster with its hatred and fire looked nothing like Adam; yet somehow I knew. I knew it was him. The great dragon roared in pain and with blind rage he was headed in my direction. “Oh crap,” I spoke to the wind. The shifting sand made it impossible to neither run nor get any sort of sure footing. Adam snarled fire. He was close enough that I felt the heat brush against my armor. I held my right arm in the air. “Hurry up,” I mumbled. That dark monster surging with hatred and anger grew ever closer, getting bigger and bigger with each flap of its wings. Adam’s claws were nearly inches away when the golden staff reached my hand. Adam’s thick claws hitting my staff crashed against each other like waves against a shore. My staff protected me, but Adam’s shear weight and size buried me in the sand. The weight against my chest abruptly left me. I dug my way back to the surface and found a giant sand bear attacking Adam. I guess Carmen’s pet was good for something after all. “Bubba!” I screamed. Adam had just thrown Carmen’s pet across the desert. I flew up to Adam’s snout and punched him. I shed my armor. Crazy? Yes. Stupid? Probably, but I wasn’t about to fight Adam, no matter what form he took, it was still Adam. Adam gripped his claws around me, digging his nails into my body. A scream escaped my lips. I took deep breaths to ease the pain as blood dripped from my body profusely. “You idiot, I told you I would never leave you.” I started choking on my own blood. “You should have trusted that,” I told him. The dragon Adam only roared making my hair rustle. “Wake up you jerk,” I yelled at him. “Adam, its Emma, do you remember me? I’m not going to fight you. Please come back, please. You trust Emma, so you trust her when she says she will never leave you. You trust me?” Was I getting through to him? “It’s me, Adam, its Emma. I know you are in there, but you have to stop hiding. You have to come back to me.” His claws tightened and his large yellow eyes stared into me. The pain of his grip made me scream again, “Let go now and turn back into a human, or I will kick your sorry butt,” I gritted my teeth. Adam’s dragon claws loosened and he set me down. The dragon roared an awful cry, but his size slowly diminished. Adam’s human appearance had returned. He was shaking so hard, and his eyes were sad but hopeful. Tears stained his face and he reached out to me. “Emma,” he collapsed into my arms, and it was all I could do to support his weight and height that overpowered my own. His skin felt as if it was on fire and all his clothes were gone. I had never seen Adam cry before. It was a bit unnerving to be honest, such raw emotion. Steam radiated off his body. Carmen carefully landed beside us. She took off her cloak and tossed it on the bawling Adam. “Here we don’t need to see Adam Jr., just saying.” Carmen then turned her attention to me, “Oh God, Emma, you’re covered in blood.” I felt dizzy. These were the last words I remembered before passing out.
I woke up in the Reciliux medical ward. “She’s awake,” I heard someone say. When I sat up I saw Adam bawling in the corner now in uniform. Liz was sitting on a table across from me. Carmen sat on a chair beside me and standing in the doorway were Dane, Master Tio, and Cicero. “You passed out from blood loss,” answered Carmen. “So we brought you back here and retrieved Komodo Dragon’s healing sword,” said Tio. “And how is he?” I nodded towards Adam. Seeing me awake Adam rushed over still in tears, “I am so sorry, Emma,” he told me. Then he smiled such a pure revealing smile. His facial expressions and body language had completely changed. Everything about him was now exposed. The Adam I knew had a crooked smile and let his eyes speak wonders. He was so controlled in everything he did that only the slightest changes could tell me what he was thinking. This Adam, had nothing hidden, like he had been stripped away of some outer skin that used to belong to the world, to now being this sensitive Adam that had once only belonged to me. He took my hand, “I’m so happy you are all right.” “I’m ok, but how are you feeling?” I asked him. “Everything is a bit hazy,” he admitted. My Adam would have said he was fine. My eyes got wide as I suddenly realized how much time had passed. “Our truce with Fugin! “Did we miss our time limit?” I looked to everyone anxiously. “Illusionist’s silver tongue here has managed to buy us some time,” answered Cicero. Liz gave me a grin. “How much time?” I asked. “One year,” replied Liz. A year. I let out a sigh of relief. “Alright then what is our next move?” I asked the room. “Actually I…was kind of hoping to learn about limbo,” It was Carmen who spoke, but the rest of the group looked equally interested. I was immediately the center of attention.
“Well…um…it was really white,” I stammered. I sat back trying to remember, “The three Gods that created us were there, Bishamon, Chokaro, and Fukurokuju. I couldn’t see them, but I heard their voices. They told me they didn’t have enough time to train a new Goldenflame, so they were bringing me back to the living world.” I refrained mentioning the part about my mom and how a large part of me wanted to stay dead. “Were you scared?” asked Liz. “No. It was nice actually,” I smiled at the memory of the soothing peacefulness that limbo had brought me. It had calmed the storm that was my heart but didn’t cure it which is why I am still here. “What did the Gods say to you?” asked Adam. I closed my eyes trying to remember, “Ah... I asked them questions, but none of them would give me a straight answer…they said…they said all my answers lay with Illusionist,” I looked over at Liz not sure what to expect.
Liz looked from one of us to another with a clearly surprised expression. “I don’t remember anything,” she shook her head disappointed in herself, “Sorry guys.” “The Gods told me I had to make you remember,” I told her. “And how do you suggest we do that?” asked Tio. “We may have an idea,” spoke Carmen. By “we” she was referring to her and Lynashia. “Lyn knows of a spell that allows a person to enter another’s mind. Maybe we could retrieve your lost memories, but it is an incredibly personal experience,” explained Carmen. “The spell will not work without a willing participant, so it is up to you,” she told Liz. We need her to say yes, but if it were up to me, I’m not sure I could go through with it. Having someone enter my private thoughts? I would feel so violated. Just the thought made me shutter. We waited patiently for Liz’s answer. Finally she sighed, “If what is locked inside here..,” she tapped her forehead, “...will save all of you, then I am ok with it,” she answered Carmen. Carmen nodded, “Ok, we need everyone to leave the room.” “Maybe they can figure out how to sever the bond between that wind guy and you,” Cicero encouraged Liz before he left the room. Carmen stopped him, “Can you bring us a jar of salt?” Cicero nodded.
When they were finally alone Carmen made a circle using the salt Cicero had brought them. She instructed Liz to sit within the circle cross legged. Carmen did the same facing Liz on the cold stone floor. “Now lay your hands on top of mine. We have to establish a connection,” she explained. Liz did as she was told. “Ok,” said Liz, as she shifted her weight to get comfortable, “Now wha…,” Liz started but never finished. Her eyes burned a bright blue. Carmen breathed steadily, “Elizabeth Matthews, keeper of the ring of endless light, burdened by the gifts of Illusionist: let me in,” she spoke softly. Carmen could feel her mind reaching out to Liz. Carmen’s mind searched to touch Liz’s thoughts, but there was a barrier keeping her out. “Let me in,” Carmen repeated, stronger this time. Carmen continued to push and push until finally she had made her way into Liz’s mind. Everything appeared to be jumbled together. How am I supposed to find her lost memories in this? Carmen was distressed. Being the leader is a lot of work, she groaned. Liz’s mind was like a busy city with no one or nothing taking notice of her presence. Carmen observed what she assumed to be Liz as a child. Another slightly older version walked through her. This must have been before Liz got her punk rocker attitude and style. Her younger self was wearing jeans and a t-shirt with Rugrats on it. Images flew by Carmen. Liz breaking into houses and stealing. Liz on a playground. Liz dancing with her and Emma. Liz kissing a boy. Liz drawing. Liz crying in an orphanage. Liz learning to ride a bike. Liz running from the cops. Liz helping an old woman. Liz sleeping on the streets. Liz smiling. Liz laughing with her, Emma and Adam. Liz painting. Liz dancing at the Teen Center. “There is so much, Lyn. How do I make it stop?” Carmen asked her mentor. She felt overwhelmed. “Breathe. Try and sort through them to the time she spent with Fugin,” advised Lynashia. She saw past the bustling city that was Liz, to shadows that reached the far corners of her mind. Maybe her lost memories are in those shadows? Thought Carmen.
Adam and I were waiting in the corridor just outside of the room Carmen and Liz were in. Adam smiled across from me, “I missed you,” he admitted. I just smiled back. “I really hope this mind walk thing works. Especially since Liz agreed to be held captive in exchange for giving us a year. If we can cut that hold he has on her, she will be saved.” I was only half listening as he went on and on.
It took me a minute to process what he had just said. “What!” I interrupted him and jumped up. “How could she make a decision like that? That stupid…” I clenched my fists then reached for the door handle. Adam stopped me, “We can’t disturb them right now,” he said. He was right; Carmen had ordered us to wait outside. I stepped away from the door, and he relinquished my hand. The feel of his skin against mine had stopped my breath. It was only for a moment, but I held onto that feeling. I couldn’t help but wonder if he felt it too.
As Carmen neared the shadows of Liz’s
subconscious she felt as though she were walking through a fog. Suddenly she was aware of sounds; the sounds of a belt cutting into the air and hitting a hard surface. Then sounds of a small cry that a wounded animal might make came after. Through the fog Carmen saw a young girl cowering in a corner and a woman beating her with a belt, swinging it around like a nut job, and screaming nasty words to the child. “Stop it,” shouted Carmen. “It is a memory…you can’t stop it,” Lynashia told her. “I had no idea,” said Carmen. “Keep going,” said Lynashia, “Don’t forget why we are here.” Carmen headed deeper into the Fog.
The fog turned to sunshine and Carmen was suddenly in a minivan. “Welcome, we’re glad Georgia’s on your mind,” was written on a large blue sign with a picture of a peach on the side of the highway that the minivan she was in just passed. In the van was a man in the driver’s seat with short brown hair and sunglasses. In the passenger’s seat was a young woman with long pitch black hair. In the car seat next to Carmen was a baby with skin as white as the moon and hair the color of midnight. That baby was Liz. “But Liz said she had never been to the south,” thought Carmen. “She didn’t lie to you,” said Lynashia. “This fog contains Liz’s repressed memories. She doesn’t remember ever being to Georgia.” Carmen couldn’t help but realize the striking resemblance between the woman in the passenger seat and the present day Liz. The man and woman were laughing about something, an old 90’s song came on the radio, the dice on the rear view mirror swung back and forth, and the front of the van was torn to pieces. An eighteen wheeler had tried to switch lanes and didn’t see the small van. The back of the semi hit the van head on, causing them to swerve uncontrollably. The memory was so strong, Carmen could smell the burnt rubber, hear the crunch of metal against metal, and feel the sickening speed of no control and when it stopped only the back half of the van was left. It was just Carmen and the baby. The front half of the vehicle was probably fifty feet away in a ditch. The couple had died on impact. Carmen blinked and was surrounded by fog once again. “This is getting us nowhere, Lyn,” Carmen complained in frustration. “Keep going,” encouraged Lynashia. The fog grew so thick Carmen couldn’t see. “Lyn, where are we?” Carmen called out loud. “That is it,” said Lynashia. “Oooff!” Carmen tripped over something. Purple smoke weaved its way in and out of the fog to form an image of a man. The smoky man held a smoky rope tight in its wispy claws. The rope was wrapped around Illusionist’s neck. Carmen had tripped over the figure of Liz. “Fugin literally has his claws wrapped around Illusionist,” said Lynashia. Carmen created a fireball in her hand and threw it at the creepy purple smoke…which did nothing of course. Liz was on her knees head hanging down with her eyes shut. This figment of Liz looked unconscious and helpless. The smoke figure with hollow eyes and long winding fingers stood behind her with an iron grip. Carmen continued to uselessly through fireballs. The smoke would dissipate but would always return to its original form.
“Hey remember,” Adam put his fingers on his head to imitate horns. “The one with the...?” I made a weird face and laughed. “Yeah,” Adam chuckled. “Exactly, and when you...,” I didn’t finish my thought instead we just laughed some more. I loved that we were able to share our war stories with such humor. “Oh!” I gasped excitedly. “We forgot about the troll!” I smiled at him. “What troll?” he asked confused. This only made me laugh harder. “The one that yelled at you for not noticing him!” I cackled. Adam shook his head laughing so hard he could barely get his words out, “I still don’t,” he laughed,
“Remember.”
Carmen huffed. She had found Fugin’s hold on Liz, only she had no clue how to relinquish it. Carmen could feel the wind God’s power wrapped in Liz’s subconscious.
“What has he done to you?” Carmen thought out loud. “She has been infected,” answered Lynashia. “Infected with what?” asked Carmen. “A Hirudinea, once implanted into a person, it has to receive energy from the owner over a steady period of time. The longer the Hirudinea has been implanted the stronger the control over the infected will be,” explained Lynashia. “That explains why Fugin posed as Liz’s boyfriend, he was slowly gaining more and more power from her by the day,” Carmen felt like an idiot. She was responsible for Liz, yet she just sat by while Fugin dug his nasty little claws into her. “I guess I didn’t think this far ahead,”
Carmen groaned to herself. “Think, think, what do I have to work with?” Thought Carmen. “Power lies dormant in your signs,” said Lynashia. “Huh?” said Carmen. “Illusionist bares the ring of endless light, you have the necklace of Lynashia and the wrist of roses, and Goldenflame holds the shard of two moons. Even the fake Chosen Angel has the Dragon Sword.” she explained. Carmen rolled her eyes, “We all know that you are powerful you don’t have to brag, but what does the scar I have on my wrist from a rose bush have to do with anything?” The scar on Carmen’s wrist wrapped nearly all the way around but not quite. It was a red angry mark where thorns had gripped her when her and her friends had ran away from a warehouse after being kidnapped by a hobo. Carmen’s second sign of the Jade Magician was the necklace of Lynashia which held Lynashia’s spirit so that she could guide Jade Magicians throughout the ages. Carmen stood there staring at the smoky figure that had its claws clasped around the figment of Liz’s neck. Carmen knelt beside Liz and began to place the necklace of Lynashia over her head. Lynashia began to protest, “Carmen, stop I ca…!” The necklace glowed and Liz’s mind grew just as bright to the point it was blinding.
CRASH! Adam and I ceased our laughter. We shared a glance then burst into the room to find Carmen and Liz on opposite sides of the room as if they had been thrown into the wall. “Ow,” Carmen stood rubbing her head. Liz let out a groan letting us know she was ok. “What happened,” I looked angrily at Carmen. “She’s free. That’s what happened. I got rid of Fugin’s hold on her,” Carmen pointedly answered me. Liz sat on the floor head in her hands and faced scrunched in pain. The necklace of Lynashia still around her neck. “Then what’s wrong with her?” I asked Carmen. “Her memories must be coming back too fast…kind of like when you slurp a frosty too fast, Emma,” she told me. Eeek, I hate that feeling. “Liz you ok?” Adam placed his hand on Liz’s back to comfort her. “Oh God…Wolvina…no.”