\[Maverick’s POV\]
I sit quietly, watching as Jose speaks quietly with a woman who oozes authority and pride. Two days have already passed since our arrival in New Moon, and this woman arrived this morning. According to Jose, she would be the one who was returning mine and Ellie’s memories. Although I was still skeptical, I already settled on going through with this, especially if it would help thaw some of the tension between Serenity and me.
“It’s going to be fine,” I say now, patting Serenity’s leg as she sits stiffly beside me. “And once we know more, we can hopefully end things.”
“Yeah,” she whispers, though it is clear that she doesn’t really believe me. “Right.”
Sighing, I get up and head over to Jose and the woman, drawing both of their attention toward me.
“Hello,” I say, deciding it was the polite thing to do to introduce myself. “I’m Maverick, one of the ones you’ll be returning memories to.”
“Mmmm.”
The woman doesn’t say anymore as she just stares at me with dark eyes that look almost like bottomless pits that I can’t help but find myself getting sucked into.
“I see.”
Leaning forward, she continues to eye me, and when she lifts a hand in an attempt to touch me, I let out a growl before moving back.
“So on guard,” she laughs, her expression shifting from prideful to jolly. “Don’t worry, boy,” she continues, smacking my arm. “I don’t have any intention of hurting you. If I tried anything, Jose here would kill me.”
“Would he?” I ask, not quite believing it.
“You’re underestimating him.” She sighs, giving Jose a look of appreciation. “This man is...”
“Gretchen,” Jose says, his voice holding a hint of warning. “You didn’t come here to tell those stories.”
“Right, right,” she sighs. “Then shall we get this show on the road? I’m sure that you’ve waited long enough to have your memories return. Jose tells me that you’ve been without for six years.”
“That’s right.” I confirm.
“My apologies,” she murmurs, giving me a look of pity. “I’m sure living in that darkness for so long wasn’t easy.”
“No,” I counter, turning my gaze to Serenity, who continues to watch us silently. “Because my light was always beside me, I was never in the dark.”
“How cute,” the woman giggles. “Oh, to be young and in love again.”
“Gretchen,” Jose sighs, shaking his head. “Focus.”
Letting out a sigh, I watch Gretchen as she continues to take me and Serenity in until William joins us with Ellie in tow.
“Are we ready to get this show on the road?” He asks, looking around the room. “Everyone seems to be here.”
“We are.” I confirm not wanting to waste anymore time. The sooner this was done, the sooner Serenity would calm down. “Where do you need us?”
“Here,” Gretchen announces, nodding toward two cots. “Please, both of you lay down for me.”
Nodding, I give Serenity’s hand a quick squeeze before heading over and taking my place. Once I’m comfortable, I wait as Ellie takes her place and Gretchen sits in a chair that sits between the two of us.
“Now,” she says once comfortable. “This is going to be a bit painful at first, but once my magic takes effect, the pain should reside.”
“Pain,” William repeats, taking me by surprise as he shoots Ellie a worried glance. “You didn’t say anything about pain.”
“I’m having to force the memories out of hiding.” Gretchen easily explains. “Of course it isn’t going to feel good.”
“But…”
“If you’re worried about the woman, then she is more than welcome not to do this.” She huffs in annoyance. “I was simply called here and told that both the man and woman have agreed.”
“It’ll be alright.” Jose says before William can say anything more. “Isn’t that right, Ellie?”
“Yes,” Ellie says quietly, closing her eyes. “It will be alright.”
“Then we will begin.” Gretchen announces, placing her hands on either of our foreheads. “Please close your eyes and clear your minds.” Closing my eyes, I start to do as instructed, pushing away anything and everything until I feel myself beginning to slowly slip into a trancelike state. “Now,” Gretchen’s voice announces from all around me. “Will the memories from your time before being rogues to come forward and let it flow.”
Confused, I find myself wondering how this could possibly happen given the fact my memories never came back after all these years, but when the world around me begins to shift and pain shoots through me, I know that Gretchen’s powers are doing the trick.
Grimacing, I clench my fists as I try to focus on the world that is taking shape from the small hut around me and the two that sit at a table in front of me. When they finally come into perfect view, I know they’re my parents.
“Are you sure about this?” My mother asks me, her dark eyes, which are so similar to mine flashing. “What if something happens?”
“The boy will be fine.” My father announces, taking my mother’s hand. “He is our boy after all.”
Remaining silent, I stare at the two in front of me as more memories of them start to flood in, one after the other, from when I was a small boy to this day where I would be going on an expedition with Alpha Ezekial to eat the flesh of the goddess.
“I’ll be fine.” I hear myself saying as my hands reach out and take either of theirs. “Alpha wouldn’t steer us wrong.”
At my words, my parents exchange glances, but they don’t say anything more.
Smiling, I watch as the world around me starts to fade once more and reshape until I find myself standing in front of a temple with a dark aura radiating from it. Nothing about it screams light, but this was the place that Alpha Ezekial claimed the goddess was buried.
Despite our questions that maybe he got the place wrong, he moves inside and waits until we follow. Once we are in, he shows us the body of the goddess as she lays on a slab in the middle of the temple. She looks beautiful and unmarred from all the years she has been here. And this alone convinces me that Alpha Ezekial is telling the truth. It was because of this single truth that I along with all the other warriors around me ate the flesh we were offered.
However, instead of becoming omnipotent like Alpha Ezekial, we slowly began to change. Little by little, I could feel my sanity slipping. Even at night, when I thought sleep would save me from the torture, I found myself haunted until the day my life came to a crashing halt. It started like any other day where I got up and went to the kitchen expecting to find my mother cooking and my father reading the daily news, but instead of finding that, I found them dead and ripped to shreds.
It was in that instant that I felt the last bit of sanity I had leaving my body. It only took looking down at my own hands and finding blood and bits of skin covering them. And as agonizing sorrow hit me, I changed, and my world went dark.
Gasping, my eyes fly open as I shoot up and clutch at my chest. My heart races, my skin is covered in sweat, and nausea bubbles in my stomach until I’m leaning over a hurling.
“Maverick!” Serenity gasps, rushing toward me but stopping as I hold up a hand. “What’s wrong? Are you…”
“Just stay back.” I warn while the memories continue to flow: happy memories of my parents smiling, my packmates going about their days like nothing bad would meet them, and again, my parents bodies after I mercilessly killed them.
My name wasn’t Maverick. It was Samual Benson, and I was the oldest son of Patty and Hindrick Benson. I was their pride and joy, especially since I was able to become one of the alpha’s men due to my strength and battle prowess. I went along with everything that the alpha wished because I wanted to protect and care for them, but in the end all that led me to being was a murderer.
“I’m sorry,” I gasp, trying to will my parents horrified expressions away. “I’m so sorry.”