Their Mystery: Part 1

On a Tuesday Night

It was 10 o'clock at night. Everyone had just finished having their dinner. "Clara! Crystal! Get ready for bed, you two have school tomorrow," said Clara's mother, Mrs. Tina Grace, as she started clearing the plates.

However, nine-year-old Clara and her seven-year-old cousin Crystal weren't willing to give up so easily. Tuesday night meant one thing for them: Bedtime Stories, from Clara's father. Exciting ones, mysterious ones, funny ones, or even stories that are slightly scary. 

Clara's dad, Mr. John Grace, randomly told them a story on a Tuesday night once- just once- and the kids turned it into a tradition. "Dad! It's Tuesday. You always tell us stories on Tuesday!" Clara insisted. Crystal played along, "Exactly, uncle! Please tell us an exciting story. One that's even better than the last one!" 

Clara's father chuckled. "Kids, you should go to bed early. Besides, I don't have the idea for a story right now. Give me a break, you know I have an important class to take tomorrow, right? Maybe some other time, okay?" "Noo, uncle, pleasee, just one!" Crystal begged. 

Clara's mother and Crystal's aunt, Tina, returned from the kitchen and sat beside them. "Kids, you heard him. It's been a long day. He's tired and so are you. Besides, you don't want to be late for school, right?" "Come on, mom, you know I can wake up early even if I go to bed late!" said Clara. 

"Oh, really? Then why do I have to call you at least fifteen times in the morning?" "That's-" Clara tried to defend herself, then she sighed. Her mom had a point. Still, Crystal wasn't ready to give up. "Well, I'll let you handle this," said Clara's father with a smile, and headed towards the bedroom. "Good night," replied Tina, smiling back.

Finally, she said, "Okay, kids, sit down. Just for tonight- I'll be the one to tell you your bedtime story. Sure, I won't be as good as him, but I'll try my best. And not one that's too long, okay?" "Really?? You don't usually tell us stories. I'm actually pretty interested. Go ahead, mom," said Clara excitedly. 

"What do you want to hear?" Crystal replied, "Hmm.. maybe about a princess? Or a beautiful fairy? Or a mermaid? Or..." "Noo, we already heard a lot of those. Mom... can you tell us stories about... them?" Clara's mom asked curiously, "About who, Clara? Be clear. And no creepy stories before bed. Or you'll get nightmares and wake everyone up in the middle of the night." 

"Mom... about Heeds.." Crystal gasped and freaked out, "DON'T SAY THEIR NAMES! ARE YOU CRAZY, CLARA? Now they are going to haunt us when we go to sleep!" 

Clara rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Crystal, you believe in all that? If they don't exist anymore then why can't we say their name?" "Shh," Clara's mom replied, "It's better to stay careful, Clara. And there's no way that I'm telling you such stories at night. You don't have any fear, do you? Your cousin is already trembling, look," she sighed. 

"That's because she's a child, and she's always scared. I'm not the one who gets nightmares, mom. If Crystal can't handle it, just tell me alone!" "That's not fair, Clara. She wants a story too. Don't waste my time." "Right.. I'm sorry, but you must tell me another day, okay?" 

"What's going on?" Crystal's mother, Mrs. Karina entered the room. She was the wife of Clara's paternal uncle. "Kids, I brought a little dessert for you. There you go, sweeties," she gave them the bowls of dessert she prepared after dinner. They took it instantly, and started eating. 

Suddenly, Clara choked on it, and started coughing hard. "Careful!" Clara's mom brought a glass of water and Mrs. Karina immediately took it, giving it to Clara. "Are you okay, sweetheart?" "Come on, Clara, I always tell you to eat slowly. Can't you just listen to me and be careful!? Always rushing things.." 

Mrs. Karina replied, "Why are you scolding her, Tina? Just let her be. She was just enjoying her dessert, right, dear?" She smiled and caressed Clara's hair. "You keep spoiling them," Tina said, laughing slightly. "Aunt Karina, I don't think I can eat more," said Clara. "It's alright, dear. You ate some, right?" "Yeah, I did. It's nice." 

Crystal said, "Mom, you would just scold me if I said that." "That's because you always come up with silly excuses for everything," said Clara, laughing, as Crystal rolled her eyes. Mrs. Karina took the bowls and left the room. 

"Okay mom! Time for the story!" They prepared themselves to hear a story. Although, Clara knew she wouldn't be satisfied. She really wanted to know more about those creatures, about why people were so scared of them if they 'didn't exist anymore'. 

Unfortunately, her little cousin was more scared than curious about anything Clara found interesting. It annoyed Clara pretty often. "Okay, kids, sit here. Once upon a time, there lived a..." Suddenly, there was a knock on the main door. "Hold on." Clara's mom, Tina got up and went to check. 

As Tina opened the door, she saw a young lady with an unconscious boy in her arms who seemed about Clara's age. "You must be Mrs. Grace," said the young lady, glancing at the nameplate beside the door, "I'm Cindy. Please help my brother! I'm begging you."

"Calm down, dear. Why do you look so restless? Come inside. You're Cindy? What happened to your brother?" Tina gently guided them to the couch in her house. Cindy carefully placed the boy on the couch. 

"Thank you so much ma'am. We are from the nearby village and we lost our home in the recent storm. This is Daniel. He passed out from fear and exhaustion. I panicked and carried him all the way here. Your house was the only one with lights on, so I stopped here. I'm really sorry to bother you. We just need a place to stay the night. I'll leave with him tomorrow, I promise." 

Tina listened to her carefully and then offered her a glass of water. "Here, Cindy. And don't worry. Stay here as long as you need. I'm really sorry about what happened. Let me take Daniel to the guest room." Just then, Tina's husband John entered the room. 

"What's going on?" he asked curiously. "John, this is Cindy, and her brother Daniel. They lost their house and need a place to stay tonight. I didn't want to wake you up, so I tried to handle it on my own." 

"Excuse us for a moment," said John, pulling Tina aside. "Are you sure about this, Tina? I mean, you just told them they could stay, what if something happens? They're strangers after all." 

"I know, John," Tina sighed, "But look at them. That girl seems like just a teenager, and that boy is our daughter's age. What if our family was in their place and no one helped us? And you've heard about the storm nearby, right?" 

"I suppose you're right, I've been hearing about it at work. It's just that I worry about all of you. Looks can be deceiving and crime rates are going up. But if you're sure about them... I'll trust you." Tina smiled. 

"Thank you. They're just kids, you know? Can I let them stay in the guest room?" John nodded, and returned to the living room. "Are you doing better, Cindy? My wife will take you two to the guest room. Follow her." As Tina led them away, John stood by the window. 

"Dad! Who are they?" "Clara? What are you doing here?" "Aunt Karina took Crystal to bed since it's getting late. I mean, mom said she would come back after answering the door but she took forever to return. Anyways, who are these people?" 

"Well, they are in need of help and we are giving them shelter for a while. Nothing to worry about." "Okay, and why aren’t you asleep? Didn't you give us a lecture about having something important tomorrow, and that you won't be able to tell us a story? So that was an excuse?" 

John couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh come on, Clara, I wasn’t lying. You know what? Since I'm awake anyway, let me just tell you a bedtime story." Clara's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really?? Wait! Let me go and get Crystal." "Nope. Stay here," said Clara's dad, with a smile.

"This will be our little secret, okay? Don't tell Crystal. I don't think she wants to hear this one. And you can't tell your mom too. Because today I'll tell you a story about 'Them'." Clara's eyes widened. Was he really going to talk about those creatures? "Wait, about Heeds? Dad?? Are you serious?" 

"I am, if you're sure that you won't get scared and end up having nightmares." "I never do that, dad! Crystal does!" "Well then, sit down." Clara excitedly sat beside her father on the carpet. "Are you ready?" "I literally can't wait." He chuckled. "Okay, okay. Let me start." John cleared his throat.

"Once upon a time, there lived some mysterious creatures called Heeds. They were invisible, but could take the form of any human being or any other animal. They usually lived on trees, under the water, in caves or places where people don't live. They were a species just like us, and it wasn’t a problem until one day... they started to misuse their power." 

Clara listened carefully, she couldn't be more invested in the story. "Woah, did human beings know about them?" "No, Clara. No one had a clue until they started interfering in people's lives." "What did they do??" "Patience, Clara. I'm getting there."

He continued, "Anyways, one day, a Heed pretended to be a human and stole vegetables from a store. No one could find the person no matter how hard they searched. He must have changed forms. After that, I'm not sure why, but similar events started taking place everywhere. They probably realized they like human foods and people's way of living. So they began stealing more and more. People would appear out of nowhere, take items and vanish. No one has ever seen their faces before." 

"Well, it could be that they came from another country and are really good at hiding. You're telling me, people just concluded that they are some kind of mysterious ghost-like creature? Seriously?" "Clara, that's not all, let me finish first," said John, giving her a look, annoyed but unserious. Clara chuckled, "Right, sorry." 

"Where was I? Oh, yes. After a few days, they started appearing in schools and other institutions with fake identities. And once someone figured it out, they were nowhere to be found again. Then the same thing started happening with animals. People would find dogs, cats or even poisonous animals like snakes at random places, which would disappear suddenly." "Disappear suddenly? What do you mean, dad?"

"Let's say, you just saw a cat in the kitchen. And when you went there, you didn't find anything at all, even if there were no windows or any escape routes." "Hmm, it kind of makes sense, but a part of me still thinks it could be a misconception." 

"I get it, Clara, but we wouldn’t know unless we experienced it ourselves." "So, what happened next?" "Well, the problems regarding Heeds started increasing at an alarming rate. They would steal, harm, trick people and hamper the regular flow of people's lives. They would scare people at night too. I suppose they started enjoying the power they had on human beings." 

"Makes sense. But where are they now? What happened to them?" "That's where it gets interesting, and also confusing, Clara. Nobody is sure about it. People say that a kind of war has taken place..." "A kind of war? Between humans and heeds?"

"That's right. Humans were able to find out a few weaknesses that heeds have, and used them against the heeds." "Wow, like what? Did humans really kill every single heed? Then why does everyone treat it like a forbidden topic?" "Clara, it was a long time ago. It's hard to tell who is right." 

Meanwhile, in the guest room, Tina prepared the bed for Cindy and Daniel. "Is this okay, Cindy?" "It's more than enough, ma'am. Thanks again." "Should I wake Daniel up? He must be hungry. I'll get some food for both of you."

"That won't be necessary. I think it's best to let him rest for now. Besides, I'm not really hungry, but thank you for offering." "Okay, then I'll get you some dessert my sister-in-law prepared. You don't need to be hungry for that," said Tina, smiling. 

"OH- uh- no, thanks. I mean-" "What? You're afraid it won't taste good?" "No, no, not at all. I'm just.." Cindy paused and sighed, "I'm not really in the mood to enjoy dessert right now. My unconscious brother is lying beside me, I'm at a stranger's house, my house is destroyed, and I have no idea where my parents are..."

"Oh... I'm sorry. I know you have a lot going on. You don't have to eat if you don't feel like it, sweetheart. If you don't mind me asking, where were your parents before the storm?" 

"They went to work in the morning, and the storm occurred a few hours later. That was the last time I saw them. And... I don't know if I'll ever see them again." "Don't say that, Cindy," said Tina, placing a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sure they are safe, and you'll be together as a family very soon."

Tina's smile and reassuring tone warmed her heart, making her feel at peace. "Thank you, Mrs. Grace." "Call me Aunt Tina, okay?" Cindy nodded. "I'll leave you guys alone. Get some rest." 

Suddenly, they heard Daniel's voice. "Where am I?" Cindy and Tina looked at Daniel, as he rubbed his eyes and tried to sit up. Cindy quickly held him and helped him up. "Are you okay, Daniel?" she asked. "What happened? You're..." he paused for a second, and said, "oh, right, my sister." 

Cindy glanced at Tina and saw her confused. She whispered to Daniel, "Don't act weird!" "Well, here's glass of water, Daniel," said Tina, passing it to him, "You're welcome here. Let me know if you need anything else." 

In the living room, John was still sitting with Clara. "You know, when I was young, I was also kind of like you." "Really, dad?" "Well, I was a pretty curious soul," he laughed. "So, did you think about Heeds?" 

"I actually wondered about them all the time. But you know, as time passed, life got busy, and at one point I stopped caring about them. But honestly, I like how genuinely curious you are, it's nice that you want to gain knowledge about everything." 

Clara smiled. "Mom just told me to shut up when I mentioned 'Heeds'." Clara's dad replied, "She didn't want to scare Crystal with creepy stories, but I also think she's kind of scared herself," he laughed, "Besides, I also think the 'don't you dare say their name' thing doesn't make any sense."

"Exactly! This is why I like you, dad! How come people are okay with ignoring a topic forever?" "I agree with you, Clara, but sometimes, people prioritize their safety more than anything, which is perfectly fine. And when you have more important things to worry about, random stories won't keep you up at night anymore." 

"Ugh, but still!" John chuckled. "Whatever you do, don't do anything stupid to satisfy your curiosity, okay? Your safety comes first. I know you won't, but I'm just saying." 

"Of course, dad. Now, tell me more about the war between heeds and humans! What weapons did humans use? Did the heeds fight back!?" Clara asked curiously.

Suddenly, Tina entered the room. "John! Clara! Why are you two here? Have you looked at the time?" "Oh- I totally forgot about sleeping! Sorry, mom." "And John? You're supposed to be the mature one here. I swear, if I have to spend an hour in the morning calling you both again!"

"Well.." he couldn't come up with an excuse. "Sorry, my lovely wife, it won't happen again," he said, trying to butter her up. Tina couldn't help but laugh. "Okay okay, now take her to bed." "Clara, I guess we have to finish the story another day then," said Clara's dad. "Ugh, fine."

"Also, who's at the guest room, mom?" "Cindy, a teenager, and Daniel, a boy your age. They needed a place to spend the night, so I let them stay there." "Wait, they're young? I could have been friends with them!" "You'll meet them in the morning, now go to your bed." 

While Tina was gone, Daniel kept asking questions to Cindy in the guest room. "What on earth happened? Why am I at a stranger's house? Or was that... my mom?" "What? No!" "Then??"

"Listen, Daniel. When we were escaping from the deadly storm, you fainted. So I carried you, trying to look for help. That woman is Mrs. Tina Grace, and she's letting us stay here tonight."

"Oh..." "And Daniel... Don't let them know anything about your memory. We are strangers, let's not give them reasons not to trust us." "Right, sister.. So, what should I do?" "Just play along, okay? Like I'm your sister, and you've always known that." "Got it," Daniel replied, without asking anything else. 

"You know, I always found you annoying. But now that you don't remember anything... it kind of hurts. I miss the bond we had," said Cindy, in a low voice. Daniel listened quietly, he wasn't sure what to say.

After putting Crystal to sleep, Mrs. Karina went to Clara's room, where she found Tina helping Clara fall asleep. "Hey, Tina. I just put Crystal to sleep. She wouldn't shut up about how you didn't finish your story, actually, about how you didn't even start it," she said, laughing. Tina smiled and replied, "Well, must've been hard to make her sleep then." 

"Yeah, but who was it at the door?" "Well.." As Tina explained the whole thing, Karina replied, "So you just let those strangers stay? Did grandfather approve of this?" "Come on Karina, you know he can't even speak." "Okay okay, whatever it is. I'll go now. Good night." She left the room. 

That night, Clara couldn't sleep at first. She kept thinking about those creatures. What happened to them? Are they truly gone? "Whoever they are... wherever they are..." she murmured under her breath, "One day I'll figure out... their mystery." 

As she finally started to drift off to sleep, a terrible stomach ache woke her up. She felt like throwing up, the sharp and sudden pain made her cry out. "Mom!" Her mother woke up and held her. "Are you okay? Did you eat something bad?" "N-no. Not that I remember. Ugh, I can't take this anymore. Even my head feels heavy."

"It's fine, sweetheart. Wait here, you'll be alright soon." Tina brought her painkillers and managed the situation. After a while, the pain started to fade away. "I feel better now, I guess." Her mother kissed her forehead and let her rest. 

[Flashback]

The wind was strong. People were running and panicking due to the storm. Some lost their houses, some lost their loved ones. "Daniel! Daniel! Can you hear me?" Daniel slowly opened his eyes, his head started to hurt. He found himself sitting under the roof of a street market stall, which served as a temporary shelter from the storm.

"Wh- what's going on?" "Are you okay?? Why would you run so fast? Couldn't you just be a little careful? So many things have gone wrong already, and you had to make it worse by hitting your head and injuring yourself."

Daniel stared at the girl standing in front of him, trying to figure out what's going on. "I'm sorry but... who are you?" In a furious tone, she replied, "This is not the time for jokes. Say that again, and I'll slap you harder than I did when you stole my money."

Daniel stayed silent, he had never felt this confused in his entire life. "Ugh-" He rubbed his forehead, overwhelmed by the mental pressure and headache. 

Who was this lady? And then another question hit him even harder: Who was HE? What has his life been like? Where did he live? Why was he here? He couldn't seem to remember a single thing.

"I... really don't know you. Where am I? What am I doing here? Who... am I?" She quickly sat down, as she seemed to realize that he may not be joking after all. "What do you mean, you idiot!? I'm your sister, Cindy!"

"Really..?" "Last chance to admit it's a prank, Daniel. If you continue this non-sense, I'll abandon you here in this horrifying storm." "I'm sorry... I don't know... what's going on." 

As Cindy saw the fear, confusion and seriousness in Daniel's eyes, she placed her hand on his shoulder. "Daniel. Look at me. I'm Cindy. Your sister. Do you really not remember me?"

"I don't.." "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" Daniel started to slightly tear up. He didn't know anything about himself, and was stuck in the middle of a storm, with a head injury, with someone who claimed to be his sister. He had no idea what to do. 

"Please answer me, Daniel! Do you not remember mom and dad? Or our grandma? We had a loving family in our little house near the Emberwood street.  I took you to school everyday! Your friends- Jack, Mina, Ruby, Sam! Can you remember them? Anything at all?"

Daniel shook his head, signaling 'no'. He felt like he heard those names for the first time in his life. Was the head injury really that bad? What even was his life about? He ran his fingers through his hair, trying hard to remember everything, but failing each time.

Tears rolled down Cindy's cheeks. What would anyone do if their loved one forgot all about them? After a few moments of silence, she hugged Daniel. "We'll figure out what happens next. Just trust me, okay? I'll protect you."

Suddenly, the storm blew away the roof over them. Cindy immediately grabbed Daniel and started running away. After a while, Daniel fell down, passing out from exhaustion. 

"Hey! Get up!" Getting no response, Cindy lifted him up and carried him all the way to the nearby town. Reaching there, she spotted the house of Mr. Grace and decided to ask for help. 

Wednesday Morning

"Clara! This is the seventh time I'm calling you. If you don't wake up right now, I'll LITERALLY pour a bucket of water on you," Tina shouted. Clara replied in her sleepy voice, "Mhm.. Five more minutes..." 

"AND NO MORE BEDTIME STORIES!" Hearing that, Clara slowly opened her eyes. "F-fine... I'm... waking up..." "No one in this house ever listens to me," Tina whispered to herself. 

In the other room, Mrs. Karina was talking to her husband Mr. James. "Do you see how we get neglected around here? Last night, Tina let complete strangers stay in the house. We also stay here, shouldn't we get a say in this matter!?"

"I know, Karina. It's like we don't even matter," he replied. "They get grandfather's National Service Reward, the ownership of the house, AND all the attention?" She added, "You know, karma always finds its way," with a slight smirk.

"Mom! Where's my water bottle? I'm getting late for school," Crystal shouted from the dining room. "I'm coming," Karina replied, sighing, and left her room. 

Clara wanted to meet Cindy and Daniel in the morning, but it didn't help that she was already late for school. "Gosh, I wish I slept earlier." 

She quickly grabbed her uniform to get ready, but as she tried to change, she glanced in the mirror and gasped in fear. There were multiple scratch marks on her arms and shoulders. She swallowed hard. What had happened? Who had done this to her? Why hadn't she felt anything? What was she supposed to do now?

"Clara! What's taking you so long!? Look at the time!" Clara wanted to speak, to tell her mother about what happened, and to hug her.

But she couldn't. She knew her mother would make a big deal out of it, worry, and completely lose her mind. But mostly, it was fear. After all, she was just a child, scared and confused. "I- I'm coming." She put on her uniform and fixed her hair casually, even though her heart was racing.  

"Why did you take so long?? Now hurry up!" "Yes, mom!" Clara grabbed her bag and left for school, along with Crystal. 

A few hours passed. John returned home from work. "Hey, Tina, how's it going?" "Everything's fine, how was your day?" 

"It was good. But did you hear? The storm in the village next to us destroyed several buildings, especially in the northern area. They were the most reputed schools and offices there. And the worst part is, everyone who was inside the buildings in the afternoon lost their lives."

"WHAT?" Hearing the voice, Tina and John turned around. "Cindy?" "Sir, what do you mean? My parents work at a school in the northern region, till 6 o'clock..." Cindy said, her voice breaking.

"Well, a survivors' list was published in the newspaper today. Why don't you check it and look for your parents' names?" John said, handing her the newspaper. 

After searching for a while, Cindy broke down. "I... don't see their names..." Tina and John tried to reassure her, but she wouldn’t stop crying.

A few moments later, she grabbed Tina's hand, sobbing, "Please... Help us. I'm not saying this for myself. I need to give my brother a life. I'm pretty smart, I'll teach your daughter, and maybe the other kid here too. I'll also help you in chores, I'll tell my brother to do so too. I don't ask for anything else.. Please let us stay here, or manage something for us. I beg you.." she said gently, "Aunt Tina.."

Tina looked at John, asking what to do. John gently told Cindy, "I'm really sorry about what happened. Hold on, I'll see what I can do. Don't worry. Tina, can you talk to Karina and James?" Tina nodded, and went to their room. 

"Uhm, Karina? Are you busy?" "No, not at all. Come in, Tina," she replied, with a smile. "Well, I think I should have asked you guys before letting those kids in last night. I just didn't want to wake you up. Anyways, I wanted to apologize..." 

"Oh that's completely fine, don't worry about it. Anything else?" "Actually, they just lost their parents and house in the storm. Cindy offered to tutor our children and help around the house, if we let them live here. What should we do?" 

"Uh... Wait, let me ask my husband." After they discussed for a while, they realized it might be beneficial for them too, other than the extra cost of food and necessities. Tina went to John and pulled him aside. 

"You know, it wouldn't be so bad if we had two new members joining our family, it's not like we are in a bad place financially. I could use some help in work too. Also, you know how I always wanted more children.. And they're so lovable."

"That's true, Clara and Crystal would love to have some new friends as well. Whether it's temporary or permanent, I think we should help them right now." 

"Yeah.. Look at them, they're so innocent and helpless. They just lost their parents and everything else. How can one not feel any sympathy for them?" "I know, Tina. Just be careful. I'm telling her she can stay."

As John gave Cindy the good news, her eyes lit up with hope. "Really??" "Cindy, weren't we supposed to leave in the morning?" Daniel said in a sleepy voice, entering the room. He had just woken up. 

Tina went to Daniel and caressed his hair. "You're not going anywhere, dear. You're staying with us now. Call me Aunt Tina." "But what about my previous family?" "Well.." "They're missing! The police will find them one day," said Cindy, cutting Tina off, "Don't worry, Daniel." 

Daniel was confused, but it didn't bother him that much. How could he care about a family he didn’t have a single memory of? Maybe a new family, and a new start wouldn't be the worst option for him, so he agreed. 

"I don't know how to thank you guys. I'll forever be grateful to you," said Cindy, wiping her tears. Tina smiled. "Forget about that, you're a part of our family now." 

A few minutes later, James asked his brother John, "So if we are basically adopting them, what about legal paperwork?" "Their parents might still be alive. I'll file a missing persons report. We're just giving them shelter till things clear up." 

Tina spoke up, "They've already lost everything. Do we really need to throw them into a cold government shelter full of strangers? If anything happens, we'll just say that we were trying to help." They agreed to figure things out once things settle down. 

After Daniel and Cindy went to the guest room again, Cindy said, "Daniel.. Our parents are probably.. not alive," her voice was low and sad. "What.. are you saying? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" 

"Let's be honest. If you don't remember anything.. you probably wouldn't be as devastated as me, would you? I didn't want them to suspect anything from your reaction.. Daniel. We are helpless, and they are accepting us as a part of their family, which is huge. Do you get it? We can't mess anything up. We can't have them doubting our relationship and identities."

"You're right. And I understand how much you're hurting, I'm sorry. I'm not sure how to feel about things because I have no idea who my parents were, or what moments I spent with them. I'm not saying it doesn't hurt... but the feeling is empty."

Cindy looked down. "Do you.. genuinely not remember anything? Not even me?" "No, I don't remember any of the moments we shared... But I can now, right? Why don't we make memories that we will remember forever? Why can't we just... start everything again? A new bond.. A new life.." 

Cindy looked at Daniel, giving him a faint smile. "I like this version of you, where you don't keep making fun of me." She continued, "You know, you're actually right. Did hitting your head finally make you smart?" Daniel chuckled, "Now I'm kind of sure that you're my sister."

"Daniel, the memories of the past give me nothing but pain. So.. I suppose, the best option is to forget everything and... start our new life here. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad." "It wouldn't," Daniel reassured her. 

New Friendship

Clara and Crystal returned home from school. They changed into comfortable clothes, although it was hard for Clara to look at herself in the mirror. She still couldn't gain the courage to tell her mother about the scratch marks. "What can she even do? She would probably think that I'm hiding something... Nevermind."

After changing into a long-sleeved dress, she ran out of her room, to her mother. "Can I meet the guests now??" "Yes, dear. Actually, they're going to stay with us for a while." "Really? How long?" "Uh.. I'm not sure. Why don't you go talk to them?" 

"Are you looking for me?" Cindy asked, smiling. Hearing her voice, Clara turned around. As Cindy looked at Clara's face, her eyes widened, and she gasped. "What's wrong, Cindy?" Tina asked.

"UH- it's- it's nothing..." she paused, as she continued studying Clara. "Cindy." "Oh, right. I'm sorry. You just.. look like someone I know." Clara found it a little interesting, and replied, "Someone you know? Who?"

"Not anyone important. Just someone I met at..." she paused for a moment, "my school. Forget it. You're Clara, right?" She reached out to offer a handshake, and Clara shook her hand with a smile. 

"Yess, I'm Clara. I've heard about you! You're Cindy, that's a nice name." "Thanks! Actually, from today, I'm going to help you study. You're okay with that, right?" "Sure, I don't mind. Do you wanna sit with me and talk?" "I'm actually helping Aunt Tina cook. You can meet Daniel in the guest room." "Alright."

Clara knocked on the door. "Daniel?" "Hey, come in," Daniel replied, with a smile. Clara entered the room and sat on the bed. "Hi, I'm Clara." "Ohh, hey, your mother talked about you when you were at school."

"Really? What did she say?" "Something about my sister tutoring you." "Oh, about that," she chuckled, "What about you, Daniel? Did you ever have a tutor?"

It was a simple question, but Daniel panicked, as he didn't know what to say, he didn't even remember if he had ever studied anything. He thought to himself: Just make something up, just make something up! "Daniel?" "Oh, sorry, I zoned out," he laughed awkwardly. 

"I'm literally talking to you!" "Sorry sorry! And yes, my sister was my tutor." "Really? What was it like?" Once again, his head went blank. He hated this. Was it because he hated lying? Because he was terrible at making things up? Or was he just nervous? 

"WOULD YOU STOP ZONING OUT?" He said, "Would you stop shouting? You're the one asking weird questions! What do you even mean by how it was like?" Getting annoyed, Clara replied, "You were ignoring me and now it's my fault? Wow, you really can't talk to people... I'd rather talk to your sister." 

Cindy finished helping Tina and went to the guest room. "Hey guys, what were you talking about?" Clara sighed, "I'm teaching Daniel how to talk to someone." "Hello?? Teaching?? You were straight up insulting me."

Cindy laughed, watching the two argue. "I think both of you should be nicer to each other. Clara, Daniel, how about we all just become friends?" Daniel replied, "Alright, that sounds fine." "Okay okay," said Clara.

"Clara! What are you doing with them?" asked her cousin Crystal, as she came from her room. "Hey, Crystal, meet Cindy and Daniel. They're our new friends." "Friends? But I'm seeing them for the first time. And mom said they aren't even related to us. Why should I be their friend?"

Clara replied, "What do you mean, Crystal!? Didn't you learn how to behave well with everyone?" Daniel whispered, "Says the one who was arguing with me just now." Clara gave him a playful glare. "Crystal, what I mean is, they will be living with us now. You should be a little more cooperative." "Whatever," said Crystal, leaving the room. 

"I'm sorry about that, usually, she's not like this. Maybe she doesn't like change," Crystal said, to Daniel and Cindy. Cindy reassured her, "Not a big deal, she'll adjust soon." Clara smiled, "Anyways, you're from the nearby village right?"

"Yeah, we are. If you're going to talk about the storm-" "No no," Clara cut her off, "I was actually going to ask... Have you guys ever heard of Heeds? They're something I recently became interested in, and my dad left a story unfinished yesterday, so I can't stop thinking about them." 

"WHAT!" Cindy exclaimed, "You believe in such non-sense?" "Uhm... Not exactly? Calm down.. I just meant that I liked learning about them." "Oh.. Right, sorry. I was just a little... shocked. These are just superstitions, you know?" 

Daniel joined the conversation, "What are Heeds? I don't really..." "Wait, so your sister knows and she never told you or brought up the topic before?" To avoid getting suspected, Cindy slapped his arm playfully, saying, "How would you know? You're always playing stupid games with your friends, not caring about anything else happening in the world!"

Clara chuckled, "Oh, well, no worries, I'll let him know everything that I've learnt." "That's good. Let me.. uhm.. go and help your mother," Cindy said goodbye to them and left the room.

"So.. Daniel.. What kind of games did you play?" There she goes again. Messing with Daniel's head. He couldn't help but think: Is she literally doing this on purpose? Does she know everything?

"Dude, do you lose your ability to speak when your sister isn't with you!?" Clara asked, when he remained silent again after hearing her question. "No, it's not that. You just keep asking me questions about my life before the storm, and that kind of hurts, because, you know..." "OH! I'm sorry!" "No, it's alright!"

He did it. He thought to himself: Damn, Daniel, you nailed it, with the perfect lie! This will help you avoid other similar questions too! "Wait, are you smiling??" "WHAT? No! Why would I?? We just talked about the most traumatic event of my life!" "I don't know, you tell me!!" 

They kept talking and arguing, till Tina called Clara from the dining room, "Clara! Did you give your great-grandfather his medicine?" "No, but I'm on it! Excuse me, Daniel, I have to leave now." "Your great-grandfather? Who is he?" 

"Mr. Walter Grace.. He's 120 years old, and still alive, can you believe that? But he can't speak, and he's on bed rest." Daniel asked curiously, "That's actually cool, but why can't he speak?"

"Because of old age, dummy. That's what my parents told me," Clara said, as she went to another room to get the medicine, while Daniel followed her. 

"He's your great-grandfather, that means... your grandfather's father, right?" "Yes, Daniel, isn't that general knowledge?" Clara teased. "I know, dummy, I'm not stupid. My question is, where are your grandparents then?" 

"They.. died," Clara replied, sighing. "Oh, I'm sorry... But that makes it even more shocking that your great-grandfather is still alive! What kind of work did he do when he was younger? Also, did he have a really healthy diet or something?"

While speaking to Clara and following her to Mr. Walter's room, Daniel thought to himself: Found the perfect way to avoid getting questioned. Very simple, just ask her questions about her life! I'm so smart!

"I'm not sure, Daniel. Dad says he was involved in some kind of national service. Mom says he was in the army, but I don't really buy it, because my dad never mentioned anything like that. But who cares? It was in the past." 

Daniel laughed a little, replying, "I think that's a little hypocritical..." Giving him a confused look, Clara asked, "What the hell does that mean?" "You just said it didn't matter because it was in the past. But you can't stop thinking about some random creatures that existed a century ago."

Clara rolled her eyes, but couldn't fully deny it. "That's different... Heeds might still exist, and they're interesting. That's why I like learning about them. But.. you're not completely wrong, I'm actually a little curious about great-grandfather's life now.." "Maybe you should ask your parents."

After helping him take the medicine, Clara went  to her room, where Cindy was cleaning the table. Suddenly, Cindy gasped, "Clara! What's that mark?" glancing at Clara's shoulder. "What?" Clara quickly fixed her dress. 

Cindy stopped cleaning, and sat beside Clara. "Clara, are you sure that you're... fine?" Cindy asked, her voice calm and filled with concern. Clara swallowed hard. "Wh- what do you mean?" 

"Did someone hit you? At home or at school?" "No, not at all." "Then what's going on?" "I... I don't know. Forget it. I'll be fine," she said, immediately getting up and leaving the room. As Clara left, Cindy was alone, and thoughts were racing through her mind.

Then Cindy returned to her room where Daniel was. "Hey, where were you?" asked Daniel. "Hi, I just finished some chores, what about you? You've been getting along with Clara pretty well, huh?" she said with a little smirk. 

"What's that supposed to mean?" Daniel rolled his eyes. "Chill, I'm just playing around," she replied, "So, you two are friends now?" "Who knows? All we do is insult each other," he chuckled. "Trust me, that's the best kind of friendship." "Really?" "Yes, idiot!" They both laughed.

Heed Expert

When Clara walked past her parents' room, she heard them talking. "John, about our grandfather's National Service Reward... Should we keep it all? I think James and Karina deserve half of the money."

"You're right, I've been thinking about that too. I know that the government says it's only inherited by the first son, but we can easily share it after the payment arrives. It's better to avoid unnecessary inequality in the family."

"Yeah... Anyways, I must say, this fund is a blessing for our family's finances." "I mean, why wouldn't the government support the family of one of the greatest Heed Experts? He dealt with so many of them for the sake of people."

"Mom! Dad!" Clara shouted, "Heed Expert?? Are you kidding me? What's going on?" Tina walked over to Clara. "Clara! Who gave you the right to spy on us!?" "I wasn't doing that! I was just walking by, and I heard you say something about my great-grandfather being a Heed Expert!" John spoke up, "Clara, this is none of your business." 

"Dad, none of my business? I thought you said you admired my curiosity.. If it were any other topic, maybe I would let it go.. But I always thought Heeds were something only I'd been curious about, and that they were probably just a part of some silly stories. Now that I know my family is somehow involved, how can I possibly sleep at night without learning about it properly?"

"Clara-" Tina tried to stop Clara, but John put a hand on Tina's shoulder, saying, "Tina... Maybe we shouldn't keep this from her anymore. I mean, what's the harm?" "John! What if she gets scared? She's just a child, let's not burden her with these thoughts." "You make me laugh, Tina. Clara? Scared about Heeds?" Tina sighed. "Okay, fine. Tell her."

Clara sat beside her father on the bed, and for some reason, she was nervous. It wasn't the usual excitement she had felt while listening to Heed stories. She couldn't even imagine that she would actually be related to Heeds in any way. "Dad! Tell me."

Her father took a deep breath. "Clara... Your great-grandfather... Walter Grace... was a Heed Expert. The people who fought against Heeds a century ago are called Heed Experts." Clara couldn't believe it. "And I didn't know anything about it till now?!" 

John continued, "Heed Experts who contributed the most to public safety, received a special fund from the government, a yearly payment, which they can pass down from generation to generation. That's what the National Service Reward is. Even though the government confirmed that Heeds no longer exist, they continued paying families like ours, otherwise a lot of citizens would've been displeased and turned against the government." 

"Wow... So who has it now? In our family?" "Well, your grandfather was supposed to inherit it after your great-grandfather's death. But you know, your grandfather is no longer with us, so instead of him, I'm supposed to inherit it if something happens to your great-grandfather. They're already talking about putting it under my name, since your great-grandfather's condition isn't so good." 

"Okay, but why exactly does the government pay the families of Heed Experts? Was it that hard of a job?" Tina looked at John, "John... Maybe that's enough..." "It's fine, Tina. She can handle it. Clara, the Heed Experts who were hated by numerous Heeds, had been cursed by them. Heeds used their power... to disable the Heed Experts in any way possible before vanishing one day." 

"Disable them? How?" "By taking away their ability to... speak, hear or move." Clara's eyes widened, as she realized the real reason why her great-grandfather couldn't speak and was on bed rest. "What!? That means, my great-grandfather wasn't just sick from old age?" 

Tina replied, sighing, "No, Clara. He had been like this for... a hundred years. I know, it's hard to even imagine. He was a Heed Expert at the age of 20. Your great-grandmother was pregnant with their son when he was 19. And after the Heed-Human conflict, he lost the ability to speak forever. Maybe living so long with such a miserable life was one of their curses too." "Wait, how long did the conflict last?" asked Clara.

John said, "Almost two years. The Heeds tricked people through fake identities for a year. Realizing they wanted power and were getting dangerous for human beings, some people like your great-grandfather researched and worked hard to find solutions. And the next year, after finding out the Heeds' weaknesses, those Heed Experts used them to eliminate the Heeds one by one."

Clara was both thrilled and confused. "What kind of weaknesses?" "Well... Some people say that they couldn't tolerate the fragrance of jasmines, or the taste of sweet food items, or even hot water..." "Oh! I can't believe they're scared of such simple things... Anyways, how did my great-grandfather deal with Heeds?"

"Well, I wish I could hear it from his mouth, but you know why it wasn't possible. However, while he still had the ability to speak, he told your great-grandmother about some of his methods. Testing their reaction to the smell of jasmines was an effective way of identifying Heeds in disguise. He sometimes dealt with them by making a Jasmine Potion, and maybe adding other things they couldn't tolerate." 

"Woah..." Clara still couldn't process all the new information. Was she dreaming? Was it really true that Heeds existed and her ancestor fought against them? 

However, a thought crossed her mind, and she asked, "When the Heed Experts used their methods against Heeds, did they just react and disappear? Then how can we be so sure that the Heeds were killed, and that they don't exist anymore? Human beings couldn't even see them in their real forms."

Clara's father sighed. "I know, Clara. Honestly, we can't tell. But after being punished like that... they gradually stopped appearing in disguise of human beings. By the end of the year, there were no more Heed cases. They never showed up since then. And so, everyone stopped prioritizing them." 

"I... still can't accept it. I don't think they're completely gone. But where are they? Are they sleeping? Maybe they just returned to their regular flow of life." "Maybe," John agreed. 

Tina gently asked Clara, "Are you okay? I mean... It's a lot to take in." "Of course, mom, I'm glad I learnt more. Why wouldn't I be okay?" "I don't know, I thought you might be afraid of the curse, or mad that we didn't tell you until now."

"I mean, I was kind of mad that I was deprived of this much information... But you guys did tell me now, and I'm happy, so it's fine. Also, I'm not afraid of the curse, just a little shocked..." "That's a relief." Clara smiled, and returned to her room, so many thoughts racing through her mind. 

That night, Clara sat down at her study table, with Cindy by her side. "Let's start the first chapter," Cindy said with a smile, and Clara nodded. However, while Cindy tried explaining the topic to her, Clara couldn't focus at all.

At first, it seemed like she was just distracted by other thoughts, but that wasn't it. Her head felt strangely dizzy, and the words on the page blurred. She felt unnaturally sleepy, which made it impossible to focus, and a dull ache formed behind her eyes. "Did you understand, Clara? Or do I need to explain it again?" 

"Uh-" she uttered, rubbing her eyes. "Clara." "Yes..?" "Are you okay?" Cindy asked, her tone gentle. "I don't really... feel like studying. My head feels heavy... I... don't know what's happening to me." Cindy looked at her, as if trying to understand something, just like the way she analyzed Clara when they first met.

After that, Cindy offered, "You know what, we'll study tomorrow, okay?" "But my exams are in a few days..." Clara replied hesitantly. "It's fine. Trust me. Just go to bed now." Clara nodded and stood up. She wasn't sure why Cindy would say that, but she decided to trust her. It's not like she was able to focus anyway. 

A few hours later, as Clara slept peacefully in her room, there was a knock on the door. Who could that be? She rubbed her eyes, slowly getting up. She opened the door and found Cindy standing there, holding a cup. 

Cindy entered the room and closed the door. "Clara! Drink this. It's my favourite drink! Trust me, it's so good." In her half-sleepy voice, Clara replied, "You woke me up in the middle of the night just to offer me a drink!? That's super weird, you know..."

Cindy chucked. "I made some for myself, and I knew you'd love it too, that's why I'm here. After all, we're friends now, right?" "I mean... that's true..." "Go on, Clara," said Cindy, handing her the cup. As Clara took a sip, she immediately gagged, coughing. "WHY DOES IT TASTE LIKE THAT?" 

"Hey, be careful! It's a little spicy, but you can't deny how delicious it is. Take a proper sip." As Clara took a second sip, she managed to swallow it, but it tasted horrible. "Cindy, I like you, and I don't even want to be rude, but I literally can't drink this..." 

Suddenly, her throat started to hurt, and the heavy feeling came back, which she had while studying. Gradually, it started to get worse. "Cindy... What's in this drink?" She asked, as she sat down. 

"Clara. Drink the whole cup. It also works like medicine." "Medicine? For what? Gosh- it hurts! What did you make me drink!?" Cindy insisted, "Clara, trust me and drink it." "Why should I trust you?? Look at what you've done."

"Fine, you won't drink it?" Cindy grabbed the cup, and started forcing her to drink it. "STOP!" Cindy didn't listen, and forcefully made her take two more sips. Clara's breathing quickened, and her heart rate went up. However, after that, Clara's pain started to fade away. "Hold on... How did that..."

"I told you so. Clara, I'm so sorry for forcing you, but you see why I did it, right?" "Whatever, Cindy, that was rude," she rolled her eyes. "Come on, I'm sorry," Cindy said, pouting. "Okay okay. But what was the point of that!? I was already fine!" "Sure you were." Cindy left the room without giving her a clear answer. 

As Clara went back to bed, she couldn't stop thinking about it. What was going on? Where did Cindy get that drink from? What was in it? How did it work? Was it truly healing her, or was it actually doing the opposite? "What a weird day," Clara whispered to herself. But considering how much she had learnt about her family's history and Heeds, it was undeniably one of the best days of her life.

After Six Years 

As days passed, Clara, Daniel and Cindy grew closer than ever. Cindy used to tutor Clara's cousin Crystal too, but Crystal didn't enjoy spending much time with Cindy or Daniel. Maybe her mother warned her about them, as she couldn't trust them enough. 

However, Cindy and Daniel were total sweethearts in Tina's eyes. Tina and Cindy often worked together, and Tina treated them like her own children. The police hadn't found anyone with the same name as Cindy's parents in the nearby village, and even though Clara's family said they'd handle legal matters later, they never actually did it. They would either forget about it, or Tina would simply say, "They're our family now. Besides, what's the rush?'

Life wasn't so bad for them. However, Clara would sometimes get those scratch marks, headaches or stomachaches from time to time, but they weren't as bad as the first time. And as for Clara's Heed theories, Cindy usually disagreed with her but Daniel often listened, even if he ended up laughing at her theories most of the time. 

Just like that, six years passed. Clara began tutoring a younger student who lived next door. One day, when she got her first salary, she couldn't have been more excited. She went to a shop, and came back with little accessories and chocolates. 

"Mom! Dad! Everyone! Look what I bought with my own money, for all of you!" Tina smiled and sat down beside her. "Clara, that's really sweet of you, but don't you think you should be saving that money instead?" "Mom, come on! I earned this! What's the point if I can't spend it on the people I love!?" Tina chuckled, "Okay okay, just make sure you don't waste it."

"Dad, Daniel, and Uncle James, I didn't know what to get you guys, so I just bought your favourite chocolates. And for the girls, I got colorful hair clips." She turned to each of them. "Crystal, here's a pink one- your favourite. Mom, the blue one's for you. Aunt Karina, the purple one's yours. And Cindy, I picked the yellow one for you." The family members happily accepted the little gifts Clara had brought for them.

Later that day, Clara and Daniel sat under a tree near their house, eating sweet mangoes and enjoying the quiet afternoon. A few moments later, Cindy joined them, holding some tamarind in her hand. 

Clara looked at her and asked, "How can you eat that? Here, have some mangoes." Cindy chuckled, "No, thanks. I love tamarind- It's sour, sharp and kind of refreshing... You two are really missing out." "Keep telling yourself that, sister. Nothing beats mangoes," replied Daniel, smiling. 

After a while, Cindy left the garden and returned to the house to help Tina. After that, Clara said, "By the way, Daniel, there's a rumor going around..." "What rumor?" Daniel asked curiously. "Apparently there's a man called Marcus in this town, and he might have something to do with Heeds."

"What do you mean?" "I heard people calling him a 'Heedist' or something like that. I'm not sure. But people are scared of him..." "Okay, and your point is?" "I... want to learn about him." "What the hell do you mean, Clara?"

"I know where he lives. Would you mind..." "Clara, I swear if you say something crazy-" "Would you mind coming with me to his house? Maybe we could... spy on him or something. I really want to know more." 

"Now I wish you hadn't finished that sentence. Do you even hear yourself!? That's CRAZY. Are you not scared!?" "I don't know... Is it really scary? Or are we just cowards?" "That isn't gonna work on me, Clara. I'm not an idiot like you, and I actually value my life." "That's mean!" 

"It's the truth. What kind of weirdo wants to spy on a scary man like that!?" "Scary man? You didn't even see him yet." "Girl, your description is enough to know that he's scary. I'm not going, and you're not either." "How is that fair!?" "Because I said so." Clara crossed her arms, saying, "I hate you." "You hate me for not letting you die? Wow." "I'm not gonna die!" "Yeah yeah, whatever."

They stayed silent for a few moments. After that, Clara said, "Okay, you're right. Marcus does sound dangerous... I'm sorry, it's just that... when you're so passionate about something from your childhood, you can't help it- even if it's just a small dream, or curiosity about something hardly important..." "That makes sense, I guess... I'm sorry too, for being mean about it." 

"That's fine," Clara replied, "I don't even know the exact moment I started having this dream of... somehow solving the mystery of Heeds. It's funny actually, because what would I even do if I found out everything about them? What then? It's not like I'm saving the world or anything. It just... didn't make sense to me that different people had different knowledge about the same topic, and still no one could derive a conclusion. So I thought maybe I could be the different one and... do something." she sighed, as she realized her dream might be stupid after all.

"Clara, listen to me. It's perfectly fine to have a dream. In fact, sometimes dreams are the reason we move forward, even when life gets hard. Yes, Heeds are an ignored topic by most of the people. But you cared, and you thought, what if it's a bigger deal than we think it is?  Your dream came from the genuine curiosity of a child. I think that's beautiful... It's one of the things..." He hesitated, but continued, "It's one of the things that I... genuinely love about you. You don't let things go like everyone else does, and you look for answers." 

After telling her this, Daniel's mind started racing with thoughts. He thought about how he never once questioned who he was, or if Cindy really was his sister. There were so many reasons not to trust the people around him, but he ignored them and decided to go with the flow. Was it wrong? Or was it okay to be realistic sometimes, because the other option might've cost him the facilities he already had- and made it worse?

Clara listened to Daniel. His words brought her a deep sense of peace, calming her down and reassuring her. "Wow, thank you... That was really nice." A few seconds later, she laughed a little, saying, "I don't get you. One minute you're insulting me like I'm the biggest idiot in the world, and the next minute you're talking to me like a caring dad." 

"A dad?" Daniel rolled his eyes, "Now I regret saying all that." "Hey, I said a 'caring' dad!" She laughed. "Anyways, Daniel, I've known you for six years, yet I have no idea what your dream is. Come on, tell me." "Well-" He paused. He didn't know what to say. It reminded him of the first day they had met, when she kept asking him questions he didn't know the answer to. 

But this time, he didn't feel like making up another lie. He didn't even feel like hiding things from her anymore. Was it really necessary? What's the worst that could happen if he didn't? She wouldn't make a scene and kick him out of the house, would she?

"What are you thinking, idiot? Answer me." "Clara..." "What?" "There's something I haven't told you yet. And I'm not sure how you'll react when you find out." He could feel his heart racing. He kept thinking, what if this ruins everything? "What are you talking about?" Clara asked. 

"I... lost my memory six years ago," Daniel replied. "What do you mean!?" "Yes, I don't remember anything about my identity, my family or my life before the storm. The only thing I remember is Cindy speaking to me during the storm and freaking out about my memory..."

"Wait, what!? You're telling me that you forgot EVERYTHING about your past life?" "Yes, Clara... I don't even know if my name is Daniel or not. I just chose to trust Cindy... It's not like I had anyone else." "You could've just told my parents!" 

"Clara, what would they do? Would they manage treatment for me, pay all the hospital bills? Would they take that much responsibility for someone they didn't even know? I was lucky enough to be sheltered by your family. They might've even doubted me and Cindy if they knew about the memory loss."

Clara sighed, "That's true... But all these years, you just kept lying to me? Acting sad over your parents and your past life.. All that was a lie?" "Please don't be mad, Clara... I promised Cindy that I wouldn't tell anyone... I was just doing what I thought was right, I'm sorry..." Clara took a deep breath. "I mean, it's not affecting our lives right now, so I guess it's fine... You're happy with this new life, right?"

"Yeah, I'm grateful. But... I did lie to you, and the matter is pretty serious. Are you mad? Do you doubt me and Cindy now?" "No, idiot, but if you keep asking me questions like that, I might be." Daniel smiled. He thought Clara might've stopped being friends with him, stopped trusting him, or even kicked him out of the house. So, he felt more relieved than ever, finding out Clara's fine with it.

However, after a while, Clara asked, "So, are you going to take me to Marcus's house or not?" "Clara, I told you it's not possible. I won't let you go." Clara replied, with a little smirk, "Then I'll tell Cindy that you broke your promise and told me about your secret." 

Daniel gave her a 'you're unbelievable' look. "You've got to be kidding me!" Clara laughed. "I'm just kidding, you know I wouldn't threaten you using your own secrets. But you're the one who reassured me about my dream, come on! Shouldn't I do what's necessary to fulfill my dream?"

"Sure, if your dream is to die." "Daniel! Why would I die? You'd be there to protect me, right?" she said, pouting, eyes full of playful innocence. "You're truly impossible," he laughed, "But Clara, I believe your father once told you not to do anything stupid to satisfy your curiosity, right?" 

"How do you even remember that? I told you that six years ago!" "I pay attention to what people say, alright?" he rolled his eyes. "Clara, look at me. If something happens to you, how will you even solve the mystery of Heeds?" "Daniel... What if Marcus is the one hiding all the Heeds in his house? What if he is a threat to this town? Or what if he himself is a Heed disguised as a human?"

"Who cares, Clara!? It's not worth risking your life for. What if you go there and he attacks you using his Heeds or something?" "I care, Daniel. When you develop a deep curiosity for something, especially when the truth has been hidden for so long... and you finally get a rare chance to discover it... how can you just walk away from that?" 

"Still, Clara! You're being stubborn." "I'd regret it forever if I missed an opportunity," replied Clara, "Daniel, my great-grandfather was one of the best Heed Experts. He was brave. He eliminated countless Heeds through his hard work and research. His blood runs in my veins, how can I give up so easily?" 

"And what if you end up in danger?" "I have to... take the risk. I don't think it'd be an issue if I just watched from afar. Please, come with me!" "No! It's still a stupid idea." "Well, fine, you don't have to come," she said, standing up.

"What do you mean!?" Suddenly, Clara turned and started running, leaving Daniel behind. "WAIT!" Daniel immediately got up and ran after her. "Clara, stop running!" "I'm sorry, I can't." 

After a few minutes, Clara stopped in front of Marcus's house. Daniel stopped too, panting and out of breath. "What the hell is wrong with you!?" "Who told you to follow me?" "Shut up!"

"Shh," Clara whispered, "Now that we're here... Let's quietly move near the window." Daniel hated this, but followed her anyway, because he didn't really have a choice. As they stood near the window, careful not to be seen from inside, they heard people talking.

At Marcus's House

Clara and Daniel saw a bearded man with long hair, who seemed to match the description given by the people at Clara's school. He was 70, yet strong and healthy. There was a woman in front of him. They heard the woman speak, "Sir, what's this new Heed Possession Act people are talking about?" 

Marcus laughed, replying, "You don't know anything about my power, do you? Well, prepare yourself, pretty lady." "I'm ready, sir. Please let me know." "Then listen closely. My Heeds follow every command I give. Every single one. And when I order them to enter a human's body and possess them, they obey."

"Wow! You can seriously do that, sir?" "I most certainly can. A Heed-possessed person can act without realizing it, get physically or mentally sick, and even fall behind in life." "Your power is truly incredible, sir," said the woman, "How do you do it?" 

Marcus smirked. "What can I say? I'm the King of Heeds." "Sir, if you don't mind, may I ask you a question? I mean... I thought you were a human." "I am," he replied coldly, "So?? The Heeds tremble under my feet." The woman laughed awkwardly, hoping he wasn't angry. "You're absolutely right! Sir, I had another question... People told me you were a Heedist... What exactly does that mean?"

"I'm not a Heedist, the people who come to me and practice Heedism are. They're the ones involved in the Heed Possession Act. I already told you who I am. I'm the King of Heeds." "Yeah, I know! You're the greatest," the woman replied. "So, pretty lady, what is it that you want?" 

"Sir… I used to be the most popular person at my workplace. Everyone liked me. But then, one day, a new woman named Lily joined. She was… perfect. She did everything better than me, flawlessly, and quickly earned everyone’s admiration. She stole the spotlight. I could’ve gotten a promotion, but she raised the bar so high, I never stood a chance. I could tolerate all that… until last month. She married the man I loved. I can’t take it anymore. Please… do something to ruin her life."

Marcus smirked, replying, "You came to the right place, that's for sure. Now bring me something sweet." "Something sweet?" The woman asked, her tone confused, "Like... Sweet food?" "Yes." "But... why?" "You ask too many questions. Do you want to ruin that woman's life or not?" "I do, sir. But why do you want me to-"

"THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" "Oh- I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-" "Fine. Since you're so curious, listen carefully. Heeds don't have fixed forms, so I can make them fit in anywhere. I'll bind one to the food so that when your enemy eats it, the Heed will enter her body. You can leave the rest to the Heed. All you have to do is make her eat it, you can do that, right?" "Yes, I can!" she answered. 

Suddenly, Marcus looked at the window, as he could sense someone standing there. "Who's there!?" he shouted angrily, "How dare someone spy on me?" Clara gasped, and taking Daniel's hand, she started running as fast as she could. Marcus saw them, but decided to let it go, as he realized they were probably just curious. "Stupid kids! I don't have time for this non-sense."

The woman panicked, "Sir! Why did you let them go? What if they tell someone?" "So!? Are they going to find someone more powerful than me? I can toy with whoever I want. Those kids can't do as much as scratch me, let alone get me in trouble. No one can hurt me, not even the government," he let out a cruel laugh.

"Uhm, sir..." "What now?" Marcus asked, visibly annoyed. "N-no- it's nothing." "How dare you hide something from me?" "I- I mean... I had another question... I heard Heeds can't tolerate sweets or something like that. Then how can you use it to..." 

Marcus started laughing. "That's the point, dear woman. I force them to stay bound to the food using my methods. They can't help following my orders because the sweet food keeps them under pressure." The woman exclaimed, "Wow! You're truly amazing, sir! I'm leaving right now, I'll come back with what you need."

"Give me my money first," Marcus said coldly. "Sir... But-" "DO YOU WANT TO GET POSSESSED?" She flinched. "N- no, sir! H-here's your... money..." She handed him the money with trembling hands and quickly left the place.

Meanwhile, Clara and Daniel reached the tree near their house, panting. "I told you this was a stupid idea!" Daniel said, clearly fed up with her. "Okay, but are you seriously saying it wasn't worth it?" "Clara, he probably cursed us for life!" 

"Calm down, Daniel, it's fine. We're safe now. But..." They both sat under the tree. "Daniel, did you hear what he said!? Heeds still exist. He can control them. He can use it to harm people. Gosh, this can't be real." Daniel sighed, replying, "That's true... But what can we even do?"

"I don't know. We have to figure something out." "But Clara... What if he's just using superstitions to earn money?" "Uhm... That might also be true." "Clara, let's just go home for now. After what you made me do, I definitely deserve some rest. And I'm really thirsty." "Me too," Clara replied. 

Cindy

When Clara and Daniel entered the house, Karina rushed towards them. "Clara! There's something important I need to tell you. I've been keeping this to myself for so long, but I can't anymore. I worry for you, and for all of us."

"What is it, Aunt Karina?" asked Clara. "Wait, let me call your parents too. And... Cindy." Once everyone had gathered, Tina spoke up, "What happened, Karina? Why did you call us all here?" "Why wouldn't I, Tina!? Does anyone else even think about our future? Or am I the only one who cares?"

"What are you talking about?" asked John. Karina walked over to Cindy, her eyes filled with hatred. "This," she said, "This is what I'm talking about." Cindy replied nervously, "Wh-what do you mean, Aunt Karina?" "Don't call me Aunt, and don't act so innocent." 

This made Tina furious, and she said, "Is this a joke, Karina? How can you talk to her like that? I see her as a member of this family, and considering how she has behaved for six years, how she has helped and cared for us all the time- you should too." "How she has behaved?? I'll tell you how. This woman is the reason of all our problems."

"Aunt Karina! How can you say that about my sister?" "Oh shut up, Daniel. Don't think that you earned my trust, soon I'll find out your secrets too, whatever it is that you're hiding." 

Turning to Tina, Karina continued, "Tina, please just listen to me. I only want what's good for this family. Think about everything terrible that has happened ever since Cindy entered this house." "How does that make her a problem!? You're being crazy, Karina," Tina replied.

"You're calling ME the crazy one? Tina, remember how you told me about Clara's headaches, stomachaches and many other symptoms? Were those things happening for no reason? Recently, Crystal has been facing them too. Even I'm having issues that I never had before."

"You're being ridiculous!" Tina replied defensively, "How would Cindy cause ANY of that, Karina!?" "Because she's a HEED!" 

Everyone stared at Karina in stunned silence, struggling to process what she had just said. Cindy stood frozen in the corner, too overwhelmed to say anything. 

Clara walked over to Aunt Karina, replying furiously, "HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT? She's my best friend, my teacher AND someone who treats me like a younger sister. She would NEVER lie to me like that!"

"My dear, you are too innocent. Trust me, Clara, I want what's best for you. Just think about it, sweetheart." "There's nothing to think about! I trust her, and that's not going to change." 

Karina grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to look at her. "Clara, listen to me. Tina, John, I want you guys to think about it too. Why does Cindy ALWAYS avoid dessert, or anything sweet at all? Why does she often stare at Clara and analyze her like she wants to possess her? Why does she get so defensive whenever anyone says Heeds might exist? For once, even if it's just to prove me wrong, think about all the times she's acted suspicious."

Clara really wanted to defend Cindy, but the words got her thinking. It was true that Cindy always chose tamarind over mangoes, rejected dessert and kept avoiding the topic of Heeds. Clara thought about how she felt uneasy, unusually sleepy and heavy when she tried to study with Cindy for the first time. She remembered how those scratch marks appeared on her arms and shoulders, right after Cindy started living with them.

She started thinking of that one night, when Cindy had secretly come to her room and forcefully made her drink some kind of juice, which seemed to affect her health. Cindy never gave her a clear answer about it. Clara remembered what she had learnt at Marcus's house, about Heedism through food. She took a deep breath. Could Cindy really be lying?

She looked at Cindy. "Cindy, defend yourself." Cindy tried to reply, tears forming in her eyes, "Clara... Please trust me. None of this is true. I love everyone here, and I'll forever be grateful to you guys for everything. I would never cause any harm to you or your family... Please trust me..." her voice broke.

Karina smirked. "Okay, so you're not a Heed? Then you wouldn't have any problem applying this jasmine perfume, would you?" she said, bringing a perfume bottle.

Cindy swallowed hard. "I- I don't like that perfume." "Relax, Cindy. It's only for a few seconds," replied Karina. "You're harrassing her! Stop!" said Tina. However, without warning, Karina sprayed the perfume near her. 

Cindy tried to cover her face and protect herself, but her entire body already felt like it was burning. She started coughing hard. "Aghh- please- I... I can't..." She sat down on the floor, tears rolling down her cheek. She couldn't speak, and she was out of breath. 

Clara couldn't believe her eyes. She shouted, "Cindy, there's still time to tell me the truth. How could you do this to me!? I loved and respected you so much- Are you really trying to ruin my life and my loved ones' lives!?" 

Karina spoke up, "Clara! Bring the Anti-Heed Potion from your great-grandfather's drawer. I'm sure it still works." "Aunt Karina... What are you trying to say?" "I'm saying, we do what needs to be done." 

Tina rushed towards Karina. "Karina, don't do this! What if she's just allergic!? We'll regret it forever! She's like my daughter. Please... Show some mercy." "Tina, if she was just allergic, she would've said it already. If the potion makes her vanish, then she's a Heed. And if it doesn't, we'll take her to the hospital, apologize to her and drop it forever. I can't risk everyone's future for a suspected Heed. Do you have any idea how dangerous they can be?" 

Karina ran to Mr. Walter's room, and searched for a Jasmine Potion. A few moments later, she returned to the living room, where Cindy lied on the floor, panting and crying. "Clara, are you going to do it, or will I?" "Aunt Karina, hold on... Are we actually killing her without any proof!?" "If she's not a Heed, she's not gonna die." "That's not-"

Before Clara could say anything, Karina opened the bottle of potion in front of Cindy, letting the smell spread around. "Take that, Heed. The perfume was just the beginning. This is your true punishment." "STOP-" Cindy screamed, but Karina didn't listen. 

Tina hugged John, and started crying hard. "I can't see this sight anymore. Why would she lie to us like that? Why did it have to be this way? Why is she in so much pain? This... is too... cruel. Please... John... tell Karina to stop," her voice broke as she spoke. Even though John felt bad, he couldn't risk a Heed hurting his family. He tried to reassure Tina, but what was he even supposed to say?

As soon as the smell entered Cindy's body, a burning sensation spread through her throat and her chest tightened. Her vision blurred, and her skin started to burn. Her body trembled uncontrollably, as it got harder and harder to breath with each passing second. She realized: This might truly be the end. She can't fix this anymore.

Clara said, "Aunt Karina, we should've talked to her at first! Is she dying?" "If you had a problem, why didn't you try to stop me when I was searching for the potion? Don't try to play the hero now. I'm doing what's best for us." Clara looked at Cindy, her heart racing, "Cindy! Please give us an answer!"

Though her body burned and she had no breath left, Cindy tried to speak, knowing her end was near. "Yes... I... am a Heed..." she forced the words out, "I... lied to... all of you... Exactly what... my kind has done... to people... a century ago..." Each word was a struggle, raw with pain, "And... all of you... will regret this..." 

Everyone listened, her words shattering their hearts, filled with betrayal and broken trust. The pain became unbearable for Cindy in moments. With a sudden scream, she vanished into thin air. Clara gasped, it felt simply impossible, like a scene from a nightmare. One moment Cindy was there, the next, she was just gone. It was like nothing any of them had ever seen.

Tina moved quickly to where Cindy had been sitting, her hands instinctively reaching for the empty space. "How could you... trick us all like that, Cindy? We gave you so much... We loved you..." she sobbed. 

"Don't cry, Tina," said Karina, "I'm as sad as you are. But it was necessary. From today, all of our lives will get better, okay? We are finally free... from her curse. I know you guys think I'm heartless. But I have a soft spot for my family, and I'll never forgive anyone who hurts any of you."

After they grieved for a while, Karina stood up, walking over to Daniel, who was in tears. "I hope I don't have to ask you to leave," her voice firm. Before Daniel could answer, Clara replied defensively, "Don't make him leave, please! He's innocent! You saw how the Jasmine Potion or the perfume had no effect on him. He's not a Heed, Aunt Karina."

"That doesn't make him innocent. He was Cindy's brother. How does that make sense, Clara? He's been lying to everyone, teaming up with Cindy." "Tell her the truth, Daniel," Clara said. Daniel looked down, and spoke in a low voice.

"Aunt Karina, I... lost my memory six years ago. Cindy told me I was her brother, during the storm. I had no one else... I had no choice but to trust her... Please forgive me for playing along with her lie. I promise, I'll be loyal to you guys from now on. Please don't ruin my life. This family is all I have. I don't know where else to go." 

Tina spoke up, "You don't have to be so harsh, Karina. Daniel didn't do anything wrong. I watched him grow up here. I know Cindy betrayed us. But how can I just... abandon him for Cindy's actions, who's not even related to him?" "Tina, one day, you're going to suffer because of your kindness. Daniel literally lied to-" 

"Wouldn't you kick him out if he told us the truth earlier? He didn't even know the truth about himself. I'm sure he was afraid of losing us. He was just a child, Karina." "Why are you speaking in favour of him, Tina!?" Karina said, visibly annoyed, "Fine, let him stay. But if he ever becomes the reason of our downfall, don't blame me." She sighed and left the room. 

Daniel turned to Tina and John, saying, "Thank you so much for letting me stay... I'm... so sorry for everything." John replied, "It's not your fault. And you're welcome. Now go to your room, okay?" Daniel nodded, and went to his room.

"Tina, should we... inform the police?" John asked. "Well, Cindy wasn't even legally part of our family... And didn't the government say Heeds don't exist anymore? I heard they might punish someone who claims otherwise... Do we really want to go through all that trouble?" 

"We don't," John agreed, "Hardly anyone knew Cindy anyway. Plus, it could easily ruin Daniel's life. But more than anything, I just want to protect our family from any more problems. We've had enough for now."

The Last Letter

Daniel walked into his room and saw a piece of paper lying on the bed. Curiously, he picked it up, and found out it's a letter, with Cindy's name written on it. He started reading it. 

"Dear Daniel, please make sure no one sees this letter but you. I know you're mad that..." 

Suddenly, Clara entered the room. "Hey... I wanted to talk about-" she paused, glancing at his hand, "What's that, Daniel?" Daniel immediately hid the letter, replying, "It's nothing. What did you want to talk about?" "What do you mean it's nothing!? Are you also hiding something...?"

Daniel went quiet, realizing that Clara might be scared he'd betray her too, just like Cindy did. Then, he spoke up, "Don't worry, Clara. It's nothing serious." "Then... what is it?" Clara walked over to him. "It's none of your business. Can we talk about something else?" 

"Come on, not even a hint? At least tell me what it's about..." Clara insisted. "Fine, you want to know?" As the words left his mouth, he suddenly realized, he had no idea what came next. He thought to himself: What do I even make up? Come on, Daniel, say something! 

"Yes, tell me, please!" "Uh-" Daniel said, "It's- it's a love letter-" Clara paused. "What...? A love letter? Who gave it to you?" "Nobody!" Clara stood there, confused. "Wait- Oh... You wrote it...?" "Why? Is that a problem?"

"N-no! Why would it be!? I was just- asking!" "Clara, I told you it's private." "Right..." she replied, in a low voice, "But... To whom did you write it?" "Clara, stop," said Daniel, giving her a glare. "Okay fine, I'll drop it," Clara sighed. "What did you want to tell me?" "It's... about Cindy. I mean, are you okay? You always believed she was your own sister..." asked Clara, sitting beside him. 

"Well," replied Daniel, "I don't know... The very first person I trusted... ended up betraying me. She even told me about my friends from my past life. I think she also mentioned our address before the storm... How could she just... make all that up? I mean, I wonder what she was thinking while telling me all those lies, pretending to be sad about 'our' parents... She was probably making fun of how stupid I've been..." 

Clara looked at Daniel, listening to him carefully. "You didn't know any better, Daniel. Don't feel bad about it," she tried to reassure him. "Who am I? I don't even know anymore. I mean, I never knew that, but at least I had something to believe in, whether it was true or not..." Clara said, looking down, "I know... It must be hard. But one day... we'll figure out your true identity, okay?" 

Daniel chuckled, "You're never going to change, are you? I mean, is it so necessary for you to find out everything? It's like you can't even stand the thought of not knowing something." Clara couldn’t help but laugh at his words. "You know me pretty well, don't you? But I'm serious. Don't you ever... feel like meeting your real parents? Your real family?" 

Daniel sighed. "Maybe. If I had the chance to meet them, I probably would. But... if I have to go through a lot of trouble for that, with absolutely no promise of a positive outcome... then I'm not sure if it's worth it... I mean, I don't even know if they are good people. Or... if they're okay..."

"Hey... I'm sure they're fine, and they love you." "Thanks... Besides, with a friend like you and your wonderful family's love surrounding me, what else do I need?" he smiled, "What about you? How are you dealing with... the recent incident?" 

"I'm not sure. I hated Cindy so much for tricking everyone... But... when she was dying... it broke my heart," she sighed, "She was so close to me. I still can't believe she was a Heed." "I know, Clara. It just... sucks." Clara nodded, sad but thankful she had someone to talk to.

That night, Clara woke up in the middle of the night, with a headache so intense that it was almost unbearable. She couldn’t think straight. A few moments later, she threw up, her heart beating faster than ever. She felt weaker than she had felt in years, and painkillers did not help. However, in the morning, her pain was suddenly gone.

Her father asked, "Why do you look so pale, Clara?" "Dad... I couldn’t sleep last night. I was really sick." That day at school, Clara struggled to understand her lessons. Her head felt dizzy, and her mind seemed far away. Every now and then, she would feel sick to her stomach. Focusing was impossible, and she began to fall behind in her work.

As days passed, Clara's condition got worse. For some reason, even simple things felt difficult. She felt... stuck. She felt helpless and alone, even though she wasn’t. The strange scratch marks reappeared from time to time, bringing new insecurities and worries. 

She didn’t understand why those things were happening to her. Did Cindy not die? Was there another enemy? If Cindy was the cause of everything, why did her death make things even worse? What even was Cindy's goal? They didn't take the wrong decision, did they?

One day, Clara sat in her room, holding her exam results. Her grades were lower than usual. Her spark was slowly fading away. She sat there with teary eyes, quietly wondering what had gone wrong. Suddenly, Daniel knocked on the door. Seeing him, she quickly wiped her eyes. "Come in."

As Daniel entered the room, he noticed how clearly frustrated Clara was. "Are you alright?" he asked. "Y-yeah... I just... Everything's been going wrong since Cindy's death. This morning, my mom told me I should stop overreacting, and focus on my studies and other works. But I'm trying, Daniel, I really am." 

Daniel replied, his tone gentle, "I know, Clara, you wouldn’t just ignore your duties on purpose." "I don't know why I keep feeling so clueless, trapped and confused. Even when I try to do something, it feels like a huge battle, and I usually mess it up anyway. I feel sick, and sometimes... I feel this unnatural heaviness, and... it's like my body isn't even mine to control." 

"Don't worry, Clara. It's going to be okay. I believe you, and I know it's not your fault," he reassured her, with a smile, "How about I bring you some mangoes? We can eat them together, just like that day when you dragged me to that super creepy Marcus's house." Clara nodded, smiling back.

As Daniel walked out of the room, a piece of paper fell from his pocket. "Hey- you dropped-" But he was gone before he could hear Clara's words. Clara picked up the piece of paper, and kept it on the table. 

But suddenly, her eyes fell on the piece of paper, where "Cindy" was written. She didn’t want to read it at first, but she thought: What if Daniel was siding with Cindy? What if he was hiding something? She couldn’t stop herself. She opened the letter curiously and started reading it. 

"Dear Daniel, please make sure no one sees this letter but you. I know you're mad that I've been lying to you for six years. And you have every right to be. Hate me. Blame me. Stay mad at me. I know I deserve it.

I'm glad I'm not a human, otherwise it would've taken me hours to write this letter. I teleported to an empty place from your house. Right now, my body feels like it's burning, and I have just a few moments left. I don't know what will happen to me after this. Will I die? Will I go to sleep forever? No idea.

As you know, I'm a Heed. A hundred years ago, my parents pretended to be human, just like countless other Heeds. And... they were killed by a Heed Expert. I've been lonely ever since. The Heed society was obsessed with power, and that's what caused most of their downfall. All the Heeds are in a terrible situation now, but I escaped from that fate because I was born with a special power that allowed me to hide myself from both other Heeds and human beings. Yes, different Heeds are born with different powers, although this rule applies only to a few special ones.

The Heeds were cruel. They wouldn’t hesitate to kill each other for power. I don't know why I was born so different, why I wanted a loving family more than anything else. I was so desperate that I erased all your memories and took shelter in Clara's house with you, hoping for a new family who would love me and accept me. 

I know you think I separated you from your family. But here's the truth, Daniel. You were abandoned by your family, and I wanted to help you. Yes, there were selfish reasons too, and I'm ashamed of it. 

All I ever wanted was a caring family of my own. When I saw you, I wanted to save you, and to make you my family. I wanted you to start a new life, and I wanted one for myself too, but as a human being. 

I know there's no forgiveness... for the way I deceived you and everyone else. But trust me, I only tried to save you from your cruel father and give you a better life. The moment I saw you and decided that I wanted to be your sister, I tried to forget all about my life as a Heed.

The reason I sounded so convincing was that... I convinced myself too, and I actually believed in all those things. I started thinking of myself as a human. And honestly... these six years with you and Clara's family... were the best days of my life. Thank you for making my last years special, even though I'm truly sorry for lying to you. 

I hated the Heeds and their mentality. I wanted to live as a human being. I know it's crazy because, at the end of the day, I did exactly what the Heeds had done a century ago, pretending to be human and interfering in their lives. I got what I deserved.

However, despite disguising myself as a human, I couldn't ignore my Heed instincts. When I looked at Clara... I saw something in her eyes. I wasn’t ready for it at all... There was... another Heed living inside of her, who's slowly destroying her... I didn't know who had possessed her. I didn't know what had happened. But all I knew... was that she was my loved one, and I had to protect her. 

I tried, I really did. I bound my Heed powers to a bitter drink, so it would neutralize the power of the Heed that entered her body through something sweet. Otherwise, the scratch marks, headaches and other painful symptoms would've gradually destroyed her. One day, she might've even died. Using my powers, I silently fought the Heed that possessed her. 

But I can't do that anymore. When I'm gone, my powers will stop working too. I know you care about Clara. Please... do something and protect her. I would tell you about the mystery of Heeds, and your true identity. But it's too long of a story. I might die before I finish explaining. I can't risk not being able to send you the letter at all. 

As I'm writing this, I'm in tears, both from the overwhelming physical pain and the guilt of deceiving all of you. I'm sure I won't survive for too long. Please don't tell Clara about any of this, unless you absolutely have to. I'd already be gone by the time you find this letter. There won't be anything you can do. I know Clara will die from guilt if she ever learns the truth, thinking about how she let me die. There's no point in making her go through that, if it's not necessary. Let her think I was the one who betrayed her.

Please forgive me... if you ever decide that you can. I know you'll probably never accept me as your sister again. But there's no denying that, all these years, I had loved you like my own brother.

With love, Cindy."

[To Be Continued]