chapter 16: lost memories
ren wandered through the vast land, the sun beating down as he moved from one place to another. each step was heavy with hope and frustration. he scanned every detail—the shape of trees, the curve of hills, the smell of the air—searching for a spark, any clue buried deep in his mind.
his thoughts churned like a storm. "there has to be something... something i'm missing."
but the harder he tried to pull memories from the depths of his mind, the more elusive they became. faces blurred, moments faded, and all that remained was a dull ache, like a shadow swallowing the truth.
he stopped by a small creek, watching the water ripple over smooth stones. his reflection stared back, pale and tired, eyes searching for answers that refused to come.
"why can't i remember?" he muttered. "what did they take from me?"
the wind whispered around him, carrying distant sounds—birds calling, leaves rustling—but none of it sparked recognition.
he tried to force his mind to focus, closing his eyes, gripping his head as if shaking loose a hidden fragment. nothing.
a wave of frustration crashed over him. "damn it," he hissed under his breath. "this isn't just forgetting. someone wiped it clean."
yet, beneath the anger was a quiet determination. he would not let this darkness consume him. no matter how lost he felt now, he would find his way back—piece by piece, memory by memory.
with a deep breath, ren stood and faced the horizon. the road ahead was long, but he wasn't ready to give up.
the land stretched wide and wild, a mirror to the chaos inside him. and somewhere in that vastness, the truth waited to be found.