I feel the sun shimmering on my face before it penetrates through my eyelid. My eyes opens lazily, connecting with the bright star. I blink and move my eyes around, seeing different kind of leaves attached to different branches, it's like I'm laying in the middle of the woods or something.

The familiar pound in my head makes me reach up to hold my head, groaning as I sit upright. Fucking migraine! I–

My lips parts at the same time my eyes widen as I take notice of the kind of environment I am in.

It's so green. I'm in the middle of the woods, a very green one. My hand traces the grass I'm sitting on as I look around in confusion. Where am I? I close my eyes and try to remember how I got here and like an acid flashback, they come crashing through.

I jump off the floor and spread my hands out as I look through my body for any damage. My hands roams my body for inspection.

That thing was going to kill me. What was that thing? What did it want with me? Why am I here? Where am I? How did I get here? I have so many questions with no one to answer, all I know is that the last thing I remember and felt was pain, pain like no other. It was the worst and painful moment of my life because I couldn't feel the creature's hold on me but felt my skin peeling off my flesh, it's like getting skinned alive and that's saying something because I've never felt anything like that before.

"Good. You are here," a familiar voice sounds relief in front of me. I look ahead to see Arihmatheo leaning against a tree, looking intimidating as ever.

What the hell?

"What are you doing here? What did you do to me?" I ask with an accusing tone as I walk towards him.

He pushes himself off the tree and approaches me. "Like I said earlier, he's lying to you and I'm here to tell you the truth or rather show you."

"What? What are you even talking about? Who has been lying to me?"

I can't believe this man.

He stops walking and brings his index finger to his lips, telling me to stop talking.

"What? You need to start answering my questions now. What did you do to me? Was that you in the library? Did you send those monsters and that li–"

"Shut up!" He snaps and I zip my mouth.

I frown and try to open my mouth to give him a savage reply because who the hell does he thinks he is, giving me orders to shut up. I want to let him know I keep quiet for no one but I can't get the words out. It's like my tongue is tied up but my mouth is normal, I just can't talk.

"Yeah, that should tell you always do as you're told." He tells me.

I glare at him and he shrugs. This just confirms that Arihmatheo can actually control people.

He pushes his curls off his face, I don't miss the way he slightly flinch when his nail grazes his scar, which makes me wonder if he's still hurting.

"All wounds heal physically but some never heal mentally and emotionally." He stuffs his hands in his pocket.

As if someone like him can feel anything emotionally. I'm just not worried about his mental health since I will be seeing a therapist for mine because of everything he's put me through since I've met him. Two days. Two fucking day I've known this man and so many things have already gone around in my life.

I hear him sigh and look around before saying, "come with me."  And he isn't asking.

Oh no, big boy.

I don't move, instead I fold my across my chest and glare at him.

He takes a deep breath and raise his head up, his face in the sun. "Honestly," he begins after a moment of soaking in the sun's warmth and looks at me, "when I saw you come to save your friend alone, I thought 'oh wow this girl is brave' because I knew the others were outside going over whatever stupid plans they had to defeat, which fucking sucks by the way, tell Roman he needs to use his brain more than his mouth because everything that comes out of his mouth is nonsense,"

You don't say.

"I was surprised to see you. You didn't know what or who was inside but you came in anyway to save your friend. It was stupid because you could have been killed but it was brave. You acted mature, you acted courageous but now, I look at you and all I see is a brat throwing a tantrum, whose mouth and recklessness will eventually get killed if she doesn't watch herself."

Ouch, that actually hurts. He had me when he said I was brave. I was flattered and proud, but he had to spoil it. I mean, I know I shouldn't have bursted into that place like that with no plan but I had to save Jessica. It was reckless and stupid, but still I had to try, and it worked out, didn't it? We saved Jessica–

"You were just lucky. You should be thanking your stars that I wasn't a real threat." He responds to my thought like he can hear them.

"Did you just–" I cut myself off when I hear my voice. "Hey, I can speak again."

"Just do as I say and you won't have swallow your tongue." He says in a warning tone.

Right, I wouldn't dream of it. "So... You've been hearing my thoughts." I'm not really asking, I already know the answer to that, I just need some confirmation. He nods. "I thought I had this spell protecting my mind from intruders like you."

After Roman told me he could hear my thought, I cast a spell to keep my mind locked to other and I thought it worked. I'm not great at doing magic but I really thought I did it.

He chuckles lightly, obviously making fun of me. I glare at him. "It worked but we aren't in the real world," He reveals. "Your magic doesn't work here, my magic does because you are inside my mind, and I used you as my anchor while channeling your powers and strength, which is why your body is lying unconscious in the real world."

What?

"What. Did. You. Just. Say?"

"It is what it is, Camille. I can't bring you here without your powers. Listen, why did you think the creature peeled your skin off your flesh?"

"Wait, what? You sent that monster after me?"

He shrugs. "Not my finest work but it did the trick, you were yanked into my mind literally and figuratively."

"How fucking sick are you? Are you trying to kill me?"

"You can't die, you just got here."

"And that's supposed to make me feel better. What happens when I'm all drained up?!" I'm not keeping calm at all, I'm full on yelling. How could he?

"You die, which is why we need to do quick. Come on." He waves his hand in 'follow me' gesture.

I bite down my tongue because if I should say what I have in mind, he'll–

"Yes, Camille. I will make you swallow your tongue and you don't want that now, do you?"

Fucking–

He turns his head head slightly to shoot me a look that says everything. I clear my thoughts and close my eyes and take my time to inhale and exhale.

Take a deep breath, Cami. This will all be over soon.

"Yeah as long as you start moving."

****

I follow Arihmatheo through the woods and I keep all negative thoughts off my mind. We've been walking for at least fifteen minutes and it doesn't look like we're almost there...if I know where there is.

"Can I ask you something?" I ask. We've been walking in silence and I don't like been forced to keep quiet.

He sighs and his shoulder stoops low. He's fed up of me but he can't blaming for wanting answers, he brought me here without my permission.

"If you must," he answers his arms spread out.

"Your name, Arihmatheo? What does it mean?"

He doesn't answer at first. I keep my head on the back of his head as I await his answer. I've wondered about his name but I don't really about it. Asking that first is my way of starting an easy conversation, which might leads to him finally answering my questions.

"I don't know. My parents never told me."

Weird.

"And you never asked." Now I'm curious.

"That's because I never knew my parents. I grew up in a foster home until a man picked me."

His words hit me. He never knew his real parents just like me.

I try not to read too much into it before I lose focus on myself. He is the villain.

"So you just went on using it?"

"It's last name and people have weird last names. Arihmatheo is just my weird last name."

"Stark isn't weird, it's nice and common. What's your first name?"

"It's Marco."

"Marco, really?"

"What, I don't look like a Marco?"

I shrug. "I like Arihmatheo as your first name. It suits your personality."

He chuckles but doesn't press further.

"Where are we going?"

"Here." He replies as he stops.

I stop and look around. I'm not sure where here is but it's... It's quiet, peaceful and it smells like trees and grass.

"Where are we?" I ask.

"This is where you came from, Camille. You wanted to know the truth about yourself, we start here."

I frown as I stare at the collection of trees. "I don't understand."

"Oh, you will. Might not be today but you will. Do you believe in destiny?"

"I believe we can make our own destiny."

"Good answer. Now, you see this two decided to forge their own destiny against all odds." He answers but his tone doesn't sound close, it's like his mind is somewhere else.

"Which two?"

He doesn't answer, he just keeps staring ahead, not shifting his gaze. I follow the line he's eyes are fixed at and notice a woman who appears to be in her mid twenties stands in the middle of a garden that looks out of place where she's standing with her eyes closed and her body relaxed, she seems to be going with the flow of the environment; the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, butterflies are flying around enjoying themselves. She is beautiful. Her skin is as white as milk and her hair are braided with ribbons in two ponytails.

I smile as I watch her twirl around, humming a song, it's like she's having the best day of her life.

I look beside me to see Arihmatheo smiling, but the look doesn't stay on his face as it fades into a glare. I look to see what's got him worked up.

A man tiptoeing towards the woman. She is so engrossed in what's doing that she doesn't know someone is around. What if he's going to hurt her?

"What the-" Arihmatheo pulls me back before I can do anything.

"I said watch not interfere," his tone is firm and scary, the way he is staring down at me makes him look even more scary with his scar. Now, this is the man that came to the school demand we tell him who the sage is. I was beginning to think he's going soft on me.

I yank my hand from his hold and glare at him. "What if he wants to hurt her?" I ask.

"He won't." He sounds so sure of himself.

"And how can even so sure?"

He nudges his chin forward. I roll my eyes and see what's going on.

I curl my fingers inward in a tight fist and watch the man grips the lady's wrist and pulls her to him, she rolls and slams her chest to his. Her eyes widens as she sees his face. She pulls away from him and punches his shoulder while scowling at him.

The man rubs the area she punched and pouts playfully at her. She rolls her eyes at his behavior and wraps her arms around her neck before pulling him into a slow kiss.

I smile in relief and ask. "Who are they?"

He sighs. "That's Eric and Sabine."

"O...Kay, I thought you wanted to show me who I truly am or did I misheard you?"

"We are. Keep up, kid."

"Kid? I prefer you call me Camille."

I follow Arihmatheo out of the woods, reluctantly tearing my eyes off of beautiful couple. We step into the town. My eyes wanders as we walk past each house, no one can see us which makes this whole thing more weird. I'm in his mind. Doing what?

"Are you we in past or something? And if we are, how many years in the past are we?" I ask curiously

"Why?"

I shrug. "I don't know, I'm curious. Everywhere looks ancient yet modern." I reply.

"What do you mean?"

Argh! I don't know how to explain it, something about this place feels abnormal, out of context.

"Everywhere looks modern, the building, cars but they dress anciently." I comment.

He chuckles. "I'm sorry if my mind isn't modern or ancient enough for you." He teases, which I find strange because, well, it's Arihmatheo.

"Ha ha ha ha, very funny."

I notice Sabine walks past us with excitement on her face, but she stops and the smile fades from her face. She blinks and turns her head to our direction and stares deep, her face is full of curiosity and questions.

"Shit! Can she see us?"