The Rewritten Memory

CHAPTER 7: Gift: A piece of memory

Burnt!" Anabella's eyes widened in confusion as she looked at her left hand. Still, her gaze remained on the burnt wound intently for the first time, and her expression was one of figuring out the puzzle. "How did this happen?" she whispered in a low murmur.

"Pardon?" he asked as his gaze focused and he waited patiently for her reply.

"I have no idea, son.... I am aged right, getting forgetful for a few moments..." Anabella replied, forcing a gentle smile, and there was no hesitation in her tone. 

This question cleared all my doubts and shows the true intention of that bastard... Wyatt was excited, and his curiosity piqued inside his mind about the last question. "Okay... Final question. "What's the best moment in your life or an unforgettable moment?" he asked, delivering his final question as if it were a checkmate.

"That's an interesting question...." Anabella chuckled as she straightened her posture. "Being independent and doing service to others... was the best thing in my life," she replied, a proud and deep satisfaction in her eyes.

"That's so sweet of you. Thank you for your cooperation, Mrs. Annabella Jason. Have a good day," Wyatt said. Then, Annabella, whose attention shifted to her incoming call, left the place while talking to another person on the phone.

Wyatt's eyes remained on Annabella's walk until she disappeared. Then shifted to the interview notes. "It's getting interesting.... And Dominion people are humbler than Dominion 7. I need more people for an interview, "he thought, pulling out his scanner to pay. He scanned the scanner, the small beep confirming the transaction, after he left the place.

After a long day of interviews and watching a sunset view above a bridge, an exhausted sigh escaped Wyatt's lips as he leaned against the leather seat. "What a day! Finally, my work is done," he murmured, in a heavy, tired tone. He watched all the collected details on the passenger seat. His brows furrowed as he immediately grabbed all the papers. His sight caught his attention on a particular name, "Felix, and his mind reeled to his interview.

"How do you feel about the current job and your life?" Wyatt asked.

A young man, his face looks like it has a dark circle under his eyes, clearly visible from tiredness. "Job... Work... I sometimes feel like it's not me. I am facing a severe headache... recently, job stress made me want to leave this world...." Felix replied in a sad tone.

May I ask this question? Wyatt doubted as he listed his statement about his bitter life.

"Something is strange..." Wyatt whispered, rubbing his temple. "He felt absent all the time." He shifted to his watch and realised the dominion had closed the entry gate before eight. "I think I have to move to my dominion before getting night." He started moving at high speed and vanished into a dim path.

Meanwhile, on the other side, a vast, endless beach stretched out before him, with a cold breeze and rhythmic waves. Ewan watched as the sun dipped below the purple sky dotted with magenta wavy clouds, his eyes still searching for an answer. 

Ryan stood a few steps behind him, watching over Ewan's every move. A guilt on his face was etched. How long is he going to be like this? How long is he going to punish himself? I can't watch him like this... Can I tell him the truth... But it's Huxley's order not to reveal the truth.... Even though I can't see my best friend like this. He inhales deep, fresh air, walking towards him to break the truth, making himself confident and cold. "Ewan... We have to go..." he called out, in a professional tone.

"I know...." Ewan whispered in a low tone. Still, his eyes were fixed on the heavy beach waves.

Ryan started his conversation with some hesitation. "Ewan... your medical condition is getting worse than before... You're in severe depression... Even supplements can't cure it... Maybe memory-wiping technology can relieve your pain." He stepped forward. "Please, Ewan ... We did everything to find her, but... we left no clue... What if she's not anymore..." 

Before Ryan finishes his sentence, "Shut up.... Just shut up... If you're going to speak to one another about her... I won't hesitate to kill my best friend...." Ewan yelled, his tone reflecting his hope and pain.

"Is that what you want? Okay, go ahead... I just want my old Ewan back...." Ryan raised his voice; pure pain and concern were evident in his words. He took a ragged breath. "You know what? We have wasted fucking three for just searching her... but the real truth is..." he began, but at the same time, a phone beeped loudly, a jarring intrusion. He pulled out the phone, and the screen displayed, "Arthur Huxley..." He excused himself.

After attending, "Be at 8 PM," Arthur Huxley replied in a cold, deep, furious tone and cut off the call without any other word.

Why has he been called this time? Ryan wondered.

"What's the truth?" Ewan's voice interrupted the silence.

Shit! I can't tell him the truth now! Ryan thought as he forced a strained smile. "Um! We can't find her... Ewan... I think I have a meeting at 7 with your dad. We should leave here; it's already freezing," he answered, a lie in his tone, and walked towards the car.

A disappointment, a knowing smirk appeared on Ewan's lips. "He's hiding something from the beginning itself... Ryan, I am your friend... I knew you were playing a double game.... My dad and you both are pushing me into technology, but I need to be a normal human...." He murmured and then walked towards his car and opened the door.

A soft click, a door opened, Wyatt entered his apartment, and went straight to his room with some curiosity in his eyes. He scanned the entire room, but it remained empty. Where's he? he thought. Then again, he moved to the next room, checked inside, and it was still empty. "Where the hell was he?" he screamed in disappointment. Then his gaze landed on the table where the abandoned note was lying on the table and the nearby chip device.

"This is for your gift.... Enjoy your amazing night... Wyatt." Calloway left a small piece of handwritten paper on the table and placed a single-chip drive.

"Install this data into your device and click the Yes option." He left another note on the procedure. 

"Hmm... Interesting!" Wyatt murmured, a flicker of anticipation in his chest, and he was preparing himself to get ready to feel his memories. He opened the Advanced laptop and inserted the chip inside.

With a few processes, the screen displayed, "Do you want to play?"

"Yes" or "No"

The option was shown.

What if it was painful? He questioned himself. "How does the pain feel?" His gaze shifted towards the yes option. But knowing about my life isn't wrong!. He automatically pressed his finger on yes.

A few seconds later, his hand ran over his forehead. A sudden headache emerged, stinging like a thousand tiny needles. "Ah!!!!!! What the hell? My head's gonna bust soon..." he screamed in miserable pain.

He lurched from the chair, his legs trembling like leaves in a gale. Without any balance, he fell on the bed with a soft thud. His eyelids slowly dropped down automatically as his breath normalised more than before. His mind is fighting against installed memories. 

----

A soft beep from a message notification pinged on the mobile screen resting on the table, blending in with the sounds of playful laughter. A group of students burst into the coffee shop, and one of them, a man with braids, asked with a mocking smile playing on his lips and a sidelong glance, "Is she beautiful?"

"Have you guys done anything?" Another man asked, tapping the braided man on the back, an expectant grin on his face.

Wyatt sat in the centre of the chair, his friends clustered around him like bees on honey. He grinned, a shy, boyish smile that never faded on his face. "Fuck off! Man... She's not a thing. She's my girlfriend..." he declared, his earlobe turning pink in shyness.

Across from him, his close friend, Alex, sat rigid, burning at Wyatt with his unmasked fury look. A disappointed smirk twisted on his lips. "Asshole..." he murmured under his breath, then continued sipping his coffee, forcefully trying to handle his inner anger.

Wyatt took his phone from the table and showed her picture to their friends. "Wow!! She's pretty..." they responded with a playful tone that erupted in excitement.

One of his friends nudged Alex. "Look... Calloway's new girlfriend..."

Alex's eyes landed on the picture of a cute girl with a single dimple on her cheek and a bright smile like a moon in the lake; her almond eyes resembled the beauty of a goddess. I am done with this shit,.... he thought. Alex refused to stay there a second longer. He pushed back his chair with a sharp scrape that grated against the cafe's din, his face telling of his irritation with their conversation. She doesn't deserve this shitty asshole... he thought. "Guys... I have a business management class," he declared in a cold tone, watching everyone as he intentionally avoided eye contact with Wyatt.

Everyone exchanged confused glances, then nodded in agreement.

Understanding the reason behind Alex's madness and his avoidance. Wyatt looked down and remained silent, without making eye contact with Alex.