Entry 140: A New Possession

"You're different."

Shalee flicked her gaze to the young Brutor boy who stood in her doorway, arms crossed casually across his chest. He leaned his shoulder against the door and stared at her with eerie coffee colored eyes, not once blinking.

"What do you mean?" she asked, feeling a moment of unease.

"Every one's talking about how you've forgotten stuff since you were podded. Some people say that it's normal sometimes to forget some stuff. But you've forgotten everything, haven't you? You don't even know who I am..."

Her chin jutted up arrogantly as a smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth, "You are Jacke Incarnate."

"Yes. You know my know name. Guess you read a file..."

A look of anger flashed across her delicate features. Of course she'd read a file. She'd been drowning in them since she had been thrust into this bizarre capsuleer's world weeks ago. Files on everyone, the people of the corporation, the people she flew with on a regular basis, and everyone who lived in the Keep.

"Brutor boy. Came here last year. Your tutor is Mister Perelli. When you're not in school you spend your time in the flight simulators." she said flatly as if repeating something she'd recently read verbatim.

He continued to stare at her. "Like I said. You read a file." He shrugged, "Red doesn't come around anymore. She used to come almost every single night but since you were podded, she's disappeared."

A thin line of worry etched her forehead as she furrowed her brows, "Why doesn't she come...have I done something to upset her?"

He continued to smile at her, "Perhaps."

Shalee frowned, "I'm sorry..." She fidgeted with her hair, tucking it behind her ear, "Should I mail your little friend, ask her to return to the Keep?"

He kicked away from the door and entered into her room. She watched him as he neared her dressing table. He paused by the mirror, looking at her in the reflected glass, "She will come when she is ready, I suspect. I just...hope she knows that it's okay to come back."

"Why wouldn't it be okay?" she asked, completely confused by the child.

"It's hard to explain...I don't think you'd understand."

"Why not? Just because I don't remember some things doesn't mean I am completely useless," she said with a hint of annoyance.

"I'm sorry," he said as he turned around to face her. "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just... I miss her. I just want her to come back, to let us know what's going on..." He stared at her.

A look of pain radiated across her face as she suddenly started to rub her temples, the onslaught of a headache pounding against her skull. "I think I need to lay down," she said as she stumbled towards her bed.

Jacke moved to her side, grabbing her arm, helping to ease her down on the bed, "Are you alright? Do you want me to call for a medic?"

"No no, I just...have a headache. A blinding headache. I think...I'll be alright," she said as her nose started to bleed. She panicked as she brought her hand up to her nose, tilting her head back. "Oh god, I'm bleeding."

He squeezed her hand. "Shhh. She's coming." He said soothingly as she passed out.

The holodrone whirled nearby as the image of a red-headed little girl appeared. She rushed towards Jacke, "I can't stay!"

"I thought you were gone forever! What's happening to her?"

"It's her brothers! They kidnapped her. They took away the last two years! They put her back to the time when she lived at home, when she was a Sani Sabik with them!"

"But how are you here if she can't remember?"

"Jonathan helped, he had my files separate from hers, he was studying me. When she was podded last time, he snuck me back in when he put in those implants but I can't stay out here for long else they will find out!"

"Her brothers?"

She nodded.

"Why are they doing all of this?"

"Because they are going to make her do something horrible. They are going to-" The holodrone fell to the floor as it was deactivated.

Another one activated and Jacke turned, expecting to see her, "Red, what's-" his voice faded as he stared at the image of Red, except this time she had jet black colored hair pulled back into a ponytail. She grinned at him.

"Hello Jacke."

"...who are you?"

"Her, of course." She tipped her head towards the bed where Shalee lay unconscious.

"...no you aren't."

"Sure I am." She gave a dimpled grin. "But you can call me Raven. I'm sure we're going to have lots of fun together." She slanted her eerie gaze towards the door as it slammed closed, followed by the sound of the lock clicking in place.

Her lips twisted devilishly, "Let's play a game, shall we?" The windows flew open suddenly, followed by a blast of icy cold air. Snowflakes drifted inside, melting on the floor.

"It's a long way down...don't you think?"