AT THE SAME TIME
ISABELLA'S POINT OF VIEW:
The moment my fingers intertwined with Michael's, something inside me... settled. It was strange because everything outside felt chaotic. Xavier's furious gaze bored into the back of my head, the tension crackling in the air like lightning just waiting to strike but my heart?
Steady. Warm. Safe. Michael squeezed my hand gently as we walked, his presence shielding me from everything. From Xavier. From my own doubts.
"Relationship Status. Michael – 72% (Protective affection deepening. Emotional link strengthening.), Xavier – 60% (Conflicted emotions. Protective tendencies battling possessiveness.), Adrian – 51%, Damien – 49%. Note - Emotional trajectory shifting. Stronger bond with Player 002 detected."System said.
I blinked as the numbers scrolled across my vision. It didn't surprise me that Michael's had risen... but Xavier? Still climbing? He'd tried to convince me, soft words and sad eyes. That he'd saved me. That Michael had left me vulnerable. But none of it felt right. Michael had come for me. He hadn't hesitated. And Xavier… his version of protection had felt like a cage with golden bars.
"Are you okay?" Michael's voice cut gently through my thoughts.
I looked up at him. The moonlight lit his profile, the slight furrow in his brow, the way his lips twitched at the corners, worried, but trying to stay calm for my sake.
"I am now." I whispered.
His eyes met mine, and something passed between us quiet, deep, undeniable. Behind us, the wind stirred, carrying the faint echo of Xavier's growl. But we didn't look back. I didn't want to. Not anymore.
I was only a few steps from the safety of Michael's castle gates when a voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Isabella?"I heard a woman's voice.
It wasn't loud. It wasn't commanding. But it cut through me, like a sharp whisper carried by something older than time. I turned slowly. A woman stood beneath the twisted iron archway behind us. Her features were soft, ageless, like someone you'd half remember from a dream. Her dress was simple, pale blue and silver embroidery crawling up the sides like frost. She wasn't a player. I knew it. I didn't know how, but something in my bones twisted with cold certainty. Michael shifted closer to me, protective.
"Isabella?"He asked.
My head throbbed suddenly, sharply. Memories that weren't mine pressed against the back of my skull like they wanted out. Images of the village... of fire... of a girl screaming my name-no. A girl with my name.
"I know you." My voice came out hollow, like I wasn't even speaking for myself. I took a shaky breath. "You were part of the original storyline."
Michael blinked.
"What do you mean, original-?"Michael asked.
"I shouldn't remember this." I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut. "But she, she was important to the original Isabella. The first one."
The woman didn't move. She just tilted her head and gave a soft, knowing smile.
"I was her sister." The woman said gently. "At least, before the rewrite."
Michael's hand touched my arm. I could feel his aura shift, concern and something else.
"System." He muttered. "Scan her vitals, she's reacting to something."
A soft chime echoed in my ears.
"System Note: User Isabella is experiencing temporary memory bleed from suppressed original narrative. Risk: Medium. Stabilization recommended"System said
My legs nearly gave out. Michael caught me before I dropped, arms solid around my waist.
"Memory bleed?" He repeated, angry now. "Why the hell wasn't I told this was a possibility?"
Player 002 access acknowledged. Protocols have been adapted to account for variant disruptions. Isabella's awareness has triggered a dormant event. Echoes of the original."System said.
The woman took a step closer.
"You weren't supposed to remember me." She said quietly. "But you always do."
I looked at her, breathing hard. My heart was racing, but not from fear. From the truth breaking through.
"What happens now?" I whispered.
She smiled softly.
"That depends on whether you want to become her again."Vanessa said.
Michael tightened his grip on me, voice low, rough.
"She's not alone. Not anymore."Michael said.
I felt a sudden pressure in my chest as her name echoed in my head.
"Vanessa." I whispered, my voice trembling.
It was as though something in me knew her, like I had been waiting for this moment, this realization. Her name wasn't just a name. It was a part of me that had been buried under the weight of this new life, this new story. Vanessa stepped closer, her expression soft, like a comforting lullaby that I didn't know I needed. She studied me with careful eyes, the kind of gaze you'd expect from an older sister who had seen you through every hardship, every pain.
"You remember me, don't you?" She asked, her voice smooth and warm, but with an undercurrent of worry that sent another shiver through me. "I always hoped you'd remember. It was so hard... watching you forget everything we once had."
My head swam with the conflicting emotions tearing through me. confusion, pain, and something raw, like the slivers of memories pressing against my mind.
"I... I don't understand. Why am I remembering you now? I shouldn't—this wasn't supposed to happen."I asked.
Vanessa's eyes softened even more, and her hand reached out as if she were about to touch my cheek but stopped herself, pulling back with a small, defeated sigh.
"This game." She muttered, looking away for a moment. "It was never supposed to wipe you clean. But it did. And when it did, it took everything. Everything, Isabella."
I felt Michael's presence behind me, close but not overbearing. His arm was still around my waist, but his tension was evident, his protective instincts flaring up.
"What do you mean by that?" Michael's voice was dark, like he didn't trust the air between us anymore.
His eyes darted between me and Vanessa, like he was trying to figure out who this woman was, and whether or not she was a threat. Vanessa's smile wavered.
"I'm your older sister. And I care about you, Isabella. I always have. But the system... it twisted everything. The rewrite, the plot, it was never meant to bring you back like this, a player, and it certainly wasn't meant for you to remember."Vanessa said.
"I'm not... I'm not the original Isabella?" I asked, my voice cracking. "I'm not who I thought I was?"
"No." She answered simply. "You are, well, you are. But not the same. Not entirely." She paused, almost looking sorry for me. "I was supposed to protect you. But when everything shifted... I wasn't able to. I couldn't protect the real you."
I blinked back the tears I could feel threatening, but I was unsure if they were tears of sorrow or the confusion that felt like it might swallow me whole.
"Isabella." Michael said quietly." This doesn't change anything. You're you. Whatever's going on, we'll figure it out."
I nodded, barely able to process his words. But then I noticed something, a subtle shift in Vanessa's expression. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but it made my heart drop. It wasn't anger or fear, but something else. Something... sad?
"You're not just a piece in their game." She added, her voice low now, almost regretful. "And neither is he."
Michael stiffened, his hand tightening on me.
"What does that mean?" He asked, the growl in his voice slipping back in.
Vanessa met his eyes, unflinching.
"It means." She said, her voice almost a whisper. "That you're not the only one from Earth here. There are more players than you know."
Before I could respond, Vanessa's eyes flicked to something behind me, her posture stiffening. She exhaled slowly.
"I've said enough for now. You need to go. I can't help you anymore."She said.
"Vanessa-" I began to protest, but she held up a hand.
"No. You need to go." She repeated. "Before things change again."
A sense of urgency filled me. But Michael didn't budge, his stance hard and unwavering.
"No. Not without her."I said.
Vanessa sighed deeply, her expression clouded.
"You may have her now, Michael. But be careful. The game doesn't play fair." She turned away. "Neither do we."
"Michael…" I said quietly, my voice barely a whisper. "We have to take Vanessa with us. I can't leave her alone with what she knows."
He looked down at me, his face softening with a look of concern.
"I'll make sure she's safe." He said, his tone reassuring. "We're taking her to the castle. You're not alone, Isabella."
We headed toward the castle, Michael leading the way, his strides long and purposeful. Vanessa walked beside us, her steps hesitant. Her gaze flickered between Michael and me, still filled with uncertainty. I could feel the tension in the air, but I was happy to know more about Vanessa and this story.