553 Elise Woke Up!, Side Effects and Psychological Trauma (1/2)
Day 130 - 9:10 AM - Audubon Hight School, Audubon, Camden County, New Jersey, United States of America
Sitting under the morning sun and feeling the cold morning breeze, it was a nice way to relax after everything that happened last night.
However, it seemed that their relaxation would be cut short.
”Sir Mark!”
Felicia came running and immediately called out after seeing him. But then, she realized...
”Ah... I'm not disturbing you two, aren't I?”
Of course, she would ask that after seeing how red Mei's face was.
”No, it's fine,” Mark replied. ”You're here about Elise, right?”
”How... No- I mean, yes!” Felicia was confused as to how Mark knew, but she had to say what she came here for. ”Elise woke up, but something is wrong with her.”
”Ok, let's go.”
Mark said, assisting Mei to stand up.
***
Felicia led Mark and Mei towards the infirmary.
Along the way, there were soldiers everywhere, ready to take drastic actions.
Unexpectedly, all the people that should be resting inside the infirmary was now relocated to the hallway. They all watched Mark and Mei as they arrived.
Even Felicia's parents were not an exception.
”Dad, Roan, how is Elise?”
Felicia asked her father and older brother.
”Still inside.”
Abraham, Felicia's father, replied while shaking his head in dismay.
”Why did lead to this?”
Candace, Felicia's mother, sobbed.
”Sir Mark, do you know what is happening?”
Abraham turned to Mark to ask while Roan only stared without saying anything.
”I heard the details from Felicia. Let me check Elise first.”
”I'll go with you.”
”Me too.”
Both Roan and Felicia requested.
Mark nodded as there was no reason to decline them.
And the reason for all this?
RIIIINGGGGGGGG!!!
An ear-piercing ring inside Felicia's ear made her stagger.
Even Mark could not help but squint his eyes.
”Felicia, stay closer to Mei'er. Don't blame me if you suddenly get knocked out.”
This was the reason. The moment everyone entered the infirmary, the uncomfortable feeling suddenly set in.
In front of the window, Elise stood while sobbing.
Sensing that people entered the room, Elise turned around as she wiped the tears on her face with her hands.
”Who are you two?”
That was what she asked.
According to Felicia, Elise lost her memories. It was not all of her memories, but a lot seemed to have gone missing.
When Elise woke up, she seemed to have been shocked by a lot of things. Especially because... Her whole family became older.
Everyone had no choice but to vacate the infirmary. The people tried to take Elise out of the room. However, all those that came close to her would end up collapsing. Elise's family members were not an exception to this.
”Mark, that's me. This is Mei.” Mark introduced himself and Mei as it was the first thing to do. ”Felicia asked us for help.”
”Help?” Elise looked at Felicia. ”Help for what?!”
RIIIINGGGG!
The people peeking from the door could not help but retreat as they felt dizzy. Roan was also affected, but he managed to resist. Only Mark, Mei, and Felicia seemed to be fine this time. Mostly because of Mei.
”Felicia... Didn't you run away after arguing with Mom and Dad? Why are you back already? What happened to that Jude you are keen on defending on? And why is everyone older? Even me? What happened? Why are there zombies roaming outside now? Why don't I know anything?!”
Hearing all that, Felicia and Roan had bitter expressions. Just how could they answer all those questions? They did not even know what was going on with Elise, aside from losing memories.
Then, Mark asked a question that made Felicia and Roan confused.
”Then Elise, can you tell me what year is it now?”
Elise immediately replied as if it was a matter of fact. The answer, however, made her siblings stare at her in shock.
Her reply was the year when Felicia ran away from home to elope with Jude.
”How long has it been after Felicia ran away?”
Mark asked again, causing Elise to count with her fingers while recalling the days that she remembered before.
”A-about two months? I'm not sure! Why are you asking that anyway?!”
Mark then turned to Roan.
”Is there anything notable two months after Felicia left?”
There, Roan thought hard. He was still unsure about relying on Mark and his strange questions, but as it involved his family, he decided to comply.
Then, he remembered.
”The foundation week in Elise's school?”
Mark then turned to Elise.
”When is that foundation week?”
”N-next week... Why are you even asking that?”
Hearing that, Roan realized something.
”I see now...” Roan sighed. ”It's before that happened, huh?”
”Roan, what happened?”
Felicia asked.
”It's when Elise invited me, Mom, and Dad, to attend the school event.”
”Then?”
”We forgot to attend it.”
Not only Felicia, but Mark and Mei looked at Roan in disbelief.
If it was right, Elise was only around eleven when that happened. To forget a child's school invitation at that time, it was no wonder that her memories rolled back to this time. That might have left a deep mental scar on her.
It was no wonder Elise seemed to behave like a child this time, throwing questions in a tantrum.
”It's because of you, you bollocks.” Roan dropped a hand chop on Felicia's head. ”We are too busy looking for you, and many things passed our mind.”