Chapter 187 The Fiancee (1/2)

Rassa had barely spoken since Jane had entered the Doctor's house. Not because he didn't have anything to say, on the contrary, he had plenty. But instead, he chose to remain largely silent because if this was real, and he was questioning more and more whether or not it was, he didn't see how he'd ended up here.

Despite his desire for normalcy, Rassa had never imagined that his life without having encountered the path of gluttony would be so...normal. Had he truly grown up to be a farmer and then gotten engaged to his best friend? What about the Kildares? Surely after nearly two decades they knew Phillip's location and that he had a son.

But then again, Phillip had been the one to alert them in the Not-Dream that he remembered. But the Kildares had a massive information network, surely they would have found out eventually anyway. They would have sent the Ridge Men...Aegin. Aegin would still be amongst the Ridge Men.

No, wait...Rassa had only learnt about the Kildares after they incident in the woods. If this new world he was in was not a dream...was it even true that he was related to that prestigious family? Let alone that Aegin and even Ebony existed. Had he just imagined them?

But they'd felt so real. They'd been his family. The ones who'd accepted him - at least as much as a human could - after he'd shown them who he was. Those who had been cautious of his monstrous nature, but had not feared him...could they really just been figments of his imagination?

Rassa caught the concerned look on Jane's face as she spoke to the doctor, and Rassa couldn't help but frown. She seemed too passive to be Jane...or was that the other reality informing him so? After all, it had been thirteen years, no doubt she'd changed somewhat beyond her appearance.

Rassa mulled over the possibilities for quite a while, until his mother, Jane and the Doctor approached him. He'd contemplated asking questions, but if this was reality, his questions might scare them more than even his lost memory.

”Okay, Rassa,” the Doctor began, ”Are you absolutely sure you remember nothing between the incident when you were a child and when you woke up earlier today in your room?”

Nothing that you wouldn't freak out at, anyway, Rassa thought.

”I'm sure.”

The Doctor sighed, turning to Jane and Anna, ”I think it's best if you allow him to get some rest, but in between that, walking him around the village, try to help him remember. It's possible that his memories will come back, but I can't say for sure”.

Both women looked quite distressed, but Rassa could do little to comfort them. At the moment he was struggling to comfort even himself.

***

Jane walked him back home later that evening. She'd looped her arm through his, and set a slow pace as they went on a long route back towards the house.

”That's the orchard, remember?” she asked as she pointed to the many fruit trees in the distance.

Rassa nodded, ”I know”.

Jane blushed, ”Right, that was still there when we were young...do you want me to show you the lake? There are plenty of memories that we have there together”.

Rassa figured it was better than this awkward walk. The only thing it was doing was alerting him to how unrealistic this situation was.

They arrived at the lake shortly, having to wave at those still in the orchard and having to awkwardly explain Rassa situation after they asked after his health. Their gazes of immense concern were not helping Rassa's situation at all.

Finally, they reached the lake, which was somewhat peaceful compared to the rest of the orchard. Jane stepped forward and grinned as she turned back to face him, ”This was where we had our first kiss. And where you proposed to me”.

”First kiss?” asked Rassa. He seemed to remember it being a little further into the woods. His version anyway.