Alpha Of Aberdeen
Chapter 5 Part 2 When Past & Present Collide

My spirit travels through a tunnel of stars as if I'm racing through outer space, but then it suddenlystops. I'm dropped down on my back into an empty field of green grass. I lay there for a moment,inhaling the aroma of freshly grown flowers that remind me of spring while the sun beams down onmy face.

I am startled by the voices of children a couple of feet away. “You can't catch me,” A boy's soft voiceyells, giggling mid-run. I sit up to get a better look and replace a boy, about ten, hiding behind a rock.He peaks around a couple of times as if he is searching for something. Then, a young girl, of thesame age, appears quickly from around the other side scaring the boy. “FOUND YOU," she shouts,tagging him and instantly falls to the ground gripping her stomach from laughter.

I stand in confusion, I don't understand how all of this feels so familiar, and the girl looks just likeme as a child. I continue to watch when the boy lays down next to the girl. “Can I ask yousomething,” he says, his expression becoming serious. “Sure, we are best friends. You can ask meanything,” she states, rolling onto her back to stare up into the sky. I follow her gaze and see it isfilled with white fluffy clouds. “I know we are destined for a life together, but do you feel more withme,” he asks, propping himself up on his elbow, looking down at the girl.

I watch as she looks at him with a smile. “What do you mean?” she questions, giving him her fullattention. “I guess what I'm asking is, with our families wanting us to marry once we turn 18. Areyou doing it because you feel something for me? or because our ancestors are making us followtradition,” he asks, hesitantly with uncertainty shining in his eyes. The girl sits up, mulling over hisquestion. “We have been attached at the hip since we were born,” she giggles. “There is no otherperson in this world I would rather spend my life with, other than you,” she smiles, pulling him into ahug. I can see a bright smile on his face as he pulls her into a hug. “Oh my god,” I say, finallyconnecting the dots, “It's Luca and me,” I whisper aloud, covering my mouth with shock.

My eyes close to absorbing this information. “Wake up, Chloe. You're dreaming,” I frantically tellmyself. When I open my eyes, I'm in a completely different scene. The air has turned cold, and I cansee my breath as it escapes my mouth. Icicles fall from the trees around and fluffy snowflakes fallfrom a grey sky. My teeth chatter when a shiver rolls through my body and I rub my arms to get ridof the goosebumps.

I look around to try and replace shelter and feel relief when I spot a cabin close by. I hurry towards it,folding my arms around me as I run, but I stop when I spot a woman dragging a girl, about thirteen,from the cabin behind her. “NO! PLEASE! I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HIM," the girl screams, breakingfrom the woman's grasp. When the woman turns around to grab the girl, horror washes over myface. “Cordelia,” I say aloud in shock.

Then it makes sense. The girl, who is the younger version of myself, rushes into Luca's arms. Hewraps his arms tightly around me and tears flood my eyes as I watch the scene unfold. It's allcoming back to me. I can feel the tears freeze to my skin, hardening from the cold. I see Cordeliagrabbing me from Luca's embrace, tearing us apart to pull me away. Luca tries to run after me, but alarge man stops him, holding him in place. “NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO US! I DON'T CARE IFCOLETTE FAILED HER MISSION. I STILL LOVE CHLOE," he pleads, trying to fight the strong man whois still holding him back, but his thirteen-year-old self Is no match. After failing to break away, Lucadrops to his knees, desperately reaching his hand out for my touch. I inch closer to him and gentlyplace my hand on his shoulder to console him, but he can’t feel my touch in my spirit form.Suddenly, my spirit is sucked back into the present returning to my body as Luca lets my face go. “Iremember everything,” I think, as my heart breaks into little pieces. I gasp for air, holding my chest,meeting Luca's gaze with the admiration we shared as children. “Now you know," he says, taking astep back with his gaze into the ground, unable to meet my eyes. I step toward him and reach forhis arm. “Why didn’t you show me this sooner,” I ask, lifting his chin with my finger. “I wanted you toremember what we had on your own, but the thought of you leaving without knowing, kills me,” hesays with a sadness I can't explain.

I am so lost. At this point, everything I ever felt towards Luca, all the hate and disgust, is gone withina few seconds. All those memories of us flooded into my mind and I can now feel my heart beingtorn between two loves. I look around in confusion, not quite sure what I'm supposed to do.

I moved into Luca's arm and hugged him tightly. I inhale his fresh clean scent, with a hint ofsandalwood, It warms me and I feel at home again. Luca returns my embrace, wrapping his armsaround me as if for the first time in his life since we were separated, he could finally breathe. “Whatabout Malachi?” The thought crossed my mind and I gently pulled away from Luca.

I stare up into his dark blue eyes as if they held the answer, but they didn't. “I may have my memoryback, but I can't just forget about the love I have for Malachi,” I admit quietly, taking Luca's handinto mine and squeezing it tight. “I need to go figure my life out. If we are meant to be together,things will fall into place,” I tell him with a heaviness in my heart.

“I will wait for however long you need Chloe. If you decide that Malachi is the one for you then Imust accept it and let you go. After All, when you love something so much, but they don't feel thesame, there is only so much you can do,” Luca claims, bringing his hand to gently caress my cheek.“I love you, Chloe. If Malachi is your happiness then I only want to see you happy,” he gives me asmall smile as his hand drops from my cheek. “You are free,” he says, taking a step back from me.

I look at Luca for a moment, regret starting to linger over my head, but I turn and walk towards thewoods near the edge of a clearing. I turn to look at Luca, one last time, and see his expression isfilled with agony. This will be the second time he watches me leaving him, and I can feel tears fillingmy eyes. I force myself to turn back around and move further into the woods.

The farther I go, the more I see the forest sporting various colors of burnt orange and yellow leaves.Branches sway gently in the breeze, setting some free to fall to the forest floor. I walk faster, rushingto see my baby when I hear the cracks of twigs behind me. I quickly spun around, my eyes growingwide as my mouth fell open.

"Hello, Chloe.”